WEBVTT 00:03.940 --> 00:08.540 Introduction to the Book of Esther The Book of Esther tells a dramatic story of 00:08.540 --> 00:10.760 intrigue, danger, and deliverance. 00:11.120 --> 00:15.480 A beautiful Jewish girl named Esther becomes queen of Persia and later risks 00:15.480 --> 00:17.080 her life on behalf of her people. 00:17.820 --> 00:20.600 Esther is one of only two books in the Bible named for women. 00:21.320 --> 00:22.540 The other is the Book of Ruth. 00:23.120 --> 00:26.660 We don't know who wrote this story, which is about the people of Israel while 00:26.660 --> 00:27.780 they were living in Persia. 00:27.780 --> 00:32.420 And the name of God is not mentioned in the book, but His providential hand is 00:32.420 --> 00:36.320 evident as He works for His own people's good, as He does in the rest of the Bible. 00:37.200 --> 00:42.400 The setting is the Persian Empire, covering a ten-year period from 483 to 473 00:42.400 --> 00:42.780 BC. 00:43.640 --> 00:47.780 Though far from the promised land, this story shows how God cared for His 00:47.780 --> 00:51.980 people and rescued them from being annihilated by an evil plot set to destroy 00:51.980 --> 00:52.200 them. 00:52.800 --> 00:56.940 This story is still celebrated today in the annual Jewish Feast of Purim. 00:56.940 --> 00:59.560 www.jesusneverexisted.com