Esther ~ Woman of the Week

There is so much that could be written about Esther!  I probably should have written two posts since it's taken me two weeks to get this done.  It was hard not to write too much about the king, Mordecai and Haman, but I really tried to just focus on Esther.

When I think of Esther, one thing that stands out is her submission to authority.  She followed Mordecai's instructions time after time.  She also submitted herself to the hands of the keeper of the women and found favor.  Even being brought before the king was not something she desired, but she submitted herself to the laws of the land.  The things we admire about Esther could not have come about if she had not been submissive.

Verses:  The Book of Esther

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings
Esther's Jewish name was Hadassah.  Her parents were deceased and she was raised by Mordecai her cousin.  Esther 2:6 says about Mordecai, "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."  We assume that Esther was also carried away in that captivity since she was brought up by Mordecai.

What is she most known for? Victories? Defeats? How can I be like her? How can I avoid being like her?
Following the dismissal of Vashti, a search went out for a new queen.  "This was the usual way in which the harem, or seraglio, was furnished; the finest women in the land, whether of high or low birth, were sought out and brought to the harem. They all became the king's concubines; but one was raised as chief wife, or sultana, to the throne; and her issue was especially entitled to inherit." (Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge by Canne, Browne, Blayney, Scott, and others  {TSK})  "Those who suggest that Esther committed sin to come at this dignity, do not consider the custom of those times and countries. Every one that the king took was married to him, and was his wife, though of a lower rank." (Matthew Henry)

In spite of being put in a difficult situation, Esther continued to be submissive and found favor with the chamberlain.  "Her beauty and her behavior recommended her to him, and he concluded within himself that she was the person that of all would be acceptable to the king." (John Gill)

Esther spent twelve months preparing for when she would meet the king.  During that time, according to Esther 2:10, "Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it."  "Lest she should be despised and ill treated on that account; fearing, if the king knew it, he would not marry her." (John Gill)

Chapter 2 verse 15 says that when it was Esther's turn,"she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed."  "The other virgins perhaps loaded themselves with precious ornaments of various kinds, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, anklets, and the like. Esther let Hegai dress her as he would." (Albert Barnes) "In which her modesty appeared because she did not seek to dress to command her beauty but sought the eunuch's appointment." (1599 Geneva Bible Translation Notes)

Esther 2:17 "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."  Esther would not be one of the king's concubines, but she became queen.  "The choice fell on Esther, who found favor in the eyes of Ahasuerus. He elevated her to the dignity of chief wife, or queen. The other competitors had apartments assigned them in the royal harem, and were retained in the rank of secondary wives, of whom Oriental princes have a great number." (A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown {JFB})

Matthew Henry said, "The king himself fell in love with her. She was not solicitous, as the rest of the maidens were, to set herself off with artificial beauty; she required nothing but just what was appointed for her  and yet she was most acceptable. The more natural beauty is the more agreeable. The king loved Esther above all the women. Now he needed not to make any further trials, or take time to deliberate; he is soon determined to set the royal crown upon her head, and make her queen. This was done in his seventh year and Vashti was divorced in his third year; so that he was four years without a queen."

Even as queen, Esther continued to listen to the voice of Modecai.  Esther 2:20, "Esther 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." "Showed great humility in her, notwithstanding her advancement, great respect to him, and a sense of gratitude for the kindness he had shown; and this charge to her was still continued by Mordecai, partly that she might not fall into contempt, and partly to prevent hatred and envy to the Jewish nation, through her promotion; but chiefly so it was ordered in Providence, the proper time being not yet come." (John Gill)

Esther chapter 3 introduces Haman, a man who would do his best to destroy Mordecai and the Jewish nation.  The decree was for all Jews to be destroyed  "And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey." (Esther 3:13)

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?
Esther chapter 4 is the turning point for Esther.  It begins with Mordecai in sackcloth and Jews everywhere fasting and praying.  Esther was grieved that Mordecai was in sackcloth before the palace, but she did not know the reason.  Mordecai sends word of what is going to happen and commanded Esther to go before the king.

