R. Hiyya bar Abba and R. Shimon ben Chalafta were walking at dawn in the Arbel Valley, and saw the first light of daybreak.

R. Hiyya told him: Such is Israel’s redemption.

R. Shimon replied: First it will be little by little, but then comes as a breakthrough; it then gains in strength, and gradually improves. Thus at the beginning: Mordechai was sitting at the king’s gate (Esther 2:21) and then: ... when the king saw Queen Esther (ibid. 5:2) and then: So Haman took the robes and the horse (ibid. 6:11) and then: So they hanged Haman (ibid. 7:10) and then: Now you may write regarding the Jews (ibid. 8:8) and then: Mordechai went out from the presence of the king in royal attire (ibid. 8:15) and then: For the Jews it was a time of light (ibid. 8:16).

...

R. Asi said: Just as the dawn is the end of the whole night, so is the story of Esther the end of all the miracles.

Babylonian Talmud, Yoma, 29