Esther 2 is the second chapter of the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The author of the book is unknown and modern scholars have established that the final stage of the Hebrew text would have been formed by the second century BCE. Chapters 1 and 2 form the exposition of the book.
Full Answer
What is Esther 2 in the Bible?
An intricately illustrated early 18th-century manuscript scroll of the Book of Esther. Esther 2 is the second chapter of the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.
What did Esther do when she came to see the king?
15 Now when the turn of Esther, (N)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 (O)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.
What did Esther the daughter of Abihail ask the king?
the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go in to the king, she requested nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised. And Esther ]generosity of a king.
Text
This chapter was originally written in the Hebrew language and since the 16th century, is divided into 23 verses.
The king's decision to seek a new queen (2:1–4)
To find a replacement for a Persian queen after the deposal of Vashti, the king decided to hold a nationwide contest following the advice of his counselors.
Esther's admission to the court (2:5–11)
As the requirement to enter the contest is simply her beauty ( verse 3 ), Esther's status of being Jewish, a descendant of captives ( verse 6 ), without father and mother, did not hinder her entrance to the court. Once she was in the harem, she obtained 'a favored position in eyes of the harem-master'.
Mordecai's discovery of the plot against the king (2:19–23)
The crowning of Esther (left) with Mordecai at the gate, listening to Bigthan and Teresh conspiring against the king (right). Gerard de Jode, 1579.
Who took Esther into his house?
And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. 16 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.
What did Ahasuerus say to Vashti?
2 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 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
Who took Esther to the palace?
j. ]advised. And Esther was finding favor in the eyes of all who saw her. 16 So 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.
What did Ahasuerus say to Vashti?
2 After these things,#N#( A)#N#when the anger of King Ahasuerus had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done, and#N#( B)#N#what had been decided regarding her. 2 Then the king’s attendants, who served him, said, “#N#( C)#N#Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king. 3 And may the king appoint overseers in#N#( D)#N#all the provinces of his kingdom, and have them [ a]bring every beautiful young virgin to the citadel of Susa, to the harem, into the custody of#N#( E)#N#Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and#N#( F)#N#let their cosmetics be given to them. 4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen in place of Vashti.” And the [ b]suggestion pleased the king, and he did accordingly.
Who took Esther to the king's palace?
gathered at [ h]Shushan the [. i. ]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. 9 Now the young woman pleased him, and she obtained his favor; so he readily gave. ( F)
What did Ahasuerus say to Vashti?
2 After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus subsided, he remembered Vashti,#N#( A)#N#what she had done, and what had been decreed against her. 2 Then the king’s servants who attended him said: “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king; 3 and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to [ a]Shushan the [ b]citadel, into the women’s quarters, under the custody of [ c]Hegai the king’s eunuch, custodian of the women. And let beauty preparations be given them. 4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.”
Did Esther reveal her family?
Esther had not [ k]revealed her people or family, for Mordecai had charged her not to reveal it. 11 And every day Mordecai paced in front of the court of the women’s quarters, to learn of Esther’s welfare and what was happening to her.
Who took Esther into his house?
And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. 16 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.
What did Ahasuerus say to Vashti?
2 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 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
Esther 2 King James Version (KJV)
2 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.
Esther 2 New King James Version (NKJV)
2 After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus subsided, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what had been decreed against her.
Overview
Esther 2 is the second chapter of the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The author of the book is unknown and modern scholars have established that the final stage of the Hebrew text would have been formed by the second century BCE. Chapters 1 and 2 form the exposition of the book. This chapter introduces Mordecai and his adoptive daughter, Esther, …
Text
This chapter was originally written in the Hebrew language and since the 16th century, is divided into 23 verses.
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes Codex Leningradensis (1008).
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in th…
The king's decision to seek a new queen (2:1–4)
To find a replacement for a Persian queen after the deposal of Vashti, the king decided to hold a nationwide contest following the advice of his counselors.
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 t…
Esther's admission to the court (2:5–11)
As the requirement to enter the contest is simply her beauty (verse 3), Esther's status of being Jewish, a descendant of captives (verse 6), without father and mother, did not hinder her entrance to the court. Once she was in the harem, she obtained 'a favored position in eyes of the harem-master'.
Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair…
Esther's accession to the throne (2:12–18)
This part contains the description of the twelve-month course of beautifying treatments for the candidates of the Persian queen. It also gives a hint of Esther's character: she might possess 'innate cunning' to distinguish herself from her competitors and at the end was chosen to be the queen.
Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that s…
Mordecai's discovery of the plot against the king (2:19–23)
This section records how Mordecai overheard a plot to assassinate the king and told Esther, so she could save the king's life based on the information "in the name of Mordecai" (verse 22). This episode foreshadows the future events and becomes truly functional with the rewarding of Mordecai in chapter 6.
In those days, as Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, Bigthan and Teresh, t…
See also
• Xerxes I
• Susa
• Related Bible parts: Ruth 4, Nehemiah 1, Daniel 6, Daniel 8
Sources
• Clines, David J. A. (1988). "Esther". In Mays, James Luther; Blenkinsopp, Joseph (eds.). Harper's Bible Commentary (illustrated ed.). Harper & Row. pp. 387–394. ISBN 978-0060655419.
• Crawford, Sidnie White (2003). "Esther". In Dunn, James D. G.; Rogerson, John William (eds.). Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible (illustrated ed.). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. pp. 329–336. ISBN 978-0802837110. Retrieved October 28, 2019.