Esther 1: 1-9 King Ahasuerus’ banquet at Shushan
Esther 1: 10-12 Queen Vashti refuses to obey
Esther 1: 13-20 King consults with his wise men
Esther 1: 21, 22 King’s decree sent out
Esther 2: 1-14 The search for a new queen
Chapter 1: “I Was Hadassah”

Esther 2: 15-20 Esther becomes queen
Esther 2: 21-23 Mordecai exposes a plot
Esther 3: 1-4 Haman exalted by the king
Esther 3: 5-15 Haman plots to destroy the Jews
Esther 4: 1-5 Mordecai mourns
Esther 4: 6-17 Mordecai asks Esther to intercede
Esther 5: 1-8 Esther appears before the king
Esther 5: 9-14 Haman’s anger and arrogance
Esther 6: 1-14 Mordecai honored by the king
Esther 7: 1-6a Esther exposes Haman
Esther 7: 6b-10 Haman hanged on the stake he made
Esther 8: 1, 2 Mordecai promoted
Esther 8: 3-6 Esther pleads with the king
Esther 8: 7-14 King’s counterdecree
Esther 8: 15-17 Relief and rejoicing for the Jews
Esther 9: 1-19 Triumph of the Jews
Esther 9: 20-32 Festival of Purim established
Esther 9: 1-3 Mordecai’s greatness