Annotated Outline of Esther

Esther

1. The story of Vashti  (1:1-22)
   1. The longest display of riches on record: 180 days  (1:1-4)
   2. Great feast for the people  (1:5-8)
   100. Vashti's feast for women  (1:9)
   4. The king commands Vashti to parade her beauty before his subjects  (1:10-11)
   5. Vashti refuses to obey the king and display her beauty  (1:12)
   6. The king in his wrath counsels how to punish Vashti  (1:13-15)
   7. Advice of Prince Memucan to keep wives in subjection  (1:16-20)
   8. The king decrees the headship of husbands in all homes  (1:21-22)
2. Esther made queen  (2:1-23)
   1. The beauty contest  (2:1-4)
   2. Mordecai enters Esther in the beauty contest  (2:5-8)
   100. Esther pleases Hegai, the keeper of women, and is given the choice place to live  (2:9)
   4. Esther's secret and Mordecai's anxiety for her  (2:10-11)
   5. One year's preparation  (2:12)
   6. Presentation of Esther  (2:13-16)
   7. Esther chosen queen  (2:17)
   8. Wedding feast of Esther  (2:18-20)
   1. Mordecai providentially saves the king's life  (2:21-23)
3. Haman's plot against the Jews  (3:1-15)
   1. Haman's exaltation  (3:1-2)
   2. Haman's thorn in the flesh  (3:3-5)
   100. Haman's plot to destroy all Jews because of Mordecai  (3:6-9)
   4. Haman's request granted  (3:10-11)
   5. Decree to destroy all Jews  (3:12-15)
4. Haman's plot frustrated (Esther 4-7)  (4:1-17)
   1. Fasting and praying among the Jews  (4:1-3)
   2. Esther inquires of Mordecai the reason for his conduct  (4:4-6)
   100. Mordecai informs Esther of the plight of the Jews  (4:7-9)
   4. Esther's problem in approaching the king  (4:10-12)
   5. Mordecai's charge to Esther  (4:13-14)
   6. Esther's decision to face all dangers for her people  (4:15-17)
5. The courage of Esther  (5:1-14)
   1. Esther's banquet of wine and her request of the king  (5:3-8)
   2. Haman's joy and pride  (5:9-12)
   100. Haman's new plot to destroy Mordecai  (5:13-14)
6. Divine intervention for Mordecai  (6:1-14)
   1. Haman compelled to exalt Mordecai the Jew  (6:4-11)
   2. Haman's fall predicted  (6:12-14)
7. Esther's banquet for the king and Haman  (7:1-10)
   1. Esther's request for her life and the life of the Jews  (7:3-4)
   2. The king's inquiry and Esther's accusation of Haman  (7:5-6)
   100. The king's wrath and Haman's plea for mercy  (7:7)
   4. Haman hung on his own gallows made for Mordecai  (7:8-10)
8. Haman's plot reversed (Esther 8:1-9:19)  (8:1-17)
   1. Vengeance on Haman  (8:1-2)
   2. Esther's heart-rending plea for the life of her people  (8:3-6)
   100. The new decree to spare the Jews and spoil their enemies  (8:7-14)
   4. Mordecai and the Jews exalted  (8:15-17)
9. Fear of Mordecai and the Jews fall on their enemies  (9:1-32)
   1. Five hundred enemies of the Jews slain in Shushan palace  (9:6-11)
   2. Esther granted further petitions of the king  (9:12)
   100. Esther requests the hanging of Haman's ten sons and further punishment of the Jews' enemies: three hundred more are slain in Shushan  (9:13-15)
   4. Seventy-five thousand enemies of the Jews are slain in other provinces  (9:16)
   5. Rejoicing by all the Jews  (9:17-19)
   6. Yearly Feast of Purim instituted to commemorate Jewish deliverance under Queen Esther  (9:20-32)
10. Mordecai's exaltation in the kingdom of Persia  (10:1-3)