Esther 2:1-23
2:1-4 Four years after the events of the previous chapter, king Ahasuerus returned from an unsuccessful conquest with, bluntly: lust. The king did not desire a companion; he did not seek love. It was arranged that beautiful women from the provinces of his kingdom would be gathered into a harem. The most appealing woman to the king would be chosen as queen.
2:5-7 This chapter and the rest of the book of Esther, is a perfect example of how God is able to manipulate the self-centered motivations of others to push forward and elevate the purpose and power of His humble children.
A faithful man of God (and of the tribe of Benjamin) named Mordecai was in the citadel with his uncle's orphaned daughter: Hadassah, also known as Esther. Mordecai took responsibility of his cousin because she lived in a patriarchal society and was without parents; she needed a provider and protector. Mordecai adopted Esther as his own daughter.
2:8-9 Esther became a member of the king's harem. The man in control of the harem was named Hegai and he had partiality for Esther, who is described to have been beautiful. Esther, previously unknown by the king or anyone else of consequence (except for her uncle), became a candidate for queen.
2:10 Esther and Mordecai chose to keep her identity as an Israelite a secret. It was a secret that would eventually serve to advance the welfare and save the population of the children of God within the king's provinces.
2:11 Mordecai cared about Esther and ensured her well-being every day that she was in the women's quarters of the king's place.
2:12-14 The beauty preparations for the women of the harem was a luxurious, albeit ridiculous, and extensive (year-long) process. The king met each of the women but they were not allowed to return to him unless he called for them.
2:15-18 When the king met Esther, he liked her best of all the women. He chose Esther as queen and held a feast. Esther suddenly had position and power, yet the new position and power qualified her as a candidate for a servant of God's will. The true celebration, though no one had known it at the time, was God's infiltration into the system of the world to bring about the agenda of heaven.
2:19-20 Even as queen, Esther kept her identity as an Israel from everyone except her uncle.
2:21-23 While Mordecai was waiting to her about Esther's well-being by the king's gate one day, he overheard a plot to kill the king. Mordecai passed the information on to Esther, and Esther then informed the king. The deceitful plot was revealed to be true and the guilty men were hanged. God placed Mordecai in the right spot at the right time to create a situation by which Esther would earn the trust and respect of the king.
