The book explains the origin of the feast of Purim, which is celebrated by Jews to this day.
Esther was a beautiful Jewish wife of the Persian king Ahasuerus (Xerxes I). She was an orphan who was raised by her cousin Mordecai. He uncovered a plot to kill him and all the Jews within the empire. Through Esther, the plot is thwarted and the king allows the Jews to protect themselves and conqueror their enemies. In short, Esther was divinely ordained to save her people the Jews, from genocide.
