Fight Like a Queen

Once upon a time in a land far, far away, a powerful king ruled most of the world. His name was King Xerxes (also known as Ahasuerus), and he and his beautiful queen, Vashti, lived in a palace in Persia. King Xerxes’ word was law, and no one dared to disobey him—until he drunkenly demanded that Queen Vashti come show off her beauty to his men at a party.

Her brazen defiance caused the king to dethrone and ban her from his presence.

When the king chose a new queen, Hadassah—a lovely, young, secretly Jewish orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai—became Queen Esther (meaning star).

The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor 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 2:17).

Trouble Brewing

Meanwhile, Mordecai uncovered a plot to assassinate the king and reported it, saving Xerxes’ life. However, trouble arose when Haman, a high-ranking official, became enraged after Mordecai refused to bow to him.

And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury ( Esther 3:5).

Instead of punishing only Mordecai, Haman devised a plan to kill all the Jews in the empire. He cast lots (pur) to decide the execution date and convinced the king to issue a decree for their destruction (Esther 3:6).

Back Up a Minute

Why would Haman want to destroy all of the Jews and not just punish Mordecai? The answer comes from ancient history.

Haman was a descendant of the Amalekites (Esther 3:1), long-time archenemies of the Israelites. The trouble with the Amalekites began when the Israelites did not completely destroy them like God told them to as they conquered their Promised Land, so we see how disobedience to God’s commands can have long-lasting, negative effects (1 Samuel 15).

What Now?

When Mordecai learned of the edict, he mourned publicly and urged Queen Esther to intervene. Though approaching the king uninvited was punishable by death, she bravely decided to risk her life after Mordecai encouraged her:

For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14).

Preparing for Battle

Queen Esther called for the Jews to fast and pray for three days before she approached King Xerxes. He extended his golden scepter, sparing her life, and she invited him and Haman to a banquet that evening. The suspense built when Esther coyly said she would make her request at another banquet the following night.

Fighting Like a Queen

The next day, Queen Esther revealed Haman’s wicked scheme and her own Jewish ancestry:

Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request (Esther 7:3).

King Xerxes, enraged, ordered Haman to be executed on the very gallows that Haman had prepared for Mordecai.

Mordecai was then given Haman’s former position and, though the initial decree could not be revoked, the king issued a new edict, allowing the Jews to defend themselves.

In every province and in every city, wherever the king’s command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday (Esther 8:17).

On the appointed day, they triumphed over their enemies, adding another thread in the overarching tapestry of redemption woven throughout the Bible.

Establishing Purim

The Jews then established the annual festival of Purim—also called the Feast of Lots—to commemorate their deliverance, marked by feasting, gift-giving, and charity.

The appointed day, chosen by lots (pur), was the 14th day of Adar, the 12th month of the Israelite calendar, which generally falls in February or March of our modern-day calendar. It’s a joyous occasion, filled with fun and festivities.

Celebrating Purim in Style

Purim is still celebrated by Jews worldwide today with some or all of the following observances:

• Reading the Megillah (book of Esther in the Old Testament)
• Giving monetary gifts to charities
• Sending food gifts to someone
• A festive banquet, including wine and Hamantaschen, three-cornered pastries with poppy seeds
• Dressing up in costumes
• Fasting and praying the day before Purim to commemorate Esther’s fasting and praying to God to save her people

The story of Queen Esther highlights God’s providence, the power of courage, and the triumph of righteousness over evil. Though God’s name is never mentioned in the book of Esther, His hand is evident in protecting His people and turning their fear into joy.

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*In 2025, Purim is celebrated from the evening of March 13–March 14.

*All Scripture quotations are from the ESV version of the Bible.

Source: https://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/645309/jewish/What-Is-Purim.htm