Esther

Esther is a story of plotting and preventing destruction, filled with conflict, cunning, courage, and conquest.
King Ahasuerus is shown holding a feast in his pink-floored palace. Porphyry is a pink granite with black marbling. Sorry, I just could not resist saying that. He sends for Queen Vashti so that he may display her before his guests, but she refuses to come. The party guests are shown toward the lower left, seated and drinking from gold goblets. You can see the messenger sent to summon Vashti shrugging his shoulders as he reports to the king that she will not come. Vashti and her attendants appear above the messenger.
Because Vashti is thought to be a bad influence on the other women, she is removed, and a new queen is sought. Through her relative Mordecai, Esther becomes one of the young women brought for consideration. Ahasuerus chooses her, and she, a Jew, becomes queen.
Mordecai, shown repeatedly sitting by the gate, overhears a plot against the king and helps prevent it. The guilty men are hanged, and the event is written down in the royal records.
Haman, the king’s high official, orders everyone to bow before him when he passes, but Mordecai, being a Jew, refuses to do so. Haman then plots not only to destroy Mordecai, but all the Jews, and persuades the king to declare a day for their destruction. Haman can be seen walking past the gate while the people in the outer court bow. He also appears in the lower left-hand corner beside the king, pointing toward the gate where Mordecai sits.
Through Mordecai, Esther learns of the plot against her people. She asks for prayer and fasting, associated with Purim, and then risks her life by approaching the king without being summoned. She receives the king’s scepter and his attention. Esther prepares a banquet in order to expose Haman’s scheme to destroy the Jews, including herself, since she too is Jewish.
Just before this, King Ahasuerus cannot sleep, so the royal records are read to him, and he is reminded that Mordecai once saved his life. You can see the scroll in the king’s hand. Wanting to honor Mordecai, the king asks Haman, who has just arrived, what should be done for a man the king wishes to honor. Unknowingly, Haman suggests that such a man should wear the king’s robes, ride the king’s horse, and be publicly honored before the people. The king then orders Haman to do exactly that for Mordecai. In the upper right, you can see Haman leading Mordecai on the white horse. One of the good things about folk art is that Haman can be in several places at once.
At last, Esther reveals Haman’s plan to the king. Haman is hanged, and although the king cannot reverse his earlier decree against the Jews, he allows them to defend themselves. Mordecai is promoted, the Jews defeat their enemies, and the battles and the taking of spoils are shown across the top of the picture. The fast and feast of Purim then become a lasting Jewish custom.
Many things in this book seem to fall into place at exactly the right moment. Ron and I have a saying for that: “What a coincidence.” And by that we mean, God is in control of all things.