Esther: Summary & Key Themes

The Book of Esther at a glance, before you read it.

Written by	unknown
Written for	Jews in Persia
Type	History
Chapters	10
Position	Book 17 of 66 · book 17 of the Old Testament

Summary

Queen Esther risks her life to save her people from Haman’s plot. God is never named, yet His care is seen throughout, remembered at Purim.

Main themes

providence
courage
deliverance

Key verse

For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Esther 4:14 (KJV)

How to read Esther

Try one chapter a day: 10 days to finish. Ask three questions as you go: what did this mean to the first readers, what does it show about God, and what does it ask of me?

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