When Esther is chosen as the queen, unknown to her, Mordecai discovers a plan by the kings wicked advisor, Haman, to kill all the Jews. Mordechais loyalty and faithfulness to the King were key elements in the unfolding of the events. She is mentioned several times throughout the Book of Esther. In post-Temple times, a small piece of dough set aside and burnt. Answer (1 of 5): I don't about my husband Ahaserus, but I, Haddasha aka Esther never died, for here I Am. Mordecai, the leader of the Jewish community in the city of Susa, heard the news of the decree and went to Queen Esther, his cousin, to plead with her to plead to the king on their behalf and to save them from the impending danger. Mordecai held a position inside of the king's palace, and he went their every day to perform his duties. Rabbah28:6). Mordecai had discovered the evil plan of two palace administrators, Bigthan and Teresh, and he wanted to make sure the king was aware of the danger and could take proper precautions to protect himself. [4] Tal Ilan devotes a chapter to discussing the name Shelamzion inSilencing the Queen, 259ff. Estimates vary, but she was most likely between 50 and 60 years old when she died. The more prevalent Rabbinic opinion is that Hadassah was Esthers second name, with a plethora of interpretations built on the similarity of the myrtle (hadas) to Esther: Esther was so called because she was righteous, and the righteous are called myrtles; she was of average height, like a myrtle, which is neither short nor long; she had a greenish (sallow) complexion, like a myrtle (BTMegillahloc. The Queen dies 'peacefully' aged 96 after 70 years of remarkable She was expressing her inner strength and her ability to survive and even to thrive in difficult circumstances. How old was the Queen Mother when she died? Age Queen Elizabeth II's [2] But Shelamzion remained queen and lived up to her name, maintaining the peace of Zion with a strong army, careful diplomacy, and the support of the Jews of ancient Israel and beyond. Do you, or does someone you know, demonstrate the same total commitment to a mission, even at the cost of sacrificing personal happiness? cit.). Seeking a new queen, the king appointed commissioners to bring all the beautiful young virgins from every province into his harem for a year of cosmetic treatments so that he might select a new bride. missed each other by at least 50 years. She died in her sleep at the Royal Lodge, Great Windsor Park, which is now the main residence of her grandson. After an exhilarating victory, they declared the following day a holiday and (alluding to the lots Haman had cast) named it Purim, which is Hebrew for lots.. Theodor-Albeck], MS. Vatican, para. 482 BC, so Daniel had likely been dead for about 25 years at this Torah and history converge in a remarkable way in the life of Shelamzion. cit.). A new decree to save the Jews. Esther, heroine and central figure in the Book of Esther of the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament. How old was King Xerxes when he married Esther? She was 96 years old. This prayer also mentioned her situation, which contrasted with that of Sarah andRebekah: they were taken for a single night to the court of a foreign king and miracles were performed for them. The Midrash adds that Esther's father died during her mother's pregnancy, and the latter died during childbirth ( Esth. [5] Ilan discusses variants of the same traditions inSilencing the Queen, 35-42, drawing attention to how later rabbinic sources gradually eliminate Shelamzion from this tradition and replace her with her contemporary Shimon ben Shetach. This makes Esther 60 years younger than her cousin Mordecai. Since Nehemiah was a leading figure in Jerusalem by 432 BC, What is the reflection of the story of princess urduja? She "order." Happy Womens History Month! What did this queen do? Rachel is first mentioned in the Hebrew Bible in Genesis 29 when Jacob happens upon her as she is about to water her father's flock. When Esther was taken captive, her emotional world was completely destroyed. She was a beautiful Jewish woman, the wife of the Persian king Ahasuerus (Xerxes I). She recognizes that she needs to personally plead the king to save her people but knows this act is a grave transgression. This also leads to a different understanding of Mordecais involvement, as he walks about in the royal courtyard out of concern for his wife. Designation of the five scrolls of the Bible (Ruth, Song of Songs, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther). book of Nehemiah began, although her husband, King Xerxes was Esther, the orphaned cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, won the kings devotion and was chosen to be the new queen; Mordecai had instructed her to not reveal that she was Jewish. Esther and Mordecai in the Book of Esther. How old were they? - Tripod Esther stood in the middle of the fourth department; the guards of the first department could no longer touch her, while those of the last department could not yet approach her. