Esther Becomes Queen
A Jewish orphan rises from obscurity to become queen of Persia, positioned by God's providence for a crucial moment in history.
Esther 1:1-22, Esther 2:1-23
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The Story
King Ahasuerus ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia, his throne established in Shushan the palace. In the third year of his reign, he held a lavish feast displaying his magnificent wealth and power for 180 days. When Queen Vashti refused his command to display her beauty before his drunken nobles, the king's anger burned hot. His counselors advised him to depose her, lest all wives despise their husbands, and Ahasuerus agreed. The decree went forth: Vashti would be queen no more.
After his anger subsided, the king's servants proposed a plan: gather beautiful young virgins from all provinces to find a new queen. Among those brought to the palace was Hadassah, called Esther, a Jewish orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai. Her parents had died, and Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter. She was lovely in form and beautiful to behold.
Mordecai had warned Esther not to reveal her Jewish identity. She found favor with Hegai, keeper of the women, who gave her the best place in the house and seven maidens to serve her. For twelve months she underwent beauty treatments—six months with oil of myrrh and six with sweet spices—before her turn to go before the king.
When Esther's turn came, she required nothing but what Hegai advised. She obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her. In the tenth month of the seventh year of his reign, King Ahasuerus loved Esther above all the women. He set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and gave gifts with royal liberality.
Meanwhile, Mordecai sat at the king's gate. There he overheard two chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, plotting to assassinate King Ahasuerus. Mordecai told Esther, who informed the king in Mordecai's name. When the matter was investigated and found true, both men were hanged. The deed was written in the book of chronicles before the king—a small act that would prove crucial in days to come.
God's hand was invisible but unmistakable. An orphaned Jewish girl was now queen of the greatest empire on earth. Her adoptive father sat at the gate, positioned to hear vital information. Her identity remained secret. Everything was being prepared, though no one yet knew for what purpose.
The Brave Girl Who Became Queen
Kids Version
Once upon a time, there was a girl named Esther. Her mommy and daddy had died when she was little, so her big cousin Mordecai took care of her. He loved her like she was his own daughter.
Esther and Mordecai lived in a land called Persia, far from their homeland. A very powerful king named Ahasuerus ruled there. He lived in a beautiful palace with lots of gold and jewels.
One day, the king's wife, Queen Vashti, did something that made the king very angry. He said she couldn't be queen anymore.
The king's helpers said, 'Let's find you a new queen! We'll bring the most beautiful young women in the kingdom to the palace, and you can choose the best one!'
Esther was one of the young women brought to the palace. She was very beautiful and very kind. Everyone who met her liked her! The man in charge of all the young women gave Esther the best room and the nicest helpers.
For a whole year, Esther got special beauty treatments and wore fancy clothes. Then it was time to meet the king.
When King Ahasuerus saw Esther, he loved her more than anyone else! He put a royal crown on her head and made her the new queen! There was a big celebration throughout the whole kingdom.
Esther kept a secret, though. Mordecai had told her not to tell anyone she was Jewish. She obeyed him.
Mordecai stayed nearby, working at the king's gate. One day, he heard two bad men planning to hurt the king! Mordecai quickly told Esther, and she told the king. The bad men were caught, and the king was safe. The king wrote down in his special book that Mordecai had saved his life.
Esther didn't know it yet, but God had a very important job for her to do. He had made her queen for a special reason!
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Scripture — Esther 1:1-22 (KJV)
1Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)
2That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
3In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:
4When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.
5And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace; present: Heb. found
6Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble. blue, hangings: or, violet, etc of red: or, of porphyre, and marble and alabaster, and stone of blue colour
7And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king. royal: Heb. wine of the kingdom state: Heb. hand
8And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
9Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
10On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, chamberlains: or, eunuchs
11To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. fair: Heb. good of countenance
12But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him. by his: Heb. which was by the hand of his eunuchs
13Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
14And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
15What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains? What: Heb. What to do
16And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
17For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
18Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.
19If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. If it: Heb. If it be good with the king unto: Heb. unto her companion from him: Heb. from before him be not: Heb. pass not away
20And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.
21And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan: pleased: Heb. was good in the eyes of the king
22For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people. that it: Heb. that one should publish it according to the language of his people
Memory Verse
“Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)”
— Esther 1:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Esther Becomes Queen” in the Bible?
A Jewish orphan rises from obscurity to become queen of Persia, positioned by God's providence for a crucial moment in history. This story is found in Esther 1:1-22, Esther 2:1-23.
Where is “Esther Becomes Queen” found in the Bible?
“Esther Becomes Queen” is found in Esther 1:1-22, Esther 2:1-23, in the book of Esther.
What can children learn from “Esther Becomes Queen”?
This story teaches children about Providence, Preparation, God's sovereignty, Divine positioning. Esther was a Jewish girl whose parents died. Her cousin Mordecai took care of her. When the king needed a new queen, God helped Esther become queen of the whole kingdom!