Esther Chapter
2
Est 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.
Vs
1 “After these things” What things ? Well the king did wage war with
and
according to history was defeated at
with his head down and found his palace empty. He had made a law, while
showing out, which could not be changed. Vashti, his queen, was gone forever.
Est 2:2 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him,
Let there be fair young virgins sought for
the king:
Est 2:3 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:
Vs 2,3 Noticing the kings loneliness, a realizing that the king could be mad at them
for the evil suggestion of doing away with his queen, the cabinet once again has a
meeting and comes up with a suggestion for a beauty contest and the winner will be
the made the new queen.
Est 2:4
And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen
instead of Vashti. And the thing
pleased the king; and he did so.
Vs 4 The cabinet flatters the king and says that only the king will be the judge of this
contest. This suggestion pleased the king very much.
Est 2:5 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
Est 2:6 Who had been carried away from
captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of
Vs 5,6 Here we see Mordecai, the Jew, coming on the scene. He should have gone home
to
I believe his position was one inside the palace. Remember that God is going to
lead this man, who is out of God’s Will, by providence.
Est 2:7 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.
Vs 7 We are introduced to Esther, Mordecai’s cousin, whom he has adopted.
Her name was Hadassah which means “star”. She was a beautiful young lady
Est 2:8 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.
Est 2:9 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.
Vs 8,9 All the fair maidens of the kingdom are brought to prepare for the contest.
Mordecai has entered Esther into this contest. If she wins she becomes queen.
If she looses she becomes a concubine. Remember God never taught the Jew
to intermarry.
Est 2:10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred:
for Mordecai had charged her that she should
not shew it.
Vs 10 Esther is asked not to reveal that she is a Jew. If she is found out, no telling
what will happen to her.
Est 2:11 And Mordecai walked every day before
the court
of the women's house, to know how Esther did,
and what
should become of her.
Vs 11 Mordecai went everyday to check on her. Obviously he is not in God’s Will
as he is not depending on God but upon himself, Esther’s beauty, and a the
chance that a pagan king will like her the best. Mordecai was a fingernail biting
nervous wreck of a man.
Est 2:12 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;)
Vs 12 Each woman has 1 year of oils and perfumes to prepare for the contest.
Est 2:13 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.
Est 2:14 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.
Vs 13,14 Each girl then goes in before the king and then waits to be called by the king.
If she is not called for, she will become one of the kings royal concubines.
Est 2:15 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.
Vs 15 Now it is Esther’s turn to go before the king. She is a raving beauty and everyone
that sees her, realizes her beauty is beyond compare. She needs nothing fancy to
dress herself up with, she is a natural beauty.
Est 2:16 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.
Est 2:17 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.
Vs 16,17 The king loved Esther at first sight and now she has obtained grace in the
sight of the king. Was it by chance that she won? No, I believe that God is
at work here. By His Providence he is placing a Jewish Queen on the throne to
deliver His people.
Est 2:18 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.
Vs 18 A feast, in honor of the beautiful Esther is given. The king, so happy with Esther,
suspends taxes for one year.
Est 2:19 And when the virgins were gathered
together the
second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's
gate.
Vs 19 Mordecai is sitting in the kings gate I believe that he has a governmental position
as judge, because he is kin with the queen. Again the providence of God is at work
Est 2:20 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.
Vs 20 Note that Esther, even though she is now the queen, is still obedient to Mordecai’s
request that she not reveal herself. Remember Mordecai is her adoptive father and
she respects him. (Eph 6:1)Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right
Est 2:21 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.
Est 2:22 And the
thing was known to Mordecai, who told it
unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the
king thereof in
Mordecai's name.
Est 2:23 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.
Vs 21-23 Mordecai, while sitting in the kings gate, overheard 2 men plotting to kill the
king. Mordecai brought this information to Esther, who inturn told it to the king.
Upon investigation, the men were found guilty and were hanged for attempted
treason. Anyone who saw these men executed would not attempt to do the same
for fear of being caught themselves. Remember this, we do not read anywhere that
Mordecai
was rewarded for his good deed of saving the king, and Mordecai did not
complain.