The Bible does not specify how old she was when her parents died. old, non-virgin wife. 22:23). She received her Ph.D. in religion from Princeton University. Lit. This also leads to a different understanding of Mordecais involvement, as he walks about in the royal courtyard out of concern for his wife. [5] Ilan discusses variants of the same traditions inSilencing the Queen, 35-42, drawing attention to how later rabbinic sources gradually eliminate Shelamzion from this tradition and replace her with her contemporary Shimon ben Shetach. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. a. Esther was the heroine and central figure in the Biblical book of Esther. When we talk about Esther in the Book of Esther, we can't ignore many other characters in the book as they seem to play roles almost as important as hers. Josephus tells us that she was loved by the masses of the Jewish people (Jewish Antiquities 13:407). According to one tradition, he could not find a wet nurse and he himself miraculously had milk and nursed her(Gen. Rabbah30:8). After she tested positive for . Part of HuffPost Religion. She understood why she had to suffer through her relationship with this irritable king. even met her a few times when He was a young boy. Narrator: After Haman died, King Ahasuerus gave a second decree to preserve the Jews and give them power to destroy their enemies within the kingdom. It can also be assumed from the story that Mordecai was well aware that bowing to Haman may compromise his loyalty to the Jews and God, and thus put him in a dangerous situation. What did the Nazis begin using gas chambers instead of mobile killing units and shooting squads after a while. Her death is believed to have been around the age of 57. This meant the king was happy to see her and would not put her to death. The Midrash adds that Esther's father died during her mother's pregnancy, and the latter died during childbirth ( Esth. She was Jewish but never revealed her nationality or family background as Mordecai had. 7:6): The adversary and enemy, she first pointed to Ahasuerus, but the king moved her hand in Hamans direction. How can a woman test for infertility at home? Meir, Tamar. The festival of Purim and the satirical setting of Megillat Esther may cause us to minimize the unusual story it preserves: the story of a young woman succeeding against all odds in foreign territory. In response, Esther tells him that, like him, she is the offspring of royalty (Midrash Abba Gurion, para. The Queen ascended to the throne in 1952 at the tender age of 25, and was on a royal tour of Kenya when Philip delicately broke the news that her father, King George VI, had died. She appears to be a loyal wife to Mordecai, as she supports him throughout his efforts to save the Jewish people from Hamans plot. Daniel probably died shortly after Darius took the throne in 521 The Rabbis describe at length Esthers activities after she learned of Hamans decree against the Jews. Esther showed tremendous courage in standing up for what she believed was right, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable opposition. She greatly feared to appear before Ahasuerus. She was the last of the house of Hanover and . ), or her strength wanedPirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer[ed. The Talmud reveals that Esther's relationship with Ahasuerus wasn't a romantic one. Another tradition has Mordecais wife nursing the infant (Midrash Tehilim, onPs. 726. Rabbah6:11). After the immediate danger to her community passed, Queen Esther stayed with Ahasuerus. Mordecais wife is an unnamed woman from Susa. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'coalitionbrewing_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',146,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-coalitionbrewing_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Queen Esther was a brave and courageous woman who risked her life many times to save the Jewish people. 10:2). Later pilgrims mentioned the site, and noted that special celebrations were held there on Shushan Purim. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'coalitionbrewing_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_10',152,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-coalitionbrewing_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');Her true identity was kept hidden from everyone, until she was forced to reveal it in order to save her people from the decree of death from Persias ruling king. Fortunately, the king was able to get to the bottom of the plot and expose the would-be assassins before any harm came to Mordecai or the king. Esther 4:11-16. She was married to King Achashverosh, whom some identify as Artaxerxes (), 1 king of Persia. This book therefore has the same sanctity as the other books of Scripture. Like many Jews today, she had two names, one Hebrew and one Greek. 