AJ

He didn't know Queen Esther was Jewish.

Mordecai was her cousin.

When he learned of Haman's plan, he sent a secret message to the queen.

Then Esther waited.

She hosted elaborate banquets.

Night after night, she gained the king's trust.

Then she made her move.

At the final banquet, she revealed everything.

Her Jewish identity, Haman's genocide order, and evidence that Haman was embezzling from the royal treasury.

Xerxes was furious.

He ordered Haman hanged on the same gallows Haman built for Mordecai, a structure 75 feet high visible across the entire city.

When you build your own execution device, maybe rethink your life choices.

But Esther wasn't finished.

Haman's ten sons had copies of the genocide orders.

They would continue their father's plan.

Esther demanded their death as well.

All ten were found hanging the next morning.

When Jewish scribes recorded the story centuries later, something strange happened.

In the verses listing Haman's 10 sons, three Hebrew letters were written smaller than usual, Tav, Shin, and Zayin.

One letter was written large, Vav.