The murdered queens name does not survive in the historical record. Upon realizing this, Mordecai subdued the enemy and turned the wickedness of Haman back onto himself and his family. They derive this from the various verses that reflect the thought of the characters, or that attest to actions of which a normal person could not be cognizant, such as Haman said to himself(Esth. Esther may or may not have reflected the historical reality of the Persian period, but her story provided a model for a new reality in Shelamzions lifetime. The Bible doesn't say how old Esther was when she married him, but if she was 17 this would make her born in 500BC. She overtook Queen Victoria as the longest reigning monarch in 2015 - Victoria had served for 63 years and lived to the age of 81. He was blinded, but when he looked in her direction his vision was restored and he extended his scepter (Midrash Panim Aherim, version B, para. Later pilgrims mentioned the site, and noted that special celebrations were held there on Shushan Purim. Mordechai later adopted Esther as his daughter after her parents died. Immediately upon her death, her sons fought over the throne, eventually inviting in Rome, and Judea never regained full independence until the modern state of Israel. The Queen was the oldest monarch to have reigned in Britain before she passed away in September 2022, aged 96. For today's Bible studies, we're going to discuss 10 characteristics of Esther in the Bible. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 7:6): The adversary and enemy, she first pointed to Ahasuerus, but the king moved her hand in Hamans direction. Save the flock of Your pasture from these foes who have arisen against us, for nothing prevents You from winning a victory by many or by few. In Shelamzions period, there were no precedents for powerful queens in Judeanot unless one counts Jezebel, the most notorious queen in Israelite history, or her daughter Athaliah. Haman (the bad guy) represented the Jews' first enemy Ernest Normand/Wikipedia Esther's story is full of symbolism, which really helped the case for being accepted into the Bible. What did the Nazis begin using gas chambers instead of mobile killing units and shooting squads after a while. 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. Esther told the king that her people were in danger. Considering that she was likely in her mid-teens when she met King Ahasuerus, she lost her parents before that point. Plath famously battled depression and other mental illnesses, and the same is true of Esthers condition in the novel. Something went wrong while submitting the form. 2). case we can not say how old she was. Ahasueruss intimates attempted sorcery, so that her hands and feet would look like leather hides, but a miracle was performed for her and they began to shine like sapphires (Midrash Tehilim, onPs. Then the queen gave Haman's estate to Mordecai and prayed the king to deliver the nation of the Jews from the fear for their lives, and she showed him what the letter that had been sent throughout the country by Haman, the son of Ammedatha; for, she said, if her country were destroyed and her countrymen were to perish, she could herself bear to . When she relayed Mordecais information to the king, she attributed it to Mordecai(Esth. Esthers jar is a visual representation of her emotional turmoil and her suffering. 31 December 1999. Esther turns in prayer to God and compares the situation of the Jews of Persia to that of the Jews in Egypt: in Egypt the Jews cried out and were answered; and in Persia, they fasted, prayed and cried out over their tribulation and the decree that was harsher than that during the time of the Egyptian servitude. The outraged king ordered that Haman be hanged on the gallows built for Mordecai and that Mordecai be named to fill Hamans position. In post-Temple times, a small piece of dough set aside and burnt. Esther showed tremendous courage in standing up for what she believed was right, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable opposition. Esther was a good queen. He became King of Persia in 485BC at the age of 33. Theritualobservance of Purim begins with a day of fasting,Taanit Esther(Fast of Esther) on Adar 13, the day preceding the actual holiday, in honour of the fast Mordecai and the other Jews held on Esthers behalf when she went uninvited to the king. The monarch of Persia, King Ahasuerus, was wealthy and powerful. [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. Mordecai was elevated to second-in-command in the kingdom. The story of Esther happened after Cyrus, the first Persian King, called for all deported Jews to return to Jerusalem to build the House of God (538 B.C., Ezra 1:2). cit.). Mordecai was instrumental in thwarting a murderous plot by one of the kings advisers, Haman, to annihilate the Jewish people. She was 96 years old. As a result of her mothers death, Mordecai had to care for Esthers nursing. brought him up to be favorable to the Jews and he later rebuilt the [11] According to the colophon to Greek Esther, a delegation of Jews from Jerusalem went to Egypt with the translation of the story of Megillat Esther and asked the Jews of Alexandria to begin celebrating the festival of Purim. The Book of Esther, which does Mordechai had a cousin named Esther, who was the daughter of Abihail, a Benjamite. Esthers Origins and Her Adoption by Mordecai, Esther Delivers Up Haman and Reveals Her Identity. Mordecai did not bow to Haman because he was a Jew and Haman was an Agagite, the enemies of Gods chosen people. Though she may have been elderly at the time of her death, her legacy continues to live on. Mordecai remained a close confidant to Esther and played a pivotal role in helping her save the Jewish people. 