Children Bible Stories

Esther 1 – Esther 10

A long long time ago, there was a king named King Xerxes. King Xerxes’ kingdom covered 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia.

One day, King Xerxes held a big party at the beautiful palace garden. King Xerxes was a very generous king. He invited everyone to the party.

While King Xerxes was giving a party to the men, Queen Vashti also gives a party and invited all the women in the city to be present in the party.

King Xerxes wanted everyone to see how beautiful Queen Vashti is. He sent his servant to tell Queen Vashti to wear her crown and come to him to show the people her beauty.

The servant went to Queen Vashti and informs her to come to the king quickly but Queen Vashti ignored King Xerxes’ command and refused to come to him.

This had humiliated King Xerxes. King Xerxes’ advisor advised him to divorce Queen Vashti.

They said to King Xerxes, “If Queen Vashti refused to come to you, you should divorce her. This is because when all the women in your kingdom heard what Queen Vashti had done, they will also follow her examples and refused to obey their husband.”

King Xerxes listened to the advice of his advisors and he divorced Queen Vashti.

After a while, King Xerxes was calmed down and not angry anymore about what Queen Vashti had done but he still keep thinking of it and the law that was issued because of her.

Then the king’s servant said, “Your Majesty, a search must be made to all the beautiful young women. You should choose Hegai to be in charged of them as well as making sure the women receive appropriate beauty treatment. ”

At that time, there was a Jew called Mordecai who lives the city of Susa.

Mordecai had a very beautiful cousin called Esther. Esther’s Hebrew name is Hadassah.

When King Xerxes orders that all beautiful women be brought to the king’s palace, Esther was brought along with them too.

Since the first day, Esther has become Hegai’s favorite. This causes Hegai to begin Esther’s beauty treatment immediately.

The first 6 months, olive oil and myrrh were rubbed on the young women’s skin; and then in the final 6 months, the young women were treated with perfumes and cosmetics.

Esther’s turn to go to King Xerxes came during the seventh year of King Xerxes’ reign.

Esther pleased King Xerxes more than any of the other young woman, This made King Xerxes fell in love with Esther immediately and he married her.

Mordecai worked as a palace official for King Xerxes. Mordecai warned Esther not tell anyone that she is a Jew; and she obeyed him.

Bigthana and Teresh were two King Xerxes’ guards. They got angry with King Xerxes and plotted to kill him.

Mordecai found out about it and reported it to King Xerxes. King Xerxes then hanged the two men. King Xerxes had all these written down in his record book.

After this, King Xerxes promoted Haman to the highest palace official.

All the palace officials are ordered to bow down to Haman in order to honor him. Mordecai refused to obey the command and he didn’t bow down to Haman.

When they asked Mordecai why he refuses to bow down to Haman, Mordecai replied, “Because I am a Jew.”

They advised Mordecai to bow down to Haman but Mordecai won’t listen to them. So they reported it to Haman.

When Haman found out that Mordecai is a Jew, he decided to kill every Jew in the city.

Haman went to King Xerxes and said, “Your Majesty, the Jews who lives in your kingdoms have different customs than us and refuse to obey the law you had give. Why not give out a law that all the Jews will be killed.”

Haman had the secretaries to write the letter concerning the law and then have them send to every province.  The letter is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s ring.

When Mordecai heard about the news, he got very sad. He tore his clothes and wear sackcloth instead. 

When Esther’s servants told Esther what Mordecai is doing, Queen Esther sent her servant to ask Mordecai why he is felling so sad.

Mordecai told the servant everything about it as well as the amount of money that Haman promised to add to the treasury if the Jews are killed.

Mordecai gave the servant a copy of the order. The servant showed it to Queen Esther. Esther said, “No one can go into the king without the king’s permission. Anyone who go in to see the king without being invited will be killed.”

Mordecai sent back a message to Esther, “Don’t think you and your family will be saved. We will somehow get some help if you don’t want to help us. It could be that God raised you up to be the queen at this very moment.”

Queen Esther replied, “Gather all the Jews and tell them to not eat for 3 days and 3 nights. I and my servant will also fast for 3 days and 3 nights. Then I will go in to see the king even if it will cost my life!”

Mordecai listened to Esther and did everything she told him to do.

After three days, Queen Esther went to King Xerxes in her royal robe.

When Queen Esther comes in, she touch the edge of the scepter.

Then King Xerxes said, “Esther, what can I do for you? I will give you as much as half of your kingdom.”

Queen Esther answered, “Your Majesty, I want you and Haman tocome to a dinner which I prepare tomorrow.”

King Xerxes and Haman went to Esther’s dinner. While they were drinking wine, King Xerxes asked, “Esther, what can I do for you?”

Esther answered, “Your Majesty, please come with Haman to the dinner I will prepare for you tomorrow. At that time, I will let you know what I want.”

The king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s dinner again the next day.

