Esther 2

King James Version

Full text for Esther Chapter 2

1¶ 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.

2Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:

3And 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]:

4And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

5[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;

6Who 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.

7And 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.

8So 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.

9And 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.

10Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew [it].

11And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.

12Now 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;)

13Then 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.

14In 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.

15Now 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.

16So 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.

17And 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.

18Then 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.

19And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.

20Esther had not [yet] shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.

21¶ In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

22And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told [it] unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king [thereof] in Mordecai's name.

23And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

After King Ahasuerus's wrath subsided, a search was initiated to find a new queen from among the fairest virgins in his kingdom. Esther, a Jewish orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, was chosen and brought to the palace, where she quickly gained favor. After a year of purification, Esther was presented to the king, who loved her above all others and crowned her queen. Meanwhile, Mordecai uncovered a plot against the king, which Esther reported, leading to the conspirators' execution and the event's recording.

Medium Summary

Following the appeasement of King Ahasuerus's anger over Vashti, his servants proposed gathering beautiful virgins from all provinces to select a new queen. Esther, a Jewish orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, was among those brought to Shushan, having been instructed by Mordecai not to reveal her heritage. She found favor with Hegai, the keeper of the women, and received special treatment during her twelve-month purification. When her turn came to go to the king, Esther pleased Ahasuerus more than all the other maidens, leading him to crown her queen in Vashti's place. A great feast was held to celebrate Esther's coronation. During this time, Mordecai, sitting at the king's gate, discovered a plot by two chamberlains to assassinate Ahasuerus. He informed Esther, who then reported the conspiracy to the king in Mordecai's name, resulting in the conspirators' hanging and the incident being recorded in the royal chronicles.

Long Summary

When King Ahasuerus's wrath against Vashti was appeased, his servants advised him to seek out fair young virgins from across the kingdom to find a new queen. Officers were appointed to gather these maidens at Shushan the palace, placing them under the care of Hegai, the keeper of the women, for a period of purification. The maiden who most pleased the king would be chosen as queen. Among those brought was Esther, also known as Hadassah, a Jewish orphan who had been adopted and raised by her cousin Mordecai, a Benjamite exiled from Jerusalem. Mordecai had strictly charged Esther not to reveal her people or kindred. Upon her arrival, Esther quickly found favor with Hegai, who provided her with special provisions, seven chosen maidens, and the best place in the house of the women. Mordecai diligently walked daily before the women's court to inquire about Esther's well-being. Each maiden underwent a twelve-month purification process, consisting of six months with oil of myrrh and six months with sweet odours, before being presented to the king. After her night with the king, a maiden would return to the second house of the women, becoming a concubine unless specifically called by the king again. When Esther's turn came, she requested nothing beyond what Hegai advised, and she obtained favor in the sight of all who beheld her. In the seventh year of his reign, Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus. The king loved Esther above all other women and virgins, granting her exceptional grace and favor, and ultimately placed the royal crown upon her head, making her queen instead of Vashti. A great feast, known as Esther's feast, was then made for all his princes and servants, and the king granted a release to the provinces and gave gifts. While Mordecai sat at the king's gate, he overheard two royal chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, conspiring to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. Mordecai promptly informed Queen Esther of the plot, and Esther, in turn, certified the king of the matter in Mordecai's name. An inquiry was conducted, the plot was confirmed, and both conspirators were hanged on a tree, with the event recorded in the book of the chronicles before the king.

Core Concepts

  • Royal SuccessionThe chapter details the process initiated by King Ahasuerus to find a new queen after Vashti's removal, involving a kingdom-wide search for virgins and a rigorous selection and purification protocol.
  • Esther's Hidden IdentityEsther, a Jewish orphan, is commanded by Mordecai to conceal her heritage and kindred while in the king's palace, a crucial element for her safety and future role.
  • Mordecai's GuardianshipMordecai acts as Esther's adoptive father and guardian, diligently watching over her welfare and providing strategic counsel, even after she enters the royal court.
  • Favor and BeautyEsther's beauty and ability to obtain 'grace and favour' from Hegai and King Ahasuerus are pivotal to her ascent to the throne, highlighting the importance of personal appeal in the royal court.
  • Purification RitualsA detailed twelve-month purification period, involving specific oils and odours, is described as a mandatory preparation for the maidens before their presentation to the king, emphasizing ceremonial cleanliness and beauty enhancement.
  • Court ConspiracyMordecai uncovers a plot by two of the king's chamberlains to assassinate King Ahasuerus, demonstrating the inherent dangers and intrigues within the Persian royal court and highlighting Mordecai's loyalty.