31 December 1999. In one exegetical expansion, the women in the harem would adorn Esther, for they said to themselves: This one will certainly be married to the king, so it is worth our while to honor her (Midrash Panim Aherim, version B, para. Esther was the best-looking woman, and Ahasuerus picked her to replace Vashti as Queen. A few of them, such as Nehemiah, Mordecai and Daniel, rose to positions of prominence under the Babylonian kings.The last of the Prophets of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) were still living.King Cyrus had recently made his famous proclamation (2 Chronicles 36:22-23) allowing the Jews to resettle Judea (Israel), and some had gone up with Zerubavel, but the enemies of the Jews had then slandered them (Ezra ch.4), causing the Babylonian king to put a stop to the rebuilding and resettlement of Judea. In the Book of Esther, Mordecai plays a major role in the events leading up to the deliverance of the Jewish people from their enemies. [2] But Shelamzion remained queen and lived up to her name, maintaining the peace of Zion with a strong army, careful diplomacy, and the support of the Jews of ancient Israel and beyond. The BT presents this in the opposite way: the king first talked with her by means of an interpreter, but when she told him that she was descended from King Saul, he spoke with her directly, out of respect (Lev. Prof. Mika Ahuvia is Associate Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Washington and currently holds the Marsha and Jay Glazer Endowed Chair in Jewish Studies. When she relayed Mordecais information to the king, she attributed it to Mordecai(Esth. movie). The Talmud sees Haman's decree as a punishment from Heaven to these Jews. 2:7). Esther's Origins and Her Adoption by Mordecai. The Book ofEsther (2:11)relates that Mordecai would walk about in front of the court of the harem, to learn how Esther was faring. The Rabbis understood Mordecais escorting of Esther as his providing her withThe legal corpus of Jewish laws and observances as prescribed in the Torah and interpreted by rabbinic authorities, beginning with those of the Mishnah and Talmud.halakhic guidance, for he would rule for her in questions ofMenstruation; the menstruant woman; ritual status of the menstruant woman.niddah (the laws governing menstrual purity, and, more generally, family purity; see below: Esthers Personal Status"). 12:2], 5:11). She remained passive to the moody King and obedient to her authoritarian uncle, Mordecai. Notably, Shelamzion maintained peace through defensive measures and diplomatic outreach rather than outright acts of aggression. Mordecai held a position inside of the king's palace, and he went their every day to perform his duties. Throughout the book of Esther, Queen Esthers bravery and courage is seen as an example of how God can deliver and uses those who are willing to obey and trust Him. cit.). She is the author of several books, including On My Right Michael, On My Left Gabriel: Angels in Ancient Jewish Culture (University of California Press, 2021). Rabbah15:6). Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. In contrast, the BT also cites a tradition that Esther had a greenish [sallow] complexion, and therefore was called Hadassah; according to this tradition, Ahasuerus was drawn to her because she was endowed with great charm (BTMegillahloc. Esther standing in the Inner Court. Bibles] who ruled Persia from 486 to 465 BC. Esther is also compared to a wolf, to the moon (see below: Esther as the Deliverer of Israel) and to a stove on which everyone places his pots (Midrash Tehilim, onPs. Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch, has died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years. Although the Bible Modesty and Sexuality in Halakhic Literature, What Queen Esther can teach us about intermarriage. The Jews honored God and knew that one should not bow down to Haman, or any of his gods, for it was a sign of idolatry and would directly break the command of God. The Bible; the Pentateuch; Tanakh (the Pentateuch, Prophets and Hagiographia)Torah scholars. Others have suggested an earlier date of translation, ca. As a result of his heroic actions, Mordecai was honored by King Ahasuerus for his bravery, and he was made Prime Minister with great authority. She was 96. 100-105 and 127-154. 2). Some may have stumbled upon the street named after her in downtown Jerusalem, but otherwise, she is generally only briefly mentioned, marginalized, and almost written out of the historical record. The events of Esther unfold over an eight- to ten-year period. "And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all who saw her." (2:15). In the biblical book named after her, Esther is a young Jewish woman living in the Persian diaspora who finds favor with the king, becomes queen, and risks her life to save the Jewish people from destruction when the court official Haman persuades the king to authorize a pogrom against all the Jews of the empire. Esther would have been in her early to mid 60's when the The verse (5:1) Esther put on royal apparel is interpreted as her assuming the spirit of prophecy (BTMegillahloc. King Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to appear at a banquet, but she refused to do so which led to her banishment. She was compared to a hind, for just as a hind has a narrow womb and is as desirable to her mate at all times as at the first time, so, too, was Esther as desirable to Ahasuerus at all times as at the first time. What is the reflection of the story of princess urduja? Her story is one of faith, courage, and resilience, and her bravery serves as an inspiration to others to never give up fighting for what you believe in. Instead, Haman was hanged on the gallows he had built for Mordecai, and the Jews were given permission to destroy their enemies. Ahasuerus consulted with Mordecai how to discover Esthers secret, and Mordecai advised him to arouse Esthers jealousy by inviting other women to him, thus motivating her to disclose her secret (BT Megillah 13a). How old was Queen Elizabeth II when she died? Esther was born about 492BC and was 14 when she became Queen. Jewish Women's Archive. After recently suffering with a bad. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered flags at the Capitol to be flown at half-staff following the queen's death. Anyway, there's no record of whether Esther was Omissions? They were in no way penalized for being ruled over by a queen rather than a king.