What are the two things that are recorded in chapter 2?
What is the step towards Haman's design of the Jews' destruction?
What happened to the recluses after the King took them to his bed?
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What is the second chapter of Esther about?
This chapter introduces Mordecai and his adoptive daughter, Esther, whose beauty won the approval of the king Ahasuerus, and she was crowned the queen of Persia (verse 17).
What is the main message of the book of Esther?
The story of Esther proves that God's action is unceasing, and that God is always speaking! Integral to the story of Esther is that God works through events and speaks through people!
Why Esther was chosen?
In the Achaemenid Empire, the Persian king Ahasuerus seeks a new wife after his queen, Vashti, is deposed for disobeying him. Hadassah, a Jewess who goes by the name of Esther, is chosen to fulfill this role due to her beauty.
What are the qualities of Esther in the Bible?
Contents hide2.1 Esther Submitted to God.2.2 Esther Had Wisdom.2.3 Esther Never Abused Her Authority.2.4 Esther Loved God.2.5 Esther's Faith Was Strong.2.6 Esther Displayed courage.2.7 Esther Showed humility.2.8 Esther Had Patience.More items...•
Why is the book of Esther so important?
The purpose of the Book of Esther is open to different interpretations. It can be understood as commending human responsibility instead of misguided dependence on God: the Jews in the book must take matters into their own hands to preserve their existence, rather than wait for God to act.
How is the book of Esther relevant for us today?
Reading and rereading Esther assures us that God is not oblivious to our trials. Esther helps us train our eyes to see God at work through faithful people in unfaithful situations.
What was the purification of Esther?
Esther's Days of Purification is found in Esther 2:12 as she was prepared for the King with six months of oil of myrrh and six months of sweet spices. As you can see, Scripture gives us very little information about the spices and oils used to transform Esther from an orphan girl to a bride fit for a king.
Why was Esther called Hadassah?
According to the Hebrew Bible, queen Esther was born with the name הֲדַסָּה Hadassah ("Myrtle"). Her name was changed to Esther to hide her identity upon becoming queen of Persia. The three letter root of Esther in Hebrew is s-t-r ( סתר), "hide, conceal". The passive infinitive is ( לְהִסָּ֫תֶר), "to be hidden".
What is meant by who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this Esther 4 14?
Mordecai finished by suggesting to Esther the possibility that she had become queen “for such a time as this” (4:14). He reinforces the idea that, all of Esther's life and the series of unusual events that led her to become queen, there was a greater purpose for her.
Who is the most important character in the Book of Esther?
Esther is the heroine, the main character. That's obvious, given that the book is named after her (though she gets about the same amount of stage time as some of the other major characters like Ahasuerus, Haman, and Mordecai).
What made Esther a leader?
She went to see the kings without an invitation, which was a grave offense. Another important leadership quality exhibited by Esther is patience. She took her time and never rushed into decisions. Even after entering the king's inner court without an invitation, she did not verbalize her quest right away.
What did Esther pray for?
14Then she prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, saying: “My Lord, you alone are our King. Help me, who am alone and have no help but you, 15for I am taking my life in my hand.
Esther 2 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (concise)
Complete Concise Chapter Contents. Esther chosen queen. (1-20) Mordecai discovers a plot against the king. (21-23) Commentary on Esther 2:1-20 (Read Esther 2:1-20). We see to what absurd practices those came, who were destitute of Divine revelation, and what need there was of the gospel of Christ, to purify men from the lusts of the flesh, and to bring them back to the original institution of ...
Study Guide for Esther 2 by David Guzik - Blue Letter Bible
Esther Is Chosen Queen. A. The gathering together of a harem for King Ahasuerus. 1. A search is made for a replacement for Queen VashtiAfter these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus subsided, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what had been decreed against her.
Esther Chapter 2 Bible Study: The Preparation for the King
[3] ↩ The seven fold spirit is based on Rev 5:6 which itself is based on Isaiah 11:2-3. It is seven different aspects of the one Holy Spirit whom the King, Jesus Christ, has sent to all believers just as He promised: ' And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither ...
Esther Commentary - Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete)
Read Esther commentary using Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete). Study the bible online using commentary on Esther and more!
Who took Esther into his house?
"So Esther was taken unto king Ahashuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness 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. 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 girls, according to the bounty of the king."
Who showed Esther the queen the thing?
And the thing became known to Mordecai, who showed it unto Esther the queen; and Esther told the king thereof in Mordecai's name. And when inquisition was made of the matter, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.".
What is the hand of God in Esther?
