How it works
The Bible tells how Esther was a Jewish orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai. She was taken to the palace in Persia, and King Xerxes chose her and set a crown on her head.
Haman, the king's top helper, was angry that Mordecai would not bow to him. He made a plan to harm Mordecai's people, and the king gave him his ring to seal it.
Esther was afraid, but she asked everyone to go without food for three days, and then she went in to the king, though no one could go uncalled.
The king held out his golden scepter. Esther gave two banquets, and at the second she told the king the truth. The king sent Haman away, and the city shouted for joy.
Worked examples
Count the days
- Esther asked everyone to go without food for three days.
- Day 1 and day 2 came first.
- On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and walked to the inner court.
Why a king's order could not be undone
- A paper sealed with the king's ring could not be undone.
- In those days riders on fast horses carried a king's order to every town.
- So the king had a new paper written and sealed with his ring.