Esther 1
AOSNAbout Esther.
The Book of Esther
Purpose
To demonstrate God’s providential care of his people
To trace the origin of the Festival of Purim
Author
Unknown
Date
Records events that occurred around 483–473 BC
Setting
The Persian capital, Susa, during the reign of Xerxes, after many Jews had returned to Judea
Esther’s story tells how a woman with wisdom, courage, and willingness changed the lives of thousands. With a community of people praying for her and with God working behind the scenes, Esther accepted her role and risked her life to save others.
Setting
The book of Esther takes place during the rule of King Xerxes of Persia, from 486 to 465 BC. In an earlier time, around 538 BC, about 50,000 people returned to Judea from Babylon (Ezra 1:1–5; 2:64–67). However, many Jewish families, including Esther's, remained in Babylon.
During Xerxes's rule, the Persian Empire was almost at its most powerful. Xerxes and his army achieved great things, including a major victory over Egypt. Taxes brought wealth into the Persian capital of Susa. Xerxes managed the building of a grand new palace at Persepolis.
However, Xerxes was a harsh ruler. Esther joined Xerxes's royal court and became his queen. She encountered the challenge of serving God and her people during a crisis while being the loyal wife of a non-Jewish king.
Summary
When King Xerxes hosted a grand feast for important Persian leaders, Queen Vashti refused to display her beauty. As a result, Xerxes removed her from her position and began looking for a new queen (1:1–2:4). Xerxes chose Mordecai’s cousin, Esther, who was Jewish (2:5–18).
After Mordecai became a palace official, he discovered a plot against the king and reported it through Esther. Later, Mordecai refused to bow in honor to Haman, the highest official of Xerxes. This led Haman to create a plan to kill all the Jews in the empire (2:19–3:15). As the Jewish community prayed, Esther risked her life by approaching the king without an invitation (4:16). She asked the king and Haman to attend a feast (chapter 4). Meanwhile, Haman built a gallows to hang Mordecai (5:14).
After realizing he had not rewarded Mordecai for discovering the assassination plot, the king ordered Haman to lead a parade to honor Mordecai. This was humiliating for Haman (chapter 6). At the feast, Esther revealed that Haman's plot was a personal attack on her people. The executed Haman on his own gallows (chapter 7).
King Xerxes allowed the Jewish people to defend themselves against their enemies (8:1–14). The Jews celebrated, Mordecai received a promotion, and they executed Haman’s sons (9:1–17). The Jewish people defended themselves successfully and celebrated God's remarkable salvation at the first Feast of Purim.
Author and Date
The text of Esther does not specify its author or the time of writing. Some early church fathers believed Ezra wrote Esther, while Clement of Alexandria suggested it was Mordecai. There are many Persian words and an absence of Greek influence. This suggests the book was probably written between 460 BC (after Xerxes's rule ended) and 331 BC (before Alexander the Great conquered Persia).
Genre: History or Fiction?
The book of Esther is a biographical narrative similar to the account of Joseph in Genesis 37–48 and Ruth 1–4.
Some question the historical accuracy of this account because they find it difficult to believe that:
a Persian king would issue a decree ordering the widespread killing of the Jews,
the Jews could kill seventy-five thousand enemies in one day,
a non-Persian like Esther could become queen, and
so many unlikely events could happen in one story.
On the other hand, the historical accuracy of the book is supported for several reasons:
The book uses authentic Persian names, titles, and customs.
In other stories, God acts invisibly (works behind the scenes), using unlikely events to accomplish his purposes (for example, Genesis 37–48; Ruth 1–4).
Esther hid her identity as a Jew until long after she became queen.
Kings did not usually oppose the killing of their enemies, especially when it was suggested by their highest officials.
Additions to the Book of Esther
The Masoretic Hebrew text of the book of Esther has a strong and consistent manuscript tradition.
However, other ancient sources contain additional stories that were written later, including:
the Targums and the Midrash (Jewish interpretation and commentary on the Hebrew Old Testament),
the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint),
the Latin Vulgate, and
the writings of Josephus, a first-century Roman Jewish historian.
These additions mention God many times, while the Masoretic Hebrew text does not.