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.". , Rabbi Nathan states, In its season from Shabbat night to Shabbat night, the way [rains] fell in the days of Queen Shelamzion., Megillat Esther: A Godless and Assimilated Diaspora.. "scroll." The Babylonian tradition maintains that Esther was Mordecais wife. She had one. 22:23). [3] See discussion in Ilan, Daughters of Israel, Weep for Rabbi Ishmael!: The School of Rabbi Aqiva vs. the School of Rabbi Ishmael,Silencing the Queen: The Literary Histories of Shelamzion and Other Jewish Women(Tbingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2006). One of these officials was the biblical Mordecai. She died in her sleep at the Royal Lodge, Great Windsor Park, which is now the main residence of her grandson. Queen Esther by Edwin Long in 1878. When Esther sought to deliver up Haman, she revealed her identity as a Jew in the act. She married her cousin Alexander of Judaea (died 48 BC), who was the son of Aristobulus II. Sort by: Most popular. Rabbah28:6). Sadly, Queen Elizabeth II passed away, aged 96, on September 8, 2022. Esther is noteworthy for her beauty, intelligence, and courage, along with her humility. TheTorah.com is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.We rely on the support of readers like you. She was Jewish but never revealed her nationality or family background as Mordecai had. Josephus tells us that she was loved by the masses of the Jewish people (Jewish Antiquities 13:407). I'm going to guess that he was born before 464 BC, so yes they older than her (do the math a 37 year old king marrying a 14 year Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Ecbatana, located in what is now western Iran. According to one tradition, Esther was responsible for Mordecais being seated at the palace gate, since she told Ahasuerus that all the great kings seated a Jewish advisor at the gate (Midrash Abba Gurionloc. Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, was born in 1900 and would give birth to the current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1926. The Rabbis were concerned about the question of Esthers marital status. Esther exposes Haman's evil plan. How Did Queen Esther Die? She was alone, alone with her grief and trauma. When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. After she came to the fourth department, Ahasueruss ire was aroused and he remembered Vashti, who did not come into him despite his repeated requests, while Esther came into him without permission, like a harlot. According to one, Hadassah, which appears first in the verse, was Esthers real name, and the reason why she was called Esther requires clarification. Once upon a time a Jewish queen ruled the land. The combined symptoms in Esther signify that she was suffering from a serious psychiatric illness, but the precise diagnosis remains unclear. She became the new wife of the king when his . The grave of Mordecai and Esther still stands in Hamadan; and the Jews of Iran, to this day, are referred to as "the children of Esther.". The Rabbis even find proof that God concurred with the activity of Mordecai and Esther, since it is written(Esth. The historical reality of this biblical episode, and whether or not Esther actually existed, has often been questioned. Estimates vary, but she was most likely between 50 and 60 years old when she died. Themidrashrelates that Esther hid from Ahasueruss agents who sought women for the king. She was the second daughter of Laban, Rebekah's brother, making Jacob her first cousin. 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. Esther despaired throughout her first six years in the palace. These words persuaded Esther to approach the king and she requested a private dinner for him and Haman. On the third day, Queen Esther put on her royal robes and presented herself to King Xerxes, even though her husband had not requested her presence in over a month. Princess Elizabeth ascended to the throne on February 6, 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI. The Rabbis viewed Esther as one who was compelled to marry Ahasuerus against her will. Most people have never heard of Queen Shelamzion Alexandra. Read a brief summary of this topic. A new decree to save the Jews. Torah and history converge in a remarkable way in the life of Shelamzion. Esther remained passive and allowed the King to rape her repeatedly. As a result of her mother's death . Queen Esther and Mordecai were given Haman's estate. She