Esther the Hero

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on The Chosen People. 00:00:03 Speaker 2: My Queen, I can no longer wait. What is your petition? Whatever you desire, up to half my kingdom, it shall be given. 00:00:16 Speaker 3: My people are the Jews of Israel, and we have been marked for extermination by royal edict on the thirteenth day of Adar, in the twelfth month of the year. But the man who authored the edict in the king's authority is here. The adversary and enemy of my people is this evil Haman. 00:00:37 Speaker 2: Haman's ensnared me in one of his political schemes. 00:00:42 Speaker 4: My king, a gallows stands at Haman's estate, 70 feet high. It was built just last night. It was built for what? 00:01:01 Speaker 1: Moments later, across town, the gallows outside Haman's home held its builder. The banquet hall was still and silent now, the echoes of fury and dark revelation lingering in the gold-plated columns. Hester sat back on her seat. Relieved, but still trembling at the violence and treachery that had taken place around her. Her heart still raced, and her hands trembled in her lap. The weight of what she had done pressed on her chest, but there was also a strange lightness. The secret was out. She no longer had to conceal who she was, and their enemy had fallen. But the danger was not yet gone. The courtiers and attendants were still abuzz, but the king's anger had subsided somewhat as justice had been enacted and Haman had been put to death. 00:02:03 Speaker 2: At his order. 00:02:05 Speaker 1: He approached, his steps heavy, but his eyes surprisingly soft as he looked upon her. He knelt beside her couch, gently taking her trembling hands. 00:02:16 Speaker 2: My queen, you have shown courage beyond measure. You have revealed a snake in the grass. For uncovering his conspiracy, you should be rewarded. You should have Amon's estate. It is the finest in all of Susa. 00:02:38 Speaker 1: The crowd hushed at the king's proclamation and then cheered Esther. She gave them all a weak smile in gratitude, but she tugged on her husband's hand to get his attention again. When she spoke, Her breath was still shaky. 00:02:53 Speaker 3: My king, you are so generous. I thank you, but you deserve to know the whole truth. Mordecai, the judge who uncovered the conspiracy against you all those years ago, is my adopted father. He is my cousin and raised me as his own child. It was at his urging that I kept my heritage hidden. For my safety. And as you can see, his fears were not unfounded. Haman's plot has made them real. But my people, your subjects, are still in danger. 00:03:39 Speaker 1: Xerxes' brow furrowed as he processed this news. He nodded solemnly. Rest tonight, my queen. Tomorrow, I will summon more decay. Esther nodded as the king rose. He turned and signaled to Hethark waiting at the edge of the hall. Esther had not even seen him come in in all the commotion, but she could have wept in relief to see a familiar face after her ordeal. The loyal eunuch moved quickly to her side. 00:04:12 Speaker 2: Come, my queen. 00:04:14 Speaker 3: Let me help you. 00:04:16 Speaker 1: Esther allowed herself to be led from the banquet hall. Behind her, The heavy doors closed with a thundering finality, and at once murmurs again rippled among the nobles in attendance. But she knew the danger was not yet gone. The king's edict still hung over her people like an executioner holding a sword suspended over a doomed prisoner. But for now, for this moment, she allowed herself the quiet satisfaction of having unmasked Haman's treachery. Tomorrow, she would need all her strength. Tomorrow, she would plead for her people's lives. At dawn, Mordecai was summoned to the palace. He had heard whispers, wild, unbelievable rumors of what had unfolded in the banquet hall. But the sight that met him on the road to the palace erased all doubt. Haman's mangled body. hanging lifeless from the towering gallows outside his own estate, the gallows that had been meant for him. Mordecai's stomach turned as the truth settled in. He was still reeling from the extravagance of the king's parade in his honour just the day before, but now he needed only to recall the image of Haman's wide, unseeing eyes and twisted body swaying in the morning breeze. already food for Carrion, to understand how quickly favor could turn to death. And so he walked with measured steps, heart