The hand of God is evident in every one of them. Esther's obedience of Mordecai reflects the Fifth Commandment of the Decalogue; and Mordecai's saving the life of the king reflected the Sixth Commandment.
Who was the plotter against Ahashuerus?
This indicates the time when Mordecai discovered that plot against Ahashuerus. There were two gatherings of virgins for the king, the one mentioned in Esther 2:8, and a second one after that. "It was at that second collection of virgins that Mordecai had the good fortune to save the king's life.". [8]
Who was Mordecai in the Bible?
"There was a certain Jew in Shushan the palace whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives that had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. And he brought up Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother, and the maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter."
Who kept the concubines in the Bible?
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 who kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and she were called by name.
Did Herodotus honor Xerxes' custom?
Yes, Herodotus states that there was such a custom, but it was not the sacred author of Esther who ignored it - it was the wicked Xerxes and his evil advisers. Xerxes' own father had married a foreigner; and any notion that Xerxes would have honored such a custom is ridiculous.
What does Esther 2:1 mean?
Esther 2:1. He remembered Vashti — With grief and shame , that in his wine and rage he had so severely punished, and so irrevocably rejected, so beautiful and desirable a person, and that for so small a provocation, to which she was easily led by the modesty of her sex and by the laws and customs of Persia.
What happened after the wrath of King Ahasuerus was appeased?
After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased—On recovering from the violent excitement of his revelry and rage, the king was pierced with poignant regret for the unmerited treatment he had given to his beautiful and dignified queen.
Why doesn't Esther have the name of God?
Most likely, Esther doesn't have the name of God because it shows how God works behind the scenes; God is always active in Esther, even though it is behind the scenes. 2. ( Est 2:21-23) Mordecai hears an assassination conspiracy and informs the king, saving the king's life.
Why was the name of God left out of Esther?
Some say that the name of God was left out of Esther because of its use in the festivities surrounding Purim, where people commonly became drunk. One rabbi taught: "A man is obligated to drink on Purim until he is unable to distinguish between 'Blessed be Mordecai' and 'Cursed be Haman.'".
How many women were chosen for the Ahasuerus?
This thing pleased the king, and he did so: The ancient Jewish historian Josephus says the Ahasuerus had a total of 400 women selected. 2. ( Est 2:5-7) Esther and her family. In Shushan the citadel there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite.
What does "Esther is chosen queen" mean?
Esther Is Chosen Queen. A. The gathering together of a harem for King Ahasuerus. 1. ( Est 2:1-4) A search is made for a replacement for Queen Vashti. After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus subsided, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what had been decreed against her. Then the king's servants who attended him said: "Let ...
Where is Esther taken into the harem?
3. ( Est 2:8) Esther is taken into the king's harem. So it was, when the king's command and decree were heard, and when many young women were gathered at Shushan the citadel, under the custody of Hegai, that Esther also was taken to the king's palace, into the care of Hegai the custodian of the women. a.
How long did it take for a woman to prepare for King Ahasuerus?
Each young woman's turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months' preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women.
What does Mordecai's interest in Esther's state show?
Every day Mordecai paced in front of the court of the women's quarters, to learn of Esther's welfare: Mordecai's great interest in Esther's state shows his love and concern for her in such a potentially dangerous place. 3. ( Est 2:12-14) The method of preparing and presenting the women before the king is established.
What are the two things that are recorded in chapter 2?
Chapter 2 Two things are recorded in this chapter, which were working towards the deliverance of the Jews from Haman’s conspiracy:-1 I. The advancement of Esther to be queen instead of Vashti. Many others were candidates for the honour ( v. 1-4 ); but Esther, an orphan, a captive-Jewess ( v. 5-7 ), recommended herself to the king’s chamberlain first ( v. 8-11) and then to the king ( v. 12-17 ), who made her queen ( v. 18-20 ). II. The good service that Mordecai did to the king in discovering a plot against his life ( v. 21-23 ).
What is the step towards Haman's design of the Jews' destruction?
No step is yet taken towards Haman’s design of the Jews’ destruction, but several steps are taken towards God’s design of their deliverance, and this for one. God now gives Mordecai an opportunity of doing the king a good turn, that he might have the fairer opportunity afterwards of doing the Jews a good turn. 1.
What happened to the recluses after the King took them to his bed?
After the king had once taken them to his bed, they were made recluses ever after, except the king pleased at any time to send for them ( v. 14 ); they were looked upon as secondary wives, were maintained by the king accordingly, and might not marry.