Esther 2:17, commentary and pictures

The king called Ahasuerus is the Persian king Xerxes, the difference in the names coming from pronunciation in different languages. After Vashti was deposed and put away under a Persian decree that could not be reversed, Esther became queen in her place in the seventh year of his reign. Chosen from among the gathered beautiful maidens and virgins, Esther won the king's love above all the women and favor above all the virgins through her beauty, and he made her queen by setting the royal crown upon her head.

Favor can mean mere leniency, while grace means giving an undeserved gift, as shown when the king gave Esther the royal crown. She did not choose the king herself but was chosen by him, having been his best-loved concubine before she became queen. In God's providence a Jewish maiden was advanced to the throne of Persia while the Jews were captives there.

This placed a Jewish woman in the Persian court before the crisis so she could help save the Jews from a general massacre in Haman's plot. Her marriage was an exceptional case that God overruled for the good of His people. Her rise served God's purpose, though His work would not depend on her faithfulness.

While still keeping her people and family background secret, she may have used the favor available to her at Mordecai's direction to obtain the king's support for Ezra's return and authority to restore Jerusalem and reform Jewish worship. Together with Vashti's life, her obtaining grace and favour above all the virgins and being crowned queen instead of Vashti teaches wives the evil consequences of disregarding what Paul directly teaches about wives, a lesson especially needed when female supremacy is preached. She illustrates that a woman from a lowly station and humble beginnings may later be recognized, honored, and made great as a queen.