This isn't going to be a normal chapter, since there's no actual chapter. This is just an overview of what we'll see in Esther. Chapter 1 will be next week. I would recommend reading this so you'll understand the historical context and such.

Historical Context:

We don't know who wrote this book.

This takes place sometimes from 483-471 B.C.

King Xerxes ruled all of Persia, which was a lot of land.

Judah, part of Israel, was exiled to Babylon. Babylon was then conjured by Persia.

The Edict of Cyrus had already been issued, which allowed exiled people to return to their homelands and rebuild their places of worship. That was an estimated 60-70 years before this book takes place.

The temple had been rebuilt, but not the walls of Jerusalem.

There were still Jews in Persia. Not everyone got to go home.

Comparison to other Old Testament texts:

Esther and Ruth are the only two books in the Bible named after women.

Both are found in the section of the Hebrew Bible (which has all the same books, but in a different order) called The Writings (which also includes Psalms, Song of Solomon, and Proverbs) AND the same sub-section of The Writings called The Scrolls. (Those are the English translations, but I do have the other ones if anyone is curious)

Each of The Scrolls was read at a different Jewish holiday.

Ruth - Feast of Pentecost

Esther - Feast of Purim

Lamentations - Tisha B'Av

Ecclesiastes - Feast of Tabernacles

Song of Solomon - Passover

Purim celebrates the deliverance of the Jews from Haman (pronounced hey man) which is exactly what happens in Esther.

Interestingly, Ruth and Esther go in opposite directions.

In Ruth, a non-Jewish woman marries a Jewish man, and stays in Judah.

In Esther, a Jewish woman marries a non-Jewish man, and stays in Pursia.

God is not directly mentioned in Esther, but he does work through ordinary events. He's still there, providing for Esther, even though he isn't parting the sea for her. God also works like that in our lives.

That's all I have for this overview. Please comment or PM me with any questions, additions to what I said, or prayer requests. Have a great day!