When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.

Mordecai urge[d Esther] to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.

Then she [said] to Mordecai, “For any man or woman who approaches the king without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

Mordecai sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”

1
REMBRANDT
"Esther Preparing to Intercede with Assuerus"

2
SANDRO BOTTICELLI
"Esther at the Palace Gate"

3
HAROLD COPPING
"Esther with King Ahasuerus"

4
FELIX JOSEPH BARRIAS
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

5
ANDREI PETROVITCH RYABUCHKIN
"Esther before Assuerus"

6
FRANZ CHRISTOPH JANNECK
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

7
KASPAR VAN DEN HOECKE
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

8
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

9
JAN ADRIAENSZ VAN STAVEREN
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

10
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

11
PAOLO VERONESE
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

12
PETER PAUL RUBENS
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

13
ANDREA CELESTI
"Esther before King Ahasuerus"

14
MATTEO ROSSELLI
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

15
SALOMON KONINCK
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

16
SANDRO BOTTICELLI
"Three Scenes from the Story of Esther"
(L) Mordecai's Despair…(M) Esther's Appeal…(R) Haman's Demise

17
ALESSANDRO GHERARDINI
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

18
JACOPO DEL SELLAIO
"Esther Greeting Ahasver"

19
BERNARDO CAVALLINO
"Esther and Ahaseurus"

20
CLAUDE VIGNON
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

21
LUCA CAMBIASO
"Esther and Ahasuerus"

22
PHILIP GYSELAER
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

23
JAN STEEN
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

24
GIOVANNI ANDREA SIRANI
"Esther ante Asuero"

25
INNOZENZ ANTON WARÄTHI
"Esther before Ahasverus"

26
WILLEM VAN HERP
"Esther Presents Herself at the Palace"

27
"Esther and Artaxerxes"

28
ANTON KOBERGER
"Esther before King Ahasureus"

29
KONRAD WITZ
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

30
ADOLF HERRES
"Esther before King Ahasureus"
"Was ist dein Begehren, Esther, damit es dir erfüllt werde?"
"What is your desire, Esther, that it may be fulfilled for you?"

31
"Faithful Esther"

32
Source

33
Source

→ a n d   f i n a l l y ←

34
GELDORP GORTZIUS
"Esther and Ahasuerus"