After King Ahasuerus had ruled for three years, he made a great feast for the princes and leaders from every part of his kingdom. They came from India and Egypt and every part of the world, dressed in rich clothing and jewels. For six months the king entertained them, showing them all the riches and splendour of his city and kingdom.
Then before they left, he made a great feast and invited the men of Shushan. This feast lasted seven days. There was much drinking of wine out of golden vessels. Only men attended this feast for at that time in Persia men and women never met together in this way. The queen made a feast for the ladies at the same time.
After they had been drinking for seven days, the king sent some of his servants to fetch the queen and bring her into the banqueting hall where the men were so they might see how beautiful she was wearing her golden crown. Queen Vashti refused to come as it was not their custom.
The king was furious that she should disobey him before all the princes and rulers of the whole kingdom. He said, "She shall not be queen any longer. I will find someone else to wear the royal crown instead of Vashti." Many of the prettiest girls of the whole kingdom were taken to the palace so that the king could choose a new queen.
Esther was among them. She was not only beautiful, but she was kind and loving. All the servants at the palace liked her. When it was time for her to go before the king, God gave her favour and she was chosen to be the queen. She was given beautiful clothing to wear and a crown of jewels was placed on her head.
The king loved her and made a great feast in her honour. She did not tell the king that she belonged to the Jewish people because Mordecai (her uncle who had brought her up) had told her not to say anything about it. Mordecai came every day to see how Esther was doing and to see if she was well.
One day when he was at his job of gate keeper, he overheard two men plotting to kill the king. He quickly got word to Queen Esther about this and she went and told the king. The men who had plotted were put to death, and it was written in one of there record books.
Then before they left, he made a great feast and invited the men of Shushan. This feast lasted seven days. There was much drinking of wine out of golden vessels. Only men attended this feast for at that time in Persia men and women never met together in this way. The queen made a feast for the ladies at the same time.
After they had been drinking for seven days, the king sent some of his servants to fetch the queen and bring her into the banqueting hall where the men were so they might see how beautiful she was wearing her golden crown. Queen Vashti refused to come as it was not their custom.
The king was furious that she should disobey him before all the princes and rulers of the whole kingdom. He said, "She shall not be queen any longer. I will find someone else to wear the royal crown instead of Vashti." Many of the prettiest girls of the whole kingdom were taken to the palace so that the king could choose a new queen.
Esther was among them. She was not only beautiful, but she was kind and loving. All the servants at the palace liked her. When it was time for her to go before the king, God gave her favour and she was chosen to be the queen. She was given beautiful clothing to wear and a crown of jewels was placed on her head.
The king loved her and made a great feast in her honour. She did not tell the king that she belonged to the Jewish people because Mordecai (her uncle who had brought her up) had told her not to say anything about it. Mordecai came every day to see how Esther was doing and to see if she was well.
One day when he was at his job of gate keeper, he overheard two men plotting to kill the king. He quickly got word to Queen Esther about this and she went and told the king. The men who had plotted were put to death, and it was written in one of there record books.
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