Esther is set in the Persian Empire; it tells how Esther, a Jewish queen of King Ahasuerus, and her relative Mordecai thwart a plot (by Haman) to annihilate the Jews. The narrative, highlighting God’s unseen providence, explains the origin of the Jewish festival of Purim.

Author: Unknown (possibly Mordecai or Ezra; no specific attribution).

Date Written: Likely in the late 5th or early 4th century BCE.

Context: Reflecting Jewish life in the Persian diaspora, Esther affirms the survival and identity of the Jewish people in exile. Its placement explains Purim and exemplifies how the Jewish community preserved itself amid foreign rule.