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About this book: Esther

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

Hidden providenceCourage at a costReversal of fortunesDeliverance remembered

Outline

  1. 1:1–2:23A queen is chosen
  2. 3:1–3:15Haman's decree
  3. 4:1–4:17Mordecai's challenge and Esther's fast
  4. 5:1–7:10Banquets and Haman's fall
  5. 8:1–9:19A new decree and deliverance
  6. 9:20–10:3The feast of Purim

Key verses

Esther 4:14 →Esther 4:16 →Esther 9:22 →
About this chapterKing Ahasuerus of Persia holds a lavish six-month display of his wealth and then a seven-day banquet. On the last day, drunk, he orders Queen Vashti to appear so that his guests can admire her beauty. She refuses. His advisers fear that her defiance will spread among all women, so she is removed from her position, and a decree is issued that every man should be master of his household. The chapter sets the stage by showing a proud, impulsive ruler whose decisions will shape events, while God is not named anywhere in the book but is quietly at work.

King Ahasuerus of Persia holds a lavish six-month display of his wealth and then a seven-day banquet. On the last day, drunk, he orders Queen Vashti to appear so that his guests can admire her beauty. She refuses. His advisers fear that her defiance will spread among all women, so she is removed from her position, and a decree is issued that every man should be master of his household. The chapter sets the stage by showing a proud, impulsive ruler whose decisions will shape events, while God is not named anywhere in the book but is quietly at work.

Themes

  • Power and pride
  • Refusal of Vashti
  • Setting the stage

Key verses

Audio Bible · Esther 1

Listen while you go about your day.

Esther 1

Berean Standard Bible22 verses · 3 min read

1This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush. 2In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa. 3In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces. 4And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness. 5At the end of this time, in the garden court of the royal palace, the king held a seven-day feast for all the people in the citadel of Susa, from the least to the greatest. 6Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones. 7Beverages were served in an array of goblets of gold, each with a different design, and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty. 8By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired. 9Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes. 10On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas— 11to bring Queen Vashti before him, wearing her royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and officials. For she was beautiful to behold. 12Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became furious, and his anger burned within him. 13Then the king consulted the wise men who knew the times, for it was customary for him to confer with the experts in law and justice. 14His closest advisors were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and ranked highest in the kingdom. 15“According to law,” he asked, “what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey the command of King Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs?” 16And in the presence of the king and his princes, Memucan replied, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the princes and the peoples in all the provinces of King Xerxes. 17For the conduct of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’ 18This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in much contempt and wrath. 19So if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree, and let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti shall never again enter the presence of King Xerxes, and that her royal position shall be given to a woman better than she. 20The edict the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom—and so all women, from the least to the greatest, will honor their husbands.” 21The king and his princes were pleased with this counsel; so the king did as Memucan advised. 22He sent letters to all the provinces of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be master of his own household.
Verses in Esther 1
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Chapters of Esther

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