This is the second Old Testament book that is dedicated to telling the story of a Jewish woman in the midst of an aggressive male dominated culture and society. The story is intriguing, with great characters, suspense, action, and a plot worthy of a modern day novel. King Xerxes is powerful and rules 27 provinces from India to the Euphrates. His lovely Queen Vashti refuses to be at his beck and call so he fires her and searches the land for a new queen. The exiled Jew, Mordecai, has a cousin who was orphaned and he has raised her like his own daughter. He puts her in the running for the new queen with great success.
Esther must have indeed been very beautiful and beguiling as she is able to talk the king into actually saving all the Jews across his great territory. There is also a villain, Haman, who gets what is coming to him and then some. In the end, Esther and Mordecai become the two most powerful people in the nation, next to the king, who they have wrapped around their little fingers anyway.
Impressions: It is quite incredible the way Esther not only saves the Jews from extinction, but is able to arrange for an epic retribution against the Jew's enemies, seeming so over the top. What incredible influence and power she had over the king! One clue, however, is that she begged for the king's favours after buttering him up at day long feasts and while he was "happy with wine". It would seem that a man's downfall has, more than once in history, been strong drink and a beautiful woman. But God can work with that too. Throughout the Old Testament, God has used some unconventional ways to preserve the 'remnant'.
Readability: 5 stars
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