Esther 2 Esther’s Origins
Vashti has been banished. King Ahasuerus has that ‘special itch’ that needs ‘scratched’. He wants someone new. All the beautiful virgins are rounded up, including Esther.
I mentioned the last time that I wonder what happened to Esther’s parents. How Mordecai ended up with her. After reading the beginning of chapter two, I have a few more questions. I’m wondering how old Mordecai is and how old Esther is.
We know Esther is a “young virgin” but not her exact age. For Mordecai, here is where I get confused. Mordecai isn’t simply Esther’s uncle. He is a second uncle, for Esther is the daughter of HIS uncle; his father’s brother. Also, we are told that he came up during the deportation of the people with Jeconiah. Is it possible that one of his ancestors, mentioned in the list, is the one who came during the deportation?
There are estimated to be between 108-124 years between the deportation of Jeconiah and Esther’s story. It is not possible for Mordecai to have been one of the captives who was transported to Babylon. He HAD to be born in captivity. This would probably make his father or grandfather the one carried away into captivity. I would also expect that his uncle was much younger than his father, in order to have a daughter who is still a young virgin.
Esther must have spent much of her life with her uncle to be so obedient to him. She could simply have an obedient personality. Or she could be afraid to disappoint him. She may not feel ‘secure’ in his house or in his love for her if she doesn’t obey him. Or he could even be abusive towards her if she doesn’t obey.
There is SO MUCH that we don’t know. I feel drawn to a past for her, that I will use for our story. Then we can go with what we do know. Let’s join Esther and Mordecai as their lives take some unexpected changes. Lead on Holy Spirit. I need Your direction today.
♥ ♦ ♥
Hadassah (Esther) stands in the middle of the room with all her worldly goods. Clutched in her hands is a small bag holding two dresses, three wrappings for undergarments, a hair brush her father carved for her, and a wooden doll her mother gave her. She is alone in the world now, except for one person; a great uncle she barely knows.
At the tender age of seven, Hadassah waits to see what her future holds. Her parents were killed in an accident two days ago. Her father was plowing the field, and a wild boar came from the forest and gored him. Her mother ran to help and was trampled to death by the frenzied farm animals.
Friends rallied around to ensure that her parents were buried properly, but they have no say over her future, nor do they wish to. They have children of their own to care for. Hadassah is not a ‘problem’ of her uncle.
Mordecai arrives at the home of Hadassah, leading a donkey and a cart. His father’s brother’s house is rented, so he will be taking everything that belonged to them back to Susa; including the child.
Mordecai gently greets Hadassah. “Hello child. I am your uncle. My name is Mordecai and I will be bringing you to my home to live. It is not a grand home, but it is comfortable.”
“Do you have kids” asks Hadassah.
“No. I don’t. I don’t even have a wife.”
“Then who will take care of me” asks Hadassah in a quiet voice. Her ima was her main caregiver.
“We will take care of one another. I will protect you as your abba did, and you can teach me how to cook like your ima did.”
“My ima taught me how to make bread and porridge.”
“Then that is what we will eat” announces Mordecai with a smile.
Hadassah returns his smile and goes with him to the donkey cart. “We will put your things in here and gather anything that belongs to your parents. We don’t want to leave anything for the land owner that does not belong to him.”
Mordecai and Hadassah spend about an hour rounding up all that is left of her parent’s worldly goods. Everything easily fits in the donkey cart. Now it is off to Susa. As they walk, Mordecai tells Hadassah about his house, his job, and the things she will see in the city. It all sounds exciting to a young child.
As they near the city, Mordecai stops by the side of the road. “Come over here and sit. We have something very important to talk about.”
Hadassah climbs up on a large rock. Mordecai takes a moment to gather the right words for what he needs to tell Hadassah. He knows that this is not going to be an easy conversation, but he feels it is imperative that it take place now; before reaching the city.
“Hadassah, there is something very important that you need to know, and something even more important that you need to do.”
Hadassah waits quietly and attentively. Seeing her eyes glued to him, Mordecai continues. “In Susa, the Jews are not treated well. Many people look down on them and it is difficult to find work or customers when one is Jewish.”
