Esther
The Book of Esther encourages the Jewish exiles who returned from Babylon. It reminds them of the faithfulness of the LORD God. He will keep promises to them.
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10
Deuterocanonical chapters: [A], [B], [C], [D], [E]
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Esther’s Call to Fast
SUMMARY
Title
The Book of Esther is named for its hero: Queen Esther.
At the beginning of the narrative, she is a young Jewish woman. During the exile in Babylon, she was selected to be the wife of king Ahasuerus.
She thwarts a plan to exterminate the Jewish people. She is a great hero of the faith.
Author
The book gives no hint as to who wrote it.
But whoever wrote it was familiar with Persian culture and Jewish culture. They write as an eyewitness
The author could have been Ezra or Nehemiah. But no specific evidence supports that view.
Date
The events in book take place in the Persian period (539-331 BC).
That was when many Israelites had returned from the Exile to the Holy Land to rebuild the temple and to set up the sacrificial system.
However, the book provides no hint about when the book was written.
Purpose
The Book of Esther encourages the Jewish exiles who returned from Babylon. It reminds them of the faithfulness of the LORD God. He will keep promises to them.
The author describes God’s unfailing preservation of his people.
The author also explains how the Feast of Purim began. That feast, each time it was celebrated, would encourage the remnant.
Esther is the only book of the Bible in which the name of God is not mentioned. Nor is the Law mentioned. Prayer is not mentioned, although fasting is.
OUTLINE
Prelude
Esther A:1-11. Mordecai has a dream
Esther A:12-17. Mordecai thwarts an assassination plan
Esther is selected as Queen
Esther 1:1-4. King Xerxes throws a half-year feast
Esther 1:5-9. King Xerxes throws a seven-day feast
Esther 1:10-12. Queen Vashti refuses a stupid command
Esther 1:13-22. King Xerxes complains to his advisors
Esther 2:1-14. King Xerxes searches for a new queen
Esther 2:15-20. Esther is chosen as queen
Esther 2:21-23. Mordecai saves the king
The Jewish people are targeted for extermination
Esther 3:1-6. Mordecai does not bow down to Haman
Esther 3:7-15. Haman schemes to exterminate the Jewish people
Chapter B:1-7. King Ahasuerus orders the extermination of the Jewish people
Esther saves the Jewish people
Esther 4:1-14. The Jewish people grieve over the news
Esther 4:15-17. Esther fasts for three days
Esther C:1-11. The prayer of Mordecai
Esther C:12-30. The prayer of Queen Esther
Esther D:1-15. Esther approaches the king
Esther 5:1-8. Esther approaches the king
Esther 5:9-14. Haman rages against Mordecai
Esther 6:1-14. The king orders Haman to honor Mordecai
Esther 7:1-6. Esther reveals Haman’s evil plot
Esther 7:7-10. The king executes Haman
Esther 8:1-14. Esther saves the entire Jewish people
Esther 8:15-17. Esther and Mordecai evangelize the world
Esther E:1-24. The letter of King Ahasuerus
The Jewish people defend themselves with valor
Esther 9:1-19. The Jewish people are victorious
Esther 9:20-32. Mordecai establishes a new feast called Purim
Esther 10:1-3. The greatness of Esther and Mordecai
MEMORIZE
Esther C:30. O God, who has power over all, listen to the voice of the desperate, and deliver us from the hand of those who devise mischief. Deliver me from my fear.
Great verses to memorize from the entire Bible
ESTHER
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10
Deuterocanonical chapters: [A], [B], [C], [D], [E]
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Esther’s Call to Fast
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.