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The Story of Esther _ Stunning Animated Bible Story of Courage and Divine Destiny · truthunedited

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  Speaker 1: She wasn't born into royalty. She didn't come with riches, armies,
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  or power, just an orphan raised in exile, a foreign
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  girl living under the rule of the world's most powerful empire.
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  Yet she was chosen not by chance, not by beauty alone.
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  She was positioned by divine purpose. Hidden behind palace walls
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  for such a time as this, But while kings drank
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  from golden cups and nobles plotted in secret, a quiet
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  battle was brewing, one that wouldn't be fought with swords
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  or chariots, but with fasting faith and the bravery to
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  speak when silence could mean death. Her name was Esther,
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  And this isn't just the story of a queen. It's
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  the story of how God saved a people through the
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  most unlikely of heroes. In the days of King Xerxes,
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  who ruled over one hundred twenty seven provinces from India
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  to Ethiopia, his power stretched across the known world. From
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  his throne in Susa, he reigned with absolute authority. To
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  display his greatness, Xerxes held a lavish feast for one
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  hundred eighty days, inviting nobles, princes, and military leaders from
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  across the empire. Gold goblets and royal wine flowed freely.
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  When those six months ended, the king opened the palace
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  gates to everyone in Susa, hosting a seven day banquet
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  in the garden courtyard. Wine was served generously with no restrictions. Meanwhile,
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  Queen Vashti hosted a separate feast for the women inside
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  the palace. But on the seventh day, when the king
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  was merry with wine, he made a prideful demand that
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  Queen Vashti be brought before the guests, wearing her royal
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  crown so they could admire her beauty. Vashti refused, she
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  would not parade herself before a drunken crowd. The King's
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  pride was wounded. His own queen had publicly defied him.
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  Enraged and humiliated, Xerxes turned to his wise men. One adviser,
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  memo Chan, warned that her defiance would spread. He said,
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  all women will hear of this and dishonor their husbands.
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  They urged the king to remove Vashti and issue a
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  decree throughout the empire that every man should rule his
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  own household. The king agreed. A royal edict was sent
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  to every province in every language, and Queen Vashti was dethroned,
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  but little did they know God's unseen hand had just
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  begun to move. As time passed, King Xerxes's anger faded,
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  and he began to reflect on Queen Vashtee, her beauty,
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  her bold defiance, and the decree that banished her. Though
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  the law could not be undone, her absence lingered. Sensing
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  the king's mood, his advisers proposed a solution. Let beautiful
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  young virgins be brought from every province. After beauty treatments,
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  the king can choose a new queen to replace Vashti.
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  The king agreed. Messengers were sent across all one hundred
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  twenty seven provinces, and young women were gathered from every
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  corner of the empire, from India to Ethiopia. Among them
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  was Hadassa, known by her Persian name Esther, a young
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  Jewish orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, a Jew living
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  in Susa. He had taught her to fear God and
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  keep her identity hidden in a foreign land. Esther was
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  taken to the palace and placed under Hegai, the keeper
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  of the women. Immediately she stood out, not by demanding luxury,
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  but through humility and grace, God gave her favor in
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  every one's eyes, especially Hagey's. For twelve months, Esther, like
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  all the women, was prepared for her one appearance before
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  the king. When her time came, she entered the king's
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  presence with quiet, dignity and strength, and when Xerxes saw her,
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  he was captivated. The king loved Esther more than all
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  the other women. She won his favor, and he placed
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  the royal crown on her head, making her queen in
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  place of Vashtee. A royal banquet was held in her honor,
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  a holiday was proclaimed, and gifts were sent across the empire.
