The heroine of the book named for her, Esther is a young Jewish woman living in exile in the Persian diaspora,
who through her youth and beauty becomes queen of the Persian Empire,
and then by her wits and courage saves the Jewish people from
destruction. The message of the Book of Esther, written in the diaspora in the late Persian, early Hellenistic
period (fourth century b.c.e.),
gives encouragement to the exiled Jews that they, although powerless in
the Persian Empire, can, by their resourcefulness and talents, not only
survive but prosper, as does Esther.
Esther first appears in the story as one of the young virgins collected into the king’s harem as possible replacements for Vashti, the banished wife of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I, reigned 485 - 465 b.c.e.). She is identified as the daughter of Avihail (Esth 2:15) and the cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, from the tribe of Benjamin (Esth 2:5 -7). Not much is revealed about her character, but she is described as beautiful (2:7) and obedient (2:10), and she appears to be pliant and cooperative. She quickly wins the favor of the chief eunuch, Hegai, and, when her turn comes to spend the night with the king, Ahasuerus falls in love with her and makes her his queen. All this takes place while Esther keeps her Jewish identity secret (Esth 2:10, 20).
Make this little paper theatre to tell the story of brave Esther.
keep reading the story of Esther
Esther first appears in the story as one of the young virgins collected into the king’s harem as possible replacements for Vashti, the banished wife of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I, reigned 485 - 465 b.c.e.). She is identified as the daughter of Avihail (Esth 2:15) and the cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, from the tribe of Benjamin (Esth 2:5 -7). Not much is revealed about her character, but she is described as beautiful (2:7) and obedient (2:10), and she appears to be pliant and cooperative. She quickly wins the favor of the chief eunuch, Hegai, and, when her turn comes to spend the night with the king, Ahasuerus falls in love with her and makes her his queen. All this takes place while Esther keeps her Jewish identity secret (Esth 2:10, 20).
Make this little paper theatre to tell the story of brave Esther.
Download the PDF template theatre and puppets at THE TOY MAKER.COM
read more at Esther: Midrash and Aggadahkeep reading the story of Esther
