God’s name is not once mentioned in the book! Should this book be in the Bible? But just wait till you read it! You’ll find God’s unseen hand on every page, but you will have to read it carefully. It’s all true, rest assured. It is about a time in the Jews’ history when they were captives in Babylon and about 80 years after Daniel’s time. Remember, they were captives (see Esther 2:66Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. (Esther 2:6)) because they had turned to worshipping idols — so God hides Himself. But He tells us what He was doing for them behind the scenes — merciful God! We can wonder why this man and Esther, his young cousin, would stay in that far country when many Jews had returned to Jerusalem. We’ll read about them in Ezra and Nehemiah. They certainly lived in a place where God was not known.
V.1-9 What a tremendous feast this was. But typical of these prosperous days. God had allowed the Gentiles to rise to great power and wealth.
V.10-22 As a result of the queen’s refusal to obey her husband, she lost her crown. Remember, this story is of a heathen land.