of another of Esther’s theological emphases: the divine election of Israel. The action that God takes on behalf of His people is certainly evidence of this idea. Why would such miraculous coincidences have occurred, if Israel were not in some way “special” to God? It is more clearly implied, however, in Zeresh’s assertion that Haman must fall before Mordecai because Mordecai is a Jew (6:13). Zeresh recognizes that the turn of events that has caused her husband’s embarrassment arises from the Jews