None of the additions contain information from the original Hebrew text. Some repeat material already found in the Masoretic Hebrew version of Esther, while others contradict it. A few appear to come from the imagination of later authors.
Instead of placing these additions within the story to make them seem original, Jerome (the translator and editor of the Latin Vulgate) collected them at the end of the Old Testament in the deuterocanonical books. These books are included in Roman Catholic and Orthodox Bibles.
Meaning and Message
The Masoretic Hebrew version of the book of Esther never mentions God. Yet the book’s main purpose is to show that God acts invisibly (works behind the scenes) to care for his people. God used King Xerxes’s pride while drunk to raise Esther to a position of influence (chapters 1–2). Haman’s evil plan to destroy the Jews turned against him through a series of unexpected events. The day planned for the Jews’ destruction became a day of joy and victory for them. The book of Esther teaches that God directs people and events to accomplish his purposes.
Esther 1:1
The name Xerxes is the Greek version of the Persian Xshayarshan, which the Hebrew text calls ’akhashwerosh (Ahasuerus). His father, Darius I, who ruled from 521 to 486 BC, was king when Haggai and Zechariah urged the people of Judah to complete the temple in Jerusalem (see Ezra 4:24–6:22; Haggai 1:1; Zechariah 1:1).
127 provinces: Xerxes ruled a vast empire from India to Ethiopia.
Esther 1:2
The fortress of Susa served as the king's winter capital during the colder months.
Esther 1:4
for a full 180 days: Officials likely took turns attending various events during this six-month period. This allowed them to maintain the nation’s military and infrastructure.
This grand display of pomp and splendor aimed to impress others with the king’s greatness. It also shows Xerxes’ pride.
Esther 1:5
A second, shorter banquet let people from all social levels, from the highest to the lowest, see the king's great wealth. Due to the large crowd, this ongoing open-house event took place outside in the paved courtyard of the palace garden.
Esther 1:6
White and blue (or violet) were colors of royalty. The mosaic pavement was also richly detailed.
Esther 1:8
no limit was placed on the drinking: Often, guests would drink only when the Persian king offered a toast (see Xenophon, Cyropaedia 8.8.18). At this banquet, people could drink freely.
Esther 1:9
Since Vashti means the best, desired, beloved, it might be a title for a favored wife rather than her real name. Ancient Greek historians call her Amestris (for example, Herodotus, Histories 7.114). Her son, Artaxerxes I, became king of Persia and ruled from 465 to 424 BC, after Xerxes died (see Ezra 4:7–23; 6:14; 7:1, 7, 11–26; 8:1; Nehemiah 1:1; 2:1; 5:14; 13:6).
Esther 1:10
the king’s heart was merry with wine: He was likely quite drunk and might do something unwise.
Eunuchs were servants who had been castrated. Their jobs often involved contact with the women of the royal harem.
Esther 1:11
she was beautiful to behold: The king wanted to show off one of his prized possessions.
Esther 1:12
refused to come: The queen's refusal is not explained. Perhaps she feared the king, who was drunk, might humiliate her.
the king became furious: His anger likely increased because he was drunk and felt embarrassed in front of his friends.
Esther 1:13
The king did not react immediately. He consulted his wise advisers, as he usually did. He checked with Persian legal experts to see what could be done about his disobedient wife (Esther 1:15).
Esther 1:15
According to law...what should be done: In his embarrassment, the king likely wanted to punish Vashti as much as possible.
Esther 1:16-18
Queen Vashti has wronged: The adviser Memucan did not use Persian law to guide the king's decision. His hasty advice made Vashti's action seem like a possible crime for all women.
Esther 1:17
all women, causing them to despise their husbands: The council's decision was driven by fear of consequences, not by facts or law.
Esther 1:19
issue a royal decree...that it cannot be repealed: This decree would become an unchangeable law (Esther 8:8; Daniel 6:8, 12).
Esther 1:22
The decree was published in each region's script and language so everyone in the Persian Empire could understand it.
every man should be master of his own household: In the ancient Near East, it was already common for men to rule their houses. The decree made this custom legally enforceable.
Aquifer Open Study Notes © 2026 Mission Mutual, an adaptation of the Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.