A sad commentary of the ways of the kingdom is described in Esther 4:11, "I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days."  Though the king "loved" Esther, he was not fully committed to her.  "She had reason to fear that the royal affections had become alienated from her, she had little hope of serving her country’s cause in this awful emergency." (JFB)

Esther 4:13-16 are probably the most well known verses in this story, "Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish."

Esther was obviously fearful, but after hearing the words of Mordecai, she settled in her heart to do what she could to save her people.  She didn't rush to the king, but went into a time of prayer and fasting. "Esther hereupon resolved, whatever it might cost her, to apply to the king, but not till she and her friends had first applied to God. Let them first by fasting and prayer obtain God's favour, and then she should hope to find favour with the king.  She believed that God's favour was to be obtained by prayer, that his people are a praying people, and he a prayer-hearing God. She knew it was the practice of good people, in extraordinary cases, to join fasting with prayer, and many of them to join together in both." (Matthew Henry)

"If I perish, I perish."  Such brave words!  "I will put my life in danger and refer the success to God, seeing it is for his glory and the deliverance of his Church." (1599 Geneva Bible Translation Notes)  "Signifying, that she readily and cheerfully risked her life for the good of her people; and if such was the pleasure of God, that she should lose it, she was content, and acquiesced in his will, leaving herself entirely in his hands, to dispose of her as he thought fit." (John Gill)

In chapter 5 Esther went before the king and found favor.  She didn't reveal her people at that time, only requested that the king and Haman join her for a feast.  They joined her with her only request being that they join her the next day for another feast.  Haman went "forth that day joyful and with a glad heart."  His ego was so puffed up, until he stepped out and saw Mordecai who still would not bow to him.  It was at that time that gallows were made for the purpose of having Mordecai hung.

Esther's second banquet took place in chapter 7.  She finally reveals her people, "Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:  For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage."  "She makes use of these several words, to express the utter destruction of her and her people, without any exception." (John Gill)

The king had to ask, "Who is he?"  "And Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman."  Now the shoe was on the other foot - Haman was begging for his life from Esther.  But it was to his own gallows that he was taken and hung.

It wasn't enough that Haman was hung, the decree that the Jews would be destroyed was still written and still a law.  "Haman, the chief enemy of the Jews, was hanged, Mordecai and Esther, their chief friends, were sufficiently protected; but many others there were in the king's dominions that hated the Jews and desired their ruin, and to their rage and malice all the rest of that people lay exposed; for the edict against them was still in force."  (Matthew Henry)

Again, Esther went before the king without being called.  The king allowed Esther and Mordecai to write new letters, "Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey." (Esther 8:11)

Matthew Henry said about chapter 9, "We have here a decisive battle fought between the Jews and their enemies, in which the Jews were victorious. Neither side was surprised; for both had notice of it long enough before, so that it was a fair trial of skill between them. Nor could either side call the other rebels, for they were both supported by the royal authority.  The enemies of the Jews were the aggressors. But the Jews were the conquerors."

The final verses about Esther show that she continued to lean upon Mordecai's counsel and spiritual guidance.  He helped her write letters establishing the Feast of Purim.  Esther 9:29 says, "Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim."  Verse 32 says, "And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book."  A new festival was instituted, "It was called the feast of Purim, from a Persian word, which signifies a lot. The name of this festival would remind them of the almighty power of the God of Israel, who served his own purposes by the superstitions of the heathen." (Matthew Henry)

Instead of perishing, Esther was spared and was used to bring deliverance to her people. The Feast of Purim still takes place today.  According to the Jewish virtual library, "Esther, while she needed some convincing, was able to save the Jewish population in Persia. She is considered one of the most heroic women in Jewish history. Her story is read every year on Purim."