Daily Bible Reading—March 2024, God’s Guiding Word: PrayerCampione

# March 8 ## Introduction Esther 2:1–23: The events in the book of Esther take place among the Jewish diaspora community in the Persian empire during the reign of Xerxes (486–465 B.C.). The story centers around a Jewish woman who becomes queen of Persia and who rescues her people from genocide. The opening chapter describes a banquet hosted by King Xerxes. When Queen Vashti refuses to obey the king and appear before his guests, the king becomes furious and issues a proclamation stating that Vashti may never again appear before him. Today’s reading begins with the king searching his kingdom for a new queen. Mordecai, a Jew, has a beautiful younger cousin, Esther, whom he has raised as his daughter. The king falls in love with Esther and makes her queen, but does not know that she is a Jew. Mordecai becomes a palace official who overhears a plot to kill the king. ## Today’s Key Verse: Esther 2:16b Esther was brought to King Xerxes in the royal palace. ## Reflect How was Esther treated when she was brought to the palace? What are your thoughts about Esther’s need to keep her identity a secret? How did the king honor Esther after she was crowned as queen? ## Pray Lord God, I place my trust in you, knowing that you guide me day by day. I thank and praise you for your steadfast love and care. Amen. ## Tomorrow’s Reading Esther 3:1–15: Haman becomes prime minister and plots to kill all the Jews in the empire.