Esther 2:16
So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
Tebeth corresponds to December-January, making this a winter month when the court would be in Shushan rather than summer capitals like Persepolis or Ecbatana. The seventh year of Ahasuerus/Xerxes' reign was approximately 479/478 BCE, shortly after his disastrous defeat in Greece at Salamis (480 BCE) and Plataea (479 BCE). The military humiliation and enormous casualties may have left the king especially receptive to the distraction and consolation of a beautiful new queen. God's providence uses even military defeats and political crises to position His servants. The four-year gap between Vashti's removal and Esther's coronation demonstrates that God's timing, though sometimes lengthy from human perspective, perfectly accomplishes His purposes.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the extended timeline (four years from Vashti's removal to Esther's selection) teach patience in trusting God's providence when His purposes unfold slowly?
- What does the specific timing—after Xerxes' military defeat—suggest about how God uses even disasters to create openness for His redemptive purposes?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. The specific chronological marker—"the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year"—indicates approximately four years after Vashti's removal in year three (1:3). This extended timeline accommodated Xerxes' Greek campaign (480 BCE) and the elaborate candidate selection process. The passive voice "Esther was taken" maintains emphasis on providence rather than human agency—she didn't seize this opportunity but was carried by circumstances beyond her control. The timing proves providentially perfect: not too early (before the mechanism existed for her to help her people) nor too late (after Haman's plot might have been irrevocable). God's providence operates with perfect timing, positioning His servants exactly when and where needed.