{"id":"01KFXVBR3VZMDCANVF0908J8FH","cid":"bafkreifu44dl6dmqwvjyqz7xgiqgrplhs3j7xibzchffq2flp5ht5dj54m","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":805,"extracted_at":"2026-01-26T19:09:19.154Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 1","source_file":"01KFXVA454RTKCJEQJMP0QKNKY","start_line":784,"text":" 547\t\n 548\t![img-0.jpeg](arke:01KFXV8BNR4ZNV1ARYK1N0MNM7)\n 549\t\n 550\tHE story of Esther, as given in the biblical book which bears her name, is interesting to young and old alike. Its literature fills no small place in various languages and in widely separated centuries. It is impossible to read the story without being to a greater or less degree under its spell. The name of Esther, the heroine of the story, has become immortal, and whatever is connected therewith shares to some degree in the interest and fame attaching to herself.\n 551\t\n 552\tAfter Ahasuerus was settled in peaceable possession of the whole Persian Empire, he appointed a time of great rejoicing because of his prosperity. In the city of Shushan feastings were to continue for one hundred and eighty days. At the expiration of this time a still great-\n\n\n 553\t106\n 554\t\n 555\ter feast was held for seven days, and Vashti, the Queen, made a similar feast in the apartment for the women. On the last day of this great feast, the King, being merry with wine, commanded the seven Chamberlains to bring Vashti into his presence wearing the royal crown and otherwise displaying her great beauty. With a modesty which is as becoming as it was surprising she positively refused to comply with his improper request, although she knew that her refusal would cost her her crown, and perhaps her life. All honor to the noble resolution of this brave woman in that far-off time and land! After taking the advice of his seven counsellors, the King determined to put her away forever, lest her example should lead the women throughout the empire to disobey their husbands. Vashti never afterwards came into the King’s presence. The decree which removed her was registered among the unchangeable laws of the Medes and Persians. Orders were then given that the whole\n\n\n 556\t107\n 557\t\n 558\tempire should be searched, and all the fairest virgins should be brought to the palace at Shushan, that from the number one should be chosen to be queen in the place of Vashti. There lived then at Shushan a Jew named Mordecai, who had an office in the court of the Persian monarch. Having no children of his own, he brought up Hadassah—in Hebrew, *myrtle*—his cousin, whose parents were dead, as his own daughter. She was the daughter of Abihail, of the tribe of Benjamin, and was born during the exile beyond the Tigris, probably about the year 500 B.C. She was beautiful beyond comparison. When committed to the care of Hege, the King’s chamberlain, she greatly pleased him, and he took special pains that she should be the object of the royal favor. She gained the affections of the King beyond all others, and on the tenth day of the tenth month the royal diadem was put upon her head, and she was made queen in the place of Vashti.\n\n\n 559\t108\n 560\t\n 561\tAccording to Oriental usage, when introduced into the royal household she received the new and probably Persian name of Esther, and by it she was henceforth to be known. This name is derived from the name of the star Venus, which in Greek is Aster. It was, perhaps, connected with the Persian word *satarah*, a star. Her ancestor Kish was among the captives led away from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. The family evidently remained after the edict of Cyrus gave permission to return to Palestine. The Persian King does not seem to have been aware of her race. At this time Haman the Agagite was prime-minister; he was probably a descendant of that Agag, King of the Amalekites, whom Saul spared; he was now a favorite in the household of the King. All the King’s servants were commanded to pay him reverence, and all of them rendered that reverence with the exception of Mordecai the Jew. He was willing to render him civil obeisance—this he could\n","title":"Chunk 1"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KFXVAZH4CRRW8J6QDBB5WHHX","peer_label":"Esther and Ahasuerus","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KFXT0KM64XT6K8W52TDEE0YS","peer_label":"More Classics","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"}],"ver":1,"created_at":"2026-01-26T19:09:19.564Z","ts":"2026-01-26T19:09:19.564Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}