Esther Becomes Queen
Esther 2:1-18 NLT
2:1 But after Xerxes’ anger had subsided, he began thinking about Vashti and what she had done and the decree he had made. 2 So his personal attendants suggested, “Let us search the empire to find beautiful young virgins for the king. 3 Let the king appoint agents in each province to bring these beautiful young women into the royal harem at the fortress of Susa. Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the harem, will see that they are all given beauty treatments. 4 After that, the young woman who most pleases the king will be made queen instead of Vashti.” This advice was very appealing to the king, so he put the plan into effect.
5 At that time there was a Jewish man in the fortress of Susa whose name was Mordecai son of Jair. He was from the tribe of Benjamin and was a descendant of Kish and Shimei. 6 His family had been among those who, with King Jehoiachin of Judah, had been exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. 7 This man had a very beautiful and lovely young cousin, Hadassah, who was also called Esther. When her father and mother died, Mordecai adopted her into his family and raised her as his own daughter.
8 As a result of the king’s decree, Esther, along with many other young women, was brought to the king’s harem at the fortress of Susa and placed in Hegai’s care. 9 Hegai was very impressed with Esther and treated her kindly. He quickly ordered a special menu for her and provided her with beauty treatments. He also assigned her seven maids specially chosen from the king’s palace, and he moved her and her maids into the best place in the harem.
10 Esther had not told anyone of her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had directed her not to do so. 11 Every day Mordecai would take a walk near the courtyard of the harem to find out about Esther and what was happening to her.
12 Before each young woman was taken to the king’s bed, she was given the prescribed twelve months of beauty treatments—six months with oil of myrrh, followed by six months with special perfumes and ointments. 13 When it was time for her to go to the king’s palace, she was given her choice of whatever clothing or jewelry she wanted to take from the harem. 14 That evening she was taken to the king’s private rooms, and the next morning she was brought to the second harem, where the king’s wives lived. There she would be under the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch in charge of the concubines. She would never go to the king again unless he had especially enjoyed her and requested her by name.
15 Esther was the daughter of Abihail, who was Mordecai’s uncle. (Mordecai had adopted his younger cousin Esther.) When it was Esther’s turn to go to the king, she accepted the advice of Hegai, the eunuch in charge of the harem. She asked for nothing except what he suggested, and she was admired by everyone who saw her.
16 Esther was taken to King Xerxes at the royal palace in early winter of the seventh year of his reign. 17 And the king loved Esther more than any of the other young women. He was so delighted with her that he set the royal crown on her head and declared her queen instead of Vashti. 18 To celebrate the occasion, he gave a great banquet in Esther’s honor for all his nobles and officials, declaring a public holiday for the provinces and giving generous gifts to everyone.
Examine the Scriptures
Esther 2:1-18 NLT
Esther Becomes Queen
2:1 But after Xerxes’ anger had subsided, he began thinking about Vashti and what she had done and the decree he had made.
After Xerxes’ anger had subsided.
What she had done.
. She had refused to put herself on display for a bunch of drunken men to gawk at.
The decree he had made.
. He had Queen Vashti permanently banished from his presence.
Xerxes may have had second thoughts.
A lot of time has passed.
The banquet in chapter 1:3 took place in the third year of Xerxes reign.
In chapter 2:16 Esther was taken to King Xerxes in the seventh year of his reign.
- The Greek wars (most likely) took place between chapter 1 and chapter 2 of the book of Esther.
2 So his personal attendants suggested,
- Throughout the book of Esther it is obvious that Xerxes’ decisions are strongly influenced by his officials.
Proverbs 15:22 NLT
22 Plans go wrong for lack of advice;
many advisers bring success.
Proverbs 11:14 NLT
14 Without wise leadership, a nation falls;
there is safety in having many advisers.
Proverbs 24:6 NLT
6 So don’t go to war without wise guidance;
victory depends on having many advisers.
He depended on others to help him make decisions and he did not always receive the best advice.
Psalm 1:1 NLT
1 Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
Sometimes the advice from others is bad advice.
2 Chronicles 10:8 NLT
8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers.
Deuteronomy 17:17 NLT
17 The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the Lord.
“Let us search the empire to find beautiful young virgins for the king.
To add to the king’s harem.
- Xerxes’ personal attendants suggested that they search the empire to find beautiful young virgins for the king.
3 Let the king appoint agents in each province to bring these beautiful young women into the royal harem at the fortress of Susa.
Agents in each of the 127 provinces.
Xerxes already had a harem.
The fact that he had a harem in Susa is known from other sources.
Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the harem, will see that they are all given beauty treatments. 4 After that, the young woman who most pleases the king will be made queen instead of Vashti.”
It would be approximately four years between the banquets in chapter 1 and Vashti’s replacement in chapter 2.
This advice was very appealing to the king, so he put the plan into effect.
If these seven personal attendants were the same “wise advisers” that suggested Vashti be disposed, they certainly did not want Xerxes to be upset because of the fact that Vashti was no longer a part of his life.
