OUTLINE OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER

By Gene McCarty

    The book of Esther is a most interesting book that is set in the same time period as Ezra and Nehemiah. The viewpoint is different because it involves a beautiful young lady who becomes queen to Artaxerxes king of Persia.
     There is no information about the land of Judah or of the exiles who have returned to the land of their origin. The book gives a great deal of information about how the Jewish people rose to a position of power in Persia during the reign of Xerxes. It is most interesting to notice the tremendous importance of Esther as she becomes a savior of her people. Truly this text demonstrates that one faithful person has a great influence upon the history of God's people. This book also shows the love of our God and his continued care for his people in spite of the fact that many would never return to the land of their fathers.

1. In the first chapter the primary event is the refusal of Queen Vashti to appear before the King as he had commanded. King Xerxes then determined to find a new Queen, and it is at this point that Esther enters the picture. Early in chapter 2 she is made queen and it isn't very long until her cousin and guardian Mordecai finds a conspiracy to assassinate the king. Esther informs the king and this event is soon to benefit the entire population of Jews.
    

2. In chapter 3 Haman is introduced to us and soon after his introduction, he has organized a nation wide plan to eliminate the Jews. In chapter 4 Mordecai learns of the plan to kill all Jews and is able to get Esther to help by approaching the king about this matter.
    

3. In chapter 5 Esther begins her approach to the king and Haman is even more enraged with Mordecai and makes plans to hang him on a gallows that is 75 feet high. Instead of hanging Mordecai, in chapter 6 he must robe Mordecai in the king's robe and lead him about on the kings horse shouting, "this is what is done for the man the king delights to honor." In chapter 7 Esther makes her request to the king and Haman is hanged on the gallows that he constructed for Mordecai.
    

4. After Haman is hanged, Mordecai is given his estate and is appointed to a position second to the king in all of Persia. He is also instructed to write a decree in behalf of the Jews. By the end of chapter 8 the decree is written and early in chapter 9 hundreds of  those who have conspired against the Jews are put to death on the same day that they thought they would put the Jews to death. A time of sorrow is turned into a time of joy and feasting. In fact a feast is established that is kept by the Jews this same time each year (Purim).