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The Book of Esther, in the form of a short story similar to the Book of Ruth, has its setting in the palace of Shushan, or Susa, one of the three
capitals of the Persian Empire.
The story gives us a vivid picture of the Jews in exile and of the clear hostility of their non-Jewish enemies in Persia. The book also describes how
Esther became the queen of Ahasuerus (Xerxes), subsequently risking her life in order to save her people, the Jews, from total destruction. God’s care of His people is emphasized throughout the book, although,
interestingly, the word "God" never appears.
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