Old Testament

Esther

AuthorUnknown author, possibly Mordecai
Central themeThe providence of God
About the book

Esther tells the story of a young Jewish woman who becomes queen of Persia at the very moment her entire people faces the risk of extermination.

The plot takes place in the citadel of Susa, winter capital of the Persian Empire, decades after many Jews had been carried into exile by Babylon and never returned to Judah. Vashti, the previous queen, is deposed early in the story, opening the way for Esther to take her place.

A striking detail stands out from the opening chapters: the name of God never appears in the text, not even once, from beginning to end.

Even so, every chapter reveals his hand at work behind the scenes of the story: in the chance event that places Esther on the throne, in the king’s unexpected sleeplessness, in the coincidence that exposes Haman’s secret plot against the Jews.

Mordecai sums up the heart of the book when he tells his cousin Esther that perhaps she came to the position of queen for exactly such a time as this.

Esther responds with rare courage, willing to risk her own life to intercede for her people before the king, even without being summoned.

The plan of destruction devised by Haman against the Jews turns back against him, and the day set for the ruin of God’s people becomes the day of their victory.

From this deliverance comes the Jewish feast of Purim, celebrated to this day in memory of the salvation God worked without needing to appear on stage.

Esther invites the reader to trust that God remains in control of history even when he seems silent, and this deliverance is well worth getting to know closely.

Book overview

Purpose

To show God's providence in saving his people and to explain the origin of the feast of Purim

Audience

The Jews of the Persian diaspora and the generations that followed

Date written

Probably between 460 and 350 BC

Geographic setting

Persian Empire, of 127 provinces, from India to Cush

Historical setting

After the Babylonian exile, with Jews still scattered throughout the Persian Empire

It is the only book in the Bible that never mentions the name of God, though his providence appears in every detail of the plot

Key verses

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?

Esther 4:14

Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.

Esther 4:16

For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor.

Esther 8:16

Timeline
483 BC

Xerxes holds a great banquet in Susa and deposes Queen Vashti

479 BC

Esther is brought to the king and crowned queen of Persia in Vashti's place

After 479 BC

Mordecai discovers and reports a plot against the king's life

474 BC

Haman is promoted and, out of hatred for Mordecai, plots to exterminate all the Jews in the empire

474 BC

Esther decides to risk her life and intercedes before the king on behalf of her people

474 BC

Haman is impaled on the stake he had prepared for Mordecai

473 BC

The Jews defend themselves against their enemies throughout the empire on the day set for their destruction

473 BC

The feast of Purim is instituted in memory of the deliverance

After 473 BC

Mordecai is exalted to second in command in the empire, after King Xerxes

Book outline
1
1:1 a 2:23

Vashti is deposed and Esther becomes queen

King Xerxes deposes Queen Vashti at a royal banquet, and the young Jewish woman Esther is chosen to take her place without revealing her origin. Mordecai, her cousin and guardian, discovers and reports a conspiracy against the king, a detail that will later make a difference.

2
3:1 a 4:17

Haman plots to exterminate the Jews

Promoted to second in command of the kingdom, Haman becomes enraged because Mordecai refuses to bow before him and, upon learning that he is a Jew, plots to exterminate the entire Jewish people in the empire. Mordecai convinces Esther to intercede with the king, even at the risk of death.

3
5:1 a 7:10

Esther intervenes and Haman falls into his own trap

Esther appears before the king without being summoned and prepares two banquets for him and for Haman. On a sleepless night, the king discovers that he never rewarded Mordecai and forces Haman to honor him; at the following banquet, Esther exposes Haman's plot, and he is impaled on the stake he had prepared for Mordecai.

4
8:1 a 9:32

The Jews defend themselves and the feast of Purim is born

A new decree allows the Jews to defend themselves against those who attack them, and they defeat their enemies on the very day set for their destruction. Mordecai and Esther then institute the feast of Purim, so the people would remember this deliverance every year.

5
10:1 a 10:3

The greatness of Mordecai

The account records the greatness of King Xerxes in the chronicles of Media and Persia, and Mordecai is exalted as second in command in the empire. He uses his position to work for the good of his people and to promote the welfare of all the Jews.

Major themes

The hidden providence of God

God is never mentioned by name in the book, but his hand appears in every chance event and coincidence of the plot. The book teaches that he continues to act even when he seems absent or silent.

Courage at the right time

Esther risks her own life to intercede for her people before the king, even without having been summoned. Her attitude shows that faith sometimes demands courageous and costly decisions.

The reversal of evil

The plan of destruction Haman devises against the Jews turns back against him, and he dies in the trap he had prepared for Mordecai. The book shows that plans against God's people do not prevail.

Faithfulness in a foreign land

Mordecai and Esther maintain their identity and integrity even while living far from Judah, in a foreign court. The book teaches that it is possible to serve God faithfully even outside the promised land.

The origin of Purim

The deliverance of the Jewish people gives rise to the feast of Purim, celebrated to this day in memory of the salvation received. The book shows the importance of remembering and celebrating God's faithfulness.

God cares for the scattered people

Scattered throughout the Persian Empire, far from the temple and the land of Israel, the Jews remain under God's care. The book shows that geographic distance separates no one from his care.

Key people
E

Esther

Jewish queen who intercedes for her people

M

Mordecai

Esther's cousin and guardian

X

Xerxes

Persian king who makes Esther queen

H

Haman

Plots to exterminate all the Jews

V

Vashti

Queen deposed for disobeying the king

Z

Zeresh

Haman's wife, foresees his downfall

Key places

Susa

Esther 1:2

Jerusalem

Esther 2:6

Persia

Esther 1:3

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