The answer is: Two

Esther 5:4,8 ; 7:1-2

Queen Esther, what a remarkable figure! She not only played a central role in saving her people but also made a splash with her banqueting skills – throwing not one, but two feasts. These two gatherings—extremely purposeful—were carefully crafted to catch the attention of King Xerxes and ultimately set the stage for brave and pivotal revelations.

At her first banquet, withheld were vital details, but she tantalizingly invited the king and Haman, the prime minister with deadly intentions against her people, for a special treat. This immediate setting drew suspense—what's the big reveal, right? At the critical moment of the second banquet, she passionately spilled the beans, exposing Haman’s plot against the Jews—propelling her downtrodden community toward salvation.

A quick fun fact: Judith, a heroine from the Deuterocanonical books, shares some thematic echoes with Esther. Both women used cunning wit in the face of oppression and redeployed societal events to save their people, showing that strength often comes wrapped in femininity and intimacy, rather than purely confrontational heroics.

Esther’s story underscores the power of wisdom and timing. Instead of frantic proclamations or angry defiance, she first offered those around her a taste of sumptuous food and fellowship. What a lesson amidst today’s politically charged conversations—sometimes, what's essential is the space in which we share truths, not just the truths themselves. Banquets, sure, but more profoundly, the art of persuasion through connection. Quite the feast of learning!