Category: Esther

This brief chapter (three verses) informs us the king has a far reach with great power, and Mordecai advanced to being his second in command (replacing Haman), like Joseph was second to the Pharaoh in Egypt. “…Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular…

This chapter describes the Jews defeating those who sought to destroy them, and the creation of the Feast of Purim, to celebrate God’s deliverance. “And Mordecai… sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus… obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the…

In this chapter Esther and Mordecai devise a plan to save the Jews from Haman’s genocide edict. “Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, ‘Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he intended to lay hands on the Jews….

In this chapter Queen Esther’s second feast with the king and Haman takes place. ” ‘What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you….’ Then Queen Esther answered, ‘…if it please the king, let my life be granted… and my people… For we have been sold… to be destroyed, to be killed, and…

Haman’s plan to hang Mordecai backfires, and he is forced to honor him instead. “So Haman came in, and the king said to him, ‘What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?’ And Haman said to the king, ‘…let royal robes be brought… and the horse that the king has…

After three days of fasting and praying, Esther is accepted in the king’s presence, where he promises her up to half of the kingdom. Esther’s only request at that time is that he and Haman join her at a feast she prepared. They do so, the king makes her the same offer, and she invites…

In this chapter Mordecai, Esther, and the other Jews learn of Haman’s plot against them and many go into mourning. Esther and Mordecai then communicate via messenger and devise a dangerous plan. “Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, ‘…if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews…

This chapter introduces Haman, a man promoted to be the King’s second in command. Haman is furious when Mordecai refuses to bow to him, so he gets the king to issue an edict to kill all of the Jews. “Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an…

In this chapter the king decides to replace Queen Vashti and has several women prepped in order to choose the one who most pleases him. Ultimately, the king chooses Esther, a young Jewish woman, as his new Queen. “In those days, as Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate… two of the king’s eunuchs, who…

The book of Esther takes place between the rebuilding of God’s temple and the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. The first chapter introduces King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) of the Persian Empire, and his wife Queen Vashti. “…when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded… to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her…