Book of Esther

In the Persian city of Susa, King Ahasuerus holds a great feast. Queen Vashti refuses to come before his guests and loses her place. When the king's servants look for a new queen, they bring Esther to the palace. She is a young Jewish woman who has lost her parents. Her cousin Mordecai has raised her as his daughter. Hegai helps Esther, and she keeps her family's origin secret. The king chooses her as queen and places a crown on her head. Mordecai stays near the palace and discovers a plot against the king. Esther passes on the warning, but her cousin's good deed goes unrewarded.

Later, the powerful Haman becomes furious because Mordecai will not bow to him. He decides to destroy all the Jews in the kingdom. A lot sets the date, and a royal order announces the danger. Mordecai asks Esther for help. She fears death if she goes before the king without permission, but she decides to act and asks her people to fast for three days. The king receives her, and Esther invites him to two banquets with Haman.

Between the two banquets, Haman builds gallows for Mordecai. That night the king cannot sleep, and he learns from his records that Mordecai saved his life. He makes Haman honor Mordecai in public. At the second banquet, Esther reveals that she is Jewish and names Haman as the enemy of her people. Haman dies by the king's order. But his decree still stands. A new order lets the Jews defend themselves. When the day comes, they defeat their enemies without taking their goods. Esther and Mordecai establish the feast of Purim, with shared food and gifts for the poor. Mordecai serves the kingdom and seeks the good of his people.