Good afternoon, everyone!
Today I read Esther 1-5.
I really love this story.
Queen Vashti angers the king by refusing to dance before him and the people at his feast, and his advisers encourage him to put her aside and find the most beautiful virgin to become his next queen.
Esther is taken to the palace, and does not add extra as the other girls do, and the king makes her queen.
Haman is second only to the king, and everyone bows when he walks by. Except Mordecai, Esther's uncle, who raised her. Mordecai will not bow to Haman.
This makes Haman angry, so he plots to kill Mordecai and all the Jews.
During this time, however, Mordecai discovers a plot against the king and saves his life, by telling Esther.
Still, Mordecai knows that if Haman's law passes, no Jew will be safe, not even Esther. Esther asks her uncle and her people to fast and pray for her for three days and nights.
She goes before the king. Normally, this could get someone killed, but God gives Esther favor, and the king is pleased to see her. She requests that he and Haman come to a banquet she is preparing in her apartments.
The king agrees, and while he and Haman are feasting, he declares that he will give Esther anything, even to half his kingdom.
Esther knows she has to make her request at the right time. It's only the first night. So, she requests the presence of Haman and the king again the next night.
Haman feels especially pleased and brags about his double invitation to his friends, and because of it, he is especially displeased that Mordecai won't bow to him.
In today's reading, we end with Haman building a gallows in preparation to hang Mordecai.
I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Esther 6-10 for the exciting conclusion!
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