knew King Xerxes's love for merrymakingthat's how he first got in trouble with Queen Vashti (Es 1:10, 11, 12), how he celebrated Queen Esther's rise to the throne (Es 2:17, 18), and how he ended his day with Haman after issuing the edict for genocide (Es 3:15). After the immediate danger to her community passed, Queen Esther stayed with Ahasuerus. The beginning of the psalm: My God, my God, why have You abandoned me? is what Esther asks when she wants to know why the spirit of divine inspiration has left her: was this because she went to Ahasuerus of her own free will, or because she disparaged him, and called him a dog (following the text of the psalm)(BTMegillah15a)? The regimen of rituals, songs and textual readings performed in a specific order on the first two nights (in Israel, on the first night) of Passover. The plea was turned down by her. [12] Queen Shelamzion Alexandra certainly stood to benefit from Esthers precedent. Esther then initiated a covert plan to defeat Haman using her grace and beauty. Their relationship was instrumental in saving the Jews from extermination and is one of the main themes of the Book of Esther. She invited both Haman and Ahasuerus to a private banquet, stirring up jealousy in the King's mind. Saul, a Benjaminite, did not reveal to his uncle that he had been anointed to be king; likewise, Esther did not disclose her identity(Gen. Rabbah71:35). Rabbah6:8), or to arrange for the kashrut of her food. In their commentary on the Book of Esther, the Rabbis expand upon and add details to the Biblical narrative, relating to her lineage and history and to her relations with the other characters: Ahasuerus, Mordecai, and Haman. Mordecai argued that these three days fast happened to include the Passover night, which shouldn't be a night of fasting. Sometimes it was hard for Esther because the other Jews were treated badly. She and her cousinMordecaipersuaded the king to cancel an order for the extermination of Jews in his realm, plotted by the kings chief minister, Haman. The King of Persia, Ahasuerus, had appointed Haman to be his prime minister and a decree was issued ordering the annihilation of all Jews. Despite her hiding her identity, Esther still maintained contact with Mordecai. Similarly, her son Benjamin knew about the sale of Joseph, but remained silent and did not tell his father. [3] With great courage, Esther fasts for three days, arranges a banquet with the king and Haman, then pleads with the king to save the Jews. Queen Esther is a biblical figure from the Hebrew Bible who was the Jewish Queen of the Persian King Ahasuerus. Esther gained even greater favour with Ahasuerus after she helped thwart an assassination plot against him that Mordecai overheard at the palace gate. Horev], chap. // Javascript URL redirection The Bible depicts Esther as an orphan who was raised in the house of her uncle 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. Why did she stay with him, rather than restart her life? Bruce Feiler says in Where God was Born that Queen Amestris was Xerxes' only known wife, and that she remained queen long after the third year of his reign, when Vashti was supposedly deposed by Xerxes.The story of Queen Esther is demonstrably non-historical, but she is portrayed as saving the Jews of the Persian Empire from destruction. Haman, having become incensed thatMordecai, aJew, held him indisdainand refused obeisance, convinced the king that the Jews living under Persian rule were rebellious and should be slaughtered. What can we learn from Esther about our personal understanding of our true life's mission? The Rabbis view this as self-sacrifice on Esthers part, since she was willing to die herself, provided that Haman would also perish; (4) Esther sought to turn Haman into her ally, so that he would not rebel against Ahasuerus the king (and thereby become even more dangerous); (5) Esther wanted to obscure her identity and prevent any suspicion of her being a Jew (since Haman was an antisemite); (6) Esther desired to arouse the Jews to pray and cry out to God, so they would not think that her presence in the royal palace sufficed to neutralize Hamans activity; (7) Esther sought to arouse Gods compassion, to show that the Jews did not oppose Haman, that no one stood in Hamans way, and therefore only He could deliver Israel; (8) Esther hoped that Ahasuerus, who was a capricious king, would change his opinion of Haman (BTMegillahloc. 22:25). And her name was not Esther. Even after she becomes queen because of the disobedience of Queen Vashti, Esther remains modest and down-to-earth. The Jewish festival ofPurimcelebrates this event. The night of their union, Ahasuerus loved Esther "above all women" and made her the Persian Empire's Queen. Prince Charles, who is next in line for the throne, was by her side. Happy Womens History Month! Kings David and Solomon had many wives, some more influential than others, but they are never represented as ruling in their husbands stead. The Bible does not specify how old she was when her parents died. 