Esther 2:1
I. \\#Esther 1:1-22\\ The Wife Who Refused to Obey
II. \\#Esther 2:1-23\\ Choosing a New Queen
II. \\#Esther 2:1-23\\ Choosing a New Queen
A. \\#Esther 2:1-4\\ The Commandment Is Given
1. \\#2\\ "Let there be fair young virgins sought" - Only the unmarried,
the pure, and the beautiful need to apply.
2. \\#4\\ "let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen" - The woman
the king liked best would take Vashti’s place.
B. \\#Esther 2:5-7, 10\\ Meet Esther
1. \\#5\\ "a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai… a Benjamite" -
a. Mordecai was a fourth generation captive of Israel.
b. Notice that he was of the tribe of Benjamin. We will later read
of Haman that he was a AGAGITE \\#Esther 3:1\\. Haman will be
a descendent of King Agag, the Amalekite \\#1Sam 15:1-9\\, the
people that King Saul of Israel, a Benjamite, was commanded to
completely destroy. The hatred that Haman would have for the
Jews, and especially for Mordecai, was not of recent origins. It
was part of a feud that that had lasted over 500 years!
2. \\#6\\ "Who had been carried away from Jerusalem" - Mordecai’s great,
grandfather had lived in Jerusalem and had been taken away in the
first captivity \\#2Kings 24:1-16\\. This suggests that Kish had
been either a part of Israel’s royal court or very skilled in what
he did.
3. \\#7\\ "Hadassha" - Esther’s Jewish name. It means MYRTLE. Esther
was an orphan and a cousin to Mordecai (a "uncle’s daughter").
Mordecai took her in and raised her.
4. \\#8\\ "Esther was brought also unto the king’s house" - The
Scriptures do not tell us whether Esther wanted this opportunity or
whether she was constrained.
5. \\#10\\ "Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred"
a. This becomes a very important detail to the remainder of the book.
b. It should be pointed out that it has been 55 years since the
Jews had been freed to return to Israel. Those who chose to
stay probably did so because they had made a comfortable life
for themselves in Persia. It becomes apparent that the Jews
are no longer treated like captives.
c. The fact that Mordecai, who was obviously a known and practicing
Jew \\#Esther 3:4\\, told Esther to hid her nationally, would
indicate that he had reasons for doing so.
(1) However, it would be very difficult for a devote Jew to
conceal their identity as a Jew, especially when they
lived among pagan Gentiles twenty-four hours a day. The Old
Testament law was too demanding to be hid.
(2) One would have to conclude that Esther had to stop obeying
the Old Testament law to obey Mordecai.
(3) That fact has generated discussion in religious circles.
Most feel there was already an anti-Jewish atmosphere
even before Haman fueled it and that Mordecai gave Esther
this command to protect her.
(4) Regardless of why Mordecai gave this command, to ignore or
disobey the Old Testament law is not typical behavior for
those whom God uses \\#Daniel 1:8\\.
(5) That is not to say that Mordecai and Esther were not good,
godly people. No doubt they were. It does go to say that
When we are not WHERE God tells us to be, we cannot always
do WHAT God tells us to do. If the Jews had returned to
Persia when they were allowed, none of the events of this
book would have occurred, including Mordecai and Haman’s
conflict.
d. Regardless of if Esther wanted to be the king’s wife or not, and
regardless of why Mordecai gave this command to Esther, God used
both of these people to accomplish His will.
C. \\#Esther 2:8-9, 11\\ Esther Is Prepared
1. \\#8-9\\ "many maidens were gathered… to the custody of Hegai"
a. \\#8\\ Hegai was placed in charge of the maidens for the year-
long preparation which occurred before they were presented to the
king.
b. \\#9\\ "the maiden pleased him" - Hegai was most pleased with
Esther. Since the role of queen required more than just beauty,
there were probably others things in Esther that Hegai saw which
made him think Esther would make the best queen.
c. Because Hegai preferred Esther, he gave her special treatment.
(1) "he speedily gave her her things for purification" - Hegai
began Esther’s purification quickly. \\#12\\ explains that
all the women were purified in oil for six months then
perfumes for six months.
(2) "he… gave her… seven maidens" - Esther was provided with
seven maids to serve her.
(3) "he… gave her… the best place of the house of women" -
And the best facilities being used by the virgins.
2. For what is Esther being prepared?
a. That is a good question of which the Bible gives us only a vague
notion. From the Scriptures, it is know that a queen is being
sought out, but what is required of the virgins in gaining that
position is not made clear. There are two possibilities:
(1) That these virgins are brought into the king’s presence for
a dinner and a night of asexual entertainment; after which,
the women not selected will eventually be allowed to return
home.
(2) That these virgins are brought to the king’s bed for a night
of passion; after which, one maid will be selected to be
the queen and the remainder will be added to the king’s
harem.
b. Of the two possibilities, the latter seems the more likely.
(1) \\#Esther 2:14\\ relates that these women did stay
overnight with the king. While it is possible that the
maids were allowed to stay in a separate room and that
nothing more than a night of dinner and conversation
occurred between each candidate and the king, that would
allot to a heathen king more chivalry than is likely.
(2) The same verse also relates that once the virgins left the
king, they were placed into the care Shaashgaz, the servant
who kept the king’s concubines. That strongly indicates
that the king had sexual relations with every virgin who
was brought to him.
(3) In addition, Josephus, a Jewish historian, writes of the
the event, "And when the eunuch thought the virgins had
been sufficiently purified, in the fore-mentioned time,
and were now fit to go to the king’s bed, he sent one to
be with the king ever day."
