ESTHER Book of Esther King Ahasuerus made a banquet for all the people for seven days in Shushan the palace. Vashti the queen made a banquet for the women in the royal house which King Ahasuerus owned. In the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he told his servants to bring Vashti the queen before him in order for the people and the princes to look upon her beauty. Vashti the queen refused to come and the king was very angry. The wise men of the king said to seek out the beautiful young women for the king and let the young woman who pleases the king rule instead of Vashti. Mordecai was a Jew who had been taken from Jerusalem with the Babylon captivity. He was raising Hadassah (Esther) his uncle's daughter, for she had no parents. The king's command was heard, and many young women and Esther were taken to the palace, into the hand of Hegai. He was the keeper of the women. Esther did not tell anyone who her people were because Mordecai told her not to. Mordecai stayed in front of the court of the women's house to find out what would happen to Esther. Each young woman would go to the king when they were called. Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus and he loved her above all the women. He made her to rule instead of Vashti. While Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, were angry, and wanted to go against King Ahasuerus. Mordecai, told Esther the queen. And Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai. King Ahasuerus made Haman above all the rulers with him. All the king's servants were bowing and worshiping Haman, but Mordecai did not bow nor worship. This made Haman very angry. Haman wanted to destroy all the Jews in all the kingdom of Ahasuerus, the people of Mordecai. Haman told King Ahasuerus about the Jews and said it should be written to destroy them in one day on the thirteenth of the twelfth month. Mordecai heard and cried very much. Esther told Mordecai to have all the Jews fast for three days and three nights. She would also fast and then go to the king even when it was not lawful to do so. On the third day Esther went before the king sitting on his royal throne. He saw her and held out his scepter to her. He asked her what was her request and he would give her up to half his kingdom. She asked that the king and Haman come to her banquet she prepared for him. Haman saw Mordecai in the gate of the king and was very angry. His wife and all his friends told him to make a wooden gallows and hang Mordecai on it. The king found out that Mordecai had saved his life and asked Haman how he could honor the man who saved him. Haman said the man whom the king wants to honor, should be dressed in royal clothing with a royal crown on his head and he should sit on a royal horse riding through the street of the city. The king told Haman, to do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. The king and Haman came to the banquet of Queen Esther. The king asked her what her request was and she asked him to let her life be given for her and her people. She told him that they would all be murdered. The king asked her who would do this evil. She told him it was Haman. The king said to hang him on the wooden gallows that he made for Mordecai. Mordecai came before the king, and he took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman. King Ahasuerus told Esther the queen and Mordecai to write to the Jews to gather together and stand for their life in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring. He could not take back anything already written and sealed in the king's name. The Jews struck against all their enemies and were saved. They made a feast called Purim in honor of this day. Now, as you have heard the story, do you think you can solve the puzzle?!!! Crossword   Wordsearch