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  But no one knew she was a jew. No one
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  knew God had just placed his servant in the palace,
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  not to be served, but to stand in the gap
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  for his people. Esther continued to live quietly in the
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  King's house, still following the instructions of Mordecai, just as
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  she had when he raised her as a child. Mordecai
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  meanwhile spent his days at the King's Gate, a place
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  where the city's business was conducted and where royal officials
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  and servants gathered. Though he was no nobleman, God had
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  placed him there with purpose. One day, as Mordecai sat
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  in his usual place, he overheard something chilling. Two of
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  the king's eunuchs, big Than and Teresh, who guarded the
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  entrance to the palace, were speaking in hushed, angry tones,
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  their voices low but full of resentment. They plotted to
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  assassinate King Xerxes. What they intended was treason, the murder
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  of the most powerful man in the world. Mordecai didn't hesitate.
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  He sent word immediately to Queen Esther, who now had
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  direct access to the king. Esther relayed the warning to Xerxes,
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  clearly stating that the information came from Mordecai. An investigation
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  was launched. The matter was examined thoroughly, and the truth
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  was uncovered. The two guards were guilty. They had indeed
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  conspired against the king, and by Persian law, the punishment
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  for such betrayal was swift and brutal. They were hanged
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  on the gallows. The King's life was spared, but the
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  moment passed without fanfare. Mordecai's role in exposing the plot
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  was recorded in the Book of the Chronicles, a royal
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  record of significant events kept in the King's presence, But strangely,
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  no reward was given, no public honor, no recognition, no title,
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  just a name in a book quietly inked into the
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  records of the Empire.
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  Speaker 2: By the way, if you find any of these videos
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  interesting or enjoyable, please consider subscribing. These take a long
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  time to make and it really helps out.
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  Speaker 1: After some time, King Xerxes promoted Haman the Agagite to
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  the highest rank among his officials. All were ordered to
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  bow to him, but Mordecai refused. Day after day, Hayman
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  saw his defiance and burn earned with anger. When he
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  learned that Mordecai was a Jew, Hayman's hatred grew deeper.
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  He didn't just want to punish Mordecai, he wanted to
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  destroy all Jews throughout the empire. Hayman cast lots, pouring
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  to choose the day. Then he approached the king with
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  deceitful words.
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  Speaker 3: There is a certain people scattered through your provinces. They
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  live differently and don't follow your laws. It's not in
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  your interest to tolerate them.
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  Speaker 1: The king agreed, giving Hayman his signet ring. A royal
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  decree was sent to all one hundred and twenty seven provinces.
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  On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, every Jew,
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  young and old was to be killed. As the couriers
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  spread the message, Susa fell into confusion. Morning broke out
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  among the Jews. When Mordecai learned of the decree, he
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  tore his clothes, put on sacloe and ashes, and wept
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  bitterly in the streets of Susa. Across the empire, Jews fasted, mourned,
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  and cried out as their destruction had been sealed. When
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  Esther heard Mordecai was in mourning, she sent a messenger
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  to him to find out why. Through the messenger, Mordecai
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  urged her to go before the king and plead for
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  her people, but Esther was afraid.
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  Speaker 4: She replied, no one may approach the king without being summoned.
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  The penalty is death unless he holds out the golden scepter,
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  and I haven't been called for thirty days.
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  Speaker 1: Mordecai's answer to the messenger was bold, do.
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  Speaker 5: Not think you will escape in the palace. If you
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  stay silent, deliverance will come from somewhere else, but you
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  and your family will perish, and who knows. Perhaps you
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  were made Queen. For such a time as.
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  Speaker 1: This, Esther's fear gave way to faith.
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  Speaker 4: She replied, go gather all the Jews in Sousa fast
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  for me for three days. I will go to the king,
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  even if it costs me my life. If I perish,
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  I perish.
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  Speaker 1: On the third day, dressed in her royal robes, Esther
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  courageously entered the inner court of the palace. The King
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  saw her standing there and extended the golden scepter toward her.
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  With relief and hope. Esther touched the tip of the scepter.
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  Then the King asked, warmly, what is your request, Queen Esther,
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  even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.
