Ezra 2:1-19
“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.” (Ezra 2:1)
Like most people who are used to getting their own way, Ahasuerus had been very angry when Vashti didn’t respond immediately to his demand. After consulting with legal and political advisors, he had decided to divorce her and strip her of her position rather than working things out. Satisfied she had learned her lesson, he stopped to think about what their marriage had been like and what he had done. By making his decree he’d burned his bridges behind him under Persian law. What should he do now?
“Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: 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 them: And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.” (Ezra 2:2-4)
His servants recommended that a system something like Who Wants To Marry A Millionaire or The Bachelor be followed. The winner would be crowned queen. Unlike the shows, the losers would become part of his harem.
“Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, 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 captivity which 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 maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.” (Ezra 2:5-7)
Mordecai had been taken captive when Jerusalem was destroyed, about fifteen years after Daniel was taken. He had also been one of the leaders when the Jews returned to Jerusalem. After her parents death, he had take the responsibility for raising his cousin, Esther. Since he was around seventy, he was concerned what would happen to Esther and encouraged her to take part to ensure her future..
“So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. Esther had not showed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not show it. And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.” (Ezra 2:8-11)
Many young women applied for the contest and were entered into the competition, with the keeper of the women responsible to ensure that they were properly provided and cared for. Esther quickly became a favorite of Hegai, the man in charge and he provided her with seven makeup and costume assistants to help her, giving her every advantage he could.
Due to rising anti-Jewish sentiment, Mordecai had advised Esther not to tell anyone she was Jewish. Mordecai checked on her every day.
“Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;) Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.
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, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.” (Ezra 2:12-14)
The young women were observed for a full year for observation to be sure they were healthy and not sexually involved with anyone else. At the end of the time, each girl was given whatever she wanted to help her win the king’s heart and spent a night with him. After that night she was sent to the harem as a concubine, and unofficial wife to await the kings decision. Unless he called her back that would be her last contact with him.
“Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
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. And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour 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.” (Ezra 2:15-17)
When it was Esther’s turn, she didn’t demand any special treatment or spend a lot of time fixing herself up to make the king fall for her, just going as her natural self. Everyone who saw her found her quite attractive just as she was. The king preferred her above all the other women, making her his wife and queen, giving her Vashti’s crown.
“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 gifts, according to the state of the king. And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.” (Ezra 2:18-19)
Ahaseurus held a huge reception for the rulers of the various provinces, donating a lot of gifts commensurate with his power and prestige. After the gala was over, Mordecai was accorded a place of respect among the leaders of Persia.
“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.” (Ezra 2:1)
Like most people who are used to getting their own way, Ahasuerus had been very angry when Vashti didn’t respond immediately to his demand. After consulting with legal and political advisors, he had decided to divorce her and strip her of her position rather than working things out. Satisfied she had learned her lesson, he stopped to think about what their marriage had been like and what he had done. By making his decree he’d burned his bridges behind him under Persian law. What should he do now?
“Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: 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 them: And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.” (Ezra 2:2-4)
His servants recommended that a system something like Who Wants To Marry A Millionaire or The Bachelor be followed. The winner would be crowned queen. Unlike the shows, the losers would become part of his harem.
“Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, 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 captivity which 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 maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.” (Ezra 2:5-7)
Mordecai had been taken captive when Jerusalem was destroyed, about fifteen years after Daniel was taken. He had also been one of the leaders when the Jews returned to Jerusalem. After her parents death, he had take the responsibility for raising his cousin, Esther. Since he was around seventy, he was concerned what would happen to Esther and encouraged her to take part to ensure her future..
“So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. Esther had not showed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not show it. And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.” (Ezra 2:8-11)
Many young women applied for the contest and were entered into the competition, with the keeper of the women responsible to ensure that they were properly provided and cared for. Esther quickly became a favorite of Hegai, the man in charge and he provided her with seven makeup and costume assistants to help her, giving her every advantage he could.
Due to rising anti-Jewish sentiment, Mordecai had advised Esther not to tell anyone she was Jewish. Mordecai checked on her every day.
“Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;) Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.
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, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.” (Ezra 2:12-14)
The young women were observed for a full year for observation to be sure they were healthy and not sexually involved with anyone else. At the end of the time, each girl was given whatever she wanted to help her win the king’s heart and spent a night with him. After that night she was sent to the harem as a concubine, and unofficial wife to await the kings decision. Unless he called her back that would be her last contact with him.
“Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
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. And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour 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.” (Ezra 2:15-17)
When it was Esther’s turn, she didn’t demand any special treatment or spend a lot of time fixing herself up to make the king fall for her, just going as her natural self. Everyone who saw her found her quite attractive just as she was. The king preferred her above all the other women, making her his wife and queen, giving her Vashti’s crown.
“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 gifts, according to the state of the king. And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.” (Ezra 2:18-19)
Ahaseurus held a huge reception for the rulers of the various provinces, donating a lot of gifts commensurate with his power and prestige. After the gala was over, Mordecai was accorded a place of respect among the leaders of Persia.
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