THE CHRONOLOGY

OF ESTHER
THEODORE JAMES TURNER
 Xerxes third year
1:3 3rd year of Xerxes’ reign – Tuesday, April 14, 483 to Friday, April 2, 482 BC.

Xerxes 180 day feast

1:3 3rd year, 1st day, first month to 3rd day, 7th month – April 14, 483 to October 10, 483 BC.

Xerxes 7 day feast

1:3 3rd year, 4th to 10th day, 7th month – Sunday, October 11 to Sabbath1 October 17, 483 BC.

Esther tatken by Xerxes

2:16 7th year, 10th month, 1st day? – Sunday, December 22, 479 BC.

Cast Pur
3:7 12th year of Xerxes, 1st month – Wednesday, April 4, 474 BC.

Kings scribed called

3:12 12th year, 13th day, 1st month – Monday, April 16, 474 BC.

Set date for the destruction of the Jews

3:13 12th year, 13th day, 12th month – Sabbath, April 5, 473 BC.

Esther’s fast
4:16 12th year, 14th to 16th day, 1st month – Tuesday, April 17, Thursday, April 19, 474 BC.

Esther goes before Xerxes

5:1 12th year, 16th day, 1st month – Thursday, April 19, 474 BC

Mordecai’s counter decree

8:9 12th year, 3rd month, 23rd day – Sunday, June 24, 474 BC.

Counter decree in effect

9:15 12th year, 13th and 14th days, 12th month – Sabbath and Sunday, April 5-6, 473 BC.

1
The Midrash says that this was a Sabbath (Megillah 12b) It is also the day of atonement.