An imaginary Letter (Genocide is coming)

The following is an imaginary letter. This letter is fictional in form, but will make reference to biblical events as recounted in the book of Esther chapters 1-4. Imagine this letter written by an unnamed Jew living as a resident in Susa, the Persian capital during the time of Xerxes.  My only intention in writing this was to try and get in the headspace of relating the details of what had happened during Esther 1-4 to someone who otherwise knew very little of the events. The emphasis of the setting is aimed at the tension named at the end of Esther 4:15-17. 

Dear family in the hills outside Jerusalem, 

I am so sorry I have not written you recently. I write to you from Susa. The events that have transpired this year are disturbing and cause me to write to you in urgency. Life here in Susa has turned sour. What once was a place where we could do business and live among the Persians, has become a den of hate. 

When Xerxes became king he had marvelous feasts. They were longer than any feast any of our ancestors talked about. He even gave feasts for the people who helped host other feasts. In the beginning of his reign there wasn't anything the king loved more than celebration and pleasure. I must admit in those days I would celebrate as often as I could get the chance. Now there is no time to celebrate as everything has become bitter. 

At the end of one of his feasts the king commanded his queen Vashti to be removed from her position. In a great fury the king left to conquer Greece. After a few years he returned, defeated and depressed. Rumors among the servants from the palace were that only a new beauty would be able to cheer up the king's spirit. A search commenced as I'm sure even you in the distant hill country heard about. It was a local girl from here in Susa who brought a smile to the king's face. She's been queen ever since. 

One from among our people, Mordecai, has recently begun to stir up trouble with one of the king's favorite administrators. His name is Haman. He is a descendent of that ancient wicked people of Amalek who attacked Moses and our forefathers. Mordecai simply won't pay honor to Haman as Xerxes' laws have commanded. To seek his revenge Haman has consulted the stars and the signs in the skies to pick a day to kill every one of our people. The king has approved of this law and I'm sure a royal edict will be posted and proclaimed in Jerusalem soon if it has not already come to you. We saw a great company of official letter couriers leave Susa only last week. 

Since hearing this law proclaimed we have all stopped working. Not only us, but the whole city of Susa seems to be confused why we must be killed. Our friends, our neighbors, they are not children of Abraham like we are, but they buy our goods, they visit our shops, they are just as confused as we are. The streets have been quiet in our part of town during the day. The only noises we hear now are people crying, or people packing. If I could afford a few carts I might leave Susa and make for Jerusalem soon. 

I'm writing to ask you to join me and the rest of us in Susa in fasting. The one who provoked this trouble, Mordecai, he has gotten a message to the new queen. She has commanded Mordecai to gather all of us Jews in Susa together to fast for three days and nights. At first we thought this was a strange request. What would the queen care about what happens to us? Some have mentioned that maybe she has a servant girl whom she favors who is a Jew, but none of us know of any of our daughters serving in the queen's palace. 

At the end of three days and three nights of fasting we will see what takes place. The One who saved our forefathers from Pharaoh may yet save us from this Haman. I need to be going. We are going to begin our fast today. We are all meeting by the king's gate to fast together that we might find some solace in one another's tears. I don't think it's a good idea for us to sit together, it will give everyone else a very clear idea of who to hunt come next year. 

If you do not receive another letter from me, know that the worst has happened to us in Susa.