Esther & Xerxes

Bible Reference: Ezra 4:6, Esther

Xerxes was the ruler of the Persian Empire.
He crushed revolts in Egypt and Babylon.
He deposed Queen Vashti in his third year as king and replaced her with the Jewish Queen Esther in year seven after a search for a new wife was held throughout Persia.
Before the time that Queen Esther was found, the Persian Empire had invaded Greece but had been defeated at Salamis and Plataea.
His military defeats led to a conclusion of military actions against Greece.
Xerxes settled in after a great defeat and turned his attention to construction projects in Susa and Persepolis.
Enemies of the Jewish people who had returned from exile began to write to Xerxes.
He was succeeded by his third son Artaxerxes.
Esther was a Jewish orphan who was raised by her cousin Mordecai in Persia.
When King Xerxes divorced his wife Vashti, he ordered a search for the most beautiful maiden to be her successor.
Esther was selected as a part of the search and chosen by Xerxes to be queen because she was found with favor and kindness (487 BC).
Esther concealed the fact that she was Jewish from Xerxes and those in the royal court at the request of Mordecai.
She put her life and position on the line when she appeared before Xerxes when she was not invited.
She spoke on behalf of the Jews who were schemed against by Haman who had set up a decree allowing the Jewish people to be destroyed.
God spared the life of the Jewish people through Esther’s piety and courage.

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