MPV Commentary

After these events, when King Ahasuerus' anger had subsided, he was overcome with regret for his unjust treatment of his beautiful and dignified queen. However, according to Persian law, a king's word was irrevocable, so she could not be restored. To alleviate the king's distress, his advisors suggested finding another consort who would meet or exceed Vashti's beauty.

A search was conducted throughout the empire to find the most stunning young women, with the hope that one of them might become the new queen. The parents of these young women were reluctant but felt compelled to comply with the royal request, knowing their daughters would likely never return home once they entered the palace. Upon arrival at the palace, the young women were placed under the care of Hegai, the king's chamberlain and chief eunuch.

In Shushan, a Jewish man named Mordecai held an official position in the court. Although he "sat at the king's gate" (Esther 2:21), this did not necessarily indicate his humble status as a porter. In fact, all state officials were required to wait in the outer courts until summoned into the presence chamber. Mordecai had taken in his orphaned cousin, Hadassah (also known as Esther), who was one of the young women selected for the royal harem due to her exceptional beauty.

Esther quickly gained favor with Hegai and became a favorite among those who saw her. Her Hebrew name "Hadassah" means "myrtle," which was later changed to "Esther," meaning "the star Venus," indicating beauty and good fortune. Mordecai would often walk by the women's quarters, where he received hints about Esther's progress through the eunuchs.

A year passed before it was time for each maid to visit King Ahasuerus. The elaborate preparations and use of costly cosmetics were likely required by palace protocol. Eventually, the king chose Esther as his new queen, elevating her above all other women in the harem. She was given a royal crown, consisting of a purple ribbon with white streaks, bound around her forehead.

The king celebrated their union with a grand feast and issued a decree releasing taxes and giving gifts to the provinces. As part of her dotation as queen, Esther would receive the revenue from certain cities in the kingdom to cover her personal expenses.