Esther 2
Esth 2:1-4
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.
2) Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him,
Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
3) 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:
4) And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen
instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he
did so.
The “fair young virgins” of verse 2 once more place the
text, prophetically, in the Tribulation.Those virgins show
up in Matthew 25:1–13 and Revelation14:1–4. All these
things in Esther are types. They may not fit the timetable
exactly, but allthe typologypoints toward a Tribulation
situation.A Gentile bride has been put aside, and “virgins”
are called out.

Matt 25:1-13 1 Then shall the kingdom of
heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took
their lamps, and went forth to meet the
bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were
foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and
took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their
lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all
slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold,
the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their
lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of
your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest
there be not enough for us and you: but go ye
rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom
came; and they that were ready went in with him
to the marriage: and the door was shut.

11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying,
Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto
you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day
nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Rev 14:1-4 1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb
stood on the mount Sion, and with him an
hundred forty and four thousand, having his
Father's name written in their foreheads.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice
of many waters, and as the voice of a great
thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping
with their harps:
3 And they sung as it were a new song before the
throne, and before the four beasts, and the
elders: and no man could learn that song but the
hundred and forty and four thousand, which were
redeemed from the earth.
4 These are they which were not defiled with
women; for they are virgins. These are they which
follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These
were redeemed from among men, being the
firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

Vashti has been put away according to “the laws of the
Persians and the Medes.” The decree (1:19) is
unchangeable.
What follows is that all of “the fair young virgins”
throughout the Persian Empire are gathered by appointed
officers and brought to the king’s palace. There they are
placed in the care of a eunuch who prepares these women
for the king.
Esth 2:5-7
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;
6) 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.
7) 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.
Verse 7 introduces Esther into the narrative. Her Hebrew
name is Hadassah;it means “myrtle.”

Esther is a Persian name which means “star.” It is another
name for Ishtar. In astrology, it was used as another name
for the planetVenus, the morning star.
Mordecai was Esther’s older cousin and, apparently,the
only surviving member of her family. As earlier noted, her
father’s name was Abihail(vs. 15), and he and Esther’s
mother were both dead at this time. Mordecaitook and
raised Esther as “his own daughter.”
Esth 2:8-9
8) 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.
9) 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.
There was no reason for “Hege” (also spelled “Hegai,” vss.
8, 15) to favor Esther above the hundreds of other young

ladies that were there unless God was moving the heart of
the man.
When Danieland his three friends were taken by
Nebuchadnezzarto be wise men, the Bible says that “God
gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and
wisdom” (Dan. 1:17) until Nebuchadnezzarfound them
“ten times better...in all matters of wisdom and
understanding...than all the magicians and astrologers
that were in all his realm” (Dan. 1:20).
When God sent the Jews into captivity, He didn’t desert
them in His anger. He gave them whatever they needed to
survive.
In another chapter, Haman shows up, and he wants to
wipe out every Jew on the face of the earth. The Jews are
going to need someone in a high position who has the ear
of the king himself.
So into the harem comes this orphaned Jewish girl. She
doesn’t have the money to buy any perfume or makeup.
She has no one to do her hairor nails. She’s just one girl
among a thousand(Ecc. 7:28).
Eccl 7:28 Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find
not: one man among a thousand have I found;
but a woman among all those have I not found.

But when the chief eunuch looks at her, the Lord touches
that man’s heart. He rushes (“speedily”) to get her all the
lotionsand potionsand notionsshe needs to make her
skin soft and her body smelling like a rose garden. He even
gets seven “beauticians”(“seven maidens”) to spruce her
up.
Esther gets the top spot in the harem (“the best place of
the house of the women”).
God is positioningher to become the queen of everything
from India to Ethiopia,so she can save her people.
Esth 2:10-11
10) Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for
Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
11) And Mordecai walked every day before the court of
the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what
should become of her.
Esther hides the fact that she’s a Jew at the command of
her cousin Mordecai(vs. 20). Hegai doesn’t know her race,
and the issue is never brought up.
Esth 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. KJV

Mordecai obviouslyhas some position of authority in the
king’s court. Verse 19 says that he “sat in the king’s gate.”
The gate of a city in Bible times was where the city elders
conducted the business of the city and where the judges
held court (Deut. 16:18; Ruth 4:1–2).
Deut 16:18 Judges and officers shalt thou make
thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God
giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall
judge the people with just judgment. KJV
Ruth 4:1-2 1 Then went Boaz up to the gate,
and sat him down there: and, behold, the
kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto
whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit
down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city,
and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.
KJV
In the king’s palace, his officers sat at the gate and carried
out their duties so they could be availableif the king called
for them (Esth. 6:4–5).
Esth 6:4-5 4 And the king said, Who is in the
court? Now Haman was come into the outward

court of the king's house, to speak unto the king
to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had
prepared for him. 5 And the king's servants said
unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court.
And the king said, Let him come in. KJV
Mordecai’sposition allowedhim access to the outer court
of the king’s harem. No common man from off the streets
would be allowedanywhere near it.
Esth 2:12-14
12) 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;)
13) 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.
14) 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.
These young ladieshad to be purified a whole year before
the king would marry them.
This is based on one thing: a woman was unclean before
she was married. That’snot a very high estimation of
women if it takes 12 months to get them clean enough to
be married.
Verse 14 shows you how an Oriental ruler treated the
women in hisharem.
Each of these young ladies had to spend the night with the
king. Each one could take anythingwith her which she
thought could persuade the king to choose her as his chief
wife, the queen.
But if she wasn’t chosen, she wasn’t released to go and
lead an ordinarylife. She was relegated to the status of a
concubineand kept in the harem until the king decidedhe
wanted to be with her again,which in some cases might
be never.
Esth 2:15-20
15) 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.
16) 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.
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.
18) 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.
19) And when the virgins were gathered together the
second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
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.
God is working on Esther’s behalf. Not only is “Hegai the
king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women” (vs. 15)
impressed with her, but “Esther obtained favour in the
sight of all them that looked upon her.” That is quite a
coincidenceif God is not taken into account. Here is “love

