Esther

Esther, Chosen as Queen

Later, when his anger had subsided, King Ahasuerus remembered Vashti’s disobedience and the decree against her.

The king’s courtiers suggested: “Let beautiful young girls be chosen for the king.

Have him appoint commissioners across the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the beautiful young virgins to the harem in Susa. Let them be placed under the care of the royal eunuch Hegai, who is in charge of women, and provide them with ointments for beauty treatments.

Let the girl who pleases the king take Vashti’s place.” The king was happy with the suggestion, and he followed through on it.

Now there lived in Susa a Jew named Mordecai, son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite

who had been exiled from Jerusalem among the captives taken away with King Jeconiah of Judah by the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar.

Mordecai was a foster father to his cousin Hadassah, who is also known as Esther, after she lost both her father and mother. The girl had a lovely face and figure. Following the death of her parents, Mordecai adopted her as his own daughter.

By the king’s decree, many young girls were brought to Susa and placed in Hegai’s care. Esther was among them.

Esther pleased the custodian of women and gained his favor. He not only quickly provided her with cosmetics and good food but also assigned her seven special maids from the king’s household and moved her and her maids to the best part of the harem.

Esther did not disclose her nationality or family details because Mordecai had forbidden her from doing so.

Every day, Mordecai would walk back and forth through the harem courtyard to check on Esther’s well-being.

After a twelve-month preparation period designated for the women, each was to appear in turn before King Ahasuerus. This preparation involved beautifying treatments: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes and cosmetics.

Then, when the girl was to present herself to the king, she was allowed to take anything she wanted from the harem to the king’s palace.

She would go there in the evening and return the next morning to another harem under the care of the royal eunuch Shaashgaz, custodian of the concubines. She would not go back to the king unless he was pleased with her and called her by name.

When it was Esther’s turn—the daughter of Abihail, whom Mordecai had adopted from his uncle—to go before the king, she asked for nothing except what the eunuch Hegai had given her. Yet, she earned the admiration of everyone who saw her.

Esther was brought to King Ahasuerus at his palace in the tenth month, Tebeth, during the seventh year of his reign.

The king favored Esther more than any other woman. Having gained his approval over the other virgins, she was awarded the royal crown and became queen in place of Vashti.

The king then hosted a grand feast in honor of Esther for all his officials and ministers; he declared a holiday across the provinces and distributed gifts generously.

Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate when the virgins were gathered a second time.

Esther had not disclosed her family background or nationality until now, following Mordecai’s instructions. She obeyed his advice just as she had when he was raising her.

While Mordecai was at the king’s gate, Bagathan and Thares, two of the royal eunuchs guarding the entrance, plotted to kill King Ahasuerus.

Mordecai discovered the plot and told Queen Esther, who then reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai.

The matter was investigated and confirmed to be accurate, and the two conspirators were hanged on the gallows. The incident was recorded in the Book of Chronicles in the king’s presence.