Esther with the Decree of Destruction

The Persian king Ahasuerus has signed a decree that gives his minister Haman the authority to extinguish anyone who disobeys the law of the king. Haman intends to use the decree to kill all Jews in the land. He has not told the king what his true intentions are.

Esther, a Jewish woman, is Ahasuerus' wife. Her cousin Mordecai manages to give her a copy of the decree. He begs her to use her influence to stop Haman. Esther first refuses. She points out that it is forbidden to anyone to approach the king without being asked to do so. The penalty for abusing that rule is death.

After a while Mordecai succeeds in convincing her to rescue her people. "and if I perish, I perish", she says.

Rembrandt here shows her holding the decree, thinking about what to do.