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The Rise of Esther · The Chosen People

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Previously on The Chosen People.
• 0:02
  Speaker 2: I'm married. And a queen at that. A king's wife.
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: And yet, with every passing day, the title felt more
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: like a role to perform than a life to live.
• 0:16
  Speaker 1: Haman bit back a wicked smile at how the king
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: was falling flawlessly into his trap.
• 0:23
  Speaker 3: It is the Jews, my king. Their laws are different
• 0:26
  Speaker 3: from everyone else's, and They don't obey the king's laws.
• 0:30
  Speaker 3: It is not in the king's best interest to tolerate them.
• 0:35
  Speaker 3: If the king approves, let an order be drawn up
• 0:37
  Speaker 3: authorizing their destruction, and I will pay 375 tons of
• 0:43
  Speaker 3: silver to the officials for deposit in the royal treasury.
• 0:48
  Speaker 3: Let it be as you say, and take whatever you
• 0:51
  Speaker 3: need to be rid of them.
• 0:54
  Speaker 1: So the king removed his signet ring from his hand,
• 0:57
  Speaker 1: and gave it to Haman, son of Hamadata the Agagite,
• 1:02
  Speaker 1: the enemy of the Jews. Haman, with the signet ring,
• 1:07
  Speaker 1: the authority of the king, had the scribes draw up
• 1:10
  Speaker 1: the edicts, seal them in wax and clay, and distribute
• 1:15
  Speaker 1: them throughout the entire kingdom. There were whispers of dread,
• 1:20
  Speaker 1: whispers of evil, and soon, Whispers would rise into walls
• 1:25
  Speaker 1: that clothed the streets in sackcloth and sorrow, as if
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  Speaker 1: the earth itself tore its garments in grief beneath the
• 1:34
  Speaker 1: weight of reckless hate. The city of Susa stirred with whispers,
• 1:45
  Speaker 1: but at the city gate, whispers had turned to wails.
• 1:49
  Speaker 1: Mordecai stood in sackcloth and ashes, his robes torn, his
• 1:55
  Speaker 1: cries echoing down the streets. He who once sat with
• 2:00
  Speaker 1: dignity and authority at the gate now sat in mourning, broken.
• 2:06
  Speaker 1: The royal edict had shattered every rule of decorum. He
• 2:11
  Speaker 1: no longer cared who saw. His heart was heavy, not
• 2:15
  Speaker 1: only with fear, but also with regret.
• 2:19
  Speaker 4: Was it my defiance of Haman that condemned us all?
• 2:23
  Speaker 4: Did my boldness doom countless lives? After years of hiding
• 2:29
  Speaker 4: my heritage, did my stubbornness give a madman the excuse
• 2:33
  Speaker 4: he craved? Or would he have sought blood regardless?
• 2:38
  Speaker 1: All around him, others wept. He was not alone in
• 2:42
  Speaker 1: his terror. Across Susa and throughout the Empire, every minority
• 2:47
  Speaker 1: group trembled. Persia had long been a conqueror, yes, but
• 2:52
  Speaker 1: a tolerant one. The conquered were permitted their customs, their gods,
• 2:58
  Speaker 1: so long as they bent the knee to Persian rule
• 3:01
  Speaker 1: and obeyed the laws of the king. But if the
• 3:04
  Speaker 1: Jews could be singled out, who among them was safe?
• 3:08
  Speaker 1: Mordecai's public lament became the talk of the gate, and
• 3:13
  Speaker 1: those who had not known his heritage now surely did.
• 3:17
  Speaker 1: And soon... Word reached the palace. Esther, safe behind gilded
• 3:23
  Speaker 1: walls and silken veils, was told of her cousin's disgraceful display,
• 3:28
  Speaker 1: but remained ignorant as to the reason why. The edict
• 3:32
  Speaker 1: of extermination was, apparently, not news the nobles saw as
• 3:38
  Speaker 1: worthy of informing the queen and her handmaidens. So instead,
• 3:42
  Speaker 1: Esther was alarmed, confused, and desperate to preserve Mordecai's dignity.
• 3:48
  Speaker 1: She sent fresh garments to him, but word came back.
• 3:52
  Speaker 1: The garments were refused. She called for Hettarch.
• 3:56
  Speaker 2: Go to Mordecai. Find out what has happened.
• 4:00
  Speaker 1: Hettarch kept his emotions unreadable, but bowed and then departed.
• 4:05
  Speaker 1: Hours later, he returned with a scroll and a message
• 4:09
  Speaker 1: from Mordecai. Hettarch first handed her the king's edict.