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  Speaker 4: Esther replied, if it pleases the King, come to a
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  banquet I have prepared for you in Hayman.
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  Speaker 1: The King smiled, intrigued by her invitation, and readily agreed,
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  and both he and Hayman attended Esther's banquet. Yet, throughout
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  the meal, Esther did not speak of her petition. Instead,
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  she observed the king closely, her eyes searching for the
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  right moment. Before the meal ended, Esther extended another invitation.
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  Speaker 4: Please come again tomorrow, and then I will share my
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  true request.
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  Speaker 1: The King's interest deepened, and Hayman's curiosity grew both eager
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  and uncertain about what Esther's plea might be. That night,
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  King Xerxes lay awake, restless and troubled. Nothing could soothe
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  his mind, not the royal wine nor the comforts of
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  his palace. Desperate for distraction, he ordered his servants to
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  bring the Book of the Chronicles, the official record of
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  the kingdom's events. As the scribes read, the king's eyes
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  caught a long forgotten entry Mordecai's name. The record told
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  how Mordecai had uncovered a plot against the king's life,
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  an act of loyalty that had saved Xerxes from assassination.
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  But despite the gravity of this deed, Mordecai had never
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  been reward ordered. Deeply moved, Xerxes asked his advisers what
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  honor or recognition has been given to Mordecai for this.
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  The adviser replied, nothing has been done for him. The
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  king sat in thoughtful silence. How could such loyalty go unrewarded.
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  At that very moment, Hamon entered the palace, intending to
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  ask the king for permission to hang Mordecai on a
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  gallows he had built, But before he could speak, the
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  king summoned him in Haymon. The king said, what should
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  be done for the man the king delights to honor?
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  Puffed up with arrogance, Haman imagined the king meant him.
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  He responded with a detailed plan.
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  Speaker 6: Let the man be clothed in the king's royal robes,
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  which the king himself has worn. Let a royal crown
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  be placed on his head, and let him be led
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  on the king's own horse.
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  Speaker 1: Through the city streets.
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  Speaker 6: A noble official should ride before him, proclaiming this is
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  what is done for the man the King delights to honor.
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  Speaker 1: The King smiled and said, go at once, do everything
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  you have suggested for Mordecai, the Jew who sits at
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  the King's gate, Do not neglect anything. Hayman's face turned pale,
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  his heart pounding with dread. He was forced to carry
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  out the honor he had planned for himself, but instead
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  it was given to his enemy. Humbled and bitter, Hamon
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  led Mordechai through the city streets, proclaiming his honor, just
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  as he had described. When he returned home, his spirit
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  was crushed. He told his wife and friends everything that
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  had happened, his anger and humiliation clear. They warned him,
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  if Mordecai is of Jewish origin, you will not stand
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  against him, you will surely come to ruin. And so
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  Hayman's plot to destroy the Jews grew darker, but his
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  pride had already been wounded by the King's nuns expected
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  favor toward Mordecai. At the second banquet Esther had prepared,
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  the king and Hayman took their seats once again beside
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  the queen. King Xerxes looked at her intently and asked,
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  once more, what is your request? Queen? Esther speak for
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  your wish shall be granted even to half the kingdom.
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  With courage and conviction, Esther spoke her heart.
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  Speaker 4: If I have found favor in your sight, O King,
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  and if it pleases you, grant me my life. This
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  is my petition, and spare my people, This is my request.
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  Speaker 1: The king's expression shifted, a flash of shock crossing his face.
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  Esther continued, for we.
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  Speaker 4: Have been sold, distressed I and my people to be destroyed,
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  killed and annihilated. Had we merely been sold as slaves
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  and servants, I would have kept silent, for no such
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  distress would justify troubling the king.
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  Speaker 1: The King's face arkened in shock and anger. He demanded,
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  who is he? And where is the man who would
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  dare do such a thing. Esther pointed to Hayman, saying.
