Est 2:16 | KingComments | STEP | When it is Esther’s turn to come to the king, she does not take advantage of her freedom to take anything she wishes ( ). She will have been filled with only one thought: “How do I make the best impression on the king?” This makes us think about whether we are dealing with just one question: “How am I and do I live most to the glory of my Lord and Savior?” Although Esther is completely free in the choice of her clothes and decorations, she decides to take only what Hegai says to her ( ). Here we see again, as before with respect to Mordecai ( ), her surrender to someone on whom she depends. It is a voluntary surrender. We surrender ourselves completely to what the Holy Spirit makes clear to us from God’s Word how we can please God. Esther entrusts herself to someone she knows to have the best for her and knows better than she what is good for her stay with the king. That attitude of modesty and submission is an ornament (cf. ), through which she “found favor in the eyes of all who saw her”. The fact that she does not want to take anything but what Hegai says to her is her own choice. Until now others have decided about her. There is a power that directs the event, but there is also an action of her own. In again she is dealt with. She is taken to the king. That’s not a choice, that happens to her. The difference with the other girls is also shown by the fact that only her meeting with the king is dated. This also shows her special exaltation above the masses. The meeting with the king takes place in the “seventh year of reign” of king Ahasuerus, i.e. four years after the deposition of Vashti. That she trusts Hegai completely, has as a result that the king prefers her over all other girls ( ). God has made Esther beautiful, her beauty comes from Him and He directs the king to choose her. Without any desire on the part of Esther, she becomes the king’s favorite wife. We see here that God’s election is separate from any question on the part of man. The king’s choice is explained in many different ways: 1. his love for her is greater than for any other woman, 2. she obtains from him more favor and kindness than all the other girls, 3. he sets the royal crown on her head and 4. finally makes her queen instead of Vashti. This is where Vashti is mentioned for the last time. She disappears from history. Her place is taken by Esther. The king organizes another great banquet for all his princes and his servants. This time it is not about showing his glory ( ), but showing the new queen. This banquet is even literally called “Esther’s banquet”.

‏ Esther 2:16

Esther Becomes Queen

When it is Esther’s turn to come to the king, she does not take advantage of her freedom to take anything she wishes (Est 2:13). She will have been filled with only one thought: “How do I make the best impression on the king?” This makes us think about whether we are dealing with just one question: “How am I and do I live most to the glory of my Lord and Savior?”

Although Esther is completely free in the choice of her clothes and decorations, she decides to take only what Hegai says to her (Est 2:15). Here we see again, as before with respect to Mordecai (Est 2:10), her surrender to someone on whom she depends. It is a voluntary surrender.

We surrender ourselves completely to what the Holy Spirit makes clear to us from God’s Word how we can please God. Esther entrusts herself to someone she knows to have the best for her and knows better than she what is good for her stay with the king. That attitude of modesty and submission is an ornament (cf. 1Pet 3:3-5), through which she “found favor in the eyes of all who saw her”.

The fact that she does not want to take anything but what Hegai says to her is her own choice. Until now others have decided about her. There is a power that directs the event, but there is also an action of her own. In Est 2:16 again she is dealt with. She is taken to the king. That’s not a choice, that happens to her.

The difference with the other girls is also shown by the fact that only her meeting with the king is dated. This also shows her special exaltation above the masses. The meeting with the king takes place in the “seventh year of reign” of king Ahasuerus, i.e. four years after the deposition of Vashti.

That she trusts Hegai completely, has as a result that the king prefers her over all other girls (Est 2:17). God has made Esther beautiful, her beauty comes from Him and He directs the king to choose her. Without any desire on the part of Esther, she becomes the king’s favorite wife. We see here that God’s election is separate from any question on the part of man.

The king’s choice is explained in many different ways:

1. his love for her is greater than for any other woman,

2. she obtains from him more favor and kindness than all the other girls,

3. he sets the royal crown on her head and

4. finally makes her queen instead of Vashti.

This is where Vashti is mentioned for the last time. She disappears from history. Her place is taken by Esther.

The king organizes another great banquet for all his princes and his servants. This time it is not about showing his glory (Est 1:3), but showing the new queen. This banquet is even literally called “Esther’s banquet”.