CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Esther 2
Chapter 2 of 10
Chapter Overview
What happens in Esther 2
A search begins across the empire for a new queen. Esther, a young Jewish woman raised by her cousin Mordecai, is chosen. Mordecai also uncovers a plot to kill the king.
Scripture
Esther 2
The Search for a New Queen
Study note
After his anger cooled, the king realized he needed a new queen. His servants suggested a kingdom-wide search for beautiful young women, which was common practice in ancient Persian courts.
1 As time passed and the king's anger cooled, he started thinking about Vashti again. He thought about what she had done and the harsh order against her. 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.
2 The king's helpers had an idea. They said, "Why not search the whole land for pretty young women? Bring them to the king." Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
3 "Appoint officials in every province to find the most beautiful young women and bring them to the royal palace at Susa. Place them in the women's quarters under the supervision of Hegai, the king's eunuch who oversees the women. Give them the finest beauty treatments." 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 "Then whichever young woman the king likes best will become the new queen instead of Vashti." The king thought this was a great plan and put it into action. And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
Mordecai and Esther
Study note
Mordecai was a Jewish man living in Susa. His family had been taken from Jerusalem when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered Judah about 100 years earlier. He adopted his orphaned cousin Esther (whose Hebrew name was Hadassah).
5 Living in the palace complex at Susa was a Jewish man named Mordecai. He was the son of Jair, grandson of Shimei, and great-grandson of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin. 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 Mordecai's family had been taken from Jerusalem. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had won the war. He took King Jeconiah of Judah away, along with many others. 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 Mordecai had been raising his cousin Hadassah, who also went by the name Esther. She had lost both her parents, and Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter. She was a young woman of striking beauty. 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.
Esther Enters the Palace
Study note
Esther was taken to the royal palace along with many other young women. In Persian courts, a head servant managed the women's quarters. Mordecai told Esther to keep her Jewish identity secret.
8 When the king's decree went into effect, large numbers of young women were brought to the palace at Susa and placed under Hegai's supervision. Esther was among those taken to the king's palace and put in Hegai's care. 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 Hegai took an immediate liking to Esther and treated her with special kindness. He fast-tracked her beauty treatments and provided her with the finest food. He handpicked seven attendants from the king's palace to serve her and moved her and her attendants into the best rooms in the women's quarters. 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.
10 Esther kept her Jewish background completely secret. Mordecai had told her not to tell anyone who she was. Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
11 Every day, Mordecai walked near the women's court. He wanted to know how Esther was doing. He wanted to know what was going on with her. And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
The Preparation of the Young Women
Study note
Each young woman went through twelve months of beauty treatments before meeting the king. This included six months with oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes and other preparations.
12 Before any young woman could go to King Xerxes, she had to finish a full year of beauty treatments. She spent six months using oil of myrrh. Then she spent six months with perfumes and special beauty preparations. 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 Each young woman's turn came to see the king. She could bring anything she wanted. She took it from the women's area to the palace. 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 She would go to the king in the evening and return the next morning to a different part of the women's area. Shaashgaz, the king's helper in charge of the king's other wives, watched over that area. She would not visit the king again unless he asked for her by name. 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.
Esther Becomes Queen
Study note
When Esther's turn came, she won the favor of everyone who saw her. The king loved her more than all the other women and made her queen in place of Vashti.
15 Then Esther's turn came. She was the daughter of Abihail, and her cousin Mordecai had adopted her. She did not ask for anything special. She did what Hegai, the man in charge of the women, told her to do. And everyone who saw her was drawn to her. 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.
16 Esther was brought to King Xerxes at his royal palace during the tenth month (the month of Tebeth) in the seventh year of his reign. 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 The king fell in love with Esther more than any of the other women. She won his heart and his approval beyond all the other young women. He placed the royal crown on her head and declared her queen in place of Vashti. 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.
18 To celebrate, the king threw a grand feast in Esther's honor for all his officials and servants. He even declared a tax break for the provinces and gave out big royal gifts. 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.
19 When the young women were brought together a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate. And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
20 Esther had still not told a soul about her Jewish heritage. She continued to follow Mordecai's instructions, just as faithfully as she had when he was raising her. 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.
Mordecai Uncovers a Plot
Study note
Mordecai discovered that two of the king's guards were planning to assassinate the king. He reported this through Esther. The event was recorded in the royal records, which becomes very important later in the story.
21 During this period, while Mordecai was at his usual post at the king's gate, two of the king's officers grew angry. Their names were Bigthan and Teresh -- they were doorway guards. The two men hatched a plot to assassinate King Xerxes. 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.
22 Mordecai found out about the plot. He told Queen Esther, who told the king and gave full credit to Mordecai. 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 An investigation confirmed the plot was real. Both men were executed by hanging on a pole. The entire incident was recorded in the official royal chronicle, right in the king's presence. 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.
Key Themes
Themes in Esther 2
God positions people for His purposesFaithfulness in obscurity prepares you for visibilityTrusting the guidance of wise mentorsGod's hidden hand directing circumstances
Apply This Today
Living Esther 2
Esther did not seek the throne — she was positioned there by circumstances beyond her control, guided by Mordecai's wisdom. God may be positioning you right now for a purpose you cannot yet see. Be faithful where you are, follow wise counsel, and trust that God is directing your steps.
Go Deeper
Study Esther in Covenant Path
Read every chapter with study aids, bookmarks, and daily reading plans — free in the app.