While they were dining, King Xerxes asked. “Esther, what do you want me to do for you?”

Queen Esther answered, “Your Majesty, if you really love me, please save my people. A reward had been ordered for whoever that will kills my people.”

King Xerxes said, “Who would do such a wicked thing?”
Queen Esther answered, “Haman.”

Haman was terrified when he look at Queen Esther and King Xerxes eyes, King Xerxes is so angry, he rose up from his seat and went into the palace gardens.

When King Xerxes came in, Haman was kneeling on the floor beside Queen Esther who is lying down on a couch.

King Xerxes said, “Now you want to rape my queen!”

As soon as he said this, Haman’s head was covered. Harbona said to King Xerxes, “ Your Majesty, Haman built a 75 feet high tower to hang Mordecai. Mordecai spoke up to saved your life from Bigthana and Teresh.”

King Xerxes said, “Hang Haman from the 75 feet tower that he had built!” Immediately, Haman was hanged from his own tower.  

King Xerxes gave Queen Esther all the possessions of Haman.

Queen Esther told King Xerxes that Mordecai is her cousin so King Xerxes promoted Mordecai to the highest palace official. Queen Esther then put Mordecai in charged over Haman’s possessions.

Queen Esther knelt down before King Xerxes saying, “Your Majesty, if you really love me, please stop Haman’s plan to kill the Jews!”

King Xerxes answered, “I now give you a permission to make a new law to save your people. You can use my ring to seal the law so that the law will be permanent.”

On the 23rd of Sivan, the third month, the king secretaries wrote the law and distribute it among the Jews, and the governors of 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia.

The law gave the Jews permission to kill the people who want to take their lives on the 13th of Adar, the twelfth month.

On the 13th of Adar, the Jews took their swords and kill all their enemies. Five hundred people were killed that day; Haman’s ten sons were also among the ones killed.

King Xerxes have the bodies of the sons of Haman hung in Susa at the request of Queen Esther.

Then Queen Esther said to King Xerxes, “Your Majesty, please also let the Jews kill their enemies tomorrow just as they did today.”
King Xerxes approved Queen Esther’s request.

On the 14th of Adar, the Jews kill another 300 more of their enemies then they held a big feast.

That is why the Jews celebrate on the 14th of the month.

The celebration is called Purim. Purim is a day for the Jews to feast and exchange food with each other.

Matthew 3:13-17; Luke 3:21-23

During those days, John the Baptist was preaching in the desert about the kingdom of God to the Hebrews.

John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, and he ate locusts and wild honey for food.

John said to the people, “You children of Satan, who tell you to flee from God’s wrath? Therefore produce good fruits so that you will go to heaven and not be thrown into hell. I baptize you with water but the one who is greater will come after me whom sandal I am not fit to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

The tax collectors answered him, “What shall we do then?”

John answered, “Collect not more money that what is expected?”

The soldiers asked John, “And what should we do?”

John answered, “Don’t intimidate and accuse anyone falsely.”

Then Jesus came from Galilee to let John baptize him. John said, “I need to be baptized by you but you have come to me. Should I baptize you?”

Jesus replied, “Let it be so now so that the word of God can be fulfilled.”

And so John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.

As Jesus came up from the water, the spirit of God suddenly descend on Him like a dove.

A voice from heaven can be heard,” This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (King James Version. Matthew 3:17)

Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and returned to his home.

Jesus was then led by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil and He fast for forty days and forty nights in the desert.

During the forty days and forty nights, Jesus didn’t eat or drink any water.

Acts 15:36 – 41

Paul and Barnabas had remained in Jerusalem for some time and they preached the word of God there.

Then Paul said to Barnabas,”Let us go back to every city where we preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to strengthen the believers there.”

Paul decided to take Silas with him on the journey but Barnabas wanted to take John with him.

Paul and Barnabas quarreled harshly over it. Finally Paul and Barnabas split.

Paul took Silas and sailed to Syria and Cilicia but Barnabas took John and sailed to Cyprus.

Paul did not want John as their helper because John abandoned them while they were at Pamphylia.

When Paul and Silas came to Derbe and Lystra, they met a man named Timothy.

Timothy’s mother was a Jewish Christian believer. Timothy’s father was a Greek.

Everyone talked good things about Timothy and Paul wanted to take Timothy along with him.

So Paul decided to circumcise Timothy because the Jews there observe circumcision.

As they went through the churches, they delivered the decree of the circumcision to them and encouraged them to continue in faith in the Word of God.

When Paul and Silas had arrived at Asia, the Holy Spirit forbade them to preach the word there.

When Paul came to Mysia, he wanted to go into Bithynia but the Holy Spirit told him not to go in.

After that, Paul and Silas came to Troas.

At night, Paul had a vision of a Macedonian man asking him to come over to Macedonia and help them. When Paul woke up, he departed for Macedonia.