Queen Esther
King Ahasuerus was the king of Persia. Before invading Greece he had a festival which lasted 180 days. During the festival Ahasuerus called for Vashti, the queen of Persia, to come to the festival. He wanted to show his wife’s beauty to everyone, but she refused to come. Ahasuerus then divorced and exiled her for disobedience. The king invited hundreds of young women into his castle, so he could find his new queen.
There was a young lady in his kingdom named Hadassah, but she had changed her name to Esther. Esther was a Jew who was raised by her cousin Mortdecai. She appeared before Ahasuerus and pleased the king, she then became Queen. A man named Haman worked in the kingdom. Haman was a descendant of King Agag and he had a deep hatred of Jews. He saw Mordecai not giving him the respect he thought he deserved, so Haman wanted all the Jews to be killed. Haman went to King Ahasuerus and asked permission to wipe out a certain trouble making race of people. Ahasuerus gave him permission. Mordecai, who heard everything, told Esther. Esther asked to have dinner with the king, she then told the king to come back for a second meal a week later. At the second meal, Esther revealed the plot that all the Jews were to be wiped out. Ahasuerus was furious and executed Haman.
King Ahasuerus issued another decree telling the Jews to fight back and defend themselves on the appointed day. Mordecai was promoted into the court of the king, and Esther and the Jews were saved. A new feast, called Purim, was established to remember the event.