Day 221 - Read Esther 1-3

Ahasuerus, the king who reigned from India to Ethiopia, held feasts in Susa, the capital. Queen Vashti refused to appear before him to allow the people to see her. The king accepted a proposal to send a decree that Queen Vashti was to never come before the king again. The king chose Esther, a descendant of the Benjamin, to become the new queen. Mordecai, Esther’s uncle who had taken her in as his daughter heard of two men who sought to kill the king. He told Esther, who told the king, and the men were hanged. The king placed Haman in charge of his kingdom. Mordecai refused to bow to Haman. Mordecai was a Jew, so Haman convinced the king that all Jews should be killed. The king agreed and ordered his people to attack the Jews.