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? Once upon a time a Jewish queen ruled the land. Esther was the heroine and central figure in the Book of Esther, which is now recognised by Biblical scholars to have been a second-century-BCE Jewish novel. Other sources say that the the woman "Esther" in the bible, married. The Queen was the oldest monarch to have reigned in Britain before she passed away in September 2022, aged 96. Esth. Whereas her husband had persecuted the Pharisees, in her reign as solitary queen, Shelamzion was particularly supportive of the Pharisees, promoting their vision of Judaism and perhaps ensuring their popularity for generations to come (Josephus, Jewish War 1:110). She overtook Queen Victoria as the longest reigning monarch in 2015 - Victoria had served for 63 years and lived to the age of 81. Weird Things Nobody Told You About Queen Esther - YouTube She trusted in the goodness and power of God, and in the end He delivered her and her people, the Jewish people, from destruction. At that banquet, she heightened the tension between the two by inviting both men to a second banquet. Furthermore, the Jewish people had a special holiday to commemorate their deliverance and celebrate the bravery of Mordecai. The BT lists a number of possible reasons: (1) she wanted Haman to be near her (so that she could say what she wanted about him at the appropriate moment); (2) she wanted to set a trap for him; (3) she planned to act toward Haman in a way that would lead Ahasuerus to suspect that she had engaged in an improper relationship with the former and thus cause the king to kill them both. 2). She remained passive to the moody King and obedient to her authoritarian uncle, Mordecai. Her reign lasted less than a decade but still longer than a two-term presidency. 22:16). Queen Esther died in 473 BCE, so she was likely in her late fifties or early sixties at the time of her death. How old was Queen Esther when her parents died? - Quora Esther remained passive and allowed the King to rape her repeatedly. "scroll." 9:23): The Jews accordingly assumed an obligation [ve-kibel] that which they had begun to practice.Ve-kibelis written in the singular, thus alluding to God(Ruth Rabbah4:1; BT Megillah 7a). House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered flags at the Capitol to be flown at half-staff following the queen's death. guessing that Nehemiah was probably not around when the events of The Queen died in the afternoon of September 8, 2022. 5:3), but not things that were opposed to the kingdom, such as her asking him to rebuild the Temple (BT Megillah loc. The king wanted to honor Esther, so he showered her with gifts, including a crown and royal robes. 2:5as being a Benjaminite, from which the Rabbis assumed that Esther also came from this tribe. In Megillat Esther, we encounter another heroine who maneuvers royal protocol to save her people. In the midrashic expansion, on her way to the king Esther encountered various obstacles and she had to pass through seven departments in the palace. cit.). Their legal marriage age suggests that they prefer young people below 18 (prime of the youth). Updates? We read that: "The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. When Esther's parents died, I adopted Esther and took care of her like she was my daughter. She never forgot her cousin Mordecai and she never forgot that she was one of God's children. She also exhibits symptoms of agoraphobia, suicidal ideation, and feelings of overwhelming guilt and worthlessness. The verse (5:1) Esther put on royal apparel is interpreted as her assuming the spirit of prophecy (BTMegillahloc. Oops! Others have suggested an earlier date of translation, ca. Those were the good old days, the rabbis say, the days of Queen Shelamzion. Hearing the horror of the planned genocide, the light went on: Esther connected with her inner self and understood why she had been made queen. As Ahasuerus enjoyed only 14 more years on the throne, we conclude that Esther was but 28 years. How Can a Torah Commentary Be Source-Critical and Jewish? This book therefore has the same sanctity as the other books of Scripture. Esther showed tremendous courage in standing up for what she believed was right, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable opposition. He had a war against Greece in 480-470BC, when he was 39-49. Hi, I'm Mordecai, Esther's older cousin. Esther: Bible | Jewish Women's Archive Queen Elizabeth II died of old age, death certificate shows Ecbatana, located in what is now western Iran. Esther and her cousin Mordecai (who had once saved the king's life) later persuaded the king to cancel an order for the extermination of the Jews in his vast realm, which had been plotted by the king's chief minister, Haman. The Talmud reveals that Esther's relationship with Ahasuerus wasn't a