Strange Story: Esther 2 Why Was Esther Chosen?

The virgins were allowed to take something with them when they went to be with the king; they could choose almost anything they wanted and I’m sure the options were plentiful and impressive. What they chose was observed carefully because it showed something about their character.

Esther chose very differently from the rest, in part because she thought differently, and in part because she followed the advice of the head Eunuch, whose favor she had won. It appears that Esther won the favor of the head eunuch very early on and as he observed her for an entire year, his first impression was reaffirmed many times. This reinforces the idea that the head eunuch, his assistants, and the king, were looking at character more than physical beauty. I envision him giving her a hint of what to take when her turn came, suggesting something, or a small collection of things, and she had the wisdom to not go beyond what he had suggested (Esther 2:15). As I envision it, he did not tell her to stick with only what he said; but she was wise enough to limit herself to his advice.

I also imagine she knew when to be quiet and when to speak. When she did speak, her conversation connected with the king. She could speak intelligently about history, religions, cultures, languages, etc. Yet she was not pushy or overpowering. She was comfortable in his presence, not afraid, but also not arrogant or assuming. For these reasons, and many more, along with the multiple good reports of the eunuchs, Esther was considered the best choice to become, not only the king’s latest wife, but the queen of a massive empire.

Esther probably went to the king more than once. We are told in Esther 2:14 that each girl spent only one night with the king unless he summoned her again by name. We can assume that on the first night, he noticed many things about Esther that were different. He probably chose to have her come to him several times so he could continue testing her with more questions and with various situations. In this way he confirmed his thoughts about her and solidified his decision.

We can rightly assume that Esther was more than beautiful, she was special. She had probably allowed the hardships she had faced in life, which included losing both parents, to make her better, not bitter. Thus she probably had a genuinely sweet disposition. She was probably wise, and definitely respectful. She was not only beautiful to look at, but also the kind of example the king wanted the other women in his kingdom to follow.