The book of Esther never mentions God’s name, yet God clearly orchestrated all of its events. Esther, a Jew living among the exiles in Persia, became queen of the empire in about 480 B.C. Haman, a Persian official, sought to eradicate the Jewish minority, but God had prepared Esther “for such a time as this” (4:14) to save his covenant people. The book was written some decades later to document the origins of the Jewish observance of Purim, which celebrates Israel’s survival and God’s faithfulness. The author is unknown, but some believe it could have been Esther’s cousin Mordecai, who is a key person in the book. Throughout the book we see God’s sovereign hand preserving his people, showing that everything is under his control. (Esther, 2001. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version, Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.)
Est 1.1-9; Story; The King’s Banquets
Est 1.10-22; Story; Queen Vashti’s Refusal
Est 2.1-18; Story; Esther Chosen Queen
Est 2.19-23; Story; Mordecai Discovers a Plot
Est 3.1-15; Story; Haman Plots Against the Jews
Est 4.1-17; Story; Esther Agrees to Help the Jews
Est 5.1-8; Story; Esther Prepares a Banquet
Est 5.9-14; Story; Haman Plans to Hang Mordecai
Est 6.1-13; Story; The King Honors Mordecai
Est 6.14-7.6; Story; Esther Reveals Haman’s Plot
Est 7.7-10; Story; Haman Is Hanged
Est 8.1-17; Story; Esther Saves the Jews
Est 9.1-19; Story; The Jews Destroy Their Enemies
Est 9.20-32; Story; The Feast of Purim Inaugurated
Est 10.1-3; Story; The Greatness of Mordecai