Question 1

Who are Mordecai and Esther in this passage?

Accepted Answer

Mordecai is a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin living in the Persian city of Shushan after the exile from Jerusalem. His family had been carried away when the king of Babylon took many people from Judah. Esther, also called Hadassah, is his younger relative, the daughter of his uncle. She has no living father or mother, so Mordecai takes her in and raises her as his own daughter. She is described as fair and beautiful, but the story also shows her as obedient and humble, shaped by Mordecai’s care and guidance.

Question 2

What is happening in the king’s house with all the young women?

Accepted Answer

After the former queen is gone, King Ahasuerus has a search made for beautiful virgins from across his empire. These young women are brought to the king’s house in Shushan and placed under the care of Hegai, the keeper of the women. They go through twelve months of preparation with oils and perfumes before each has one night with the king. After that, they live in a second house for the king’s concubines and only see him again if he calls them by name. Esther is brought into this same process.

Question 3

Why did Mordecai tell Esther not to show her people or kindred?

Accepted Answer

The passage simply says Mordecai had charged Esther not to show her people or her kindred, and she obeyed him. This likely had to do with her safety and future usefulness in a Persian court where Jews were a minority and sometimes faced danger. By keeping silent about her background for a time, she could move within the royal setting without early pushback or prejudice. It also shows her respect for Mordecai’s wisdom and how God can use quiet waiting and wise discretion as part of His larger plan.

Question 4

What does this passage show about God’s providence?

Accepted Answer

God is not mentioned by name in these verses, but His hand is seen in the details. An orphaned Jewish girl, part of a people carried away from Jerusalem, ends up in the very place where future decisions about the Jews will be made. She finds special favor with Hegai, who gives her the best place in the women’s house, and she pleases everyone who sees her. All of this seems like ordinary court life, yet it sets Esther in a position where she can later speak up for her people. It shows God working quietly through everyday events.

Question 5

Why did Esther ask for nothing except what Hegai appointed?

Accepted Answer

When Esther’s turn came to go in to the king, she could have asked for anything to take with her from the women’s house. Instead, she only took what Hegai, the king’s chamberlain and keeper of the women, suggested. This shows her modesty and humility. She does not try to push herself forward or rely on her own ideas about how to impress the king. She listens to the one who knows the court best. That simple, trusting spirit is part of why she finds favor with everyone who looks at her.

Question 6

What does Mordecai walking every day before the women’s court tell us?

Accepted Answer

Mordecai’s habit of walking every day in front of the court of the women shows his deep, steady care for Esther. Even though she has been taken away by a royal decree he cannot stop, he does not distance himself or forget her. He keeps checking to know how she is and what will happen to her. This gives a picture of faithful, fatherly concern. It also hints that, though Esther is in a royal setting, she is still tied to her people and their struggles, which will matter a lot as the story continues.

Question 7

What is the meaning of Esther’s two names, Hadassah and Esther?

Accepted Answer

Hadassah is Esther’s Hebrew name and means “myrtle,” a small tree or shrub that was valued for its beauty and fragrance. This fits with the way the passage notes her fair and beautiful appearance. Esther is her Persian name and may be related to the word for “star,” which fits her rising place in the Persian court. Together the names reflect both her Jewish roots and her life in a foreign empire. They quietly point to how she lives with two identities, which becomes important when her people come into danger.

Question 8

How can this passage about Esther’s preparation speak to believers today?

Accepted Answer

This passage shows that God can be at work even when life feels confusing or unfair, like Esther being taken into a contest she did not choose. Her gentleness, obedience, and modesty stand out in a very outward-focused world. Believers today can be encouraged to value inner character more than outward show, to respect wise guidance from those who care for them, and to trust that God can use long waiting seasons and hidden places to prepare them for future service they cannot yet see.

Esther 2:5

¶ Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;

Esther Finds Favor

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Esther 2:5

¶ Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;

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Esther Finds Favor

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