1. Vashti and Esther. Esther 1-2.
2. Haman and Mordicai. Esther 3-7.
3. The Vindication. Esther 8-10.

1. Affairs in the Court of Susa. Esther 1:1-2:23.

A. Wealth and Glory of Ahasuerus. Esther 1:1-9.
B. Dethronement of Vashti. Esther 1:10-22.
C. Search for New Queen. Esther 2:1-4.
D. Mordecai and Esther. Esther 2:5-7.
E. Esther Chosen Queen. Esther 2:8-18.
F. Attempt on King’s Life. Esther 2:19-23.

2. Feud between Haman and Mordecai. Esther 3-9:19.

A. Haman and Mordecai. Esther 3:1-6.
B. Haman’s Plot. Esther 3:7-15.
C. Mordecai’s Plan. Esther 4:1-17.
D. Esther’s Audience. Esther 5:1-8.
E. Pride Goes before a Fall. Esther 5:9-14.
F. An Unrewarded Service. Esther 6:1-5.
G. Haman’s Humiliation. Esther 6:6-14.
H. Haman’s Downfall. Esther 7:1-10.
I. Mordecai’s Advancement. Esther 8:1, 2.
J. Esther’s Petition. Esther 8:3-8.
K. A New Decree. Esther 8:9-14.
L. Popular Reaction. Esther 8:15-17.
M. Day of Vengeance. Esther 9:1-10.
N. Origin of the Days of Purim. Esther 9:11-19.

3. Regulation for Observance of Purim. Esther 9:20-10:3.

A. Legalizing of Purim. Esther 9:20-28.
B. Esther Adds Authorization. Esther 9:29-32.
C. Greatness of Mordecai. Esther 10:1-3.

1. The author of this piece of Semitic history fiction is unknown.
2. The book was written to justify the two-day feast of Purim, which had long been celebrated by the Jews.
3. There are implications that the author was a Persian Jew.
4. The author seems to have had a cynical attitude toward religion. He depended on political intrigue.
5. The author was a skillful literary artist. Esther is regarded as a masterpiece of literature.
6. Perhaps written during the third century B.C. or possibly as late as 125 B.C. Σ.

1. Purim had no basis in the law. As a holiday it was probably picked up from another nation, much as modern Jews, in a secular way, celebrate Christmas.
2. The book of Esther supplies the reason for the continued celebration of the Purim festival.
3. Purim was a convivial and secular celebration and it needed some sort of racial or religious background for its justification. It was the only worldly holiday in the Jewish calendar.
4. To sum up: The book was to propagandize and justify Purim.

1. Herodotus, the Greek historian, makes no mention of Xerxes having either Vashti or Esther as queen.
2. Most scholars regard the book as romance fiction-designed to tickle Jewish fancy and exalt the national ego.
3. In other words, Esther should be classed as a historical novel.
4. There were objections to the book’s being received into the sacred canon, there being no mention of God, prayer, or any other religious practice.
5. The ethics and morals of the book are in every way contrary to the teachings of the Old Testament prophets and the teachings of Christianity.

1. The little book is shot through with exaggerations: high gallows, six months’ feast, year’s beauty treatment for court maidens, 10,000 talents ($18,000,000) for financing the pogrom.
2. The book exhibits gross Jewish intolerance — 75,510 gentiles were slaughtered in a single day.
3. Part of the original book of Esther was so distasteful that it was removed and put in the OldTestament.
4. Neither Jesus nor any New Testament writer ever quotes from, or refers to the book of Esther.
5. The heroine of the book violates Jewish prohibition of marriage with the uncircumcised gentiles.
6. Esther was not accepted for the Old Testament canon until A.D. 397 at the Council of Carthage.
7. The book of Esther may have something to do with creating and perpetuating the historic cleavage between historic Judaism and prophetic Christianity.
8. Esther is certainly contrary to the teaching of both the Second Isaiah and Jesus of Nazareth.
9. Esther became popular among the Jews because Purim was always a popular and festive holiday.

1. Beauty treatment. “Now when the turn came for each maiden to go in to King Ahasuerus, after being twelve months under the regula tions for the women, since this was the regular period of their beautifying, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments.” Esther 2:12.
2. Esther becomes queen. “The king loved Esther more than all the women...so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen.” Esther 2:17.
3. Haman seeks destruction of Jews. “When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down...to him...Haman sought to destroy all the Jews.” Esther 3:5, 6.
4. Edict for destruction of Jews. “Letters were sent...to destroy...all Jews.” Esther 3:13.
5. For such a time. “‘And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?’” Esther 4:14.
6. The gallows. “‘Let a gallows...be made...tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it.’” Esther 5:14.
7. Mordecai’s kindness. “And it was found written how Mordecai had told about...two of the king’s eunuchs...who had sought to lay hands upon King Ahasuerus.” Esther 6:2.
8. Mordecai honored. “Then the king said to Haman, ‘Make haste, take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew.’” Esther 6:10.
9. The king hangs Haman. “Then Queen Esther answered...’Let my life be given me...and my people. For we are...to be destroyed’...Then King Ahasuerus answered...’Who is he...that would presume to do this?’ And Esther said... ‘This wicked Haman.’” Esther 7:3-6.
“Then said...one of the eunuchs...’the gallows which Haman has prepared for Mordecai...is standing...’ And the king said, ‘Hang him...’ So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai.” Esther 7:9-10.
10. The Jews saved. “‘And you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king.’” Esther 8:8.
11. Origin of Purim. “Therefore they called these days Purim, after the term Pur.” Esther 9:26.