“I am Jewish. Will they treat me mean” asks Hadassah.
“If they know that you are Jewish, they might at that. So, we are not going to tell anyone that you are Jewish.”
“You are Jewish. Do they treat you bad?”
“They don’t know that I am Jewish either. They like my baskets and buy from me without asking my heritage.” Mordecai waits while Hadassah absorbs this. “Now there is something I need from you. Your name easily identifies you as Jewish. I’m giving you a new name. One that is Persian. Your new name is Esther.”
Hadassah’s eyes begin to tear up. Mordecai moves closer and puts his arm around her to comfort her. “I know this will be difficult, but it is the only way to keep you safe.”
Esther nods and wipes her nose on the back of her arm. Mordecai uses his sleeve to clean her arm. He helps Esther down from the boulder and the two quietly finish their trek into Susa.
Mordecai’s house isn’t grand, but it isn’t a shabby cottage either. There is room for both of them to have a little space of their own. The first night, Mordecai and Esther work together on bread and porridge. This brings some comfort to Esther, as they are the foods her ima let her help with. The two settle down into a easy routine. Mordecai even teaches Esther how to weave baskets. Between the two of them working, his business takes a significant jump. And Esther’s baskets are among the most artistic of them all. She is a natural!
Life continues on in Susa. Mordecai and Esther listened with the rest of the populace as Queen Vashti’s ‘rebellion’ against the king were made public. They heard the edict concerning husband’s having absolute authority over their wives. It didn’t directly impact their lives, so they thought no more of it.
Today is Esther’s 13th birthday. Mordecai buys a special treat from the baker to celebrate. It is a spicy date cake. He presents it to Esther during their midday meal.
“In honor of your birthday Esther. No longer my little niece, but a virgin daughter of our people.” Even in the privacy of their own home, Mordecai did not mention the ‘name’ of their people. He is afraid that someone might be listening. He is protecting Esther, after all.
Even though Mordecai doesn’t speak the name ‘Jew’, he does teach Esther about the God of the Jews; the God of her people. He tells her the stories of long ago, he recites the commandments to her, and he encourages her to pray to their God daily.
“Thank you uncle. Please share it with me” offers Esther.
It is a small cake, but Mordecai allow Esther to break of only a small bite for him. He pops it into his mouth and savors the flavor. The expression on his face makes Esther laugh.
“Your turn. The rest belongs to you. Eat it child of my heart.”
Esther loves it when Mordecai calls her this. He tells her that it means that he truly loves her, even though he is not her abba. He has never complained about raising her, and she does her very best to be helpful and obedient. Even after six years, Esther still feels a little fear of being rejected by Mordecai. No one else wanted her. If she doesn’t help, or is disobedient, maybe Mordecai will not want her either.
There is a cry in the street that gets the attention of Mordecai and Esther. The look on another in the eye, then rise to see what the commotion is about. In the middle of the street stands several soldiers. Beside them stand many young girls of about Esther’s age. They listen as the captain calls out to the people.
“Bring me your young virgins immediately, by order of the king.”
Esther turns to look at Mordecai. Fear is evident on both their faces. Esther is being called by the king, and they cannot refuse him. Even if Mordecai tried to hide Esther, his neighbors would inform on him. Esther would be ripped from his hands and mistreated. They both might lose their lives for trying to resist the king. After all, Vashti wasn’t immune to punishment for disobedience, and she was of royal blood!
“You have to go to them my child. To do otherwise would mean death.”
Esther nods and slowly walks to the garden gate. One of the soldiers sees her and escorts her to the group of girls/women. The soldier continues looking over the girls of Persia who stand before him. He chooses NONE that are not in good health, or that are not pleasing to the eye.
When the selections have all been made, the soldiers escort the women back into the heart of Susa. They are being taken to the palace. As Esther is marched away, she looks back over her shoulder to see Mordecai watching her. When their eyes meet, Mordecai mimes keeping her chin high.
