For Esther, it was now or never. She could try to hide from the
impending doom facing the Jews, or she could dare to speak out
to her husband the king. Perhaps she would save her people;
perhaps she would die. After three days of fasting and praying
she put on her royal robes and went to the throne room (Esther
5: 1). Josephus elaborates on the story with these details:
“Although her face was covered with blushing,” Esther adorned
herself “with a sweet and dignified beauty” and entered the
royal court. The king not only looked on Esther with favor, he
“leaped from his throne and raised her in his arms . . .
embracing her and speaking to her endearingly” (Antiquities, XI,
234-237). In the blushing nobility of Esther we encounter the
word semnos (sem NOSS), which means “noble” or “dignified.” In
classical Greek semnos was used by a variety of writers to
describe such things as a “majestic” throne, a “heroic and
noble” demeanor, “splendid” clothing, “stately” music, and
“eloquent” poetry. In an especially approp