pounding, unsure of what awaited him in the audience chamber with the king. Guards opened the grand doors and he stepped into the throne room. King Xerxes sat tall, regal, but with a smile that eased Mordecai's fear. He extended his golden scepter and Mordecai stumbled forward to stand before his king. 00:06:25 Speaker 2: You have been forgotten too long, Mordecai, but no more. 00:06:31 Speaker 1: He removed the signet ring, the very one stripped from Haman's hand only hours before, and placed it into Mordecai's palm. 00:06:41 Speaker 2: With this ring, Mordecai, I give you authority, and I give you. 00:06:49 Speaker 1: Trust Astonished and honored beyond belief, Mordecai bowed low. His heart swelled with awe and gratitude. 00:06:59 Speaker 2: My king, I have no words. 00:07:03 Speaker 4: You honor me. Thank you. I hope I serve you well. 00:07:08 Speaker 1: But more was yet to come. The king smiled and continued. 00:07:13 Speaker 2: I have given the traitor Haman's estate to my queen. And Queen Aster has revealed... That you are her cousin, her adopted father. I am my king. Queen Esther has placed the estate under your charge. 00:07:30 Speaker 1: Mordecai was stunned yet again at this overwhelming generosity and sudden ascent. He was then whisked from the king's presence and driven to the estate on the other side of the city where Queen Esther would meet him. As the carriage drove up to the towering gate, he ignored the horrific sight of Haman's corpse still hanging on the gallows, a cautionary tale of cruelty, hate and pride. Inside, Mordecai wept the instant he saw Esther standing in the grand entryway. They embraced. For a long while, they were overcome with emotion and did not speak. But when they did speak, They shared every moment, every heartache, every triumph that had taken place in the years since they had seen one another. Esther introduced Mordecai to Hetharch and her loyal handmaidens as well, and Mordecai was overwhelmed with emotion at the family she had found within the cold, dangerous walls of the palace. 00:08:39 Speaker 4: Lord Hetharch, all of you, I cannot express my gratitude for your support of my daughter or of our people. May our God, the God of Israel, bless you for all your faithfulness. 00:08:55 Speaker 1: Hetar bowed deeply to Mordecai and answered on all of their behalf. 00:09:01 Speaker 3: It is your adopted daughter, Queen Esther Hadassah, who has inspired us all. 00:09:08 Speaker 2: Her courage and faith in your God is what has. 00:09:11 Speaker 1: Prevailed Mordecai's eyes widened at the sound of her Hebrew name. Esther met his gaze and nodded. 00:09:19 Speaker 3: Our God has blessed me with true friends. I could not have gone before the king and unmasked Haman without them. 00:09:28 Speaker 1: Even as her heart swelled with gratitude, the weight of unfinished business pressed in. But that did not change the fact that Haman's edict was still in place. It could not be overturned. For the king's word, once spoken, was law. It was as if Haman's hatred haunted them from beyond the grave, intent on their destruction. They would need to be clever to come up with a solution to get around it. It would not be easy. 00:09:59 Speaker 3: Hurrah! 00:10:00 Speaker 1: Eyes drifted to Mordecai's right hand and the ring upon his finger, the symbolic source of the power. 00:10:06 Speaker 2: Of the king. 00:10:07 Speaker 3: But our people are still in grave danger. On your hand, dear cousin, is the ring that was used to mark the edict set to destroy us. It now rests on your hand. The question that remains is this. How will we use it? 00:10:28 Speaker 1: Mordecai nodded, but said nothing. Brow furrowed. She could tell that he was weighing their options and considering all that he knew of the law. The others remained in the entryway while Mordecai and Esther surveyed the rest of Haman's estate, now eerily silent. The opulence felt cold, touched by the shadow of evil. Once more in the Grand Hall, Mordecai lifted his eyes to the vast tapestries. 00:10:58 Speaker 4: The Egypt authorized the citizens of Persia to not only destroy us, but also to seize our property and possessions for themselves. Isn't it ironic that the very man who would steal from our people... has had all his riches given to one of us. The Lord's hand is, if anything, not subtle. 00:11:25 Speaker 1: They shared a moment of wonder, and then determination. 