2 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.
Since chapter 1, three to four years have passed. King Ahasuerus has fought in a war and did other things a king might have been found doing: at this time he is remembering what happened to his wife Vashti.
2 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
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:
4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king, and he did so.
The king listened to the advice of some of his servants. They told him it was time for him to replace Vashti by selecting a virgin who was beautiful and place her in the place of Vashti who did not do as he wanted. To find this wife for the king, she would be one of many women who the king's officers would go out into the provinces to select a virgin who is also beautiful. After they find women who fit the description, the women found for the king's pageant, will be placed in a particular place to go through the purification process before coming before the king to be selected to be his wife. In other words, the king will sleep with each woman and then make his selection for his queen.
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 Kish, a Benjamite;
6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
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.
Mordecai had a cousin whose parents were deceased. He is the caretaker of Esther who's name is also Hadassah. Mordecai hears of the pageant and enters his cousin.
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.
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.
Esther is selected as a candidate for queen. The keeper of the women, whose name is Hegai, was quite pleased with Esther not only being beautiful but mannerable. Esther won him over and he was pleased to show her favor.
10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
Mordecai told Esther to keep her identity as a Jew a secret. Perhaps he thought she would experience ridicule because of that and he did not want her to miss out on the opportunity to become queen. When I thought of Mordecai's instructions to Esther, I had a few questions;
Why did he tell her not to tell anyone she was a Jew?
Was Mordecai pleasing God to make the decision he made concerning Esther's role?
Was Mordecai affected/influenced by his relative Saul who refused to obey God as the king?
Would Mordecai's behavior show that he was ashamed of God and His Good news?
When I see Mordecai, I see him clearly when I see myself.
Have I ever been in a place where I limited myself in talking about God?
Have I feared talking about God because of something I wanted?
My answer would be yes. Was I right? I was not right. I had no peace when I worked as a public school teacher. I hated every moment of working in a place that forbade me to share my life as a believer. It was a struggle that I never want to repeat again. I tried to be an example in what I did to show I believed in Jesus, but I still wanted to talk about him all the time, because he was the answer to every problem I faced as an employee; and the Word of God makes sense and I tried to work around what I said I believed.
After all of my questions, I thought of Jesus when he told certain people not to say anything concerning what he had done. There are times we must wait on God's timing. It does not always mean we are in doubt, sometimes it means that because of the state of mind of those who do not understand, being quiet is the loudest way they will see God.
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.
Mordecai wanted to know what was going on with his cousin Esther. I wonder if she saw him from a distance standing outside. Perhaps she waved at him discreetly.
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;)
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.
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.
After 12 months of preparing to go before the king, the women selected could now see the king one by one. These women were given a spa treatment for a whole year. Each woman went in to spend some time with the king alone. If she pleased him, he would let it be known. The woman was considered to be the king's concubine, meaning she was the property of the king and no one else could have her. This had to be hard on the woman because if she was not chosen, she could be a widow for the rest of her life because no other man could have her.
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.
It is Esther's turn to see the king. Everyone who came in contact with Esther admired her. Was it because she knew of God, although she did not speak of him? When we have a relationship with God, does it show? Esther was easy to manage. She was beautiful and easy to get along with.
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.
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.
Was God strategically aligning his plan through Esther? She behaved godly and the king noticed. This shows that the world is looking for godly people. Godly people are different. When we behave like God, we make others desire to be in our presence because when we do things, we do things right.
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.
The king had a BIG party in honor of Esther. He released the taxes from the people during this time and he gave gifts to the people. When we act like God, we make others want to do right.
19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
Commentaries do not have a definite reason why there was a second gathering of the virgins. But what we do know for sure is when the virgins gathered the second time, Mordecai was present at the king's gate.
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.
Esther has progressed and still, she did not disobey Mordecai. She held her identity to herself.
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 hands on the king Ahasuerus.
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.
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.
While Mordecai was standing at the gate, he overheard two men plotting to kill the king. Mordecai informed his cousin, Esther of their evil plot against the king. An investigation was made. After the investigation, the two men were found guilty of what Mordecai made known by telling his cousin who informed the king, and the two men lost their lives.
My Minute Song
In Esther chapter two
In Esther chapter two
We will find the truth
Mordecai told Esther
what she should do
He said, don’t let nobody know
That you are a Jew
Just Keep this to your self
You’ll understand it when the plan is through
I remember Jesus said the same thing
When some wanted Him dead
Sometimes we got to be quiet
And by the spirt of God be led
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