1. Persian Festival and Ascension of Esther  ( 1:1⁠–⁠2:23 )

a. Xerxes’ Royal Feast  ( 1:1⁠–⁠22 )

i.   Xerxes’ Greatness  ( 1:1⁠–⁠8 )

ii.  Queen Vashti’s Refusal  ( 1:9⁠–⁠12 )

iii. Queen Vashti Deposed  ( 1:13⁠–⁠22 )

b. The Rise of Esther  ( 2:1⁠–⁠23 )

i.   Seeking Vashti’s Successor  ( 2:1⁠–⁠4 )

ii.  Esther Finds Favor  ( 2:5⁠–⁠16 )

iii. Esther Becomes Queen  ( 2:17⁠–⁠20 )

iv. Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy  ( 2:21⁠–⁠23 )

2. Haman’s Plot against the Jews  ( 3:1⁠–⁠15 )

a. Haman Elevated  ( 3:1⁠–⁠2 )

b. Haman’s Plot to Destroy His Enemies  ( 3:3⁠–⁠15 )

3. Mordecai Appeals to Esther  ( 4:1⁠–⁠17 )

a. The Jews Lament Over the Royal Edict  ( 4:1⁠–⁠3 )

b. Mordecai Persuades Esther to Appeal to the King  ( 4:4⁠–⁠17 )

4. Esther’s First Banquet  ( 5:1⁠–⁠8 )

a. Esther Approaches the King  ( 5:1⁠–⁠4 )

b. Esther Defers Her Request  ( 5:5⁠–⁠8 )

5. The Fall of Haman and Rise of Mordecai  ( 5:9⁠–⁠6:14 )

a. Haman’s Plot Against Mordecai  ( 5:9⁠–⁠14 )

b. Mordecai is Honored  ( 6:1⁠–⁠11 )

c. Haman’s Downfall Begins  ( 6:12⁠–⁠14 )

6. Esther’s Second Banquet  ( 7:1⁠–⁠10 )

a. Esther Pleads for Her People  ( 7:1⁠–⁠6 )

b. The Hanging of Haman  ( 7:7⁠–⁠10 )

7. Esther Appeals for the Jews  ( 8:1⁠–⁠17 )

a. Esther and Mordecai Persuade the King to Issue New Edict  ( 8:1⁠–⁠14 )

b. The Jews Rejoice Over the New Royal Edict  ( 8:15⁠–⁠17 )

8. The Jews Victorious over Their Enemies  ( 9:1⁠–⁠17 )

a. The Jews Destroy Their Enemies  ( 9:1⁠–⁠10 )

b. Haman’s Sons Hanged  ( 9:11⁠–⁠17 )

9. Jewish Festival and Ascension of Mordecai  ( 9:18⁠–⁠10:3 )

a. Feast of Purim Instituted  ( 9:18⁠–⁠32 )

b. Tribute to Xerxes and Mordecai  ( 10:1⁠–⁠3 )