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  Speaker 4: The adversary an enemy is this wicked man.
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  Speaker 1: Enraged beyond measure, King Xerxes rose and left the banquet
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  hall to cool his fury. Meanwhile, Hayman was terrified. Seeing
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  the King's anger and realizing his plot had been exposed,
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  he rushed to beg Esther for mercy. In desperation, he
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  fell on the couch where Esther was reclining. He clung
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  to her, pleading for his life. At that moment, King
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  Xerxes returned. Suddenly he saw Hayman clinging to Esther and shouted,
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  will he even assault the queen while I am in
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  the house. The King's guards seized Hayman, and he was
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  swiftly led away and hanged on the very gallows he
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  had prepared for Mordecai. Thus the plans of the Wicked
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  were overturned in a single moment, and just justice was served.
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  After Hayman was hanged, King Xerxes gave his entire estate
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  to Queen Esther. She in turn appointed Mordecai over it.
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  The king also removed his signet ring once given to Haman,
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  and placed it on Mordecai's hand, giving him royal authority.
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  But the danger wasn't over. Though Hayman was dead, his
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  decree remained law in Persia. A royal edict sealed with
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  the king's ring could not be revoked, not even by
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  the king himself. The day of destruction against the Jews
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  still loomed on the calendar the thirteenth day of the
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  twelfth month, so Esther once again approached the king, this
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  time not for her life, but for the life of
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  her people.
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  Speaker 4: How can I bear to see disaster fall on my people.
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  Speaker 1: She pleaded. King Xerxes granted permission for a new decree
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  to be written, one that would counter the first. Mordecai
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  quickly summoned the royal scribes and wrote, in the King's name,
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  the Jews in every city have the right to assemble
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  and defend themselves. They may destroy anyone who attacks them,
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  and take their enemy's goods if needed. This decree was
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  sent out swiftly to all one hundred twenty seven provinces
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  in every language, sealed with the King's ring. As it spread,
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  hope was revived. Where there had been mourning, now there
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  was light and gladness. On the appointed day, the Jews
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  stood united across the empire. With royal protection and new
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  found courage, they rose up and defeated their enemies. In Susa,
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  eight hundred attackers were struck down, including Hayman's ten sons,
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  notorious men who had stood by their father's wicked plans,
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  who were later hanged. At Esther's request. Esther also as
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  for one more day of defense in Susa, and the
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  King granted it. Across the empire, seventy five thousand enemies
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  were defeated. Yet again, the Jews took no plunder. Their
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  fight was for survival, not gain. It was not a
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  day of greed, It was a day of justice. When
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  the battle was over, the people rested, and what began
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  as a day of dread became a day of victory
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  and celebration. To remember their deliverance, the Jews established a
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  yearly celebration called Purim, named after the lots Hayman had
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  cast to plan their destruction, Now a symbol of God's reversal,
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  every year on the fourteenth and fifteenth of Ada, they
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  would feast, rejoice, send gifts to one another, and give
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  generously to the poor. A day that was once marked
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  for death became a day of life. Mordecai was honored
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  throughout the empire, clothed in royal blue and white, second
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  only to King Xerxes. But it wasn't his power that
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  made him great. It was his heart. He sought the
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  good of his people and spoke peace and truth to all.
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  And though God's name is never mentioned in the entire
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  book of Esther, his finger prints are everywhere. In every twist,
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  every risk, every rescue. What was meant for destruction God
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  used for salvation. The story of Esther reminds us even
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  when God seems silent, he is never absent. Even when
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  the odds are against us, he is already at work.
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  Perhaps you too, are where you are for such a
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  time as this, not by accident, not unseen, but chosen, positioned,
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  and called because the God who reversed the fate of
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  a nation still write stories of redemption today and yours
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  could be next.
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  Speaker 6: If you haven't subscribed yet, please don't forget to do so.
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  It really helps us continue providing you with amazing videos
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  like this,