Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
King Ahasuerus chooses Esther as his new queen. Shortly after, Mordecai discovers Bigtan and Teresh’s plot to kill king Ahasuerus. Mordecai tells Esther, who immediately tells the king, and the two conspirators are killed.
II. Photo
Esther and the other girls prepare immensely to meet the king: “When each girl’s turn came to go to King Ahasuerus at the end of the twelve months’ treatment prescribed for women (for that was the period spent on beautifying them: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes and women’s cosmetics, and it was after that that the girl would go to the king)…” (vv. 12-13)
III. Important Verses
v. 7: [Mordecai] was foster father to Hadassah — that is, Esther — his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was shapely and beautiful; and when her father and mother died, Mordecai adopted her as his own daughter.
vv. 12-13: When each girl’s turn came to go to King Ahasuerus at the end of the twelve months’ treatment prescribed for women (for that was the period spent on beautifying them: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes and women’s cosmetics, and it was after that that the girl would go to the king), whatever she asked for would be given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace.
vv. 17-18: The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she won his grace and favor more than all the virgins. So he set a royal diadem on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. The king gave a great banquet for all his officials and courtiers, “the banquet of Esther.” He proclaimed a remission of taxes for the provinces and distributed gifts as befits a king.
IV. Outline
1-4. A new queen is to be picked
5-7. Mordecai and Esther are introduced
8-18. Esther prepares to meet the king; Esther is made queen
19-20. Esther does not divulge her Jewish ancestry
21-23. Mordecai exposes a seditious plot; Esther informs Ahasuerus
V. Comment
No comment today. I hope to revisit this chapter at the end of the cycle. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Murphy, Wisdom Literature (Forms of Old Testament Literature)
Photo taken from http://www.bbc.co.uk/switch/slink/images/255×143/hb/mascara.jpg