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. Rabbah8:6). Routing number of commercial bank of Ethiopia? Ultimately, Mordecais wife remains an unknown figure in the story, but her role in supporting her husband and protecting the Jewish people demonstrates her dedication and strength. Esthers extreme courage and her willingness to risk her own life for the safety of her people serves as an inspiration to this day. If you need to flag this entry as abusive. Continue Learning about Religious Studies. 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. 7:5states: Thereupon King Ahasuerus demanded [va-yomerliterally, and he saidwritten twice in the verse] of Queen Esther, Who is he. The midrash is of the opinion that the verbva-yomeris repeated here because Ahasuerus initially spoke directly to Esther, but when he discovered that she was a Jew, he spoke to her through an interpreter. Mordechais loyalty and faithfulness to the King were key elements in the unfolding of the events. However, later scribes, as the manuscript evidence suggests, no longer understood it. 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 death is believed to have been around the age of 57. She succeeded in remaining concealed for four years but was eventually found and brought to the royal palace. Esther took place or at the very least was too young to remember While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. She is mentioned several times throughout the Book of Esther. She was expressing her inner strength and her ability to survive and even to thrive in difficult circumstances. This status completely changed when Esther went to Ahasuerus of her own free will, in order to persuade him to cancel Hamans decree(Esth. Like many Jews today, she had two names, one Hebrew and one Greek. Shelamzion became sole heir to the Hasmonean kingdom when her husband, King Alexander Janneaus (King Yannai in rabbinic sources), who reigned from 10376 BCE, died. Rabbah6:5). According to the Bible, Mordechai was a Jew who lived in the Persian city of Susa, the modern-day city of Shush, Iran. In a 1957 Christmas Broadcast, the Queen promised the United Kingdom she would give her . The answer is yes. He even granted permission for the Jews to arm themselves with weapons and deliver the kings edicts throughout the kingdom. 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. When Esther was taken captive, her emotional world was completely destroyed. Rabbah 6:5; BT. Queen Esther and Bella Abzug: Costumes, Leadership, and Identity, The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Copyright 19982023, Jewish Women's Archive. [12] Ilan, Esther, Judith and Susanna as Propaganda for Shelamzions Queenship,Integrating Women, 135. 2). She also exhibits symptoms of agoraphobia, suicidal ideation, and feelings of overwhelming guilt and worthlessness. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. In contrast with other women, whom Ahasuerus married without recording the nuptials or the date of the marriage, Esthers marriage was documented, and the date of her marriage was recorded (Pesikta de-Rav Kahana,Ha-Hodesh ha-Zeh["This monthEx. 22:5). assumed in to the next King's harem (also possiblealthough a She was a beautiful Jewish woman, the wife of the Persian king Ahasuerus (Xerxes I). Rabbah8:7; the passage is taken from Josippon). Her thoughts are characterized by pressured speech, disorganized thought processes, confusion, and paranoia. Their grandfather was Alexander Jannaeus, the second eldest son of John Hyrcanus. Mordecai is mentioned inEsth. Read the entire Scripture account of the life of Queen Esther in the Bible verses below and use the articles and videos to understand the meaning of this teachable event in the Bible:. Mordecai was Esthers cousin and guardian, having adopted her as his daughter when her parents died. Consequently, Esther was not considered to be a married woman who willingly engaged in adultery, and she was therefore permitted to Mordecai; indeed, the Rabbis maintain that she continued to live with the latter, at the same time that she was married to Ahasuerus (BT Megillah 13b). At the meal she pleaded for the Jews, thus revealing herself as Jewish, and accused thiswickedHaman of plotting the annihilation of her people. Esthers secret was that she was a Jew, which she was able to hide from her adoptive family and community. She was living there as part of the harem of the king, but was singled out by the King who was so taken with her beauty that he chose her to be his queen. Another question that concerned the Rabbis was that of the children from the union of Esther and Ahasuerus. And lest you think I am making an argument about gendered skills (i.e., what women do vs. what men do), the following from the late biblical scholar Tikva Frymer-Kensky is noteworthy: With these two queens, the Torah and Jewish history model another way of being successful in the world, both for men and women. I'm also Other sources say that the the woman "Esther" in the bible, married. Codification of basic Jewish Oral Law; edited and arranged by R. Judah ha-Nasi c. 200 C.E. According to tradition, the book of Esther was written in the mid-4th century