• 4:14
  Speaker 5: This edict carries the authority of the king. But its
• 4:19
  Speaker 5: author was the nobleman Haman, my queen.
• 4:23
  Speaker 1: Esther read it once, twice, her hand trembling, her breath caught,
• 4:29
  Speaker 1: her people condemned.
• 4:33
  Speaker 2: Why didn't this news reach the harem? Why wasn't I told?
• 4:38
  Speaker 1: Hettark watched her carefully. Esther knew the eunuch well enough
• 4:42
  Speaker 1: by now that he was testing her yet again. The
• 4:46
  Speaker 1: riddles and games of Susa never ceased.
• 4:49
  Speaker 5: Why would the edict be a concern to the queen?
• 4:53
  Speaker 5: To the kings otherwise? What concern would the fate of
• 4:56
  Speaker 5: the Jews be to the girl with a Persian name?
• 5:00
  Speaker 1: Esther felt frustration rising over her fear.
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  Speaker 6: Stop testing me, Hathak! Surely you know my character by now,
• 5:09
  Speaker 6: and you have been to see my cousin Mordecai. You
• 5:13
  Speaker 6: have learned the truth of our heritage. You know what
• 5:16
  Speaker 6: this means for our people.
• 5:18
  Speaker 2: For us.
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  Speaker 1: Hetak nodded in quiet approval. For a moment, Esther caught
• 5:24
  Speaker 1: a flicker of admiration in his eyes. His loyalty had grown,
• 5:29
  Speaker 1: not just to the queen, but to the woman who
• 5:32
  Speaker 1: carried herself with quiet strength these last five years. The
• 5:37
  Speaker 1: wall of mistrust between them had finally begun to fall.
• 5:41
  Speaker 1: And in these dark days, Esther prayed it would be
• 5:45
  Speaker 1: the last. She could not afford to stand alone.
• 5:48
  Speaker 2: But I know you have more to tell me. What
• 5:51
  Speaker 2: else did he say?
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  Speaker 5: He bids you go to the king. To plead for
• 6:00
  Speaker 5: your people.
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  Speaker 1: Esther closed her eyes. Fear clawed at her throat.
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  Speaker 2: What is he asking me to do? You know the law.
• 6:12
  Speaker 2: Anyone who approaches the king without being summoned.
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  Speaker 5: Unless he extends the golden scepter.
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  Speaker 1: She nodded. She could be granted access. But it had
• 6:22
  Speaker 1: been thirty days. Thirty days had passed since she had
• 6:26
  Speaker 1: been called before the king. She had no reason to
• 6:30
  Speaker 1: think she had fallen out of favor. Another wife could
• 6:33
  Speaker 1: be occupying his time. Or he could be distracted with
• 6:36
  Speaker 1: matters of state. She just didn't know. The fact of
• 6:40
  Speaker 1: the matter was... Her husband was not a man she
• 6:43
  Speaker 1: knew very well at all. She didn't know his mind,
• 6:48
  Speaker 1: just that he could be severe and easily provoke to anger,
• 6:52
  Speaker 1: and she had risked going before him unsummoned once before,
• 6:56
  Speaker 1: but then it had been to spare his life. Now
• 7:00
  Speaker 1: that the tables were turned, would he do the same
• 7:03
  Speaker 1: for her? The edict was sent in the king's authority.
• 7:08
  Speaker 1: If the king were to discover that she was a Jew...
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  Speaker 1: Just how far would the king's favor extend? She could
• 7:14
  Speaker 1: feel Hedark watching, silently tracking each twist and turn of
• 7:19
  Speaker 1: her spiraling thoughts.
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  Speaker 5: You are right to be afraid, my queen. Your cousin,
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  Speaker 5: with his understanding of the laws, has drawn the same
• 7:29
  Speaker 5: conclusions that surely plague your mind right now. You know
• 7:35
  Speaker 5: the king. To go back on his word, even if
• 7:39
  Speaker 5: it was guided and influenced by another, would be a
• 7:42
  Speaker 5: terrible humiliation. One that his pride will not suffer. If
• 7:49
  Speaker 5: he were to spare you, it undercuts his authority.
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  Speaker 2: Then what should I do? If I stay silent, I
• 7:58
  Speaker 2: may save my own life. But what of my cousin?
• 8:02
  Speaker 2: What of my people?
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  Speaker 6: Could I truly live with myself if I don't try
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  Speaker 6: to go before my husband and beg him to change
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  Speaker 6: his mind?
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  Speaker 1: Hettark searched Esther's eyes for a long moment. Again, Esther
• 8:17
  Speaker 1: sensed that he was weighing options, assessing his own mind.