[5]. Codification of basic Jewish Oral Law; edited and arranged by R. Judah ha-Nasi c. 200 C.E. Her reign lasted less than a decade but still longer than a two-term presidency. The Queen Mother lived to the grand age of 101 years and 238 days old. According to the view that Esther was Hadassahs second name, the Rabbis explain that she was given this name because she concealed (histirah) her origins. Browse 35 queen esther bible stock illustrations and vector graphics available royalty-free, or start a new search to explore more great stock images and vector art. Considering that she was likely in her mid-teens when she met King Ahasuerus, she lost her parents before that point. In the Erez Israel tradition, she miscarried the fetus she bore in her womb (the offspring of Ahasuerus) (Esth. The king did not believe in God but Esther did. The Jews were well acquainted with the command of God, which stated that they must not bow down to false gods nor to those enemies of God who idolized them. Another tradition has her eating only seeds in the harem, similar to Daniel and his fellows, in order to observe the laws ofThe Jewish dietary laws delineating the permissible types of food and methods of their preparation.kashrut (BT Megillahloc. Rabbah28:6). "the written Torah." [12] Queen Shelamzion Alexandra certainly stood to benefit from Esthers precedent. With the kings consent, Haman set a date for the execution (the 13th day of the month of Adar) by casting lots and built a gallows specifically for Mordecai. 10:3) was able to have interceded for the welfare of all his kindred (Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer, chap. Esther then initiated a covert plan to defeat Haman using her grace and beauty. Mordecai would walk about in front of the harem in order to rule for Esther regarding menstrual spotting; another exegetical exposition has Esther showing the spotting from her menstruation to theTorah she-bi-khetav: Lit. Until Esther was chosen, no woman could compare with Vashti in beauty. He asked what she wanted. Esther understood that this action would require her to commit a grave transgression, and even lose all possibility of returning to her husband Mordecai. Esther must have been a "teenager" based on the historical and Biblical facts above. Esther was born about 492BC and was 14 when she became Queen. The king agreed, not knowing that Esther, his beloved queen, and Mordecai, the man to whom he owed his life, were both Jews. According to the Bible, Mordechai was a Jew who lived in the Persian city of Susa, the modern-day city of Shush, Iran. Whereas her husband had persecuted the Pharisees, in her reign as solitary queen, Shelamzion was particularly supportive of the Pharisees, promoting their vision of Judaism and perhaps ensuring their popularity for generations to come (Josephus, Jewish War 1:110). Esthers jar was a tangible expression of her emotional devastation, her loss of hope, and her feelings of utter helplessness. Abase him before me, for You abase the proud (Esth. In the midrashic exposition, Ahasuerus tries to discover Esthers origins, explaining that this would be beneficial for her relatives, since he would appoint them to important positions (Midrash Panim Aherimloc. . cit.). Mordechai later adopted Esther as his daughter after her parents died. "scroll." A day was set aside for the slaughter, and a decree issued to every corner of the empire. Esther had been made queen to save her people. She overtook Queen. Despite her hiding her identity, Esther still maintained contact with Mordecai. 9:23): The Jews accordingly assumed an obligation [ve-kibel] that which they had begun to practice.Ve-kibelis written in the singular, thus alluding to God(Ruth Rabbah4:1; BT Megillah 7a). King Ahasuerus, named Darius, who became King Darius II. Ahasuerus first tried to turn his face so that he would not look upon Esther, but the ministering angels forcibly turned his head, until he cried out. The matter became known to Mordecai, who told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king: Mordecai's attitude wasn't "I'm a Jewish man in exile under a pagan king, so I do not care if he is killed.". The courtiers hoped that she would be executed like Vashti and that they would be able to apportion her clothing and jewelry among themselves; those close to Ahasuerus encircled her and harassed her on her way to the king, while Hamans sons awaited her downfall. When Esther pointed and declared(Esth. Esther risked her life to save the Jews, thus, she became an example of unselfishness and faithfulness. When we celebrate Purim, may we laugh with Esther and Mordecai, but also remember Queen Shelamzion Alexandra, praise her example, and wish that Eretz Israel may experience those heavenly rains of peace again in our time. Her son Charles, 73, is now king. Sort by: Most popular. Given new belongings (Esther 2:9). Despite the close bond they had, they remained uncle and niece and were not married. Mordecai remained a close confidant to Esther and played a pivotal role in helping her save the Jewish people. His father was Kish, who descended from the House of Benjamin. The midrash tells that when Esther came to Ahasueruss palace the spirit of divine inspiration left her, and she then prayed to God. She recognizes that she needs to personally plead the king to save her people but knows this act is a grave transgression. By merit of this, Mordecai(Esth. Queen Esther died in 473 BCE, so she was likely in her late fifties or early sixties at the time of her death. According to another tradition, he accompanied her to ensure that she did not suffer from sorcery (Esth. Other problems that also call into question the story's reliability include Mordecai being identified as sent into exile by Nebuchadnezzar - an event that must have place over a century before Xerxes assumed power.