The girls are taken to a special room in the palace where the king’s haram lives. Hegai is the king’s eunuch over the haram. He introduces himself to the newcomers.
“I am Hegai. I will be looking after you for at least the next year. You will undergo beauty treatments; six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments. After this time, you will be sent to the king one at a time. After being in the presence of the king, you will return to the room of the concubines. You will remain there until the king calls you by name to come to him again.”
Over the course of the beauty rituals, Esther made herself useful wherever she found an opportunity. She comforted the other girls, she helped perform the ‘dirty tasks’, and she always wears a smile on her face. Her spirit refuses to be crushed. Because of this, Hegai moves Esther up to the front of the line to be called to Ahasuerus.
While Esther undergoes the beauty treatments, Mordecai comes daily to see how she is doing. “How fares the young Esther?” he asks of anyone who crosses his path. He only receives sporadic answers, at best. Yet he continues to come. He catches glimpses occasionally of Esther with the other girls. These are like food to a starving man.
The day finally arrives for Esther to go to the king. “You may take anything you wish with you” says Hegai. “But I want to make a suggestion, if I may.”
“Oh, please Hegai. I do not know how or even if I will please him.”
“Take with you a bottle of myrrh and a lotion of spikenard. Use the myrh to anoint your breast just before presenting yourself to the king. And use the spikenard to work into the muscles on the king’s shoulders and back.”
“I will do as you have instructed.”
As Esther is being brought to the king’s chambers, she sends a prayer to her God. “May I please the king and save my life and that of my uncle. Help me find a way to be useful, even in this dark place.” As she concluded her prayer, she notices movement Mordecai standing in his customary spot. Even if he can’t see her, Esther lifts her chin just a little higher.
Esther spends her first night with the king. The king circles her, examining her from every angle. Esther is beautiful. Her skin shines in the candle light and her hair is as soft as silk. Her eyes are like onyx stones and her lips are full. Her hands are soft but strong. And her voice flows like trickling water.
She is trembling when he takes her in his arms. And she cries out in pain as he penetrates her for the first time. Ahasuerus gives a little smile as Esther cries out and he feels the resistance. He is now certain of her virginity; or at least she was a virgin until in his hands. Any from the haram that were not virgins when coming to the king are summarily executed.
After consummating their relationship, Esther expertly rubs spikenard into the king’s shoulders. She listens to whatever he wants to discuss and is intelligent with answers or comments. By the time Esther leaves for the concubines’ chambers, Ahasuerus is enamored with her. He knows that there are many more of the new virgins to ‘sample’ but they will have to be exquisite to top Esther.
Mordecai continues to check on Esther. He is thrilled when she is called to the king’s chambers again. It takes seven months before the king announces to the people of Susa that Esther is his queen. A great feast is called in her honor. Mordecai attends, but he keeps his distance from Esther. He has more of the typical Jewish features than Esther does. He is determined to keep her heritage a secret.
After Esther’s feast has passed from the memory of daily events, Ahasuerus calls for another group of virgins to be gathered to him. Mordecai still goes to the palace daily, to keep an eye on Esther. He has even moved his basket stand to the palace gates.
One morning, as the guards at the gate are talking, Mordecai overhears something that alarms him. The two men are plotting to kill the king. They don’t even realize that their conversation is carrying on the wind.
Mordecai listens until he is certain he has all the details. As the sun begins to set, he searches out Esther in her garden. He calls to her from the cover of the hedges. Esther looks around to ensure that no one is watching before joining Mordecai.
“I overheard something very important today while I sat at the king’s gate. Two of his eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, were plotting to lay hold of the king. You must tell him of this danger.”
“I will have to wait until he calls me. But I will make this matter known to the king as soon as possible. I will inform him also of the source of the information.”
“Remember, keep your heritage secret. Do not let him know that you are my niece.”
“I will not reveal it to anyone.”
Esther returns to the chambers of the queen. She begins pacing. She needs to get this information to the king right away, but how? An idea comes to her. Esther calls her personal servant.
