Reality TV? Nope, it's the Bible.

Day 92: Esther 1-4

Esther. The second book in the Bible named after a woman (the first was Ruth).

The Cast of Characters:
Queen Vashti. She was the wife of King Xerxes and in chapter 1, she is dethroned because she refuses to dance naked in front of the king, nobles, and other men for whom King Xerxes was throwing a party. How dare she! The king wanted to show of her beauty (um, objectify her) to his friends. I'm proud of Vashti for standing up to her misogynist husband whose request was oppressive and demeaning. She lived in a culture in which women had few rights, yet she chose to do the right thing and not objectify herself in this way--even when it cost her security, wealth, honor, and privilege. The men didn't want other women behaving like Queen Vashti, so the king ordered a law saying that men are the heads of household and women should do everything they say (Note that this is not God saying this.).

King Xerxes. He really comes across--at least to me in this day and age--as a misogynist pig. In a queen, he only looks for someone with beauty and he holds a competition for queen. This book reads like a reality show in some places, especially when Xerxes is involved and asks the women to promenade in front of him like a Miss America pageant.

Esther. A Jew. Mordecai's beautiful cousin who participated in the Miss American pageant, um, the competition to became the next queen. She completed 12 months of beauty treatments before appearing to the king. Xerxes becomes attracted to Esther more than any of the other women (why not, right?), so she becomes queen. Esther did not tell Xerxes she was a Jew. (You can hardly blame Esther for participating in this pageant--she lived in a culture where she had few rights, and with her belief in God, this would provide quite an opportunity for her).

Mordecai. A Jew who raised his cousin Hadassah (Esther) because she didn't have parents. When Esther becomes queen, he uncovers an assassination plot against King Xerxes and saves Xerxes' life. He does not bow down to Haman and, as a result, Haman orders the annihilation of all Jews.

Hanan. He was elevated to the highest position in King Xerxes' court and because Mordecai would not bow down to him and pay him honor, he plotted to kill the Jews. King Xerxes gave his approval to kill all the Jews, even women and children.

To be continued...