Read Esther 2
Esther Made Queen
Later when King Xerxes’ fury had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her. 2 Then the king’s personal attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. 3 Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. 4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.
5 Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, 6 who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jehoiachin king of Judah. 7 Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.
8 When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. 9 She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem.
10 Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so. 11 Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.
12 Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. 13 And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. 14 In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name.
15 When the turn came for Esther (the young woman Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. 16 She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17 Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 And the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.
Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy
19 When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. 20 But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.
21 During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 22 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. 23 And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.
Go Deeper
If Esther 2 were a movie, parental guidance would definitely be advised. King Xerxes is now lonely and missing his queen, so his advisors suggest he choose a queen by having hundreds of virgins from all the provinces of his kingdom parade in front of him. It is implied that he sleeps with each of them (v. 13-14), and then the king gets to choose who he would like to crown as his new wife and queen. If this sounds like an ungodly and even pagan practice, it’s because it was.
Before we become appalled by the fact that stories like this are in the Bible, we need to remember that King Xerxes, also known as King Ahasuerus (depending on your translation of Scripture), was not a godly man. Historically, he is often referred to as a pagan king. His behavior in chapter one, in which he threw lavish parties, got drunk, and participated in lewd behavior, seems to confirm this descriptor. Evil abounded in Xerxes’ kingdom.
Despite the darkness, though, God is at work. Even though there is no mention of the name of God in Esther 2, we see God’s providence bring light to even the darkest of situations. Esther is one of the hundreds of young women groomed to be part of King Xerxes’ beauty pageant to choose his queen. Unlike most of the other women, though, Esther is not a native to the land and is a Jewish exile. In addition, she is an orphan. Based on her pedigree and background, Esther would be near the very bottom of the list of women likely to be chosen as queen.
However, from the very beginning, Esther impresses Hegai, the person in charge of the harem. Verse 2:9 says, “She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food.” The most unlikely of women makes an impression on the palace administration and is given food, seven maidservants, an apartment, and beauty treatments galore! When the King finally meets Esther in verse 17, we learn “the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight” (ESV). Amidst a pagan culture ruled by a pagan king who enforces pagan practices, God is not deterred.
We must wait to read the rest of the story to know exactly what God is up to, but for the time being, we can rest in the fact that not only is God protecting Esther, but He is silently working to bring about His will and save His people. It also gives us the assurance that no matter how bad, how evil, or how dark a situation seems, God’s plans cannot be defeated.
Questions
- Esther found herself in a palace by the sovereign will of God. Where has God placed you?
- Has your obedience to God ever landed you in an uncomfortable situation? How can we respond in faith when we can’t see how God is moving in our lives?
- Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Spend some time in reflection of God’s providential hand in your own life.
By the Way
As you read the story of Esther, notice the parallels between her story and the story of Joseph (in Genesis) and Exodus. Keep a running list of the similarities you see between all of these different narratives!
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10 responses to “Esther 2”
Yes, the uncomfortable feeling one may have when reading the account of how it is Esther was chosen as queen, would best be reminded that much of scripture is “historical.” It’s not a representation of what God condones, it’s an account of what actually happened in this broken world.
Yes!
Trust
God is in the middle of all our circumstances even when He is not mentioned.
We feel God is not with us, or how can we see Him in this present mess that is happening in our lives. BUT GOD, His plan is being worked out in our lives. Even when we cant see due to all negative, frustrating, or confusing circumstances. BUT GOD is in our protection, with His grace, and His providence.
God is weaving His faithfulness through our lives, sometimes we do not see or feel it but when you believe Jesus is Lord of and in your life, then we have to trust God and His word that tells us not to fear 365 times. We have found favor just like Esther with Hegai and others.
God thank You for finding favor in Your eyes. God thank You for working in all the circumstances in my life. I am thankful for the trust I have in what You have promised in Your word. God help me to always continue to look to You for all the answers to my questions. God I think about the scenario where I jump or free fall into Your arms. In my head I know I can do it, BUT could I? God thank You for showing me how to continue to let go and let You be rule and reign of my life. BUT GOD being rich in mercy with the great love You have shown me. God thank You for today, these minutes of this day. God help me see others through Your love goggles, say words of edification and building up. God thank You for loving the hard to love and to show compassion where You would show it in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the midst of this messy narrative, let’s not miss the character of Mordecai. Scripture records that he was a Jew, once carried into exile, had raised his orphan cousin as his own daughter, continued to protect her once she was in the king’s palace, staying close at the king’s gate. Mordecai lived intentionally, on mission, eyes open and willing to step into any assignment with clarity and courage. I’m inspired by his wisdom and humility.
Yes!
May we always live with eyes open and seeking to see the ones in need . Ready to serve. Be the Mordecai! We live on the daily forgetting that God is present in all the details and never mention Him. So the fact that He’s not mentioned here either should be a reminder to stop and remember the source of our existence and provisions.
Good point!
REFLECTIONS ON ESTHER 2
Just As You Are
Our daughter Elizabeth has some MAJORLY big tests today. The “heroic preparation/critical results” kind. The “certified to practice in my chosen profession” kind.
And the “we’ll all be praying for you as a family” kind.
Which is how I happened to send the following text on the family thread:
“Would you believe?
Today’s Bible Reading Plan has us in Esther 2—where she goes before the king to be judged to see if she has found favor.
Reading this passage in The Message, this verse jumped right out at me:
“Esther, JUST AS SHE WAS, won the admiration of everyone who saw her.”
-Esther 2:15 MSG, emphasis added mine
Claiming this as promise that today you will — as you have always done — win the admiration of all who see you.
Ily so much!”
As I got ready to read today’s chapter, I wasn’t sure what I might find at the intersection of Esther 2 and “Elizabeth takes her praxis exam” — but I shouldn’t have been surprised.
For starters, Elizabeth’s story is amazingly similar to Esther’s. As our internationally adopted daughter, she was relocated to a foreign country where she lives as a member of a minority race.
And while it sounds like “mother-bias” to say she’s beautiful and remarkable (which she is!), she has always found favor with everyone she meets. (Just ask anyone who’s ever met her! 😉)
And today, as I read from the book of Esther, I am watching the daughter I love stand in Esther’s position.
At a moment when Esther, too, is being examined, evaluated and measured. Judged for fitness to serve in a royal role.
Which means I get to watch in real time what it looks like to be brought forward and found as prepared, capable, suitable — and ready.
To witness a modern version of the same threshold moment:
“Are you now ready to be entrusted with what you have been prepared for?”
And that “just as you are” verse sits at the theological center of this chapter.
Because Esther does not go in with assets like family name, position and power — but with her unique formation — and genuine faithfulness.
Her authentic self.
In other words, she enters with INTEGRITY.
The favor Esther receives is not because she became something else. It is because WHAT SHE ALREADY WAS was found sufficient.
That is a massive spiritual truth, and I have the privilege of watching it land on a real-life threshold.
This is not about an exam — but about being ENTRUSTED.
And the question we can all take from Esther today is not, “Did you do well?”
It is, “Are you ready to be placed where your life will now be poured out for others?”
22 “But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai.”
There have been a few times in my life in which I have come across information of nefarious and unethical activity. The easy thing would be to look the other way. But the right thing to do is what Mordecai did and it worked out well for him and Esther.
Esther found favor in the eyes of everyone, including the king. This favor was not by chance but by divine appointment.
Proverbs 3:4 encourages us to live in a way that honors God, which can lead to finding favor in the sight of both God and man.
Humility, Divine Timing and God’s Grace.