Old Testament
Esther
10 chapters
Start reading: Esther 1About this book
Esther tells of a Jewish orphan who becomes queen of Persia during the reign of Xerxes, while most of her people remain scattered in exile. Her cousin Mordecai refuses to bow to Haman, the king's powerful official, and Haman answers by persuading the king to decree the destruction of every Jew in the empire. Mordecai urges Esther to act, and after fasting she risks her life by approaching the king uninvited. Through two banquets, a sleepless night and a dramatic reversal, Haman's plot collapses and the Jews are permitted to defend themselves. The feast of Purim is established to remember the deliverance. God is never named in the book, yet his quiet care runs through every coincidence, and readers have long seen providence, courage and the power of ordinary people in hidden places. Some Bibles include extra Greek additions that name God and pray; Protestants generally set these apart, while Catholic and Orthodox traditions receive them.
- Author
- Unknown; Jewish tradition has often pointed to Mordecai or a contemporary scribe.
- Date
- The events fall in the fifth century BC under Xerxes; the book was likely written soon after, though some scholars place it later.
- Audience
- Jews living under foreign rule, who needed to know that God had not abandoned them.
Themes
Outline
- 1:1–2:23A queen is chosen
- 3:1–3:15Haman's decree
- 4:1–4:17Mordecai's challenge and Esther's fast
- 5:1–7:10Banquets and Haman's fall
- 8:1–9:19A new decree and deliverance
- 9:20–10:3The feast of Purim
Key verses
Chapters of Esther
- 1Esther 1King Ahasuerus of Persia holds a lavish six-month display of his wealth and then a seven-day banquet.
- 2Esther 2The king's servants gather young women for a beauty contest to choose a new queen.
- 3Esther 3King Ahasuerus promotes Haman, an Agagite, and orders everyone to bow to him.
- 4Esther 4Mordecai tears his clothes and cries out in the city.
- 5Esther 5On the third day Esther puts on her royal robes and stands in the inner court.
- 6Esther 6That night the king cannot sleep and has the chronicles read to him, and he learns that Mordecai's loyalty in exposing the assassination plot was never rewarded.
- 7Esther 7At the second banquet, the king again asks Esther what she wants.
- 8Esther 8The king gives Haman's estate to Esther and elevates Mordecai.
- 9Esther 9On the day set for the attack, the Jews gather and defend themselves, and their enemies are defeated because fear of Mordecai had fallen on the officials.
- 10Esther 10The book closes with a brief note about King Ahasuerus imposing tribute on the land and the sea, and about the greatness of Mordecai, who is second in rank to the king.