Esther 2:23

ESTHER CHOSEN QUEEN AND MORDECAI'S DISCOVERY

CHAPTER 2

1. The suggestion (Esther 2:1)

2. Mordecai and Esther introduced (Esther 2:5)

3. Esther brought to the king's house (Esther 2:8)

4. Esther chosen as queen (Esther 2:12)

5.Mordecai's discovery and exposure of the plot (Esther 2:19)

Esther 2:1. This probably did not happen immediately after the feast. We learn this from verse 16 in this chapter. He took Esther in the place of Vashti in the seventh year of his reign, but the feast described in the opening chapter happened in the third year. About four years elapsed. During these years, profane history tells us, Ahasuerus (Xerxes I), undertook a campaign against Greece with which many misfortunes were connected. He must have returned exhausted and unhappy. Then his conscience spoke. He probably missed the companionship of Vashti and he remembered her and what was decreed against her. But why did the monarch not take Vashti back into favor and forgive her, if remorse troubled him? As nothing more is said of Vashti it is more than probable that she was put to death. Perhaps the unfortunate war, the great losses he had sustained, were looked upon by the king as being the punishment for his drunken wrath against the queen. Then the courtiers made their suggestions which is in fullest keeping with the customs of Persia and still practised by oriental sultans and shahs. Fair young virgins are to be brought to the harem, the house of the women, under the custody of Hegai, the king's chamberlain and keeper of the women. The king was well pleased with this suggestion.

is! What assurance it brings to the heart, and how it inspires faith to action. “I am with you, saith the LORD.” Such is our blessed assurance. “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.” And as we look to Him and trust Him there is power.

The result was a mighty revival in the good work. The Lord stirred them up through His Word, the brief message He sent. Every true revival begins the same way. It has been well said, “I am with you, is the saving principle for faith in the weakest possible day, and let me add, what had they better in the brightest day?”