King Ahasuerus of Persia hosts a lavish 180-day feast for his officials at Susa, showcasing his kingdom's splendor, followed by a seven-day banquet for the people. When Queen Vashti refuses the king's summons to display her beauty before his drunken guests, she is deposed by royal decree to ensure that all wives throughout the empire will honor their husbands.
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Read Esther Chapter 1 Summary
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Position in Book
Esther Becomes QueenChapters 1-2
Queen Vashti deposed, Esther chosen as new queen, Mordecai uncovers a plot against the king.
Haman's PlotChapters 3-4
The ReversalChapters 5-7
The Jews' VictoryChapters 8-10
Bible Bites
God's name is never mentioned
Esther is the only book in the Bible that never names God. Yet medieval rabbis noticed that the four letters of the divine name (YHWH) are spelled out as hidden acrostics in a handful of verses, and some old manuscripts even enlarge those letters. God is present, working behind the scenes, without ever being named.
Esther