Courage for Life for Women - Flipbook - Page 12
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EsthEr 2
husbands when they learn that Queen
Vashti has refused to appear before the
king. 18Before this day is out, the wives of
all the king’s nobles throughout Persia
and Media will hear what the queen did
and will start treating their husbands the
same way. There will be no end to their
contempt and anger.
19
“So if it please the king, we suggest
that you issue a written decree, a law of
the Persians and Medes that cannot be revoked. It should order that Queen Vashti
be forever banished from the presence of
King Xerxes, and that the king should
choose another queen more worthy than
she. 20When this decree is published
throughout the king’s vast empire, husbands everywhere, whatever their rank,
will receive proper respect from their
wives!”
21
The king and his nobles thought this
made good sense, so he followed Memucan’s counsel. 22He sent letters to all parts
of the empire, to each province in its own
script and language, proclaiming that
every man should be the ruler of his own
home and should say whatever he
pleases.*
This advice was very appealing to the
king, so he put the plan into effect.
5
At that time there was a Jewish man in
the fortress of Susa whose name was Mordecai son of Jair. He was from the tribe of
Benjamin and was a descendant of Kish
and Shimei. 6His family* had been among
those who, with King Jehoiachin* of Judah,
had been exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. 7 This man
had a very beautiful and lovely young
cousin, Hadassah, who was also called
Esther. When her father and mother died,
Mordecai adopted her into his family and
raised her as his own daughter.
8
As a result of the king’s decree, Esther,
along with many other young women,
was brought to the king’s harem at the
fortress of Susa and placed in Hegai’s
care. 9Hegai was very impressed with Esther and treated her kindly. He quickly
ordered a special menu for her and provided her with beauty treatments. He also
assigned her seven maids specially chosen from the king’s palace, and he moved
her and her maids into the best place in
the harem.
10
Esther had not told anyone of her nationality and family background, because
Mordecai had directed her not to do so.
Esther Becomes Queen
But after Xerxes’ anger had subsided, 11Every day Mordecai would take a walk
he began thinking about Vashti and near the courtyard of the harem to find
what she had done and the decree he had out about Esther and what was happenmade. 2 So his personal attendants sug- ing to her.
12
Before each young woman was taken
gested, “Let us search the empire to find
beautiful young virgins for the king. 3Let to the king’s bed, she was given the prethe king appoint agents in each province scribed twelve months of beauty treatto bring these beautiful young women ments—six months with oil of myrrh,
into the royal harem at the fortress of followed by six months with special perSusa. Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge fumes and ointments. 13 When it was time
of the harem, will see that they are all for her to go to the king’s palace, she was
given beauty treatments. 4After that, the given her choice of whatever clothing or
young woman who most pleases the king jewelry she wanted to take from the
will be made queen instead of Vashti.” harem. 14That evening she was taken to
2
1:22 Or and should speak in the language of his own people. 2:6a Hebrew He.
of Jehoiachin.
God works in mysterious ways
1:16–2:9
P R AY • Abba Father, you work in mysterious ways. Please help me to trust that your ways are best.
O B S E R V E • King Xerxes followed the nobles’ advice and banished Queen Vashti because she
had refused his request to appear before him. Later, Xerxes regretted his decree, and the nobles
advised him to search the kingdom for beautiful virgins. The king would choose a new queen
from those young women. As a result of the king’s search, Esther, a Jewish orphan, was brought
to the king’s harem.
I N T E R P R E T • God is always working to fulfill his plans and purposes. God was working behind
the scenes through the imperfect decisions of Xerxes and his nobles to accomplish his perfect
plan. God’s ways are often mysterious. While we may never understand them, we can trust that
he will work things out for our good and his glory (Rom 8:28-29). But we must always remember
that he will do this according to his timetable, not ours.
B08_CFL_NLT_Ezra-Job.indd 628
2:6b Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant spelling
A P P LY • accept the things
you cannot change: You may not
be able to change your circumstances (Esth 2:8). How will you
show your confidence that God
will work all things together for
good? • Overcome obstacles:
Read Romans 8:28-29. What worries hinder you from trusting that
God is at work? Journal a prayer
giving your worries to him.
How does knowing that God is
working behind the scenes fill
your heart with COURAGE?
1/17/2023 10:52:34 AM