00:11:29 Speaker 3: The danger remains. The decree still stands. 00:11:32 Speaker 4: Then we must act. Adasa, I fear the only way forward is to prepare our people to defend themselves. We cannot reverse the law Haman wrote, but we can authorize our people to stand against any who would attack them. Our God has granted us time, time to spread word to every province, every Jewish household, so they may rise and fight when the day comes. 00:12:04 Speaker 1: Hester nodded solemnly. Violence was not her desire, but if survival required it, so be it. 00:12:13 Speaker 4: But my dear Hadassah, I will not act in secret as Haman did. Though the king has given me his ring and authority, I must act with his knowledge and blessing. You must go before your husband once more. Plead for our people's lives and gain his favor so that we may stand. 00:12:41 Speaker 1: And so... Esther gathered her courage once more. Clothed in her most regal garments, the crisp whites and deep blues of Persian royalty, her royal crown upon her head, she approached the throne room once again, unbidden. Her heart pounded in her chest, but when the great doors opened, King Xerxes lifted his gaze and extended the golden scepter without hesitation. 00:13:11 Speaker 2: My queen. What is your request? 00:13:15 Speaker 1: Esther lowered herself to her knees, no easy feet in her heavy finery, and begged before the king. 00:13:23 Speaker 3: If it pleases the king, and I have found favor with him, if the matter seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his eyes, let a royal edict be written. Let it revoke the documents the scheming Haman, son of Hamadatha the Agagite, wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king's provinces. For how could I bear to see the disaster that would come on my people? How could I bear to see the destruction of my relatives? 00:13:54 Speaker 1: The king's expression darkened, and he shook his head. Esther's heart pounded as she prayed, not only that he would see the truth, but that he would come to it himself. She dared not push him, lest he feel manipulated, as Haman had once deceived him. For if this moment was ordained, it must be by his hand, not by her persuasion. She dared not press. She could only trust. 00:14:23 Speaker 2: You know I cannot undo what has been sealed with my ring. But in my name? Write whatever pleases you concerning the juice, and seal it with the royal signet ring. For as you know, a document written in the king's name and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked. 00:14:47 Speaker 1: Esther could have wept in relief and joy, but she knew the hardest part was still to come. She and Mordecai would need to prepare their people for the danger to come. Within the hour of gaining the king's permission, Mordecai and Esther sat together in the royal scribe's chamber. Scrolls stretched before them, wax and seals ready. Mordecai dipped the quill, his hands steady. 00:15:15 Speaker 4: For generations they will know this was not chance. God of our people watches and delivers! 00:15:23 Speaker 1: Esther nodded as she recalled all her story's strange twists and turns that led them to this very moment. The scribes worked quickly. The new edict spread across the empire. The Jews could defend themselves. They were permitted to rise against those who sought their destruction. Months later, Esther stood at the window in the royal palace, watching the city awaken. The weight of millions pressed on her heart. Mordecai entered, his robes flowing with regal weight, the signet ring glinting on his finger. 00:16:03 Speaker 4: The day approaches. 00:16:05 Speaker 3: Too quickly. 00:16:06 Speaker 1: He stood beside her, the silence full of shared resolve. 00:16:12 Speaker 4: You've given them the right to defend themselves. Yes. Now we pray that they will have courage to do so. 00:16:20 Speaker 1: The day finally arrived, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the day Haman marked for death, now a fighting chance. Across the empire, from the gates of Susa to the farthest provinces, the Jews had gathered and fortified against all who sought to destroy them. Because of Esther's courage and Mordecai's cleverness, they were no longer a people hiding in fear. They stood shoulder to shoulder and were armed with courage and unity. Those who had once plotted their destruction now trembled before them. In Susa, palace balconies overflowed with spectators. The city held its breath. But the chaos many feared did not come. The Jews defended themselves with precision, striking only those who rose against them. In the citadel of Susa alone, 500 men fell that day, along with Haman's ten sons. The next morning, a breathless messenger arrived in the palace court. 