I. The Jews of Persia Are Threatened (1:1–5:14)

A. Life in Persia Is Dangerous (1:1–22)

1. Xerxes Is a Powerful and Dangerous King (1:1–8)

2. Queen Vashti Defies Xerxes (1:9–12)

3. The King and Nobles React to Vashti’s Disobedience (1:13–22)

B. Esther, Mordecai, and Haman (2:1–3:15)

1. Esther Is Made Queen of Persia (2:1–18)

2. Mordecai Foils an Assassination Attempt (2:19–23)

3. Haman Issues a Decree of Death Against the Jews (3:1–15)

C. Esther’s Defining Moment (4:1–17)

1. Mordecai Mourns Over Haman’s Decree (4:1–5)

2. Mordecai Begs Esther to Intercede (4:6–14)

3. Esther Calls a Three-Day Fast (4:15–17)

D. Esther’s Intervention (5:1–14)

1. Esther Appears Uninvited Before the King (5:1–5a)

2. Esther Prepares a Banquet for the King and Haman (5:5b–7)

3. Haman Builds a Gallows to Kill Mordecai (5:8–14)

II. The Reversal of Destiny (6:1–9:19)

A. The Reversal Begins (6:1–14)

1. The King Has a Sleepless Night (6:1–3)

2. Haman Seeks the King’s Permission to Kill Mordecai Immediately (6:4–9)

3. Mordecai Is Honored Instead (6:10–14)

B. Haman Is Executed (7:1–10)

1. Esther Prepares a Second Banquet for the King and Haman (7:1–2)

2. Esther Reveals Her Jewish Identity and Accuses Haman (7:3–7)

3. The King Orders Haman Executed (7:8–10)

C. The Counter-Edict Is Issued (8:1–17)

1. Esther Introduces Mordecai to the King (8:1)

2. Mordecai Receives the Signet Ring Previously Worn By Haman (8:2)

3. Esther Gives Haman’s Property to Mordecai (8:3–8)

4. Mordecai Writes the Counter-Edict (8:9–17)

D. The Day of Conflict Arrives (9:1–19)

1. The Jews Kill Many, Including Haman’s Ten Sons (9:1–10)

2. Esther Asks for Their Bodies to Be Displayed and for a Second Day of Killing in Susa (9:11–19)

III. Purim Is Established (9:20–32)

A. Mordecai Writes to the Jews of Persia (9:20–28)

B. Esther Writes to Confirm Mordecai’s Letter (9:29–32)

IV. Epilogue: Mordecai Is Esteemed As National Hero (10:1–3)