The Book of Esther (03) – Esther, Mordecai

2

1After these things, when the anger of King Ahasuerus had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done, and what had been decided regarding her. 2Then the king’s attendants, who served him, said, “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king. 3And may the king appoint overseers in all the provinces of his kingdom, and have them bring every beautiful young virgin to the citadel of Susa, to the harem, into the custody of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let their cosmetics be given to them. 4Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen in place of Vashti.” And the suggestion pleased the king, and he did accordingly.

5There was a Jew at the citadel in Susa whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjaminite, 6who had been taken from Jerusalem with the exiles who had been deported with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had deported. 7He was the guardian to Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had no father or mother. Now the young woman was beautiful of form and face, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.

8So it came about, when the command and decree of the king were heard and many young ladies were gathered to the citadel of Susa into the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken to the king’s palace into the custody of Hegai, who was in charge of the women. 9Now the young lady pleased him and found favor with him. So he quickly provided her with her cosmetics and food, gave her seven choice female attendants from the king’s palace, and transferred her and her attendants to the best place in the harem. 10Esther did not reveal her people or her kindred, because Mordecai had instructed her that she was not to reveal them. 11And every day Mordecai walked back and forth in front of the courtyard of the harem to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her.

12Now when the turn came for each young woman to go in to King Ahasuerus, after the end of her twelve months under the regulations for the women—for the days of their beauty treatment were completed as follows: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with balsam oil and the cosmetics for women— 13the young woman would go in to the king in this way: anything that she desired was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. 14In the evening she would enter and in the morning she would return to the second harem, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not go in to the king again, unless the king delighted in her and she was summoned by name.

15Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai who had taken her as his daughter, came to go in to the king, she did not request anything except what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the women, advised. And Esther was finding favor in the eyes of all who saw her. 16So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus in his royal palace in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

17The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favor and kindness with him more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal turban on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti. 18Then the king held a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his officials and his servants; he also made a holiday for the provinces and gave gifts in proportion to the king’s bounty.

19Now when the virgins were gathered together for the second time, then Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. 20Esther still had not revealed her relatives or her people, just as Mordecai had instructed her; for Esther did what Mordecai told her just as she had when under his care.

21In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s officials from those who guarded the door, became angry and sought to attack King Ahasuerus. 22But the plot became known to Mordecai and he informed Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in Mordecai’s name. 23Then when the plot was investigated and found to be so, they were both hanged on a wooden gallows; and it was written in the Book of the Chronicles in the king’s presence.

– Esther 2
(NASB® © 2020)
Mark as Favorite and save for later! (0)
Please login to bookmark Close

Esther – A picture of the Jewish remnant

Chapter two describes the efforts to find someone to take Vashti’s place. In this selection process, “Esther” comes into focus (Esther 2:1–7). She is a picture of the divine remnant from among the Jews. Romans 11 points out that when unbelieving Christianity is no longer recognized and is set aside because of its unbelief, God will reconnect with Israel and bring a remnant of this nation into blessing.

As an orphan, Esther receives no support from the world, which is an apt description of the desperation that will characterize the divine remnant of the Jews in the great tribulation to come. They will be completely dependent on God.

Mordecai—A Picture of Christ

Although Esther is an orphan, “Mordecai” takes charge of his cousin and cares for her. He is a picture of Christ, who will care for the Jewish remnant in providence.

Before Esther can be brought into a relationship with the king, she must undergo a cleansing process (Esther 2:8–14). This speaks of the results that the exercises of the Jewish remnant will produce during the great tribulation. During this time, they will be purified and prepared for their King (Dan. 12:10; Mal. 3:2–4; Zech. 13:9).

During Esther’s time of purification, Mordecai is deeply concerned for her well-being. Although he cannot communicate with her publicly because her time of purification is not yet complete, he comes daily to the place where she is staying to inquire after her well-being. In the same way, during the great tribulation, Christ will not communicate directly with the Jewish remnant, but will follow their progress with the greatest interest. He will do so, as it were, from a distance (Isa. 8:17; 18:4; 54:8; Song 5:6; Gen. 42:7, 23, 24; 43:30). He will continue to do so until the work of repentance and purification in the remnant is complete, and then He will reveal Himself to them (Genesis 45).

The incident at the end of the second chapter, in which Mordecai intercedes for the king’s welfare (when “Bigtan and Teresh” attempt a rebellion), shows how Christ takes the utmost care to uphold the glory of God and works behind the scenes to preserve it (Esther 2:21–23).

Comments (0)

No comments yet.

Share this article:

You want to contact us? Ask a question or let us know what you think! 

Write a message here!

Leave a Comment

The Book of Esther (06) – Honoring Mordecai, Judging Haman

From a sleepless night to a stunning reversal, Mordecai’s public exaltation points prophetically to Christ’s glorious return before all the world. In the same divine sequence, Haman’s fall foreshadows the final judgment of the Antichrist, revealing how God turns threat into triumph.
Esther 6-7

The Book of Esther (05) – Esther approaches the King

What unfolds when desperation drives someone to seek favor they cannot claim by right? This article follows Esther’s hesitant approach to the king as a symbolic portrayal of a weary remnant drawing near to God, emphasizing themes of grace, struggle, and emerging trust.
Esther 5

The Book of Esther (04) – Haman

In this article, we consider how Haman in the book of Esther foreshadows the Antichrist, illustrating his rise to power, demand for worship, and violent persecution of God’s people during the Great Tribulation.
Esther 3

The Book of Esther (02) – Vashti

In this article, we see how Vashti in the book of Esther pictures a merely professing church that outwardly claims association with God but, through pride and disobedience, ultimately comes under divine judgment.
Esther 1

The Book of Esther (01) – Ahasuerus

In this article, we see how King Ahasuerus in the book of Esther serves as a picture of God’s sovereign rule and how his great banquet beautifully illustrates the gospel of God’s grace, invitation, rest, and joy.
Esther 1