Esther 2
Job Chapter 2 begins with a scene of Job being tested once again in the heavenly court. the adversary argues that Job’s wholehearted reverence is because of his health, and he is allowed to inflict direct suffering on Job’s body. After that, Job finds himself in extreme physical anguish and humiliation, yet he does not curse God. Next, Job’s wife and his three friends appear, revealing another dimension of suffering within human relationships. This chapter can be seen as the point where the main themes of Job come into full focus.
1verseAfter these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
2verseThen the king’s servants who served him said, “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king.
3verseLet the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the beautiful young virgins to the citadel of Susa, to the women’s house, to the custody of Hegai the king’s eunuch, keeper of the women. Let cosmetics be given them;
4verseand let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” The thing pleased the king, and he did so.
5verseThere was a certain Jew in the citadel of Susa whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,
6versewho had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
7verseHe brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.
8verseSo, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to the citadel of Susa, to the custody of Hegai, Esther was taken into the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
9verseThe maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness from him. He quickly gave her cosmetics and her portions of food, and the seven choice maidens who were to be given her out of the king’s house. He moved her and her maidens to the best place in the women’s house.
10verseEsther had not made known her people nor her relatives, because Mordecai had instructed her that she should not make it known.
11verseMordecai walked every day in front of the court of the women’s house, to find out how Esther was doing, and what would become of her.
12verseEach young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after her purification for twelve months (for so were the days of their purification accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet fragrances and with preparations for beautifying women).
13verseThe young woman then came to the king like this: whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the women’s house to the king’s house.
14verseIn the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second women’s house, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, who kept the concubines. She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she was called by name.
15verseNow when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, came to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the keeper of the women, advised. Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked at her.
16verseSo Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus into his royal house in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17verseThe king loved Esther more than all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
18verseThen the king made a great feast for all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces, and gave gifts according to the king’s bounty.
19verseWhen the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate.
20verseEsther had not yet made known her relatives nor her people, as Mordecai had commanded her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai, like she did when she was brought up by him.
21verseIn those days, while Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, who were doorkeepers, were angry, and sought to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus.
22verseThis thing became known to Mordecai, who informed Esther the queen; and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name.
23verseWhen this matter was investigated, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the king’s presence.
Structure and Flow Analysis
- Verses 1-6: In the heavenly assembly, the adversary appears again, requests permission to test Job, and is granted it with the condition that only Job’s life must not be harmed.
- Verses 7-8: Because of the adversary, Job develops painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and he endures the suffering by scraping his body with broken pieces of pottery while sitting in ashes.
- Verses 9-10: Job’s wife tells him to curse God and die, but Job keeps his faith, calling her words and actions foolish.
- Verses 11-13: The three friends hear of Job’s suffering, come to him, and grieve with him, staying by his side in silence for seven days.
The Whole Meaning and Key Message
In Job Chapter 2, we see that human suffering is not limited to external possessions or circumstances, but extends to a deeper dimension that includes both the body and human relationships. God had focused on Job’s character, faith, and inner steadfastness, while the adversary interprets Job’s faith based on external blessings or health. This chapter highlights the contrast of perspectives on faith and also reminds us of the value of Job’s determination to keep his faith to the end, even amid trials. In addition, the scene where the friends empathize with his grief and accompany him in silence shows the wisdom of human relationships—that in the face of suffering, empathy matters more than words.
Points to Reflect On
- Why did Job refuse to give up his faith even when he lost everything and even when his own body was treated like something to be discarded?
- The reactions shown by Job’s wife and his friends suggest that human weakness and a different way of offering comfort coexist. It allows us to think again about what attitude we should have when we meet people who are suffering.
- Why did God permit a time of silence for Job instead of giving a complete explanation? Let us reflect on the depth of faith contained in that.
Try Applying It to Yourself
- When I find myself in a difficult situation, I should examine whether I have inner strength like Job, so that I can place my trust in God
- Rather than trying to provide the correct answers to those around me who are suffering, I should practice how important it is to live out the “comfort of silence”—simply being there and empathizing
- Before suffering, I should reflect on whether the center of my faith stays rooted in external conditions or grows from my personal relationships
As part of Coupang Partners activities, this post may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