at first sight;” not from merely one man, but from
everyone who looks on the girl.
Verse 16 is another one of the important doctrinal verses
in Esther.
In type there is a post-Tribulation rapture of a Jewish
bride that takes place. Notice that it takes place “in
the seventh year of his reign.” In type that’s the
seventh year of the Tribulation.But it takes place “in
the tenth month.”
Now, on our calendarthe tenth month is October. But look
at that “Oct” at the beginning of the word. That’s not the
prefix for ten. That’s eight; as in octopus and octagon and
octogenarian.The prefix for ten is dec; as in decimal and
decimeter and decimate. So, December is actually “the
tenth month” according to the meaning of the word.
When Ahasuerus chooses Esther to be his queen, it is “the
tenth month,” he makes “a great feast,” he gives
everyone in the empire a day off (“he made a release to
the provinces”), and he “gave gifts, according to the state
of the king” (vs. 18).
What holidayfallsin December and is characterized by
feasting, a day off, and gift-giving?
What could Christmas possibly have to do with a post-
Tribulationrapture?”

(Rev. 11:10) “And they that dwell upon the earth
shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall
send gifts one to another; because these two
prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth”
In Rev 11, the two witnesses have been slain by the
Antichrist. Theirbodies lie in the streets of Jerusalem for
three and a half days. During that time, the Scriptures say,
“And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over
them, and MAKE MERRY, and shall SEND GIFTS one to
another.”
While the Christmas parties are going on and people are
singing about Rudolphthe Drunken Red-Nosed Reindeer
and Santa Claus getting stuck in the chimney and the
presents are being unwrapped, there is a post-Tribulation
rapture (Rev. 11:11–15 cf. Rev. 14).
The Scriptures locate, within four days, the day and month
of the post-Tribulationrapture of Jewish saints.
Notice once again the term “virgins” showing up in the
context of a post-Tribulation rapture.
In Revelationthose “virgins” are gathered the first time
down on earth in chapter 7, and they are gathered “the
second time” in Heaven in chapter 14.
In Matthew 25, they are gathered together to wait for the
bridegroom to return from the wedding, and then they

are gathered together again to enter into the house with
the bridegroom and his bride.
Esth 2:21-23
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.
22) And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it
unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king
thereof in Mordecai's name.
23) And 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.
Verse 21 describes an assassinationplot against
Ahasuerusby two of his doorkeepers.
Now, you wouldn’t think that God would use a murderous
conspiracyto accomplish His purpose, but He does.
Psalm 76:10 “Surely the wrath of man shall praise
thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.”
That’s what happenshere.

These two chamberlains get mad at the king and decide to
kill him.
Mordecai discovers the plot and tells Esther, and Esther
tells the king “in Mordecai’s name” (vs. 22).
The king investigates the matter. Teresh and Bigthan are
hung for “conspiracy to commit murder.”
Those Oriental kings were despots; they were dictators.
They were absolute dictators, much more so than Hitler. A
real Oriental despot, like those Persian kings, could have
you executed at his command.
There was no trial or anything else to get you “off the
hook.” If they wanted you dead, all they had to do was
speak the word. Those Oriental despots had power.
Mao Tse-tung during the time he was “Chairman” of
China,he had 45 million people killed (some estimates go
as high as 80 million).
The Bible says of Nebuchadnezzarthat
(Dan. 5:19) “whom he would he slew; and whom he
would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up;
and whom he would he put down” That’s absolute
power.
The greatest Orientaldictator the world has ever seen will
show up soon. He will rule over every nationon this earth
with “a rod of iron” (Psa. 2:8–9, Rev. 19:15).

Ps 2:8-9 8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the
heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost
parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron;
thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's
vessel.
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp
sword, that with it he should smite the nations:
and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and
he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and
wrath of Almighty God.
A galvanized iron pipe about 3-foot-long.
That’s what that scepter is which a king holds.
It is not merely a symbol of power; it stands for a club
which a king might use to beat down his enemies.
That’s the kind of king that Jesus Christ will be when He
returns. He crushes two millionUN troops under His feet,
and then He keeps the nations “in line” with an iron
scepter.
(vs. 23)
Chapter2 ends with “it was written in the book of the
chronicles before the king”.

Nothing was done (at least then) to reward Mordecai for
his loyaltyto the king. But there it sits, just waiting for the
Lord to bring it to the attention of Ahasuerus at the right
time. He is working quietly, where no one sees Him, on
behalf of His people.
There is a great practical lesson here for the New
Testament believer.
Christian, nothing you do for the sake of Jesus Christ is
forgotten. It is written down “in the book...before the
king.” One of these days, at the Judgment Seat of Christ,
the Lord will open the books and honor you for your
faithfulnessto Him.
Christ Himself said, (Matt. 6:18). “Thy Father, which
seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly”
The Apostle Paul said, (Gal. 6:9). “And let us not be weary
in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint
not”
The day will come when the One who made the universe
will stand you up before His creation and publicly
commend you for a job well done, but that doesn’t
happennow down here on earth!
Right now, it’s the cross, not the crown. The problem with
modern Christiansis that they want their “dessert”
without having to eat their spinach, and that’s not how the
Christian life works. You will get your inheritancein God’s

time, and if you serve to get the reward in this life, then
you end up with nothingin Heaven (Matt. 6:16).
Matt 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the
hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they
disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto
men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have
their reward.