romantic one. She appears to be a loyal wife to Mordecai, as she supports him throughout his efforts to save the Jewish people from Hamans plot. When word of the planned massacre reachedEsther, she risked her life by going uninvited to the king to suggest a banquet that Haman would attend. TheA type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules).Midrash adds that Esthers father died during her mothers pregnancy, and the latter died during childbirth (Esth. How Did Queen Esther Die? Please consider supporting TheTorah.com. Mordechai discovered a plot to kill King Xerxes and foiled it by informing the King through his cousin Esther. The answer is yes. Just as the myrtle is sweet-smelling but has a bitter taste, so Esther was sweet to Ahasuerus, but bitter to Haman (Esth. The Talmud reveals that Esther's relationship with Ahasuerus wasn't a romantic one. Another angel pushed Haman onto Esthers couch (BTMegillahloc. She notes that Josephus only knew this queen by her Greek name, Alexandra, while the Rabbis only knew her by her Semitic name. 12:2], 5:11). The King of Persia, Ahasuerus, had appointed Haman to be his prime minister and a decree was issued ordering the annihilation of all Jews. Jewish Women's Archive. Lastly, Mordecai helped the Jews to establish their rights, which became to be known as the Purim festival. She and her cousin Mordecai persuaded the king to cancel an order for the extermination of Jews in his realm, plotted by the king's chief minister, Haman. Esther: A Queen Under Control. Furthermore, because of her passivity, her life with Ahasuerus was not thought to entail illicit sexual intercourse (a grave sin, for which one should be killed rather than transgress")(BTSanhedrin74b). [3] His father was Kish, who descended from the House of Benjamin. The jar symbolizes Esthers grief, fear, and pain, which stems from her captivity in King Xerxes harem. She was Jewish but never revealed her nationality or family background as Mordecai had. After the immediate danger to her community passed, Queen Esther stayed with Ahasuerus. The spelling of her name is confirmed by its appearance in the Qumran material; see4QCalendrical Document C(Florentino Garcia Martinez and Elbert J. C. Tigchelaar, eds.,Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition[Brill Academic Publishers, 2000], 694). Ahasuerus is moved by her words and instead orders Haman to be hung on the gallows he had built for Mordecai. When Esther pointed and declared(Esth. In the midrashic exposition, Ahasuerus tries to discover Esthers origins, explaining that this would be beneficial for her relatives, since he would appoint them to important positions (Midrash Panim Aherimloc. Like many Jews today, she had two names, one Hebrew and one Greek. The story of Esther happened after Cyrus, the first Persian King, called for all deported Jews to return to Jerusalem to build the House of God (538 B.C., Ezra 1:2). Elizabeth I is one of England's most well-known monarchs. When she relayed Mordecais information to the king, she attributed it to Mordecai(Esth. 2). The Jewish dietary laws delineating the permissible types of food and methods of their preparation. Mordecais wife is never directly named, but it is presumed that she was originally from Susa, based on her residence in the city at the time of the story. brought him up to be favorable to the Jews and he later rebuilt the As a result of her mothers death, Mordecai had to care for Esthers nursing. Later, when Haman planned to hang Mordecai, the king found out that it was Mordecai who had uncovered a plot to assassinate him, so he reversed the orders, hanged Haman instead and gave Mordecai the harem. One school of thought takes the numerical value ofHadassah= 74 (or 75, including the name itself as a unit) to determine Esthers age(Gen. Rabbah39:13; see below: Esthers Age). holy Temple in Jersusalem. Queen Mother dies peacefully, aged 101 | UK news | The Guardian 464 BC. Esther before she died (I'm guessing she died in 464 BC) and maybe [9] For more on Esthers diplomacy and its place in theMegillahand in understanding female biblical characters, see Michael Foxs TABS essayThe Women in Esther.. 100-105 and 127-154. The Death of Queen Victoria | Royal Museums Greenwich - Cutty Sark They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Upon realizing this, Mordecai subdued the enemy and turned the wickedness of Haman back onto himself and his family. After Esthers coronation, the king continues to gather virgins in his palace, which the Rabbis understand as an activity meant to reveal Esthers identity. She became the new wife of the king when his . How old was King Xerxes when he married Esther? - Study.com He wished Queen Vashti to be brought to the feast so that he may flaunt her wonderful beauty. He deposed Queen Vashti in 483/482BC when he was 36 ( Esther 1:3 ). Just as a wolf seizes its spoils, so did Esther seize the throne; similarly, Mordecai and Esther divided Hamans spoils among them (Gen. Rabbah[ed. Queen Esther - Mission Bible Class The Jews were in the Babylonian exile. This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Immediately upon her death, her sons fought over the throne, eventually inviting in Rome, and Judea never regained full independence until the modern state of Israel. case we can not say how old she was. Rabbah6:9). 