Woman living at the time of Exile and Return
Esther
A Jewish orphan named Hadassah, raised by her cousin Mordecai in Susa, who was taken to King Ahasuerus’ palace and, after a year of preparation, made queen in place of Vashti (Esther 2:5–18). When the king’s chief minister Haman plotted to destroy all the Jews, Mordecai urged her to go to the king, saying, “Who knows if you haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 3–4). She asked the Jews to fast for three days, risked her life by going to the king unasked, and in two banquets exposed Haman, who was hanged on the gallows he had built for Mordecai (Esther 4:15–7:10). The deliverance is remembered at the feast of Purim (Esther 9).
Family
- Father
- Abihail