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  Speaker 1: Hettark now saw something more than the quiet, gentle spirit
• 8:26
  Speaker 1: who entered the palace when he looked upon his queen.
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  Speaker 1: He now saw what the fear had heightened in her
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  Speaker 1: as it flooded her body, resolve waiting to rise. If
• 8:37
  Speaker 1: only she had the right guide to shape it.
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  Speaker 5: I am not familiar with the God of your people,
• 8:43
  Speaker 5: this God of Israel, but I must admit I was
• 8:49
  Speaker 5: surprised by the desperate faith that rose in your cousin
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  Speaker 5: when he pleaded his message before me to relate to you.
• 8:56
  Speaker 5: He said that even if you keep silent Deliverance will
• 9:00
  Speaker 5: come to the Jewish people from another place. But he
• 9:06
  Speaker 5: knelt before me and begged that I beseech you to
• 9:10
  Speaker 5: go and advocate for your people before the king. Despite
• 9:14
  Speaker 5: the danger, he thinks you possess the courage to do it.
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  Speaker 5: He thinks there is a strength in you to do
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  Speaker 5: the unthinkable.
• 9:25
  Speaker 1: Esther's head shook in disbelief. She was not so sure
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  Speaker 1: she possessed courage like that at all.
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  Speaker 5: But do you know what I think?
• 9:34
  Speaker 1: Hettark waited patiently for Esther's eyes to rise to his.
• 9:38
  Speaker 5: I think he is right. I remember the cowering, wide-eyed
• 9:45
  Speaker 5: innocent I was charged to serve five years ago. But
• 9:49
  Speaker 5: I have also seen a young woman refuse to be
• 9:54
  Speaker 5: shaped by the schemers and sycophants around her. I have
• 9:57
  Speaker 5: seen a young woman remain true to her character, despite
• 10:01
  Speaker 5: the allure and prestige of the position she was granted.
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  Speaker 5: And if it was all because of your God, well,
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  Speaker 5: perhaps now I understand why.
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  Speaker 1: Esther was stunned to hear Hedark's true assessment of her.
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  Speaker 1: She had been so unaware, protected even, from the dangers
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  Speaker 1: around her. To her, she had simply remained true to
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  Speaker 1: who she was and how she was raised. But now
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  Speaker 1: she saw it for what it was. Esther had been
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  Speaker 1: set apart.
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  Speaker 5: Esther, my queen, I agree with what your cousin Mortica
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  Speaker 5: told me. Perhaps you have come to your royal position
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  Speaker 5: for such a time as this.
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  Speaker 1: The weight of destiny hung over the two of them
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  Speaker 1: as Esther's mind raced. What had always seemed like chance,
• 10:56
  Speaker 1: being in the marketplace that day, being chosen out of thousands,
• 11:00
  Speaker 1: Mordecai overhearing the plot, being assigned to Hetak's care, it
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  Speaker 1: all seemed like divine guidance now. Esther's body felt numb
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  Speaker 1: and tingly at the revelation, but the fear still fought
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  Speaker 1: wildly within her.
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  Speaker 2: But what if he will not hear me?
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  Speaker 1: Hettog hesitated. Then, carefully, he spoke.
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  Speaker 5: He may not, but then, what is your faith worth?
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  Speaker 5: If you will not try, then who else will?
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  Speaker 1: Esther's breath trembled. The words cut deep, but they settled
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  Speaker 1: in her heart like a seed. She looked at Hettog,
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  Speaker 1: truly looked at him, and marveled at his belief in her.
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  Speaker 2: You have stood by me.
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  Speaker 5: Yes, Esther.
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  Speaker 1: Hetarg bowed his head. He was honest but true. He
• 11:52
  Speaker 1: had nothing to gain by helping her and also nothing
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  Speaker 1: to lose should she fail. Yet still, he chose to
• 11:58
  Speaker 1: believe in her. To believe in the hope of her god.
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  Speaker 5: Hadassah. What?
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  Speaker 2: My name. My true name is Hadassah.
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  Speaker 1: Hetarg lifted his head, eyes wide. My queen.
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  Speaker 2: That is my name.
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  Speaker 6: I am a daughter of the people who made a
• 12:18
  Speaker 6: covenant with the God of Israel long ago. My God
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  Speaker 6: rescued my ancestors from slavery, performed wonders in the wilderness,
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  Speaker 6: gave us a land promised.
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  Speaker 2: Long ago, and though we wander again, He will never
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  Speaker 2: forsake us or abandon us.
