Includes bibliographical references (pages xiii-xvi) and index.

The plot of the book of Esther -- Structure and style -- The messages of the book of Esther -- Historicity and date of composition -- Versions -- Esther -- Mordecai's premonition (Chapter A:1-17) -- A new queen is chosen (1:2-2:20) -- Mordecait and Esther savet he king's life (2:21-23) -- Genocide decreed against the Jews (3:1-15) -- The text of the edict (Chapter B:1-7) -- Mordecai persuades Ether to intercede with the king (4:1-17) -- Prayers of the Heroes -- (Chapter C:1-30) -- Esther confronts the king (Chapter D:1-16) -- Esther approaches the king and asks for two banquets (5:1-14) -- The climactic banquet (7:1-10) -- Esther's renewed plea brings results (8:1-17) -- The text of the edict (Chapter E:1-14) -- The fateful three days (9:1-32) -- The greatness of Ahasuerus and Mordecai (10:1-3) -- Matters concluded (Chapter F: 1-11).

Among the books of the Old Testament, the book of Esther presents significant interpretive problems. The book has been preserved in Greek and Hebrew texts that diverge greatly from each other. As a result, Jews and Protestants usually read a version of the book of Esther that is several chapters shorter than the one in most Catholic and Orthodox Bibles. Jon D. Levenson capably guides the reader through both the longer Greek version and the shorter Hebrew one, demonstrating their coherence and their differences. This commentary listens to the voices of modern scholarship as well as rabbinic interpretation, providing a wealth of interpretive results.