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Esther was a Jewish girl who had been taken captive. After her parents died, she was adopted a family member, Mordecai, who raised her as his own daughter.

King Xerxes (ZERK seez) was looking for a new queen. Many young women were considered, but after a year of beauty treatments, Esther was chosen to be the new queen.

Haman was the most powerful man in the kingdom besides the king. He was an evil man who hated the Jewish people and plotted to have them killed.

Mordecai persuaded Esther to go to the king and plead for the lives of the Jewish people. She could be killed for going before him when she hadn't been called. But she was brave and went to see the king. She invited him and the evil man, Haman, to a banquet. During the meal, she revealed the plot against the Jews and accused Haman. Haman was hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai, and the Jews were allowed to defend themselves. Mordecai was honored.


Since that time Jews have remembered Esther and celebrated the Feast of Purim.

Read the story in Spanish Ester

Read the story in Amharic


All the sufferings of the Jewish people were caused by the prejudice of Haman, the evil man who wanted them killed. Prejudice causes a person to judge and hate another person based on race, color, or some other factor. Many times families pass on their prejudices to their children, and the children learn to devalue people because of such factors.

Do you struggle with some kind of prejudices? Ask God to help you overcome this and look for the good in all people.

You can read this very interesting story of Esther in the book of Esther chapters 1-10.


Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30

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