Esther 2:1-18
While Esther may sound like the Jewish version of Cinderella, this account is absolutely true. Esther, an orphaned immigrant and a descendant of slaves, became the queen of the most powerful king of the day. As astonishing as these facts are, Esther teaches us deep truths, like the power of God’s providence and sovereignty working through seemingly unrelated events of life.
Before Israel even knew it needed God’s help to survive, God had already placed Esther in the right position at the right time to prevent the genocide of Israel. Remember our key verse in the book of Esther? “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”(4:14b).
1. A King Reconsiders (vv. 1-4)
In verse one, we read the word later which actually indicates around four years later, after the events of chapter one. King Xerxes dismissed Queen Vashti in the third year of his reign (1:3) and he made Esther queen in his seventh year (2:16). During this intervening period, Xerxes was off fighting a war with Greece to avenge his father’s defeat and death. The war was a disaster. It depleted the king’s royal treasury and humbled his ego. Herodotus, a Greek historian, described Xerxes’ life after this military defeat as one of sensual overindulgence, even becoming involved with one of his son’s wives.
It’s unclear whether the king had a change of heart after so much time had passed and if he truly was reconsidering replacing Vashti. But she had publicly embarrassed him and his public image was of vast importance. His cabinet had suggested Vashti be replaced and they quickly proposed their plan: an empire-wide beauty pageant. This advice appealed to Xerxes’ carnality and he followed it. Ancient harems were continuously being replenished with younger, beautiful women. This herding of young virgins offends us. The text is unclear as to whether these women volunteered or were forced to enter this contest. However, it doesn’t take too much imagination to discern that when the king’s commissioner called, one didn’t hesitate. Hesitating could be hazardous to one’s health.
2. Introductions of Mordecai and Esther (vv. 5-7)
Mordecai was a Jew and an official in the royal court. He was Esther’s cousin, and he had adopted Esther as a child (Esther 2:15). Verse five indicates Mordecai was the great grandson of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, a man who had been carried away captive by Nebuchadnezzar along with Jehoiachin, King of Judah. Some say Mordecai was too young to be the great grandson of Kish who was exiled in 597 B.C. Rather, as was common in ancient genealogies, generations may have been skipped. Perhaps verse five names three of Mordecai’s most prominent ancestors; these names indicating that Mordecai was of the family of Kish. It’s more likely that the names refer to remote ancestors of the tribe of Benjamin, making Mordecai a descendant of King Saul, who was the son of Kish. Either way, by mentioning the name, Kish, the author is setting up the reader for the eventual struggle with the story’s villain, Haman (more on this later). Mordecai was Jewish by blood but his name is Babylonian, derived from the Babylonian god, Marduk.
Mordecai had raised his cousin, Esther (her Jewish name was Hadassah, meaning “myrtle.” Myrtle was a low-growing shrub; the name means “fragrant”). Esther is the Persian name for star, perhaps derived from the Babylonian goddess of love, Ishstar. (Many Jewish captives had both a Jewish name and a second name from their new country, such as Joseph (named Zaphenath-Paneah, Genesis 41:45) and Daniel, (named Belteshazzar, Daniel 1:7). Esther was stunningly beautiful. It’s no wonder she caught the eye of the commissioner sent out to find all the beautiful young virgins of the land. She would make heads turn.
3. Here She Comes…Miss Persia! (vv. 8-18)
“Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem” (v. 8). She probably didn’t have much choice, although Scripture is not clear on this point. The words, “was taken,” are in the passive tense. Does this mean Esther had no say in the matter? No. It doesn’t necessarily mean she was passive as she was taken by government officials. However, as suggested before, if the king’s commissioner comes to your home and says, “I want you,” it seems highly unlikely that you would have a choice in the matter, especially considering the king’s word was law. The young women were then placed under the care of a man named Hegai, the king’s eunuch.
Verse nine tells us that Esther pleased Hegai and won his favor, something which would have been a big plus in the competition. He immediately provided her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned her seven maids selected from the king’s palace and moved Esther and her maids into the best place in the harem. It certainly appears that Esther was Hegai’s favorite. The secular historian Josephus tells us there were about 400 girls involved.
Verse 10 reveals a mystery in our narrative. Why did Mordecai urge Esther to conceal her nationality? This opens up many questions: Did Mordecai foresee the anti-Jewish attitudes soon to reveal themselves? Did he think Esther would have no chance to be selected queen if it was known she was a Jewess? Was he hoping for a promotion for himself if Esther was selected queen? Keeping her religious identity a secret would certainly have meant compromising the law, eating non-kosher food, failing to observe the Sabbath and eventually being willing to spend the night with a pagan man who was not her husband.
Verse 11 indicates that Mordecai kept a close eye on Esther’s activities as much as he could even though excluded from the palace. He loved his cousin and was protective of her welfare. The above factors have led some to hold that neither Mordecai nor Esther were believers. However, it’s highly unlikely that the book would be named for Esther if she was an unbeliever or even included in the Bible for that matter.
Why was Esther not willing to stand up for her faith as Daniel and his three friends did in Daniel 1 (refusing to eat the king’s food)? Let me suggest that Daniel and his friends were exemplary, in fact, above exemplary. To compare all Jewish captives to Daniel and his friends is perhaps unfair.
Esther and Mordecai appear to have been caught up in Persian culture, customs and dress as many believers are caught up in worldly culture today. While this is not a good thing, it is understandable. And they had probably long ago decided it was safer to conceal their Jewish identity, especially considering the likelihood of additional anti-Semites in the neighborhood.
