The Court of Esther

Abagtha

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Abihail, Father of Esther

father of Queen Esther who died leaving her in Mordecai's care

Abihail was a Benjamite of the Persian exile and the biological father of Hadassah, who became Queen Esther.

Adalia

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Admatha

Prince living at the time of Exile and Return

Agag, King of the Amalekites

King of the Amalekites whose life was spared by Saul but ended by the prophet Samuel

The Amalekite king captured by Saul and executed by Samuel, whose lineage is later linked to Haman in the Book of Esther.

Ahasuerus

King of Persia who married Esther and authorized the defense of the Jews against Haman's plot

The powerful Persian king of the post-exilic period who deposed Queen Vashti and eventually chose Esther to be his queen, unknowingly saving the Jewish people from genocide.

Aridai

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Aridatha

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Arisai

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Aspatha

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Benjamin, Son of Jacob

Youngest son of Jacob and the full brother of Joseph whose presence in Egypt led to his family's reconciliation

The youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, Benjamin was the beloved patriarch of one of the twelve tribes of Israel and a central figure in the narrative of Joseph's rise in Egypt.

Bigtha

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Bigthan

Palace guard who conspired to assassinate King Xerxes

A Persian eunuch and chamberlain who conspired to assassinate King Xerxes, an act thwarted by the intervention of Mordecai.

Biztha

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Carkas

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Carshena

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Dalphon

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Esther

Jewish queen of Persia who saved her people from Haman's genocidal plot

The Jewish orphan who became Queen of Persia and risked her life to intercede with King Xerxes to save her people from total annihilation.

Haman

Persian official who plotted the genocide of the Jewish people

A high-ranking Persian official under King Xerxes who orchestrated a failed genocidal plot against the Jewish people during the post-exilic period.

Hammedatha

Father of Haman the Agagite

Hammedatha was the father of Haman the Agagite, the primary antagonist of the book of Esther during the Persian Exile.

Harbona

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Harbona, Eunuch of King Ahasuerus

Eunuch who pointed out Haman's gallows to King Ahasuerus

A high-ranking royal eunuch in the Persian court who suggested the execution of Haman upon the very gallows Haman had prepared for Mordecai.

Hathach

Royal eunuch who served as the messenger between Esther and Mordecai

A Persian eunuch appointed to serve Queen Esther who acted as the critical intermediary between Esther and Mordecai during Haman’s plot.

Hegai

Royal official who showed favor to Esther and prepared her to meet King Ahasuerus

A royal eunuch and custodian of the harem under King Ahasuerus of Persia who oversaw the preparation of women, including Esther, for the king.

Jair

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Jehoiachin

King of Judah who was taken captive to Babylon and later released from prison

A king of Judah who reigned briefly in 598–597 BC before being exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar.

Judah, Son of Jacob

Patriarch who received the blessing of the scepter and whose lineage produced King David and Jesus Christ

The fourth son of Jacob and Leah, ancestor of the Tribe of Judah and the Davidic line, known for his leadership and pivotal role in the preservation of his family.

Kish

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Marsena

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Mehuman

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Memucan

Prince of Persia whose counsel led to the deposition of Queen Vashti

One of the seven noble princes of Persia and Media who served as a high-ranking advisor to King Xerxes during the post-exilic period.

Meres

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Mordecai, Cousin of Queen Esther

Jewish statesman who saved King Xerxes and rescued the Jews from Haman's plot

A Jewish official in the Persian citadel of Susa who saved King Xerxes from assassination and orchestrated the deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman’s genocidal plot.

Nebuchadnezzar

King of Babylon who conquered Jerusalem and was humbled by God

The powerful king of Babylon who destroyed Jerusalem, deported the Judeans, and eventually acknowledged the sovereignty of the God of Israel.

Parmashta

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Parshandatha

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Poratha

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Shaashgaz

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Shethar

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Shimei

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Tarshish

Persian living at the time of Exile and Return

Teresh

Palace official who conspired to assassinate King Xerxes

One of two eunuchs who served as royal gatekeepers for King Xerxes and conspired to assassinate the monarch before being thwarted by Mordecai.

Vaizatha

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Vashti

Queen of Persia who was deposed for refusing to obey King Ahasuerus

The first queen of King Ahasuerus who was deposed after refusing to appear before the king and his guests during a royal banquet in Susa.

Zeresh

Wife of Haman who advised building the gallows for Mordecai

The wife of Haman the Agagite who advised the construction of a gallows for Mordecai and later prophesied her husband's downfall.

Zethar

Man living at the time of Exile and Return