The book of Esther tells of the fidelity of a woman and her uncle. This is just one of two books that contains the heroism and bravery of a heroine. The story of Esther accomplishes two profound things, first: "demonstrate God's providential care for His people, even those outside the land of Israel, and 2) recommend the observance of the festival of Purim by recounting its origin” (Breneman 289). Unlike the rest of the Bible, the story of Esther does not directly state or speak about God, but rather shows God's plans for all of our lives and how, in all of life's scary moments, He remains faithful to those who trust and have faith in Him. “Despite the omission of any name for the deity, there is no other book in the entire Bible where God is more evident, working behind the scenes, than in this book” (Willmington 200). In order to understand who Esther was as a woman and her significance in Jewish history, we must first examine the circumstances and other individuals who impacted the events leading up to and following Esther's becoming . Many important events took place between the time of Vashti's banishment by King Xerxes and his marriage to Esther. One such famous event was the battle between King Leonidas, who led the Spartans, and the massive Persian army led by the powerful King Xerxes. King Xerxes ruled over 127 provinces. The provinces extended from India to the Nile domain in the southern regions of Egypt. King Xerxes ruled from his palace at Susa, initiated by his father King Darius. King Xerxes was harsh, surly, arrogant and vain. He had succeeded in subduing and occupying vast lands and extending the borders of Persia very far. Many believe that the great party taking place in the middle of the paper is beginning to end. For a king like Xerxes, who could have anything he wanted and considered himself a god, loving and willing to give half of his kingdom to this woman of no noble birth could only be done by the power of God. For it was in such a time as this that Esther was called upon, and she carried out all that God wanted for her. Works Cited Breneman, Mervin. The New American Commentary Volume 10 - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. Nashville: B&H Pub. Group, 1993. Print.Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Bible. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2004. Print. Stern, David H., Trans. Complete Jewish Bible: an English version of the Tanakh (Old Testament) and the B'rit Hadashah (New Testament). Clarksville, MD: Jewish New Testament Publications, 1998. Print. Willmington, H L. Willmington's Guide to the Bible. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1981. Print.