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  Speaker 1: Inspired by the words and knowledge of her people that
• 12:39
  Speaker 1: sprang from her lips, She called for her handmaidens to
• 12:43
  Speaker 1: join her and Hetak, and when they were all before her,
• 12:46
  Speaker 1: she told them the truth of her heritage and of
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  Speaker 1: her plans to go before the king. She then rallied
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  Speaker 1: them to support her, begging them to support her in
• 12:56
  Speaker 1: her hour of need.
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  Speaker 6: Fast with me, and I will send word for my
• 13:01
  Speaker 6: people to do the same. For three days we will
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  Speaker 6: neither eat nor drink.
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  Speaker 2: And then I will go to the king. Though it
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  Speaker 2: is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.
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  Speaker 1: Her handmaidens nodded, tears springing to their eyes. Hedark knelt.
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  Speaker 5: We are with you, Hadassah.
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  Speaker 1: Three days passed. The palace, usually echoing with laughter, music,
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  Speaker 1: and the clinking of goblets, felt hushed, as if the
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  Speaker 1: walls themselves were holding their breath. In her private chambers,
• 13:42
  Speaker 1: Esther rose slowly. Her attendants draped her in layers of silk,
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  Speaker 1: sapphire blues and deep purples embroidered with gold thread. Jewels
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  Speaker 1: glittered at her wrists and throat, but beneath them beat
• 13:56
  Speaker 1: the heart of Hadassah, the orphan girl, the daughter of exile.
• 14:03
  Speaker 1: Not only the chosen one, but the one who answered
• 14:06
  Speaker 1: the call. She took one last glance at her reflection.
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  Speaker 1: Not vanity, but remembrance.
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  Speaker 2: You were placed here, for such a time as this.
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  Speaker 1: Her sandals whispered on polished stone, each step heavier than
• 14:22
  Speaker 1: the last. The massive doors loomed, guarded by stone-faced men.
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  Speaker 1: Her pulse thundered in her ears, but her steps did
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  Speaker 1: not falter. The doors creaked open, ancient hinges groaning, echoing
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  Speaker 1: in the vast chamber. Silence fell. Courtiers turned, whispers dying
• 14:44
  Speaker 1: on their tongues. Her husband was draped on his golden throne,
• 14:49
  Speaker 1: and his second-in-command, the author of her people's demise, Haman,
• 14:55
  Speaker 1: was sitting straight-backed and sour-faced beside him. Esther fought back
• 15:01
  Speaker 1: the bile that burned at the back of her throat
• 15:03
  Speaker 1: at the sight of him. The king looked up. Surprise
• 15:08
  Speaker 1: flickered in his eyes. His brow furrowed and then softened. Slowly, deliberately,
• 15:15
  Speaker 1: the golden scepter extended. Esther released a sigh of relief.
• 15:20
  Speaker 1: She had not realized she was holding her breath.
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  Speaker 3: Master, my lovely queen, what a delight to see you
• 15:28
  Speaker 3: before me.
• 15:29
  Speaker 1: Tell me, what do you desire?
• 15:32
  Speaker 3: Whatever it is, you shall have it. Even if it
• 15:35
  Speaker 3: is up to half my kingdom, it will be yours.
• 15:38
  Speaker 5: Tell me, what is it you wish?
• 15:41
  Speaker 1: Esther's breath trembled in her chest. She felt the weight
• 15:45
  Speaker 1: of nations on her shoulders. So far, so good. But
• 15:50
  Speaker 1: she remembered Hedark's instructions and warning not to be lulled
• 15:54
  Speaker 1: too quickly when presenting her request before the king. The
• 15:58
  Speaker 1: nobles of Persia delighted in their games of intrigue, and
• 16:03
  Speaker 1: any request made without preamble would be perceived as unimportant. No,
• 16:09
  Speaker 1: she must show the king that her request was a
• 16:11
  Speaker 1: serious matter, and draw him in with intrigue and formality.
• 16:17
  Speaker 1: She inhaled slowly, lifting her chin with grace and resolve.
• 16:21
  Speaker 2: If it pleases the king. Let the king and the esteemed.
• 16:25
  Speaker 6: Lord Haman come today to a banquet I have prepared.
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  Speaker 1: A flicker of intrigue crossed the king's face. He smiled.
• 16:33
  Speaker 1: His curiosity peaked.
• 16:36
  Speaker 2: We will come.
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  Speaker 1: Relief flooded her, but she fought to keep her smile indifferent.
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  Speaker 1: She bowed deeply to her husband and turned to leave
• 16:47
  Speaker 1: the hall. That afternoon, the banquet hall sparkled. Hetark had
• 16:53
  Speaker 1: outdone himself in preparations. Silk draperies billowed gently from gilded pillars.
