Esther 2:1-23
Q.1. How was Vashti to be replaced as queen? Was Esther from a privileged position? Why did she find favour with Hegai? Why did Esther conceal her nationality? – (Est.2:1-11)
Eventually, the king sent his attendants throughout his one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, to find the most beautiful maidens, from whom the queen would be chosen (Est.2:1-3 c.f. Est.1:1). Esther had come from a difficult background – 5 Now there was at the citadel in Susa a Jew whose name was Mordecai … a Benjamite, 6 who had been taken into exile from Jerusalem with the captives who had been exiled with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had exiled. 7 He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had no father or mother. Now the young lady was beautiful of form and face, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter (Est.2:5-7). Esther found favour with Hegai, the king’s eunuch, because she had been raised to show respect to those in authority. Thus she willingly submitted to Hegai’s advise (Est.2:8-9 c.f. Eph.6:1-3). Her uncle, Mordecai, checked on her welfare daily. Wisely – Esther did not make known her people or her kindred, for Mordecai had instructed her that she should not make them known (Est.2:10).
Q.2. How were the women prepared for the king? What special treatment was Esther given? Why did the king choose her? How was Esther honoured? – (Est.2:12-18)
Each young lady went through a yearly process of preparation and beautification, according to Persian tradition. When assigned to go into the king – … anything that she desired was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace (Est.2:13). Esther placed herself under authority – … she did not request anything except what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the women, advised. And Esther found favour in the eyes of all who saw her (Est.2:15). By God’s grace – The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favour and kindness with him more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti (Est.2:17). He also celebrated the occasion with a special banquet for Esther and set aside a holiday for his people.
Q.3. What was the relationship between Mordecai and Esther? Did she cease to listen to him after becoming queen? How did Mordecai save the king? – (Est.2:19-23)
After ascending to her royal position, Esther continued to respect Mordecai’s advice – Esther had not yet made known her kindred or her people, even as Mordecai had commanded her; for Esther did what Mordecai told her as she had done when under his care (Est.2:20). Providentially, while Mordecai sat at the king’s gate, he discovered a plot against the king and – … he told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name (Est.2:22). After investigation, the plot was confirmed and the assassins hanged. Though it went unrewarded, this deed was recorded in the Chronicles of the king (Est.2:23).