The book of Esther: A study of God in action when nothing appears
to be happening!
by Patsy Norwood (c) 2023. All Rights Reserved.
Last week we watched the Mrs. Persia beauty pageant begin to unfold. This week a new queen has been chosen! Let’s see how it all played out …
Chapter 2: 12 – 18
12. Each
young woman’s turn came to go into King Ahasuerus after she had completed
twelve months’ preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for
thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of
myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women.
Nothing for these girls to do for a whole year but to be
pampered … and to strategize!
Josephus tells us this year was a time of purifying, of making
the girls fit to go to the king.
The Pulpit commentary says a year’s purification was
considered necessary before any maiden could approach the king. It also tells us that myrrh was highly esteemed,
both for its scent and for its purifying power by the ancients.
In my opinion, it seems that much emphasis was put on
protecting the king and none on protecting the maidens.
13. Thus prepared, each young woman went to the
king, and she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the women’s
quarters to the king’s palace.
‘thus prepared’ refers to their being purified.
I can imagine each girl spending hours deciding which dress or accessory to wear or carry with them. Anything
they wanted from the women’s quarters was at their disposal, all each had to do
was request it.
I’m pretty sure this lifestyle was drastically different from
their ‘before’ lifestyles. Do you think
some of them let it go to their heads?
Do you think attitudes and behaviors became issues among the
maidens? Knowing human nature, I don’t
see how it could not!
14. In the
evening she went, and in the morning, she returned to the second house of the
women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who kept the concubines.
She would not go into the king again unless the king delighted in her and
called for her by name.
And just like that their futures were decided! No homes of their own, no husbands to love
and care for and no children to call their own unless they were found with child as
a result of their night with the king.
‘the second house of the women’: According to research there were 3 separate houses for women in the palace … (1) the queen's residence (2) a house for the secondary wives or concubines and (3) a house for the virgins which was under the care of, Shaashgaz a eunuch.
When each young lady left the house of virgins, they never
returned to it. They would either be
chosen as the new queen or taken to the house for the secondary wives or concubines. We know that all the girls except one were
moved to the house for the secondary wives or concubines.
15. Now when the turn came for Esther 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 obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her.
When it came Esther’s turn, she chose to take nothing but what
Hegai advised (Remember Hegai from our last lesson ... Esther was his favorite.). No scheming or plotting,
just simple obedience. Her humble
demeanor had to be shining, maybe that was what drew people to her.
16. So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into
his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the
seventh year of his reign.
‘in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth’ translates
to the end of December and early part of January on our calendar of time.
‘in the 7th year of his reign’ … as
mentioned earlier in this study, this was some 4 years after Vashti had been
removed as queen. It was also the time
when the king had returned home in defeat and disgrace from losing the Grecian
war.
Margin Notes: I underlined 'tenth month which is the month Tebeth' and wrote underneath it 'Dec. - Jan.'
17. The
king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and
favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so, he set the royal crown upon
her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
‘the king loved Esther’: several commentaries that I read all agreed
and indicated that this had more to do with sexual attraction than love at first
sight but then Josephus says that the king fell in love with Esther, married
her and made her his lawful wife. Was
Josephus also referring to sexual attraction or was it really ‘love at first
sight?’ I’ll leave that for you to
decide!
18. Then
the king made a great feast, the Feast of Esther, for all his officials and
servants; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces and gave gifts according
to the generosity of a king.
It’s time to celebrate in a big way:
A feast (Josephus tells us this feast lasted a whole month.)
A proclaimed holiday (Who doesn’t love a holiday?)
Gifts (Persian royalty were known for their gift giving!)
Sidenote:
According to Josephus, it was at this time that Mordecai moved from the ‘Babylonian’
area where he lived to be nearer to the palace in Susa.
The king has a new queen, and the new queen has a secret!
Do you see God's providence in action in today's lesson? I see it in the fact that Esther was chosen as the future queen over all the other maidens.
Next week we’ll finish chapter 2 with verses 19-23.
I hope you’ve enjoyed today's lesson, what are your thoughts
on it?
Don't forget to leave a comment and if you're enjoying this
class, please share the link with other ladies who you think might enjoy it as
well.
Links to previous lessons:
Until the next class ...
patsy @ From This Heart of Mine
(c) 2023 by Patsy Norwood ~ All Rights Reserved.
Esther's character must have had something to do with her attractiveness which would reflect on her upbringing in Mordecai's household. Joy, the director of women's ministries at our church is such a person. You are drawn to her lovely character and joyful countenance. Even hearing the name Esther has always made me think of such a lovely person. My favorite work of fiction, Dickens 'Bleak House' lovely and caring main character is Esther and I have always thought that Dickens must have taken her from the Esther of the Bible.
ReplyDeleteThe few snippets of that awful TV show 'The Bachelor' that I have seen make me think of the first women's house. I doubt they were really friends since they were all looking to gain the King's favor. What a tragedy to have one's life determined by one night and then be relegated to the second women's house to live out their days and maybe never be noticed king again. That was not likely a friendly place either although I hope as they got older they made friends. It must have been a very lonely life. How sad.
That first month of cleansing with Myrrh was likely a tough time of detox and clearing infections and disease. Think of the riches of the king to be able to even purchase that much of the oil for all those girls. The knowledge of healing with oils that they used in those times has been largely lost.
There is so much in this passage it is hard to take it all in. But, I do see God's hand at work in Esther's life from long before the time that she came to the first women's house. All of it was planned and came to pass for the protection of Esther's people. God is still at work today in the same ways! Joy, mentioned above, was raised by her grandparents which gave her a heart for old people. Her and her husband started and lead the senior ministry at our church even though they are only in their late 40's. Joy truly loves all of us seniors. God did not give them any children and they have such a heart for the unborn that her husband is the chairman of the board of our crisis pregnancy center and works tirelessly in behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves. I know we all have examples in our lives of God's plan for people just like this.
Lana, I have read your comment several times just soaking in the example, truth, knowledge and additional information in it. The information on Myrrh helped me to better understand it's purpose and makes me wish we still had that knowledge today. I think you are spot on with your take of the 'women's houses' ... and I'm so glad you have Joy in your life. It sounds she and her husband embraced God's plan for their lives even though it didn't include children of their own. Your comment made me smile all over, thank you for sharing!
DeleteI so enjoyed this study, I will need to catch up. Thank you for doing this.
ReplyDeleteSherry, thank you for the encouragement, I hope you continue to learn from and enjoy the rest of the study.
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