Esther 1:13-14 NLT
13 He immediately consulted with his wise advisers, who knew all the Persian laws and customs, for he always asked their advice. 14 The names of these men were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan—seven nobles of Persia and Media. They met with the king regularly and held the highest positions in the empire.
- This advice was very appealing to the king.
- The counsel King Xerxes received from his personal attendants is somewhat questionable.
5 At that time there was a Jewish man in the fortress of Susa whose name was Mordecai son of Jair.
- Mordecai was Jewish.
Mordecai is a Babylonian name.
Mordecai most likely had a Hebrew name also.
(Repeat from introductory lesson.)
So it was that a Jewish man named Mordecai had worked his way into a low-level job in the king’s court.
Esther 2:19 NLT … Mordecai had become a palace official.
Esther 2:19 ESV and NIV … Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.
Mordecai became assimilated into the Persian culture much like Lot became assimilated into the culture of Sodom.
- Mordecai had worked his way into a low-level job in the king’s court.
He was from the tribe of Benjamin and was a descendant of Kish and Shimei.
King Saul’s father was named Kish.
6 His family had been among those who, with King Jehoiachin of Judah, had been exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar.
597 BC (more than 100 years prior to this time)
His family – his ancestors – had been exiled from Jerusalem.
Mordecai was Jewish.
7 This man had a very beautiful and lovely young cousin, Hadassah, who was also called Esther.
Hadassah is a Hebrew name. (Myrtle)
Esther is a Persian name. (Star)
When her father and mother died, Mordecai adopted her into his family and raised her as his own daughter.
- Esther was adopted by her cousin Mordecai after her parents died.
8 As a result of the king’s decree, Esther, along with many other young women, was brought to the king’s harem at the fortress of Susa and placed in Hegai’s care.
- Esther, along with many other young women, was brought to the king’s harem at the fortress of Susa.
Without God’s intervention, the odds were very slim that she (or any one individual) would be chosen by the King.
9 Hegai was very impressed with Esther and treated her kindly. He quickly ordered a special menu for her
God’s hand was at work.
Unlike Daniel, Esther does not appear to be concerned with Jewish dietary restrictions.
and provided her with beauty treatments. He also assigned her seven maids specially chosen from the king’s palace, and he moved her and her maids into the best place in the harem.
Assigning seven maids to Esther was an indication that Hegai thought Esther was a good prospect.
10 Esther had not told anyone of her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had directed her not to do so.
- Esther kept her Jewish nationality a secret because Mordecai had directed her to do so.
Mordecai would have been aware of the prejudice many Persians felt toward the Jews.
Marriages with people of other nations that worshiped false gods were forbidden in the Law of Moses.
Deuteronomy 7:3-4 NLT
3 You must not intermarry with them (people of other nations that worship false gods). Do not let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters, 4 for they will lead your children away from me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and he will quickly destroy you.
11 Every day Mordecai would take a walk near the courtyard of the harem to find out about Esther and what was happening to her.
It is clear in this story that Mordecai loved Esther.
12 Before each young woman was taken to the king’s bed, she was given the prescribed twelve months of beauty treatments—six months with oil of myrrh, followed by six months with special perfumes and ointments.
- Esther spent 12 months preparing to go to see the king.
Primarily beauty treatments, but also some training in palace customs.
13 When it was time for her to go to the king’s palace, she was given her choice of whatever clothing or jewelry she wanted to take from the harem. 14 That evening she was taken to the king’s private rooms, and the next morning she was brought to the second harem, where the king’s wives lived.
- Esther spent a night with King Xerxes
- Esther was transferred to the second harem where the king’s wives lived.
There she would be under the care of Shaashgaz , the king’s eunuch in charge of the concubines.
She would never go to the king again unless he had especially enjoyed her and requested her by name.
Most of the women would live the rest of their lives in the harem of the concubines.
- A concubine might not ever see the king a second time.
(More details)
15 Esther was the daughter of Abihail, who was Mordecai’s uncle. (Mordecai had adopted his younger cousin Esther.) When it was Esther’s turn to go to the king, she accepted the advice of Hegai, the eunuch in charge of the harem.
Hegai would have known the King’s preferences.
- Esther wisely accepted Hegai’s advice.
She asked for nothing except what he suggested, and she was admired by everyone who saw her.
- Esther followed Hegai’s suggestions.
16 Esther was taken to King Xerxes at the royal palace in early winter of the seventh year of his reign.
- Four years had elapsed since Vashti’s fall from favor.
17 And the king loved Esther more than any of the other young women. He was so delighted with her that he set the royal crown on her head and declared her queen instead of Vashti.
- Xerxes was so delighted with Esther that he set the royal crown on her head and declared her queen instead of Vashti.
18 To celebrate the occasion, he gave a great banquet in Esther’s honor for all his nobles and officials, declaring a public holiday for the provinces and giving generous gifts to everyone.
It appears that Xerxes likes banquets.
“Holiday” The Hebrew for this word, unique to this verse, may imply
a remission of taxes,
an emancipation of slaves,
a cancellation of debt
or a remission of obligatory military service.
- Esther, a Jew, was placed in a position in which she could help the nation Israel, even before Israel needed help.