Was Esther forced then to dress as a Persian, neglect the Sabbath, eat non-kosher food and sleep with the king? May I suggest she was caught in an ever-growing web of cultural and religious clashes. She and Mordecai chose to go along with the culture, rather than bring negative attention to themselves. It probably seemed safer. Should they have stood up for their Jewishness? Yes. Is it understandable that they did not? Yes and no. Yes, in that it was safer, but no, in that they were not yet willing to stand up for who they were, members of God’s chosen people, the Jews.
Xerxes spared no expense to prepare these women. Before each girl had her turn with the king, she had to complete 12 months of beauty treatments: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes and cosmetics. Spices and fragrances were a major export of Persia, India and Arabia in that day and used liberally by the wealthy and powerful. It’s possible that cube-shaped burners excavated from Israel were not for burning incense in religious rituals, as originally thought, but were cosmetic burners used by women to perfume their skin and clothing with the scent of roses, oil of cloves and essence of musk, fragrances still popular today.
When each girl’s turn came, she would go to the king in the evening. In the morning, she would then return to another part of the harem, reserved for the king’s concubines under the care of another eunuch, Shaashgaz. She was likely to never see the king, again unless called for by name. In time, Xerxes would have been unable to distinguish one girl from the next. This was unbridled sensuality. Though the women would have been given luxurious food and abundant clothing, they would have been kept in isolation from all family members and friends, possibly never to see them again. This would have been most unpleasant.
Each young woman was allowed to take anything from the harem treasury. This would be like shopping where only the wealthy could shop. Implied is that the women would keep all these gifts as their wedding present, for this was their wedding night, and in all likelihood, their only night with the king. Children conceived during these encounters were usually raised to serve their father in high positions, but not as legitimate heirs to the throne.
When Esther’s turn came, she didn’t request any of the usual jewelry or cosmetics to enhance her beauty. She relied on the trusted advice of Hegai and it paid off.
Her simple beauty won the favor of everyone who saw her (v. 15). She was taken to the king in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of Xerxes’ reign (Tebeth is our December/January). Verses 17-18 go on to tell us the king was attracted to Esther more than any of the other women, so he set a crown upon her head and made her his queen. He celebrated the occasion with a great banquet (he loved banquets) for Queen Esther and all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the land, distributing gifts with royal liberality.
Depravity doesn’t hinder God from working out His plan. We can never undo God’s unconditional promises. He had unconditionally promised that He would bless Abraham’s descendants forever (Genesis 12:2-3). Pagan Xerxes, fallen counselors to the king, or even disobedient, backslidden Jews who had decided to remain in Persia could not undo God’s promise. This is not to be an excuse for us to make sinful decisions and hope to get away with them. God still holds us responsible for our decisions and He calls us to be obedient. However, if you find yourself confronted by past sinful choices, repent, confess your sins to God, turn from those sins and move on. If you are still living under the sinful consequences of past decisions, confess, repent and do what is right now. He will bless you for it although He normally doesn’t remove the consequences of your sin. Rather, He gives you the grace to bear it.
While Xerxes believed he had chosen Esther as his queen to replace Vashti, the eye of faith sees the invisible hand of God moving the heart of the king (Proverbs 21:1). Were Esther and Mordecai’s decisions based on godly motives and biblical principles? No. But before we judge Esther and Mordecai too quickly, let’s remember all biblical characters have flaws as do we. We also make flawed decisions. Yet our gracious God takes these wrong decisions and works through them in spite of our sin. God is so gracious and omnipotent that He will use these situations to perfect His purposes in us and through us (Rom. 8:28).
Remember Romans 12:1-2? “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Esther and Mordecai seemed to have become assimilated into their pagan culture.
Lest we throw stones too quickly, we had better take a look within our own hearts. There is so much more to worldliness than outward appearances, though outward appearance does have an effect on our testimony. Jesus prayed, in His high priestly prayer (John 17), that His followers would be in the world but not of the world. How must we be distinct from the world?
In our attitudes as well as our actions (Ephesians 4:17-19). It seems that many Christians live without thinking seriously about how their pagan environment has influenced them, in what clothing they purchase, in what they watch on TV/movies, or in what governs their lives, attitudes, etc.
Esther’s marriage to a Gentile king has been troublesome to many Bible students. This marriage violated God’s clear directives (Deuteronomy 7:3 and I Kings 11:1-2 among others). Some try their best to exonerate her, others judge her too harshly. Many simply say, she had no choice in the matter and they may be right. We, too, find ourselves in situations where right and wrong are not clear, and choices seem to be a mixture.
What do we do in such times? We must think biblically and move slowly. We must guard against violating our consciences at all times. In every decision we make, we must seek to honor God.
We reject situational ethics. The end does not justify the means. It is never right to do wrong to do right. While we applaud the bravery of Esther and Mordecai in rescuing the Jews, we don’t excuse their sin. The biggest hero in this story is God who works all things according to His will
(Ephesians 1:9-11).
Should we teach our daughters to use Esther as a role model, to make themselves as attractive as they can and use their bodies to advance the kingdom? No. Should we teach them to use Esther as a role model for standing up and risking her life for the physical salvation of her people? Yes.
God is working out His plan and we can rest in His faithfulness. Lamentations 3:19-24, 37-38.
Life can be hard; God is good. He is sovereign.
Take Home Truth: God works through fallen people and their flawed decisions to fulfill His faithful plan.
Recent Comments