BCE, and was made part of the canon which was sealed a couple of decades after.Esther was queen for about 11 years.The name of Mordecai is the Judaised pronunciation of Marduka, which is attested in the Persepolis Texts as the name of officials in the Persian court during the period of Xerxes I. Given new belongings (Esther 2:9). (Viewed on March 4, 2023) . Laying the scene atSusa, a residential city of the Persian kings, the Book of Esther narrates thatKing Ahasuerus deposed his first wife, Queen Vashti, after she refused to display her beauty to the people and nobles at the kings feast. The Midrash adds that Esther's father died during her mother's pregnancy, and the latter died during childbirth ( Esth. We rely on the support of readers like you. How old was Queen Elizabeth II when she died? It is a remarkable moment in Jewish history, in which we can see one of the times when Jews were connecting to each other from Jerusalem to the Diaspora and establishing the holidays that we take for granted today. Queen Elizabeth II has died today aged 96. Gaalya Cornfeld, ed.,Josephus: The Jewish War; Zondervan Publishing House, 1982). Esther standing in the Inner Court. Josephus final words about Shelamzion are that despite her deviation from proper feminine behavior, she had kept the nation at peace (Jewish Antiquities 13:432). and Nehemiah may have known each other personally. Rabbah6:5; BTLit. Perhaps there is room for a role model of the leader who advocates peace, piety, and diplomacy as well. My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me? Jesus or Esther? It is most unlikely that there ever was a Queen Esther, in which In this article: Her Name Early Life Palace Life Esther and Mordechai Save the King's Life [1] In preparation for Purim and the reading of Megillat Esther, the story of this forgotten Jewish queen is worth recounting. Another angel pushed Haman onto Esthers couch (BTMegillahloc. After he had Vashti killed, all the lands rebelled against him; once he married Esther, one hundred and twenty-seven lands came under his rule once again, and when he appointed Mordecai as viceroy, they all returned to him (Midrash Tehilim, onPs. Vashti (Hebrew: , romanized: Vat; Koin Greek: , romanized: Astn; Modern Persian: , romanized: Vti) was a queen of Persia and the first wife of Persian king Ahasuerus in the Book of Esther, a book included within the Tanakh and the Old Testament which is read on the Jewish holiday of Purim.She was either executed or banished for her . Also called the "Festival of Mazzot"; the "Festival of Spring"; Pesah.Passover. The midrash compares Esther to a hind and to the dawn, based onPs. This understanding of the Book of Esther is linked to the perception of Esther as a prophet: she is included in the list of seven women prophets(BTMegillah14a; Seder Olam Rabbah21). On returning, he found Haman falling on the couch where Esther was. The king mistook Hamans frantic pleas for mercy as an attack upon the queen. However, just because you don't know when We can adjust the hypothetical ages and birth dates of Mordecai, Esther and their parents by a few years and still keep it . Esther invited Ahasuerus and Haman to a feast and the Rabbis ask: why did she invite Haman? Esther was the best-looking woman, and Ahasuerus picked her to replace Vashti as Queen. Esther: A Queen Under Control. Thisdevarbuilds on Ilans work: her oeuvre is well known to academics but is not as well known as it could be tothe reading public. For an analysis of these sources and their reliability, see Tal Ilan,Integrating Women into Second Temple History(Tbingen: Mohr Siebeck, 1999), esp. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'coalitionbrewing_com-leader-3','ezslot_14',155,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-coalitionbrewing_com-leader-3-0');Furthermore, Esthers actions become increasingly irrational and her behavior can be classified as psychotic. Meir, Tamar. Darius must be 37 years old (62 minus 25) when he got married to Esther. Mordecai then spoke these famous words, Do not think to yourself that in the kings palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your fathers house will perish. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'coalitionbrewing_com-box-4','ezslot_5',147,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-coalitionbrewing_com-box-4-0');In the biblical book of Esther, Queen Esther is a young Jewish woman who becomes queen of the Persian Empire, thanks to the intervention of King Ahasuerus advisor, Mordecai. Princess Margaret, the Queen's younger sister, was born in 1930. holy Temple in Jersusalem. Queen Shelamzion Alexandra reigned as queen of Judea from 76 to 67 BCE. According to another tradition, he accompanied her to ensure that she did not suffer from sorcery (Esth. assassinated with her husband (which was likely), or if she was In the affair of Bigthan and Teresh, Esther continued to follow Mordecais instructions. She ordered her uncle: "Go, gather together all the Jews and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day."
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