Esther

A Jewish woman becomes queen of Persia just as an official plots to wipe out her people. With her cousin Mordecai, Esther risks her life to save them. God is never named, yet his hand is everywhere.

Author

Unknown

Written

About 460 to 350 BC

Chapters

1. 1Esther 1King Xerxes of Persia holds a lavish feast. Queen Vashti refuses to appear and is removed.
2. 2Esther 2Esther, a young Jewish woman raised by her cousin Mordecai, becomes queen. Mordecai uncovers a plot against the king.
3. 3Esther 3Haman is promoted, and Mordecai refuses to bow to him. Haman plots to destroy all the Jews in the empire.
4. 4Esther 4Mordecai mourns and urges Esther to plead with the king: “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther agrees: “If I perish, I perish.”
5. 5Esther 5Esther approaches the king and invites him and Haman to a banquet. Haman builds a gallows for Mordecai.
6. 6Esther 6The sleepless king reads the records, remembers Mordecai’s loyalty, and makes Haman honour him publicly.
7. 7Esther 7At Esther’s second banquet she reveals Haman’s plot, and Haman is hanged on the gallows he built.
8. 8Esther 8The king allows the Jews to defend themselves, and Mordecai is honoured.
9. 9Esther 9The Jews defeat their enemies, and the feast of Purim is established.
10. 10Esther 10Mordecai becomes second to the king and works for the good of his people.