Question 1

Why did King Ahasuerus remember Vashti after his wrath was appeased?

Accepted Answer

When the king’s anger cooled, he had time to think about what had happened. He remembered Vashti, her beauty, what she had done, and the decree that she would no longer come before him. In calmer moments, her refusal seemed smaller compared to the harsh outcome. This stirred regret and sadness, because his own order could not easily be undone. The story shows how choices made in anger can bring lasting pain, and it prepares the way for a new queen to be chosen.

Question 2

What is the meaning of seeking fair young virgins for the king?

Accepted Answer

The king’s servants suggested a human way to solve his regret over losing Vashti. They advised that officers search the whole kingdom for beautiful unmarried girls and bring them to the palace. From them, the king would choose a new queen. This plan shows the shallow values of the court, which focused on outward beauty and the king’s pleasure. At the same time, it becomes the setting where God will place Esther, using even flawed human desires to move his plan forward.

Question 3

Who is Hege and what was his role in the house of the women?

Accepted Answer

Hege is called the king’s chamberlain and the keeper of the women. He was a trusted male servant, likely a eunuch, who oversaw the women’s quarters in the palace. All the young women gathered for the king were placed under his care. He managed their living space, their safety, and the items needed for their purification and adornment. His role shows how organized and controlled the royal harem was, and he will later be important in how Esther is treated and advanced.

Question 4

What were the things for purification given to the young women?

Accepted Answer

The passage says that the young women were given their things for purification. This points to oils, spices, perfumes, and other treatments to make their skin and bodies pleasing, and to remove any smell or sign of travel and hardship. In that culture, this long process was seen as fitting preparation before meeting the king. It highlights how much effort was spent on outward appearance, which stands in sharp contrast to the quiet inner character that will mark Esther.

Question 5

Why was a new queen chosen instead of restoring Vashti?

Accepted Answer

Once a royal decree was made against Vashti, it could not lightly be set aside. Even if the king felt regret, his order and the public honor of the throne stood. His servants also may have feared for themselves if Vashti returned. So instead of undoing what had been done, they proposed finding a new queen. This shows how pride, law, and image can trap people in their past choices. God, however, uses this fixed decision to bring Esther into a place where she can later help her people.

Question 6

What does this passage teach about human folly and God’s providence?

Accepted Answer

The passage lays bare human folly. The king acts first in rage, then in regret, and his servants focus on beauty and pleasure to comfort him. None of them speak of wisdom or of seeking God. Yet, within this shallow and selfish setting, God is at work. The search for a queen, rooted in human desire, becomes the very means by which God will raise up Esther. It shows that God can work through flawed motives and poor choices to care for his people and guide history.

Question 7

What was happening in the Persian kingdom when this search for a queen began?

Accepted Answer

The story takes place in the royal city, Shushan, at the height of a large Persian empire with many provinces. King Ahasuerus had already held a huge feast and had removed Vashti after she refused his command. Now, after some time, his anger had faded. The court wanted to restore his joy and calm the unease caused by Vashti’s removal. Their answer was to send officers throughout the empire to gather beautiful young women, showing both the size of his rule and the power he held over people’s lives.

Question 8

How can this passage shape how we think about beauty and power today?

Accepted Answer

This passage shows a world where women are chosen mainly for their looks and brought to please a powerful man. It exposes how outward beauty and desire can rule a culture. Yet readers know that God is preparing to work through Esther’s character and wisdom, not just her appearance. This can remind us not to judge people by looks or status, and not to envy the kind of power on display here. God often works through hidden, humble people, even inside broken systems.

Esther 2:1

After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

Seeking Vashti’s Successor

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Esther 2:1

After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

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Seeking Vashti’s Successor

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