What is the meaning of Esther 2:14? She would go there in the evening The verse opens by noting that each young woman “would go there in the evening.” This was the moment of her private presentation to King Xerxes after a full year of beauty preparations (Esther 2:12–13). The darkness of evening underscores both secrecy and finality—once she left the first harem, her status changed forever. • Evening often marks decisive moments in Scripture, from the Passover night (Exodus 12:6–12) to Jesus’ institution of the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:14). • Just as those nights carried permanent consequences, this evening visit fixed each woman’s future. And in the morning she would return to a second harem The next morning she was escorted to a different residence, literally moving from “prospective bride” to “concubine.” • The contrast between night and morning highlights the abrupt end of her one opportunity with the king (compare Psalm 30:5). • Esther 2:19 shows that this second harem was separate from the royal household, emphasizing the isolation that followed a single night of favor—or of disappointment. Under the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch in charge of the concubines Shaashgaz managed the women who had been with the king but were not chosen as queen. His oversight ensured that no other man would ever father a child by them, preserving the royal lineage (cf. 2 Kings 20:18; Daniel 1:3–4 on eunuchs guarding royal interests). • The mention of his name and role affirms the historical accuracy and administrative detail of the narrative. • The women’s new status depended entirely on the king’s past pleasure, not on their own future choices. She would not return to the king unless he delighted in her Royal delight determined whether a woman ever saw Xerxes again. The text underscores absolute sovereignty: the king’s favor is the only path back into his presence. • Esther 4:11 echoes this strict protocol when Esther later risks approaching the king uninvited. • Proverbs 19:12 likens a king’s favor to “dew on the grass,” fleeting and life-giving only when granted. The spiritual parallel is clear: divine favor, not human effort, opens access to the true King (Psalm 5:12). And summoned her by name Being called “by name” signified personal acceptance and ongoing relationship (Isaiah 43:1; John 10:3). For these women, no summons meant a lifetime in obscurity. • The phrase stresses individual recognition: even in a vast empire, the king’s word singled out one woman from many. • Spiritually, the Lord likewise knows His own by name (2 Timothy 2:19), assuring believers of secure, personal fellowship. summary Esther 2:14 paints a vivid picture of absolute royal authority: one evening’s encounter decided a woman’s destiny, and only the king’s delight and personal summons could alter it. Historically, the verse explains Persian court protocol; spiritually, it reminds us that access to any throne—whether Xerxes’ or God’s—depends entirely on the sovereign pleasure of the ruler. In Christ, who calls us by name and delights in those clothed with His righteousness (Zephaniah 3:17), believers find the lasting favor that no earthly monarch could provide. |
    |