Summary Author : Not known Time : c.460 B.C. Summary : Esther is regarded as a historical book, written during the period of the Captivity. It records the plot of Haman, the Prime Minister to the Persian king, to exterminate the Jewish race. This plot is foiled by Esther, the Queen of Persia, who was a Jew. This book gives us the origin of the Feast of Purim. Key verse : "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 royal position for such a time as this?" (4:14). Main people : Vashti, Esther, Mordecai, Haman, Ahasuerus (Xerxes)

Outline 1. Vashti divorced 1:1–22 2. Esther made queen 2:1–18 3. Mordecai uncovers a conspiracy 2:19–23 4. Haman’s plot against the Jews 3:1–15 5. Mordecai persuades Esther to help 4:1–17 6. Esther’s first banquet 5:1–8 7. Haman's rage against Mordecai 5:9–14 8. Haman humiliated before Mordecai 6:1–14 9. Esther’s second banquet, Haman hanged 7:1–10 10. Mordecai’s counter decree 8:1–17 11. The Jews victorious and the institution of Purim 9:1–32 12. Mordecai promoted 10:1–3 (RH)

Author – Not known for certain
Time – 510 B.C.

Summary – Esther is an historical book, written during the period of the captivity. It records the plot of Haman, the prime minister to the Persian king, to exterminate the Jewish race. This plot is foiled by Esther, the queen of Persia, who was a Jewess. This book gives us the origin of the Feast of Purim, which celebrates God’s goodness in delivering the Jews from Haman.