The book of Esther is a dramatic tale of palace intrigue and divine deliverance, unique in the Bible for never explicitly mentioning God. It tells the story of a young Jewish orphan who becomes queen of Persia and finds herself in a position to save her people from genocide. When the wicked official Haman plots to annihilate the Jews, Esther's cousin Mordecai challenges her to risk her life: 'who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?' Through a series of stunning reversals that showcase God's hidden hand, Haman is executed on the very gallows he built for Mordecai, and the Jews are granted victory over their enemies. The book concludes by establishing the festival of Purim, a joyous annual celebration of God's faithful, providential rescue of His people.