Esther Becomes Queen

Esther

Weekly Reading

Week Two – Chapter Two

Read Chapter 2

Between chapters 1 & 2 there is a lapse of about 4 years time, when Ahasuerus went off on his expedition against Greece. The feast that he had was the feast in preparation of his unsuccessful invasion of Greece and before two of the great battles of history. 

Chapter 2 introduces one of the women taken for beauty pageant, a beautiful Jewish girl named Hadassah. Her name was changed to Esther when she was brought to the king’s court.

Esther received favor from everyone who saw her, especially the king (verses 15-17). The king selected Esther to be his new queen, but Mordecai counseled her to not reveal the fact that she was a Jew, because Jews were still held in some suspicion throughout the Persian Empire.

Shortly after she became queen, a seemingly unrelated incident is recorded in Esther 2:21-23. Two men plotted to kill the king, but Mordecai became aware of the plot and had Esther reveal it to the king. The two men were hanged, and the incident was recorded in the king’s personal history. This incident turns out to have a great deal to do with the rest of the story.

Going Deeper          Proverbs 31:10-31, John 10:27-29, Hebrews 6:10-12

Questions

When did King Xerxes “remember” Vashti (v. 1)?

What specific steps were proposed in verses 3-5 toward the selection of a new queen?

Who was Hegai and what were some of his responsibilities?

What facts does Esther 2:5-7 tell about Mordecai and Esther?

Why might Mordecai have wanted Esther’s Judaism kept secret?

What three responses from Xerxes led to Esther’s queenship? Read Esther 2:17-18 in the New American Standard Bibles’ translation.

What happened after Queen Esther gave Mordecai credit for exposing the plot?

Click here for a printable version of Week 2.

Be Blessed and be a Blessing,

Cheryl