The book of Esther is the sixth book of the Bible in the Old Testament. It is a narrative about the Jewish people living in exile in Persia, and how Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai saved them from destruction. The book is named after the main character, Esther, who was chosen by King Ahasuerus to be his queen. Nehemiah Book After refers to the book of Nehemiah, which follows the book of Esther in the Bible. Nehemiah is a book of history that tells the story of the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and the return of the Jews to their homeland.