Author:

Unknown

Written

450 BC

Someone in the Persian Court into which Esther was married. Covering the time period of 480-475 BC 17

Claims to Fame

Only book in the Bible not to mention the name of God. (Yet the story of Esther is quite godly!)

Most Famous Verses

Esther is one story about a woman of Israel who became queen in a foreign land and stopped a genocide meant to kill all Jews in the land.

"If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king's question." Esther 5:8

In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them. Esther 8:17

Important Points About The Book

The book takes place in Susa, east of the Tigris River, which is now part of Iraq. It is the only Bible story to take place east of what is thought to be the Garden of Eden.

Chapters 1 and 2 Esther becomes queen of Susa. A man named Mordecai had adopted Esther after she was orphaned and before she became queen.

Chapter 4 features Mordecai discovering a plot to have all the Jewish people in the kingdom executed. The evil plot was started by Haman. Esther was able to talk her husband, a very strong king, out of the genocide through a combination of wits and humility and support from Mordecai. The evil Haman ended up being killed on the very devices he had designed to kill the Jewish people in.

Chapter 7
King Xerxes, Esther's husband, canceled the plot and, in the closing chapter, 10, Mordecai was promoted to second in command.