Esther 2:1-7
A Jewish Man Named Mordecai
Read the passage
1Some time later, when the anger of King Xerxes had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done, and what had been decreed against her.
2Then the king’s attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king,
3and let the king appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom to assemble all the beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the women, and let them be given beauty treatments.
4Then let the young woman who pleases the king become queen in place of Vashti.” This suggestion pleased the king, and he acted accordingly.
5Now there was at the citadel of Susa a Jewish man from the tribe of Benjamin named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish.
6He had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon among those taken captive with Jeconiah king of Judah.
7And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah (that is, Esther), the daughter of his uncle, because she did not have a father or mother. The young woman was lovely in form and appearance, and when her father and mother had died, Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Some time later, Xerxes remembers Vashti and the decree against her. His attendants propose a search throughout the kingdom: young women will be gathered into the harem at Susa, and the one who pleases the king will become queen. He approves.
The account describes a royal order, not invitations to a competition. It does not tell us how each young woman or her family responds. Decisions made in the palace will reach into many households.
Then the story introduces one of those households. Mordecai is a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin. His family history reaches back to the exile from Jerusalem under Nebuchadnezzar. He has raised his cousin Hadassah, also called Esther, because both her parents died.
Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter.
Before Esther becomes part of the royal story, she belongs to a family marked by displacement and loss, and by a relative's care. Her beauty is noted here because it will bring her within the king's search. But her life is more than her appearance: she is an orphan whom Mordecai has welcomed and brought up. That relationship will remain important inside the world of the palace.
Questions
1 What do the attendants suggest to the king?
AnswerGather beautiful young women from the provinces into the harem at Susa. The woman who pleases him will become queen in Vashti's place.
2 What do we learn about Mordecai's people?
AnswerHe is a Jew from Benjamin, and his family history includes the exile from Jerusalem under Nebuchadnezzar.
3 How are Mordecai and Esther related?
AnswerEsther is the daughter of Mordecai's uncle, so they are cousins. He has raised her as his own daughter.
4 Why did Mordecai take responsibility for her?
AnswerHer father and mother had died. His care gave her a household after that loss.
What This Means for Us
Families can carry losses that began before the youngest members were born. Listen to those stories with care. Mordecai's response to Esther's loss was practical: he brought her up. When someone close to you is grieving or raising a child through difficult circumstances, ask what continuing help you can offer, not just what you can say once.
Prayer
Father, care for children who have lost parents and for those raising them. Help us offer steady support, and teach us to trust you within circumstances we did not choose. Amen.