Esther: Silent but Sovereignনমুনা

There are at least three years between the end of Esther chapter 1 and the beginning of chapter 2. Xerxes gave his banquet in the third year of his reign. We read in verse 16 that Esther was taken to him in the seventh year of his reign, having first completed twelve months of beauty treatments in accordance with the king’s order (v. 12). In between this time, history records a disastrous attempt by King Xerxes to conquer Greece. 

During this attack on Greece, Xerxes’ mind may have been too focused on the battle to consider the consequences of Vashti’s banishment. But as he returned to Susa, defeated and humiliated, perhaps he regretted his decision to banish Vashti and wished for the support and comfort of a wife. His attendants must have sensed King Xerxes’ need for companionship because they suggested a plan to find a replacement queen. 

Like other monarchs of the time, King Xerxes would have had a harem full of women, and he certainly had the power to command any woman in the kingdom to appear before him whenever he wanted. So it seems that, in following the advice of his attendants, what he was looking for was not just a one-night stand or a casual relationship, but a replacement queen – a wife who would offer him intimacy and stability. Perhaps he also felt that a beautiful queen would improve his image following his defeat in battle. 

As is the case in our culture, the Persians were obsessed with physical beauty, so the attendants’ plan for a national beauty contest would ensure that the king’s next wife would be the most beautiful woman in Persia. We’re told later in verse 12 that this woman’s beauty was enhanced with preparations and make-up for a whole year to make her presentable before the king. One commentator says that these words in verse 12 mean ‘to rub, to polish, to purify and adorn with all kinds of precious ointments’. (C.F. Keil, Commentary on the Old Testament in Ten Volumes, vol. III)

Most of us don’t have the means or opportunity to pamper and enhance our appearance for twelve months, but we can often be influenced by our society’s obsession with physical and temporary beauty more than by God’s desire for us to cultivate beautiful hearts that reflect the character of Jesus. Perhaps at times, we wish we were more beautiful, but Esther’s exceptional beauty was given to her by God, not for her glory but to fulfill His purposes for His people.

Reflection

Read Colossians 3:12–14. Pray through the characteristics of a godly child of God. Which aspects do you need to cultivate more? Ask the Holy Spirit to work within you to make you more like Jesus in these areas of your life.