Page 2 of 2
| Chapter | Description |
| 1 | King Ahasuerus rules over Media-Persia and holds a feast. At the end of the feast, Ahasuerus orders Queen Vashti to appear before him but she refuses. The king becomes angry and banishes her from his presence forever. |
| 2 | Ahasuerus orders a search for a new queen from among the virgins of his kingdom. Although many virgins appear before him, the king chooses Hadassah, also called Esther to be his new queen. Esther's uncle, Mordecai, hears of a plot against the king and relates the plot to Esther, saving the king's life. |
| 3 | One of the court officials, Haman, is promoted and others bow and pay homage to him. Mordecai the Jew does not bow to Haman which makes Haman angry. Haman plots to kill Mordecai and deceives the king into writing a law to kill all Jews in the kingdom on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month. |
| 4 | Mordecai and the Jews learn about the death law and mourn. Mordecai informs Esther of the law and advises her to speak with king. She initially refuses: to appear before the king without being summoned means death. Mordecai convinces Esther to go to the king. Esther requests all the Jews in the city fast for three days. |
| 5 | Esther risks her life and appears before the king. The king welcomes Esther and asks what she desires. Esther invites the king and Haman to a banquet. Haman plans to kill Mordecai on a gallows fifty cubits high. |
| 6 | The king learns that Mordecai had previously saved the king's life but was not rewarded. The king asks Haman to honor Mordecai. |
| 7 | Esther tells Ahasuerus of Haman's plan to kill the Jews and how it will mean her own life as well. The king becomes enraged and Haman begs Esther for mercy. The king commands Haman to be hung on the gallows Haman had prepared for Mordecai. |
| 8 | The king gives Haman's estate to Esther who appoints Mordecai to run it. Mordecai is promoted as a ruler over the kingdom. Esther begs Ahasuerus to save the Jews but laws in Persia and Media cannot be repealed. Mordecai makes a law allowing the Jews to defend themselves on the day they were to be killed. |
| 9 | Jews defend themselves and kill over 75,000 of their enemies. Haman's sons are hung and killed. The Jews celebrate their victory and "Purim" is declared an annual festival. |
| 10 | King Ahasuerus lays a tribute on the land and on the coastlands of his kingdom. Mordecai's story is recorded in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia. Mordecai is a well-liked and powerful ruler under King Ahasuerus who seeks the welfare of his whole nation. |