Introduction

An inspiring re-imagining of the tale of Esther, a young Jewish woman thrust from a life of obscurity into a life of power, wealth, intrigue . . . and tender love. See the story of Esther in an entirely new way—with all the political intrigue and tension you remember, but told as a passionate and tender love story between a young man and woman. Misunderstood by many, King Xerxes was a powerful but lonely man. Esther’s beauty caught the eye of the young king, but it was her spirit that captured his heart. Imagine anew the story of Esther, one of our faith’s great heroines, destined to play a key role in the history of Christianity.

Editorial Review

No editorial review at this time.

Excerpt

485 BC
Esther rose early as usual. She dressed in her brown
robe and overtunic, fitted her veil over her long black
hair, and went out to the courtyard behind her uncle’s
house to begin making the day’s bread—more than she and
her uncle needed because she gave some to the old women in
their community every day. By the time Mordecai came into
the courtyard, she had kneaded the dough and set the loaves
out to rise.
“Tired, Uncle?” Esther asked in a teasing tone as she saw Mordecai yawn. “The Great King’s feast kept you up late last
night.”
Mordecai smiled ruefully. “Far later than I care to be out,
chicken. But I had no choice. All of the palace staff was invited
and the Head Treasurer would have noticed if I did not appear
for the king’s birthday.”
He took a seat on the bench at the small table in the courtyard
and Esther began to assemble their breakfast. The plates
contained dates and figs and slices of yesterday’s bread, which
Esther had warmed in the outdoor oven. She fetched cups of
water from inside the house, Mordecai said the blessing over
the food, and silence fell as they ate.
Esther waited until her uncle had finished before she spoke
again. She and her friends were all curious about the new king,
Ahasuerus, who had only recently arrived in Susa, the capital
of the Persian Empire. It had been a huge surprise two years
ago when the old king, Darius, had chosen him over his other
son, Xerxes, and it made him an intriguing figure. But the real
reason for the girls’ interest was the gossip they had heard in
the marketplace that the king was the most handsome man
who ever lived.
Unfortunately, the Jewish girls who made up Esther’s circle
would probably never have an opportunity to see this paragon
for themselves, but they hoped that Esther’s uncle might have
seen him at the feast.
“Did you get to see the king, Uncle?” Mordecai pushed his plate a little away from him. “No,
Esther, I did not. We menials were crowded into the Apanada,
while the king and the Royal Kin dined inside in splendor. But
I must say that we were treated well. There were huge quantities
of meat and fowl: horses, camels, oxen, donkeys, deer,
ostriches, geese; the countryside must have been decimated to
provide so much food. The wine served was from Damascus, I
was told, and everyone assured me it was excellent.”
“Did you at least take a cup of water?” Esther asked.
Mordecai gave her a stern look and did not reply.
Esther wasn’t surprised. The Jewish community to which
they belonged held strictly to the Mosaic dietary laws. Even a
cup from a Persian kitchen would be unclean for Mordecai.
Esther thought about how thirsty her uncle must have
been and sighed. His look grew sterner. “The Law is the Law,
Esther. Except if you’re that weasel Ezra and his friends. They
were eating and drinking without a thought for what it means
to be Jewish.” His lip curled in disgust. “They were as drunk as
the Persians by the end of the evening.”
This was one topic that Mordecai could hold forth about
for a long time. The Susa Jews were broken into two sects.
The smaller one, to which Mordecai belonged, held strictly to
Mosaic Law. The other sect, comprised of most of the wealthy
Jewish merchants in the city, had assumed many of the ways of
the Persians among whom they lived.
Esther nodded impatiently.
... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

From the publisher:

1. The king’s banishment of Vashti is the catalyst for the contest that brings Esther to his attention. How does the shadow of Vashti hang over Esther for the remainder of the book?

2. Do you think Mordecai can really love his niece and at the same time ask her to do something that is so opposed to everything she believes in?

3. It takes a long time for Esther to accept the role that has been thrust on her. What are the steps she must take before she arrives at her decision to stand up for her people?

4. Esther finds herself caught between her love for her husband and her responsibility to her God. Can such a struggle happen in today’s secular world?

5. In the Bible, Haman stands for pure evil. His only motivation is his hatred of the Jews, which is never quite explained. It is a given. How does the novel try to expand Haman’s motivations to greater complexity. Do you think Haman’s actions are believable, given the context of the novel?

6. Does Haman in any way pre-figure Judas?

7. At the beginning of the Book of Esther, the Jews have become in danger of assimilating into the Persian culture and forgetting their special mission from God. Is that happening to Christians today?

8. For Jews the celebration of Purim reminds them that with the gift of survival comes responsibility. Wherever injustice and hatred exist in the world, Jews are called to speak up and lead the call for justice. Does the same call apply to Christians?

9. Does Haman’s plan to destroy the Jews remind you of the Holocaust? Why do you think the Jews have been the target of such hatred over the centuries?

Suggested by Members

by grace4terry (see profile) 10/22/11

Weblinks

»	Publisher's Book Info
»	Author Joan Wolf's web site
»	Email Joan Joan would be happy to call-in to your book club as well as meet with clubs in Connecticut. Email her via her web site to make arrangements.

Book Club Recommendations

Recommended to book clubs by 3 of 3 members.

by grace4terry (see profile) 10/22/11

Member Reviews

Rate this book