window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-GEQWY429QJ');

 

Entity shares the life of one of the most famous women in history, Ester, Jewish Queen.

In our ongoing series #WomenThatDid, ENTITY profiles inspirational and famous women in history whose impact on our world can still be felt today. If you have a suggestion for a historical powerhouse you would like to see featured, tweet us with the hashtag #WomenThatDid. 

Name: Esther, born Hadassah

Lifetime: No definitive dates

What she’s known for: Esther, heroine of the Book of Esther in the Bible, was a Jewish queen of Persia. Her story is the basis for the Jewish celebration of Purim.

Why we love her: The king of Persia, disappointed by the disobedience of his first wife, dismissed her, and began searching for a new wife. After searching through all of the maidens, he settled upon Esther as his new wife.

Born Hadassah, meaning myrtle, Esther was an orphaned Benjamite who had had been living in exile in Persia with her cousin Mordecai. However, Esther kept the nature of her religion a secret from her new husband.

Through Mordecai, Esther stopped a plot to kill the king. However, at the same time, he offended an important official, Haman, who then ordered a proclamation to take all of the Jews’ property and to exterminate those living in Persia. When Esther learned of this, she didn’t know what to do. She wasn’t allowed to see the king, unless he summoned her.

When 30 days went by, she decided to see him herself. She invited the king and Haman to dine with her at a banquet she had prepared. There, Haman announced that he was ordering a gallows built to execute Mordecai. That night, the king lay sleepless after Haman’s announcement, and decided that Mordecai should be honored for saving his life.

Esther held a second dinner party because while her cousin had been saved, her entire people were not. She charmed her husband, and revealed her true self to him, accusing Haman of trying to exterminate her people. The king then ordered all of Haman’s property to be given to Mordecai, and that Haman should be hanged in his place.

Purim his held on the day that Haman issued the proclamation to kill all of the Jews. It honors their deliverance and the role that Esther played in it. Historically, Esther’s place in the Bible has been contested. However by the fourth century CE, most western churches accepted her as an integral part of the Bible. Because of this, she is one of two women to have her own book dedicated to her story.

Fun fact: Esther is styled as a post-feminist icon. Initially, she was passive and obedient, but she evolved into someone who took a definitive role in not only her future, but that of her entire people. While she has been described as beautiful and elegant, all Esther needed to make her case was her words. Because of this, she acts not only as a voice of women, but multi-gendered marginalized groups, crossing cultures, races and languages.

Send this to a friend