The book of Esther tells the story of a young Jewish woman who becomes queen of Persia and risks her life to save her people from a decree of extermination. Through her courage and the wisdom of her cousin Mordecai, God works providentially to preserve the people of Israel in exile.
Written during the Persian period (5th-4th centuries BC), the book of Esther takes place in Susa, capital of the Persian Empire under the reign of Ahasuerus (Xerxes I). It is one of only two books of the Bible that does not explicitly mention God's name, and yet its central message is the divine providence that acts through ordinary people. This book is the foundation of the Jewish feast of Purim, celebrated to this day as a commemoration of the people's deliverance.