This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
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ESTHER
CHAPTER 2
1 After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
2 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:
4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
After all was done and said concerning Vashti, the king was grieved to realize what he had done. Perhaps he desired to be reconciled to her. But the law of the Medes and Persians was not to be changed. Therefore, he could not reconcile with Vashti.
5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
7 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
8 So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
Mordecai had reared Esther as his own child. She was actually the daughter of Abihail, Mordecai's uncle. Her Jewish name was "Hadassah," which means "myrtle." She was probably given the name of Esther (meaning "star") when she was brought into the king's palace to become one of the contestants for the position of queen.
9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.
10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
The beauty of Esther is one thing, but the beauty of her spirit is what won the hearts of all she met. Her attitude "pleased" Hegai, who was the "keeper" for all the contestants. In fact, she got his attention MORE than all the rest, and was afforded better accomadations.
12 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)
13 Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.
14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.
15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
The contestants were treated royally. They were given all they desired. They were kept for 12 months before they were introduced to the king. During this time they were "groomed" for the presentation.
18 Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.
19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
20 Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.
23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
The maidens were not brought before the king a SECOND time. First impressions were what counted! Please continue in Bible Study with us.
His "advisors" offered a solution. A beauty contest would be held. The winner would be queen.
Of course it was MORE than a mere beauty contest. For the advisors said that the maiden which "pleased" the king most would be his queen (verse 4).
This meant the king would look not only upon her beauty, but also upon her personality.
There is an important point made here. She was a Jewish young lady, reared by a Jewish man, who had obviously chosen to stay in the capital of Persia instead of returning to Jerusalem.
Mordecai had reared Esther to be an obedient child, and to trust in the Lord.
It is extremely important to teach children to trust in the Lord, and to teach them to have proper manners.
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."(Proverbs 22:6)
It was because of her simple faith that she had such good manners and was a very likable young lady. And because of this, she was chosen to be one of the contestants.
Esther was still very obedient to Mordecai, for we read that she let no one know that she was a Jew according to Mordecai's command.
Perhaps, even though she was beautiful and had a great personality, she would never have been considered as a contestant if this had been known. At that time, Jewish people were actually considered as SERVANTS, and thus not worthy of regal position.
Note that Mordecai was very faithful to his adopted daughter and went by EVERY DAY to see how she was doing.
Children, when grown, are still impressionable and need good counsel from parents.
Esther, it is noted, required ONLY that which was given her by her "keeper," Hegai. She requested nothing more.
And it was she who caught the eye and the heart of all those involved in the process.
Ultimately it was she who captured the heart of the king. The Bible says, "the king loved Esther above all the women."
A faithful heart and purity in spirit is desired above all things.
When Esther was chosen, the king made a great feast for the occasion, and she was brought into his court the SECOND time. From that time forward she was his QUEEN.
During the festivities of the occasion, Mordecai was still very faithful and was there in the court. He overheard a plot to kill the king.
He shared the news with Esther, and she told the king. Esther made sure that the king knew it was Mordecai who brought the news (verse 22).
The king made inquiry, and found that the report was true. He then hanged those two who had plotted against him.
Then he wrote in the "chronicles" (or record) of the king about this good deed which Mordecai had done.
No recompense was given Mordecai at this time.
Some things which we do are not rewarded immediately, but shall receive reward later.