This book is one of the most unusual of all the 66 books that make up the Bible. Among other things it never mentions God, or the name of God, nor is prayer mentioned anywhere. On the other hand you can see the foreknowledge of God and his presence in all that happens throughout the book. The lesson we need to learn in this book is, that God is in control of all mankind's affairs, whether we are believers or not, and whether we are in fellowship with him or not.

(chpt:  1 Vs: 001)  Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:) 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 002)  That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 003)  In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him: 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 004)  When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 005)  And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace; 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 006)  Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 007)  And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 008)  And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure. 

Verse 9 tells us that the queen is entertaining the women guests while all of this was going on.

(chpt:  1 Vs: 009)  Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus. 

Verses 10 through 12: the king commands that the queen be brought into the presence of the men to demonstrate her beauty as a crowning climax to the party. She refuses to appear causing the king to become very angry.

(chpt:  1 Vs: 010)  On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 011)  To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 012)  But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him. 

Verses 13 through the end of the chapter tell us of the consequences of this action on the part of the queen. To sum it all up, she is dethroned and barred from the presence of the king for life. Letters are sent throughout all of the empire informing the people concerning the matter, and instructing that men are to be absolute rulers over the women of their household.

(chpt:  1 Vs: 013)  Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment: 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 014)  And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;) 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 015)  What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains? 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 016)  And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 017)  For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 018)  Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 019)  If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 020)  And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 021)  And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan: 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 022)  For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people. 

This chapter introduces Esther and Mordecai. Mordecai is Esther's uncle and has raised her as his own since the death of her parents.

(chpt:  2 Vs: 001)  After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 002)  Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 003)  And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them: 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 004)  And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 005)  Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 006)  Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 007)  And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter. 

Verses 8 and 9: Esther is selected as one of the candidates to replace the disposed queen. The keeper of the women especially favors her.

(chpt:  2 Vs: 008)  So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 009)  And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. 

Verse 10 reveals that Mordecai has instructed Esther to hide her identity as a Jew.

While it may not be too obvious we can now began as to see the working of the hand of God in these affairs.

(chpt:  2 Vs: 010)  Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 011)  And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 012)  Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;) 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 013)  Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 014)  In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 015)  Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. 

Verses 16 through 18: Esther more than pleases the king and is selected to be the new queen.

(chpt:  2 Vs: 016)  So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 017)  And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 018)  Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king. 

Verses 19 through the end of the chapter tell us of an event that occurs that will have a bearing on the rest of the events of this book. It is distinctly the hand of God moving. Mordecai has gained a position of some importance that places him in the gate of the city judging minor matters. He overhears a plot against the king. He tells Queen Esther who informs the king. Because of the alertness and faithfulness of Mordecai the plotters are brought to justice.

(chpt:  2 Vs: 019)  And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 020)  Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 021)  In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 022)  And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 023)  And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king. 

We are now introduced to the major villain in this story by the name of Haman. This part of the story moves very quickly. Haman is appointed second-in-command to the king. The king commands all of his subjects to bow before Haman. Mordecai refuses to do so and this is called to the attention of Haman who becomes extremely upset and disturbed. Mordecai is refusing because of the law of God, which prohibited a Jew from bowing before anything or anyone except God. Mordecai had told those individuals who were wondering why he did not bow, that "he was a Jew and he was obeying the law of God." This information is relayed to Haman who apparently already has some prejudice against the Jews.

(chpt:  3 Vs: 001)  After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 002)  And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 003)  Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment? 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 004)  Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew. 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 005)  And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. 

Select by Bible order

Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation