Whatever traumatic even happened, we don’t know.  But Esther was an orphan child and was being raised by her uncle.  She was a strikingly beautiful young woman.

In the meantime the rage of the king had cooled about his queen’s defiance, and now his advisors suggested he pick out a new queen.  So his officials went from province to province gathering the beautiful young women.  Then they took him into the care of the eunuch for beauty treatments and a special diet.

Esther, a Jew, was chosen to be one of those beautiful women groomed to be the potential queen.  She was an honorable young woman and found favor among those who were caring for her.

After the prescribed months of beauty treatments, each young woman spent the night with the king.  It was from this night that he would decide who he wanted to become queen.  But each person was only given one shot.  Please the king and have a chance to become queen, or you get sent forever to the harem of the concubines.

Prior to going to the king, each young woman was allowed to take whatever she wanted with her that she asked.  Perhaps it was wealth or jewels or possessions.  Regardless, if she was not chosen as queen, she could take those things with her to the harem of the concubines.  Considering the low odds of being the single one chosen, I’m sure the ladies loaded up on their beautiful jewels and gowns.

Esther was different.  She was humble, teachable, and wise even for a young woman.  Mordecai had told her not to mention that she was a Jew.  She didn’t.  And when it came time to go before the king, she asked the leader of the ladies what she should take.  And she only took with her what he instructed.  Perhaps it was a few simple pieces of jewelry.  We don’t know.  But she understood the point was not to walk safely and secure a future for herself, but to walk boldly and faithfully to secure a place next to the king.

It worked.  The king was delighted and chose her to be queen.  That decision on her part and his would change history.

In the meantime her uncle was always near, giving her instruction and checking in on her.  Because of that one day he would overhear a plot to assassinate the king.  He told Esther who told the king, and those men were hanged.  It would prove to be a pivotal moment in the future.