Old Testament
The Book of Esther
The Book of Esther is the nineteenth of the 46 books of the Old Testament: 16 chapters and 275 verses.
About Esther
About Esther · Court tale
Esther tells how a Jewish orphan became queen of Persia and, at the risk of her life, undid a decree of annihilation against her people — the deliverance Jews still celebrate at Purim. Its author is unknown; the Catholic Bible includes the longer Greek edition, whose added prayers make explicit the faith the shorter Hebrew text famously leaves unspoken. It was written for communities living at the mercy of foreign powers, to teach that providence works through timing, courage, and a woman willing to say: if I perish, I perish.
| Testament | Old Testament — book 19 of 46, 19 of 73 in the Bible |
|---|---|
| Canon | Protocanonical (in every Christian canon) |
| Chapters | 16 |
| Verses | 275, as Bless numbers them |
| Latin | Clementine Vulgate, every chapter |
| Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 16 chapters · 5 notes |
| Catechism | No references |
Chapter by chapter
All 16 chapters, in brief.
Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text.
Esther 1
22 versesKing Assuerus maketh a great feast. Queen Vasthi being sent for refuseth to come: for which disobedience she is deposed.
Esther 2
23 versesEsther is advanced to be queen. Mardochai detecteth a plot against the king.
Esther 3
15 versesAman, advanced by the king, is offended at Mardochai, and therefore procureth the king's decree to destroy the whole nation of the Jews.
Esther 4
17 versesMardochai desireth Esther to petition the king for the Jews. They join in fasting and prayer.
Esther 5
14 versesEsther is graciously received: she inviteth the king and Aman to dinner, Aman prepareth a gibbet for Mardochai.
Esther 6
14 versesThe king hearing of the good service done him by Mardochai, commandeth Aman to honour him next to the king, which he performeth.
Esther 7
10 versesEsther's petition for herself and her people: Aman is hanged upon the gibbet he had prepared for Mardochai.
Esther 8
17 versesMardochai is advanced: Aman's letters are reversed.
Esther 9
32 versesThe Jews kill their enemies that would have killed them. The days of Phurim are appointed to be kept holy.
Esther 10
13 versesAssuerus's greatness. Mardochai's dignity.
Esther 11
12 versesThe dream of Mardochai, which in the ancient Greek and Latin Bibles was into the beginning of the book, but was detached by St. Jerome, and put in this place.
Esther 12
6 versesMardochai detects the conspiracy of the two eunuchs.
Esther 13
18 versesA copy of a letter sent by Aman to destroy the Jews. Mardochai's prayer for the people.
Esther 14
19 versesThe prayer of Esther for herself and her people.
Esther 15
19 versesEsther comes into the king's presence: she is terrified, but God turns his heart.
Esther 16
24 versesA copy of the king's letter in favour of the Jews.
Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries
In the comments
What the saints said.
1 quotation from 1 saint linked to passages of Esther in Bless. Each names the work it comes from.
St. Joan of Arc · on Esther 4:14
On this theme
I am not afraid; I was born to do this.
Trial testimony, 1431, 1431