31 December 1999. The hero of the Book of Esther is a Jewish woman who lived in Susa and became queen when she was chosen to be the wife of King . Perhaps there is room for a role model of the leader who advocates peace, piety, and diplomacy as well. In contrast, the BT also cites a tradition that Esther had a greenish [sallow] complexion, and therefore was called Hadassah; according to this tradition, Ahasuerus was drawn to her because she was endowed with great charm (BTMegillahloc. The monarch of Persia, King Ahasuerus, was wealthy and powerful. Read Esther 4:1-17. The day before, the 96-year-old queen pulled out of a virtual Privy Council meeting after her doctors advised her to rest. Fun Facts About Esther From The Bible That You Should Know The Death of Esther 726. to be fictional. According to the tradition that she was previously unmarried, she was now married to and lived with a non-Jewish king. One advantage to welcoming Shelamzion back into Jewish memory is making space for a role model of diplomacy and peace. Taken to the palace of King Ahasuerus of Persia, she exposed the plot of the evil Haman, who had convinced the king to allow the annihilation of all the Jews in his extensive empire. cit.). You, O Father of orphans, stand at the right hand of this orphan, who trusts in Your compassion. "And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all who saw her." (2:15). The Rabbis were concerned about the question of Esthers marital status. 16 September 2012. 22:25). Esther and Mordecai under Xerxes of Persia - Amazing Bible Timeline Esther was taken to the royal harem despite her being married, which further aggravated her sorry condition. How old was Sarah when she gave birth to Isaac? - Aleteia Her name was Shelamzion Alexandra. Jewish and Persian Esther: Nice Jewish Girl, Married to a Goy? Read a brief summary of this topic. [1] As shall be discussed further below, much of what we know about Shelamzion Alexandra comes from Josephuss two accounts of her reign inJewish War1.107-119 andJewish Antiquities13.398-432. Jewish Queens: From the Story of Esther to the History of Shelamzion Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. He suggested that she might be Jewish, which implied some sort of relationship between them, since he was from the offspring of Amalek, the grandson of Esau (Jacobs brother) (Esth. She was a beautiful Jewish woman, the wife of the Persian king Ahasuerus (Xerxes I). In post-Temple times, a small piece of dough set aside and burnt. cit.). Additionally, Hamans royal throne and belongings were given to Mordecai, and he was honored by the people of the city. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'coalitionbrewing_com-leader-3','ezslot_14',155,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-coalitionbrewing_com-leader-3-0');Furthermore, Esthers actions become increasingly irrational and her behavior can be classified as psychotic. Meir, Tamar. Lit. It is a remarkable moment in Jewish history, in which we can see one of the times when Jews were connecting to each other from Jerusalem to the Diaspora and establishing the holidays that we take for granted today. Themidrashrelates that Esther hid from Ahasueruss agents who sought women for the king. In one exegetical expansion, the women in the harem would adorn Esther, for they said to themselves: This one will certainly be married to the king, so it is worth our while to honor her (Midrash Panim Aherim, version B, para. An additional stratagem employed by Esther against Haman was connected with his leading Mordecai on the horse. The Rabbis devote extensive attention to Esthers observance of the laws of niddah. He killed Haman in 473BC, when he was 45 ( Esther 3:7 ). i. This understanding of the Book of Esther is linked to the perception of Esther as a prophet: she is included in the list of seven women prophets(BTMegillah14a; Seder Olam Rabbah21). Mordecai and Esther respond to this that the story in the Book of Esther was already recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Media and Persia(Esth. Instead, Haman was hanged, and the Jews were given permission to destroy their enemies. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'coalitionbrewing_com-box-4','ezslot_5',147,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-coalitionbrewing_com-box-4-0');In the biblical book of Esther, Queen Esther is a young Jewish woman who becomes queen of the Persian Empire, thanks to the intervention of King Ahasuerus advisor, Mordecai.
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