2:1 -     “Later” – How much later is questionable.  Vashti was deposed four years before a new queen was sought.  During this tie Xerxes launched his ill-fated attack against Greece.  After his embarrassing defeat, Xerxes turned his thoughts toward remarriage and a new queen was sought.  At some pint the king “remembered” Vashti.  However, his decree was irrevocable (see also: Dan. 6:14-15).  He therefore was advised to seek out a new wife and queen.

2:2 -     It became apparent that the king was unhappy with his decision turning Vashti away permanently, so his advisors proposed a search of the virgins of the kingdom for a replacement for the queen. 

2:3-4 - Officials were appointed in every province and a search was made for all the “good looking” virgins to be taken to the harem for preparation to be presented to the king.  Apparently, not all of these women would be willing to go or maybe some of their parents would be willing to volunteer them.  Therefore, commissioners or officials would round up the women and take them to the palace where they would be given beauty treatments and special diets to enhance their beauty.  Remember the king had an eye for natural physical beauty.  The king liked this idea and ordered it to be carried out. 

            Some draw similarities between this section and the Joseph story in Gen. 41:34-37.  God establishes His people to be selected by non-believers and has them rise to levels of leadership to bring deliverance for Israel. 

2:5-6 - Mordecai is introduced into the narrative at this point.  His name is a Persian name and although he must have had a Hebrew name also, it is never revealed in this book.  There is record of a Babylonian scribe named Mordukaya and some believe this to also be Mordecai.  This is one reason why some feel Mordecai may be the author of the book of Esther.

            No family, wife, or descendants are mentioned for Mordecai.  This together with his access to the royal areas lead some to believe he may have been a eunuch.  In any event, he is called a “Jew,” a name given to people of Judah during the exile.  He was the cousin or possibly the uncle of Esther.  He was a member of the tribe of Benjamin and probably a direct descendant of Kish (the father of King Saul).  This ancestry sets the stage for the on-going conflict between the Amalekites and Israel. 

2:7 -     Esther or Hadassah (“myrtle”) was either Mordecai’s cousin or niece.  He brought her up after her parents died.   Her Persian name was derived from the word “star” or the Babylonian deity, Ishtar (known in Hebrew as Ashtoreth).  Mordecai raised her as his daughter and may have adopted her.  She was beautiful in “form and features.”

2:8 -     The young women were brought into the palace under the care of a eunuch named Hegai, who cared for their needs.  Esther was brought in also.  She was in the right place at the right time and fit the qualifications to be included (coincidence?).

2:9 -     Something about Esther won Hegai’s favor immediately.  He started her on all the best, special treatments and diet so she would have a great chance of also pleasing the king.  He wasted no time getting her started so she would be brought to the king as soon as possible.  She did not refuse any of the special treatment including the non-Jewish diet (not like Daniel – Dan. 1:5-10).

2:10-11 -          Mordecai forbade Esther to reveal her true nationality.   She appeared as a Persian and maintained her secrecy in obedience to Mordecai.  She would probably not be selected by the king if he knew she was a Jew – yet marrying him would violate Jewish laws.  There was no threat yet to the Jews, so Mordecai was in no immediate danger. (see. Ezra 9:1-4, 14; 10:3, 11, 18-44; Neh. 10:30; 13:23-27).  Mordecai kept close track of what was going on with Esther.

2:12-14 -          The women being prepared, including Esther, were given 12 months of beauty treatments with expensive aids.  When being presented to the king, they could take anything they wanted from the harem that they felt would give them favor in the eyes of the king (jewelry, clothing, etc.).  This was their one big opportunity.  They would spend the night with the king and return to a different part of the harem in the morning.  Only if summoned by name would they ever enter again into the king’s presence.  They would live as a widow, a concubine (single non-virgin) for the rest of their lives if not summoned.

2:15-18 -          Esther trusted Hegai to know what would please the king, and she did not take anything with her from the harem, except what he suggested, when she went to Xerxes.  She “won the favor of everyone who saw her,” including the king, who instantly was attracted to her more than any other.  She was made queen in place of Vashti, and a great wedding banquet and holiday was held in her honor.  This took place in the 7th year of his reign, about 4-5 years after Vashti was deposed.

Mordecai Discovers a Plot Against the King

2:19-20 -          Here we again see Esther’s obedience to Mordecai.  She is queen and yet still obedient to the one who brought her up.  This is repeated and plays and important part in the plot.  Mordecai is sitting at the kings’ gate.  This is an official position and may have been appointed by Esther to give him easier access to the royal quarters.  In this position and location he would easily overhear an assassination plot against the king.  Daniel sat at the king’s gate (Dan. 2:48-49).  This showed a high position.  Kings sometimes held an audience at the gate.

2:21-22 -          Mordecai overhears a plot to kill Xerxes bytow of his private eunuchs.  He reports this to Esther who tells the king and carefully gives credit to Mordecai.  Plots against the king’s life were relatively common.  In fact, soon after this story of Esther, Xerxes was murdered in his bedroom through a plot by Artabanus.  It is not said why the king did not reward Mordecai at this time.  All of the pieces were perfectly in place for this to play out exactly as it did and to give Mordecai and Esther their proper roles in God’s plan (although He remains a silent entity in this book).

2:23 -   The report was found to be true, and the men were hanged on a gallows.  This is an interesting introduction to the events to come later.  Everything about this event was recorded in the annals which will also play a critical role later in the story.  Most executions were done by impalement at this time, but the bodies were displayed publicly on a gallows.  This event is one of the  several “coincidences” that play a crucial role in later events of the story.  We can easily see God’s hand in the orchestration of the events in the plot.