“I need you to do something for me. Please mention my name to Mehuman. Drop it casually so that he begins thinking about me and how I might please the king tonight. I am hopeful that he will speak my name in the king’s presence and he will call for me. I need to see him, but cannot unless he calls.”
“I think I know just the way to get your name on the king’s lips. Anoint yourself with your most precious ointments tonight and be ready.”
Esther’s servant takes a small sample of Esther’s best ointment and works it around her neck and ears. Then she finds Mehuman. They already have a close relationship, so it doesn’t take long to get his attention. He is a eunuch, but he still appreciates the beauty of a woman.
Esther’s servant snuggles in close so that Mehuman can clearly smell the fragrance. Just as she expected, Mehuman comments on it.
“You smell divine this evening. Good enough to eat.”
“It is a new fragrance the queen wants to try out for the king. She let me sample it today. Do you think the king will like it?”
“He would have to be dead not to” breathes Mehuman.
“I wonder when the king will get to sample it. You know, the queen can’t share it as freely as we can. She has to wait to be called.”
“I just might have to suggest he call her. This scent is irresistible! If it weren’t for…”
“I know” she says as she turns into Mehuman’s arms for a loving embrace.
Mehuman can think of nothing else the rest of the evening. He has a sneaking suspicion that Esther wants to see the king, but cannot come out and ask. She has been kind to him since her arrival at the palace. He wants to do her this one favor.
As Ahasuerus readies for bed, Mehuman asks him a question. “Are you going to be wanting company tonight; maybe the company of the queen?”
At the mention of the queen, Ahasuerus becomes aroused. “I think the queen’s company would be most welcome tonight. Call her for me.”
“As you command, my king.”
As Mehuman turns and heads for the door, a smile graces his lips. He has accomplished a favor for the queen. She may never know it was by his hand, but that doesn’t matter.
Ester is ready when the king’s call comes. She has applied her ointment with a gentle hand. Too much is overwhelming. She needs the king attentive to her words as well as her body.
Ahasuerus welcomes Esther into his bed. He too is intoxicated by her new fragrance. After he is satisfied, he holds Esther close, drinking in her smell.
“My king” purrs Esther.
“What is it my queen?”
“I have something important that I need to tell you.”
“Mmmhm.”
“A plot on your life has been overheard by one named Mordecai, and he reported it to me.”
The king is fully alert now. “Tell me what has been spoken.”
Esther relays every word Mordecai shared with her, including the names of the individuals involved. The king quickly dresses and summons Mehuman.
“I have a matter that needs your hand. It has been reported that there is a plot against my life. Two of the eunuchs are involved. I am not going to give you their names until you verify their identity on your own.”
“Is it Bigthan and Teresh? They have been seen speaking in whispers together as of late.”
“So something is going on between them. Investigate carefully and bring me word as soon as you have it.”
It takes only a day for Mehuman to bring the king verifiable proof of the plan. And it takes only five hours before they are lying dead. A complete record is made in the annals of the kings of Persia.
Esther has now just strengthened her position with the king.
(to be continued)
I still wish I knew some of the ‘back story’ of Esther’s life. Even without knowing it, we see that she was obedient, helpful, and cared about people. She wouldn’t have been promoted in the haram or in the king’s eyes otherwards. We know, from being on this side of the story that God put her in that place for a reason. It will be a while before she learns this. But she wouldn’t have been in the place to help her people if she didn’t serve faithfully where she was.
I DO NOT support the king going through all the virgins in the land. I DO NOT support the king sleeping with children. But, without these wrong behaviors, Esther would not have been in the place she was when her people needed her. Then again, Mordecai wouldn’t have been disrespecting Haman if he wasn’t watching over Esther the best way he knew how.
God can take ANYTHING and use it in His plan. He used the king’s appetites to save His people.
Father God, thank You for using everything that happens in my life to bring me closer to You. Even the most recent health crisis of my husband brought about two positive things. I know that You didn’t allow the trouble, but You made good come from it.
Keep working in my life Father. Lead me where You want me to go. Let me be an instrument in Your hands; even if it means ‘resting’ until my time to step up.