Jewish Antiquities, Book XI, 184-202, translated by Ralph Marcus, (Book 11,
chapter 6, paragraphs 1, 2, as translated by William Whiston).
(4) No one should fool themselves into thinking that this was
was nothing but a royal dating service. From all
indications, it was a wicked, debased, ungodly affair to
satisfy a powerful man’s lusts.
3. If that is so, why would Mordecai put Esther into this situation?
a. The Bible does not say that he did.
b. \\#8\\ tells us that Esther "was brought also unto the king’s
house." The Bible does not reveal whether Esther and Mordecai
were willing to participate or forced to participate. It is
doubtful that any man who feared God and loved purity would
willing allow a daughter in his care to become a heathen
king’s wife or concubine. Neither is it likely that a
virtuous daughter would desire such positions.
c. \\#11\\ "Mordecai walked every day before the court… to know
how Esther did"
(1) Notice Mordecai’s reaction. It shows great unrest.
(2) Whether this unrest is the natural unrest of a father being
separated from his daughter or the unrest of a father who is
helplessly having to endure what a wicked authority is
forcing upon his daughter, the Bible does not say.
(3) However, it is my belief that Mordecai did not approve of
what was happening to Esther.
4. If this is so, why would God allow Esther to be put into this
situation?
a. The Jews were released from Persian captivity 55 years ago. At
that time, the Jews should have returned home. Obviously some
did not. By staying in Persia, those Jews not only forfeited
their covenant with God, but they forged another link in a
path of sinful behavior that they would have to walk. While
these Jews may still have been good, moral people, they were
not obedient to God.
b. Because Mordecai’s forefathers had stayed in a foreign land,
Mordecai and Esther now fall under that land’s laws and
customs. It is not God who brought this situation upon
Mordecai and Esther, but their own ancestors.
5. Regardless of what Esther or Mordecai thought of the situation they
were in, they were in it.
a. Most Christians have also inherited some of the scars of their
past life and even of previous generations. Sometimes life deals
you circumstances that you must simply endure.
b. Some consider Esther courage to be on display in chapter 4, when
she enters the king’s court uninvited.
c. I would say that Esther shows even more courage in chapter 2.
Esther, who I deem to be a virtuous woman, went to the king’s
chamber, not willingly, but as an enduring servant, trusting
that if the Lord did not save her from that fate, it was His
will to accomplish something through it.
d. Indeed, that is exactly what God did. While God did not create
the sinful situation which Esther was forced to endure, He did
use it. This was possible, in part, because Esther was willing
to endure whatever happened to her with a godly attitude.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love
God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
D. \\#Esther 2:12-20\\ The Maids Meet the King
1. \\#12\\ As already described, the maids were purified in oil and
perfumes for twelve months.
2. \\#13\\ "whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her" -
When it was time for the maids to go to see the king, whatever she
desired to take with her, she could. Likely this meant whatever
type of jewelry or apparel she wanted, she could have.
3. \\#14\\ "on the morrow she returned into the second house" - The
next morning, the maids returned to the charge of the concubine
keeper.
4. \\#15\\ "when the turn of Esther… she required nothing but what
Hegai… appointed" - Esther trusted Hegai. Many speculate that
she did not need to rely on jewelry and apparel as she had a
natural beauty.
5. "Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon
her" - Indeed, her beauty was obvious to all.
6. \\#16\\ "Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus… in the seventh
year of his reign" - It has now been four years since the six
month feast occurred. Many speculate that between the feast and
the selection of Esther, King Ahasuerus fought the Greeks and lost
to them.
7. \\#17\\ "the king loved Esther… so that he sat the royal crown
upon her head"
a. Esther was preferred above all the other maids.
b. Some have suggested that because the Bible does not specifically
state that Esther was taken to the concubine’s chamber,
she was not violated by the king on her night of visitation.
Again it is noted that since the Bible does not say exactly
what happened, no one can know for certain; however, there is
no reason, other than wishful thinking, to suppose Esther was
treated any differently than the other maidens.
8. \\#18\\ "the king made a great feast… even Esther’s feast" - A
great feast was proclaimed in honor of the new queen.
9. \\#19\\ "And when the virgins were gathered together the second
time"
a. At that feast, the original group of maids were gathered again.
b. By that feast, "Mordecai sat in the king’s gate." That would
seem to indicate that Mordecai had been honored with a position
of royal service by the king; however, the next verse would
indicate that this was a position that he had earned, not one
that was bestowed for Esther’s sake.
10. \\#20\\ "Esther had not yet shewed her kindred" - Esther had not
revealed either her KINDRED "nor her people." She continued to
obey Mordecai’s instructions. If this position had been conferred
because of Esther, Haman would have known that Esther was Jewish.
E. \\#Esther 2:21-23\\ Mordecai Reveals a Plot
1. \\#21\\ "In those days" - During the time that Mordecai served the
king.
2. Two of the king’s servants, Bigthan and Teresh, sought to harm,
probably to kill, the king.
3. \\#22\\ "the thing was known to Mordecai" - Mordecai found out and
sent word to Esther.
4. \\#23\\ "it was written in the book of the chronicles" - The event
was recorded.
5. These verses are added to demonstrate that God is working behind the
scenes. Although the exact date of the event is not given, the
Bible tells us that Esther was selected in Ahasuerus’s seventh year
\\#Esther 2:16\\ and that Haman will seek to destroy the Jews
during his twelfth year \\#Esther 3:7\\. It could be that more
than four years passed from the time Mordecai saved the king until
the king had these chronicles read to him. God plans ahead!
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