Esther, along with many other young women, was brought to the king’s harem at the fortress of Susa and placed in Hegai’s care. ⁹ Hegai was very impressed with Esther and treated her kindly.  Esther 2:8-9 NLT

 Esther had not told anyone of her nationality and family background, because [her uncle] Mordecai had directed her not to do so.  Every day Mordecai would take a walk near the courtyard of the harem to find out about Esther and what was happening to her.  Esther 2:10-11 NLT

the king loved Esther more than any of the other young women. He was so delighted with her that he set the royal crown on her head and declared her queen..  Esther 2:17 NLT

When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or show him respect, he was filled with rage. ⁶ He had learned of Mordecai’s nationality, so he decided it was not enough to lay hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he looked for a way to destroy all the Jews throughout the entire empire of Xerxes.  Esther 3:5-6 NLT

Then Haman approached King Xerxes and said, “There is a certain race of people scattered through all the provinces of your empire who keep themselves separate from everyone else. Their laws are different from those of any other people, and they refuse to obey the laws of the king. So it is not in the king’s interest to let them live. ⁹ If it please the king, issue a decree that they be destroyed...the king agreed..  Esther 3:8-10 NLT

[Mordecai].. went out into the city, crying with a loud and bitter wail...as news of the king’s decree reached all the provinces, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and wailed..  Esther 4:1-3 NLT

Mordecai  [said]“Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. ¹⁴ If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”  Esther 4:13-14 NLT

Esther [said] “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me..for three days...My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”  So Mordecai went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him. Esther 4:15-17 NLT

On the third day of the fast, Esther put on her royal robes and entered the inner court of the palace...The king was sitting on his royal throne, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing there in the inner court, he welcomed her and held out the gold scepter to her. So Esther approached and touched the end of the scepter. Then the king asked her, “What do you want, Queen Esther? What is your request? I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!” And Esther replied, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a banquet I have prepared for the king.”  Esther 5:1-4 NLT

That night the king had trouble sleeping, so he ordered an attendant to bring the book of the history of his reign so it could be read to him.   In those records he discovered an account of how Mordecai had exposed the plot ..to assassinate King Xerxes.   “What reward or recognition did we ever give Mordecai for this?” the king asked.  His attendants replied, “Nothing has been done for him.”  Esther 6:1-3 NLT

the king said [to Haman], “What should I do to honor a man who truly pleases me?” Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king wish to honor more than me?” ⁷ So he replied, “If the king wishes to honor someone, ⁸ he should bring out one of the king’s own royal robes, as well as a horse that the king himself has ridden—one with a royal emblem on its head. ⁹ Let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble officials. And let him see that the man whom the king wishes to honor is dressed in the king’s robes and led through the city square on the king’s horse. Have the official shout as they go, ‘This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!’ ”   “Excellent!” the king said to Haman. “Quick! Take the robes and my horse, and do just as you have said for Mordecai the Jew..leave out nothing you have suggested!”  Esther 6:6-10 NLT

Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor with the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my request, I ask that my life and the lives of my people will be spared.  For my people and I have been sold to those who would kill, slaughter, and annihilate us...“Who would do such a thing?” King Xerxes demanded. “Who would be so presumptuous as to touch you?” ⁶ Esther replied, “This wicked Haman is our adversary and our enemy.”  .. [then the kings’s assistant said] “Haman has set up a sharpened pole that stands seventy-five feet tall in his own courtyard. He intended to use it to impale Mordecai, the man who saved the king from assassination.” “Then impale Haman on it!” the king ordered.  Esther 7:3-6,9 NLT

 Now go ahead and send a message to the Jews in the king’s name, telling them whatever you want, and seal it with the king’s signet ring. But remember that whatever has already been written in the king’s name and sealed with his signet ring can never be revoked.” Esther 8:8 NLT

So the Jews went ahead on the appointed day and struck down their enemies with the sword. They killed and annihilated their enemies and did as they pleased with those who hated them... They gained relief from all their enemies, killing 75,000 of those who hated them.    Esther 9:5,16 NLT