00:17:30 Speaker 2: My king, the Jews have prevailed. 00:17:33 Speaker 4: 500 have fallen in Susa, and Haman's ten sons among them. 00:17:37 Speaker 1: The king turned to Queen Esther, who was waiting beside him. 00:17:41 Speaker 2: What is your request? 00:17:44 Speaker 1: Her voice was steady and determined. It had come to violence between the Jews and their enemies after all, but let justice be complete. 00:17:53 Speaker 3: If it pleases the king, let the Jews and Susa defend themselves for one more day, and let the bodies of Haman's sons be displayed on the gallows. a warning to any who would rise against us. 00:18:09 Speaker 1: The king nodded. 00:18:10 Speaker 2: It shall be done. 00:18:13 Speaker 1: And so, on the fourteenth day of Adar, the Jews of Susa defended themselves once more. Seventy-five thousand fell across the provinces of Persia, but they did not lay hands on the plunder. Justice was delivered, not greed. In the days that followed, Joy swept through the empire. From the grandest courts to the humblest villages, the Jewish people celebrated. What had been a day marked for destruction became a day of triumph, feasting and thanksgiving. Mordecai and Esther decreed that every generation would remember these days, a celebration of deliverance, divine reversal and God's faithfulness. They called it Purim, after the poor, the lot Haman had cast in secret when he first devised his genocidal scheme, believing he could control the fate of a people. But the God of Israel had cast his own lot, and it had fallen in their favor. Esther and Mordecai sat side by side in the quiet courtyard of Haman's former estate as the sun dipped below the horizons. The air was filled with the laughter of all their friends and trusted attendants, the scent of sweet wine and roasted meats drifting from the still-celebrating streets beyond. Mordecai broke the comfortable silence between them first. 00:19:49 Speaker 4: Who would have thought? 00:19:51 Speaker 5: The chances of you being selected all those years ago, the chances of me uncovering that plot, and the chances of you finding such courage, such favor with the king. 00:20:04 Speaker 1: Hester smiled and laughed softly. her eyes bright with gratitude. 00:20:12 Speaker 3: It was never chance. 00:20:16 Speaker 4: Yes, I suppose not. Our god has shown himself faithful, even here, far from home. 00:20:25 Speaker 1: In the years that followed, Mordecai's name became known throughout the empire. Clothed in royal robes of blue and white, he rose to second-in-command, His wisdom and justice brought peace and prosperity not only to the Jews but to all the king's subjects. But those who knew the story best understood. It was not Mordecai's brilliance, nor the might of armies, nor the wealth of Persia that saved them. It was the unseen hand of their God. weaving through palace corridors and city streets, through whispered plots and royal decrees, through sleepless nights and scribal records, guiding every detail. And at the center of it all was one young woman, hidden in plain sight, an orphan girl who became crowned queen, a young woman who stepped forward in trembling courage and faith, trusting that the moment she feared most was the very reason she had been placed where she stood for such a time as this. So, the story of Esther, Hadassah, became more than history. It became a mighty testimony of providence, courage, and the God who watches over his people in every generation. the God who still holds the power to reverse every fate. This Pray.com production is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina, Max Bard, Zach Schellewager and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People, narrated by Paul Colter-Fianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwald, Sylvia Zaradok, Thomas Copeland Jr., Rosanna Pilcher, and Mitch Lashinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith. Written by Aaron Salvato, Brie Rosely, and Chris Baig. You can hear more Prey.com productions on the Prey.com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People, please rate and leave a review.