Outline 1. Persian Festival and Ascension of Esther ( 1:1–2:23 ) a. Xerxes’ Royal Feast ( 1:1–22 ) i. Xerxes’ Greatness ( 1:1–8 ) ii. Queen Vashti’s Refusal ( 1:9–12 ) iii. Queen Vashti Deposed ( 1:13–22 ) b. The Rise of Esther ( 2:1–23 ) i. Seeking Vashti’s Successor ( 2:1–4 ) ii. Esther Finds Favor ( 2:5–16 ) iii. Esther Becomes Queen ( 2:17–20 ) iv. Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy ( 2:21–23 ) 2. Haman’s Plot against the Jews ( 3:1–15 ) a. Haman Elevated ( 3:1–2 ) b. Haman’s Plot to Destroy His Enemies ( 3:3–15 ) 3. Mordecai Appeals to Esther ( 4:1–17 ) a. The Jews Lament Over the Royal Edict ( 4:1–3 ) b. Mordecai Persuades Esther to Appeal to the King ( 4:4–17 ) 4. Esther’s First Banquet ( 5:1–8 ) a. Esther Approaches the King ( 5:1–4 ) b. Esther Defers Her Request ( 5:5–8 ) 5. The Fall of Haman and Rise of Mordecai ( 5:9–6:14 ) a. Haman’s Plot Against Mordecai ( 5:9–14 ) b. Mordecai is Honored ( 6:1–11 ) c. Haman’s Downfall Begins ( 6:12–14 ) 6. Esther’s Second Banquet ( 7:1–10 ) a. Esther Pleads for Her People ( 7:1–6 ) b. The Hanging of Haman ( 7:7–10 ) 7. Esther Appeals for the Jews ( 8:1–17 ) a. Esther and Mordecai Persuade the King to Issue New Edict ( 8:1–14 ) b. The Jews Rejoice Over the New Royal Edict ( 8:15–17 ) 8. The Jews Victorious over Their Enemies ( 9:1–17 ) a. The Jews Destroy Their Enemies ( 9:1–10 ) b. Haman’s Sons Hanged ( 9:11–17 ) 9. Jewish Festival and Ascension of Mordecai ( 9:18–10:3 ) a. Feast of Purim Instituted ( 9:18–32 ) b. Tribute to Xerxes and Mordecai ( 10:1–3 ) |
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