Esther 2

1-4 5-11 12-18 19-23

1-4

Some time has passed between the dismissal of Queen Vashti and the start of chapter 2, several years. During the time lapse King Ahasuerus has gone to war with Greece and it did not go well, this chapter opens probably in the latter stages of the conflict and Ahasuerus is longing for comfort, but since his rash royal decree banishing Vashti he is not legally able to bring her back. In his melancholy state due to the conflict with Greece not going well and the absence of Vashti one of his aids suggested that he have gathered beautiful virgins from around the kingdom to be brought to the capital and after a time of cosmetics, or purification in the KJV or referred to as beautification later in the chapter. Just so that everyone is clear King Ahasuerus is not a God fearing person, Gill notes that in this time skip between chapters 1 & 2 he “fell in love” with his brothers wife and his own daughter, and also notes later that the virgins that are to be rounded up by force would have been between 12 and 14 years of age. But God is in control and He can and will use sinners to bring about His will. The aid went on to suggest that which ever one of these girls pleases Ahasuerus the most he should make her queen and give her the crown and all that was formally Vashti’s. Ahasuerus liked this suggestion and he gave the order.

5-11

We finally meet Mordecai and Esther, Mordecai is a fourth generation Jew in captivity and a descendant of Kish, who was Saul’s father, a Benjaminite. Hadassah, the Hebrew name of Esther means Myrtle as in the tree. Her Persian name Esther which may be derived from satar which means to hide, as she was hidden in the house of Mordecai. The Targum says that Esther’s father had died while her mother was pregnant with Esther and her mother died soon after giving birth. Mordecai and Esther’s ages are not exactly known some saying that Mordecai is much older than Esther and some that they are around the same age as they are cousins, Esther being the daughter of Mordecai’s uncle so 1st cousins it think. But verse 7 does say that Esther is a young woman and was beautiful to look at, also Mordecai took Esther as his own daughter, so I believe that Mordecai had to have been some if not much older than Esther who was probably 14ish. Esther was taken, probably by some force, into the palace with the other women for King Ahasuerus to pick from. The historian Josephus estimates the number of women gathered to be 400. All of the women are under the custody of a Man named Hegai, who was a eunuch in the court of Ahasuerus in charge of the King’s haram, I believe that Hegai was probably one of the castrated eunuch’s due to his position. Esther pleased Hegai and became a favorite of his and he gave her seven maidens from Ahasuerus’ household to be her servants and assist her, one for every day of the week. Hegai placed Esther and her maidens in the best rooms of the women for the time of her beautification. Here is place that points to the hand of God and his providence that Hegai takes such a liking to Esther. During this time Esther did not tell anyone that she was a Jew by the command of Mordecai, probably because of the great anti-Semitic atmosphere at the time. During this time which we read in verse 12 was a year, Mordecai went to the palace and walked in front of the court of the haram to get information on how Esther was and how she was doing.

12-18

Here we see that these possibly 400 women were bathed in oils and ointments and spices for a whole year in preparation to be presented before Ahasuerus. Each woman would go in to King Ahasuerus for the night and in the morning she would then go to the second harem in the custody of Shaashgaz another eunuch in charge of the concubines, or secondary wives. There they would stay and not be allowed to marry or be with any other man, and they would only return to Ahasuerus if they were summoned by him specifically by name. When the women were called to see the king they were allowed to wear anything they desired, jewelry robes etc. When it was Esther’s turn to see Ahasuerus she only wore and took what Hegai suggested. Everyone who met Esther liked her and she became popular with all. It was in the seventh year of his rule when Esther visits Ahasuerus, chapter 1 occurs in the third year of his reign, the month of Tebeth, which is in December and January in today’s calendar. Ahasuerus falls in love with Esther and he chooses her to replace Vashti as his queen and he gives Esther the royal crown and all possessions of the queen, houses, servants etc. Ahasuerus gives a great feast and celebration in Esther’s honor, including a remission of taxes and gifts to all of his provinces. The phrase remission of taxes may also include a release from military service.

19-23

Even though Ahasuerus now has a queen in Esther and a harem of concubines there is a second gathering of virgin women for Ahasuerus, during this second gathering of the virgins Mordecai overhears two of the kings eunuchs at the gate plotting to kill Ahasuerus, their anger possibly stemming back to the banishment of Vashti. Mordecai tells Esther about the plot by the two men, and Esther informs Ahasuerus of the plot and tells him that it was Mordecai that learned of it, that Esther made sure that Ahasuerus knows that Mordecai is the person who discovered the plot is important and is yet another example of God’s providence and will come up again later. The plot is investigated and found to be true so the two men were hanged at the gallows and all of this is, including that Mordecai was the person that learned of the plot and got the information to Ahasuerus, is recorded in the kings journals. Esther at this time was still keeping her Jewish heritage a secret as Mordecai had instructed her.