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Esther
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The scene is laid in Shushan (Susa), some 250 miles east of the city of Babylon and 75 miles east of the Tigris River, and 130 miles north of the Persian Gulf. King Ahasuerus (Xerxes, B.C. 485-465), was king of Persia and reigned at this time over one hundred and twenty seven provinces, extending from India to Ethiopia. It will be recalled that Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, and carried away from Jerusalem, Jeconiah (Jehoiakin), the King of Judah, together with a number of Jewish captives, which at this time would seem to have been widely scattered throughout the domain of the Persian empire. The time was about four centuries B.C. The heroine of the story is Esther, one of the Jewish exiles, who rises from the most humble walks of life to become a queen, and thereby ultimately rescuing her people from wholesale destruction, planned by Haman, the favorite courtier of the king. One must take into account the circumstances of her life and the conditions of her time. |
ESTHER Queen of Persia's broad domain |
TO ESTHER Proud and lovely, brave Queen Esther |
(Unless stated, written by Mark Keller/Dianna Gillard (Mass. Grand Chapter). Printed with permission).
The picture of Esther is the court with the King is one of the beautiful paintings of our Star Points painted on the ceiling of the State Dining Room at the International Temple in Washington D.C. by local artist Eric Adkins (1966). Each Star Point is painted on one of the major panels in the ceiling. The several emblems and flowers represented by our heroines are painted on smaller panels. Members are invited to visit the Temple at 1618 New Hampshire Ave., NW Washington, D.C. |