Esther

by Rittman, Danny

• ISBN13: 9781462066711
• ISBN10: 1462066712
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-11-18
• Publisher: Textstream

Summary

When a baby girl is born in the Jewish village of Arad during the Exile period, more than 2,500 years ago, it is prophesied that she will be a memorable person who will do extraordinary things and be a savior for her people. Exceptionally intelligent, strikingly beautiful, and graced with wisdom few adults could claim, the girl born as Hadassah is indeed special, but her life is not easy. Her simple life is shattered when the Black Hundred destroy her village and kill her parents, brothers, and friends. Her family is gone, but her faith remains. She vows to seek justice for not only her family, but her fellow villagers. Hadassah's destiny begins to unfold when she enters the palace of the Persian king, eventually gaining the name Esther and becoming his queen. It's here, bolstered by an unusual and wonderful love, that she uses her unique talents to bring justice and prosperity to the land before embarking upon a final mission-a tragic and paradoxical one that takes her back to events painfully similar to the destruction of her childhood village.

Excerpts

"I am Esther, the Queen of all Persia," she said calmly. "Do you come here to one of my villages in peace or to violate the laws of my kingdom?" The leader was taken aback. He'd heard of Queen Esther—everyone had. The people of other villages they'd attacked had called her name and told them that Esther would not allow such injustice to go unpunished. Their esteem for their queen amused him. Sometimes it baffled him. "Where is your queen now?" he'd roar as he burned the village and put everyone to the sword. After Ahasuerus died, he thought the royal reputation would fade, but in that he was disappointed. Today, here was Esther astride her horse right in front of him and behind her, that strange group of people he was still wary of. "So I am addressing the famous Queen Esther. I am called Kayin." Strong lines on her face. Intelligent, determined. "Kayin of the Black Hundred, I presume. I have read reports of you and planned to see you brought before me someday. Here you are." "And what brings you to be with these people," he said as he waved his hand dismissively towards the assemblage behind her. "These are my people. They are a peaceful people. They work their land and feed themselves in dignity, as do most of the people of my realm. I make it a point to know the people of my kingdom. But now I must ask you something. What are you doing here?"