This document is about Esther (Queen). For other homonyms, please refer to the Esther document. Esther was chosen as queen by King Ahasuerus during the period when the Persian Empire occupied Central Asia. She risked her life to approach the king and saved the Hebrew people who were in danger of being executed by Haman. 
## Life Her original name was Hadassah. She lost her parents early and was raised by her cousin, Mordecai.
Esther 2:5who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.Esther 2:6He brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.Esther 2:7So, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to the citadel of Susa, to the custody of Hegai), Esther was taken into the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
왕은 왕비 와스디를 폐하고 새로운 왕비를 뽑기위해 전국의 처녀를 불러모았고, 에스더도 여기에 봅혀 왕궁으로 들어갔다.
Esther 2:8The maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness from him. He quickly gave her cosmetics and her portions of food, and the seven choice maidens who were to be given her out of the king’s house. He moved her and her maidens to the best place in the women’s house.
Esther 2:16The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.Esther 2:17Then the king made a great feast for all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces, and gave gifts according to the king’s bounty.Esther 2:18When the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate.Esther 2:19Esther had not yet made known her relatives nor her people, as Mordecai had commanded her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai, like she did when she was brought up by him.Esther 2:20In those days, while Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, who were doorkeepers, were angry, and sought to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus.
하만에 의해 히브리 백성이 몰살당할 위기에 처했을 때에 모르드개는 에스더에게 민족을 위해 행동할 것을 요구하고 에스더는 순종하게 된다.
당시 와스디의 문제로 아하수에로 왕은 자신의 허락 없이 자신 앞에 나와 말을 걸 경우 죽음에 처한다는 명령을 내렸었다. 만약 그 사람이 한 말이 마음에 들경우 왕은 그 금규를 내밀고, 그 금규를 잡으면 죽음을 면하지만 그렇지 않을 경우 사형에 처하게 되는 것이었다.
Esther 5:1When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther came near, and touched the top of the scepter.Esther 5:2Then the king asked her, “What would you like, queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you even to the half of the kingdom.”Esther 5:3Esther said, “If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”
여기서 에스더는 왕에게 바라는 소원이 하만과 함께 왕이 자신의 잔치에 와 달라는 것이었다. 그렇게 잔치를 베풀고 왕은 다시한번 소원을 말하라고 했는데, 여기서 에스더는 다시 한번 다음날 잔치에 하만과 와달라고 한 것이다.
Esther 5:4Then the king said, “Bring Haman) quickly, so that it may be done as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.Esther 5:5The king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.”Esther 5:6Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and my request is this.Esther 5:7If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I will prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.”Esther 5:8Then Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he didn’t stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.
두번째 잔치에서 왕은 다시 한번 소원을 물었는데, 그 때 에스더는 하만의 음모를 폭로하고 민족의 생명을 구하게 된다. 이 사실을 알게된 왕은 전에 내렸던 칙령을 철회하고 하만을 대신 죽임으로써 히브리 민족이 몰살당하는 것을 막게 되었다.
이 일을 기념하는 유대인의 명절이 바로 부림절이다.