- During the reign of Xerxes, Queen Vashti also gives a banquet for women while displaying vast wealth. Because she was fair to look on, Xerxes summons Vashti, but she refuses the eunuchs’ call. The uproar is resolved when a royal decree stops Vashti from being near Xerxes. #Est1
- Virgins for Xerxes’s harem are sought. Esther, under Mordecai’s care, stands out, for the maid was fair, had a lovely frame, and was beautiful. Esther is taken to the citadel of Susa by the eunuch Hegai. She wins the favor of Xerxes. Mordecai uncovers a conspiracy. #Est2
- Haman is elevated in Xerxes court, but Mordecai refuses to pay him honor. Haman’s hatred for Mordecai becomes a general hatred for all Jews. Haman gets extreme anti-Jewish laws passed. At a specific day, the law will go into effect. The city was bewildered. #Est3
- Mordecai wears sackcloth & ashes, and so cannot pass the King’s Gate. He tells the eunuch Hatach who serves Queen Esther about the plight of the Jews, and that money has been allocated to kill them. Esther asks the Jews of Shushan to fast for 3 days. If I perish, I perish. #Est4
- The king tells Esther, It shall be even given to you half of the kingdom. Esther invites the king & Haman to a banquet to give her answer. Haman is honored but is offended again by Mordecai’s refusal to stand for him. Haman builds a gallows, fifty cubits high, for Mordecai. #Est5
- The king read chronicles where Mordecai uncovered a plot against the king. He decides to honor Mordecai by asking Haman what should be done to the man who the king wishes to honor. Haman’s reply, thinking it for himself, is done for Mordecai. The wind shifts against Haman. #Est6
- The king again asks Esther about her petition: Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted. Esther pleads on behalf of her—and Mordecai’s—people, and accuses Haman the Agagite of writing laws to destroy the Jews. Haman is impaled on the gallows meant for Mordecai. #Est7
- The king gives Haman’s estate to Esther. Still frightened about the anti-Jewish laws, Esther begs the king to issue another edict. He issues one giving Jews full rights in the provinces of Xerxes. It was a time of joy and happiness. Mordecai wore purple linen robes. #Est8
- Mordecai becomes more prominent & the Jews become more powerful. They strike down 510 men of Susa in one day, a fact the king points out to Esther, who replies let Haman’s 10 sons be impaled on poles.The king carries this out, & the 2 or 3-day feast of Purim is established. #Est9
- Mordecai sends letters to all the Jews to remember Esther & Purim. And all his acts of power and might, together with a full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king had promoted, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Media and Persia? #Est10