• 17:00
  Speaker 1: The air was rich with the scent of roasted lamb,
• 17:03
  Speaker 1: honeyed dates and fragrant wine. Gold goblets gleamed on the table.
• 17:09
  Speaker 1: Haman arrived first and sat with the smug satisfaction of
• 17:14
  Speaker 1: a man certain of his place in the world. He
• 17:17
  Speaker 1: reveled in the honour, basking in attention, stealing glances at
• 17:21
  Speaker 1: the queen with thinly veiled arrogance. Esther learned in her
• 17:26
  Speaker 1: time at the palace that invitations from the wives of
• 17:29
  Speaker 1: the king were very rare indeed, the queen even more so.
• 17:35
  Speaker 1: Persian kings were famously protective of their wives, so it
• 17:39
  Speaker 1: played to Haman's vanity to include him in this invitation.
• 17:43
  Speaker 1: As much as Esther was disgusted to include Haman in
• 17:47
  Speaker 1: her scheme, Hettarch insisted that it would be clever to
• 17:50
  Speaker 1: ensnare him in this intrigue as well. He would be
• 17:54
  Speaker 1: so enraptured by the thrill of being included in the
• 17:57
  Speaker 1: banquets that he would have no reason to suspect Esther's
• 18:00
  Speaker 1: true intentions until it was too late. When the king arrived,
• 18:05
  Speaker 1: he and Haman ate heartily, drinking deeply, but both their
• 18:10
  Speaker 1: eyes often drifted to Esther. They watched her with curiosity,
• 18:14
  Speaker 1: wondering what her request might be. And they were not
• 18:18
  Speaker 1: the only ones. Behind the king's gilded chair, a young
• 18:22
  Speaker 1: cupbearer stood, carefully refilling the king's goblet. His eyes flicked
• 18:27
  Speaker 1: between Esther and her guests, silent and respectful, but keenly
• 18:32
  Speaker 1: aware that this was no ordinary feast. For a moment,
• 18:36
  Speaker 1: his dark eyes met hers, steady and knowing. A familiarity
• 18:42
  Speaker 1: passed between them. The young man was a Hebrew, just
• 18:45
  Speaker 1: like her, in the palace. He must have realized it
• 18:49
  Speaker 1: as well, as he inclined his head ever so slightly
• 18:53
  Speaker 1: before returning to his post behind the king. A silent reminder,
• 18:58
  Speaker 1: she was not alone. When the plates were cleared and
• 19:02
  Speaker 1: the last notes of harp music faded, King Xerxes leaned forward,
• 19:07
  Speaker 1: unable to contain his curiosity any longer. Now, my queen,
• 19:12
  Speaker 1: what is your request? Remember, even up to half my kingdom?
• 19:17
  Speaker 1: Her heart fluttered like a trapped bird. She heard Hetarg's
• 19:21
  Speaker 1: voice in her mind. Not yet. Wait for the moment.
• 19:25
  Speaker 6: Come tomorrow, my king. You and Lord Haman. To another
• 19:30
  Speaker 6: banquet I will prepare. There, I will make my request.
• 19:35
  Speaker 1: The king nodded. his curiosity deepening. Hettark had been right.
• 19:41
  Speaker 1: This scheme of delay only drew the king in further,
• 19:44
  Speaker 1: making him lean toward her in expectation. Haman left the
• 19:49
  Speaker 1: palace that night with his head high and his heart
• 19:52
  Speaker 1: swollen with pride blind to the noose tightening around him
• 19:57
  Speaker 1: but in the quiet of her chambers esther sat alone
• 20:01
  Speaker 1: by flickering candlelight her hands trembled in her lap yet
• 20:06
  Speaker 1: she held fast to the courage she had found at.
• 20:08
  Speaker 2: Last For such a time as this.
• 20:11
  Speaker 1: The board was set. The pieces were in motion. All
• 20:16
  Speaker 1: that remained was to trust, not in herself, but in
• 20:20
  Speaker 1: the God of Israel, who had rescued before and would
• 20:25
  Speaker 1: rescue again. Steve Gatina, Max Bard, Zach Schelleberger and Ben
• 20:37
  Speaker 1: Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People, narrated
• 20:41
  Speaker 1: by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato,
• 20:47
  Speaker 1: Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwald, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Jr.,
• 20:53
  Speaker 1: Rosanna Pilcher and Mitch Lashinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith.
• 20:59
  Speaker 1: Written by Aaron Salvato, Brie Rosely and Chris Baig. You
• 21:03
  Speaker 1: can hear more Prey.com productions on the Prey.com app, available
• 21:07
  Speaker 1: on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If
• 21:10
  Speaker 1: you enjoyed The Chosen People, please rate and leave a review.