I. God's preparations 1:1-2:20
A. Vashti deposed ch. 1
1. The king's feast 1:1-9
2. The queen's dismissal 1:10-22
B. Esther elevated 2:1-20
1. The plan to replace Vashti 2:1-4
2. Esther's selection 2:5-11
3. The choice of Esther as queen 2:12-20
II. Haman's plot 2:21-4:3
A. Background considerations 2:21-3:6
1. Mordecai's loyalty 2:21-23
2. Haman's promotion 3:1-6
B. Haman's proposal 3:7-15
1. The casting of lots 3:7
2. Haman's request 3:8-9
3. The king's permission 3:10-15
C. Mordecai's reaction 4:1-3
III. Esther's intervention 4:4-9:19
A. Mordecai's instruction 4:4-17
B. The plot exposed chs. 5-7
1. Esther's preparations ch. 5
2. Mordecai's exaltation ch. 6
3. Haman's fall ch. 7
C. The Jews' deliverance 8:1-9:19
1. The rewarding of Esther and Mordecai 8:1-2
2. Esther's request for her people 8:3-8
3. The royal decree 8:9-14
4. The joy of the Jews 8:15-17
5. The Jews' self-defense 9:1-19
IV. The Jews' rejoicing 9:20-32
V. Mordecai's greatness ch. 10
