8. Esther
Esther was a Jewish queen who used her great beauty and eloquence to save her people from annihilation. Esther, considered one of the four great attractions in the Talmud, is a Jewish exile in Persia who wins a beauty contest to become the King’s wife after he casts aside his previous wife for refusing to obey him in displaying her beauty to the public. Esther is an orphan who is protected by her cousin Mordecai. Mordecai eventually gives great offense to the king’s advisor, Haman, by refusing to bow to him. Haman had been responsible for the death of many Jewish exiles.
In response to Mordecai’s offense, Haman asked the king for permission to execute all of the Jewish exiles in Israel. In Esther: 7, she uses her beauty and grace to secure the granting of one wish from the king. She uses this wish at a banquet, when she states, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life – this is my petition. And spare my people – this is my request.” Her favor with the king paid off, and he granted her request. The Jews were protected, and Haman impaled. All of his former holdings were given to Esther as a gift.