Overview
The book records how, in the reign of the Persian king Ahasuerus, the Jewish woman Esther became queen and, together with her cousin Mordecai, thwarted Haman's plot to destroy the Jewish people. It explains the origin of Purim, which commemorates this deliverance.
Theme The preservation of the Jewish people under a hidden providence
Historical background
Ahasuerus is generally identified with the Persian king Xerxes I (reigned 486–465 BC). The events take place in Susa, a royal capital of Persia, and reflect the situation of Jews who had not returned but lived dispersed throughout the empire. The divine name does not appear directly in the Hebrew text, and the book is read in the synagogue at Purim.