Hadassah

All truths are not to be spoken at all times, though an untruth is not to be spoken at any time. She being born in Shushan, and her parents being dead, all took her to be of Persian extraction, and she was not bound to undeceive them.
She was brought up with him which showed great humility in her, notwithstanding her advancement, great respect to him, and a sense of gratitude for the kindness he had shown. This charge to her was still continued by Mordecai, partly that she might not fall into contempt, and partly to prevent hatred and envy to the Jewish nation, through her promotion; but chiefly so it was ordered in Providence, the proper time being not yet come.
Concerning Hadassah we must observe,
1. Her original and character. She was one of the children of the captivity, a Jewess and a sharer with her people in their bondage. Daniel and his fellows were advanced in the land where they were captives; for they were of those whom G-d sent thither for their good, Jer. 24:5.
2. She was an orphan; her father and mother were both dead, but, when they had forsaken here, then the L-rd took her up, Ps. 27:10. When those whose unhappiness it is to be thus deprived of their parents in their childhood yet afterwards come to be very pious and prosperous, we ought to take notice of it to the glory of that G-d, and His grace and providence, who has taken it among the titles of His honor to be a Father of the fatherless.
3. She was a beauty, fair of form, good of countenance. Her wisdom and virtue were her greatest beauty, but it is an advantage to be a diamond to be well set.
4. Mordecai, her cousin, was her guardian, brought her up, and took her for his own daughter. The Septuagint says that he designed to make her his wife; if that were so, he was to be praised that he opposed not her better advancement. let G-d be acknowledged in raising up friends for the fatherless and motherless; let it be an encouragement to that pious instance of charity that many who have taken care of the education of orphans have lived to see the good fruit of their care and pains, abundantly to their comfort.
Mordecai being Hadassah ’s guardian or pro-parent, we are told:
A. How tender he was of her, as if she had been his own child: he walked before her door every day, to know how she did, and what interest she had. Let those whose relations are thus cast upon them by divine Providence be thus kindly affectionate to them and considerate for them.
B. How respectful she was to him. Though in relation she was his equal, yet, being in age and dependence his inferior, she honored him as her father— did his commandment. This is an example to orphans; if they fall into the hands of those who love them and take care of them, let them make suitable returns of duty and affection. The less obliged their guardians were in duty to provide for them the more obliged they are in gratitude to honor and obey their guardians.
Here is an instance of Hadassah’s flattery to Mordecai that she did not show her people of her kindred, because Mordecai had charged her that she should not. He did not bid her deny her country, nor tell a lie to conceal her parentage; if he had told her to do so; she must not have done it. But he only told her not to proclaim her country.
All truths are not to be spoken at all times, though an untruth is not to be spoken at any time. She being born in Shushan, and her parents being dead, all took her to be of Persian removal, and she was not bound to undeceive them.
5. Her preferment. Who would have thought that a Jewess, a captive, and orphan, was born to be a queen, an empress! Yet so it proved. Providence sometimes raised up the poor out of the dust, to set them among princes, 1 Sam. 2:8.
A. The king’s chamberlain honored her, and was ready to serve her. Wisdom and virtue will gain respect. Those that make sure of G-d’s favor shall find favor with man too as far as it is good for them. All that looked upon Esther admired her and concluded that she was the lady that would win the prize, and she did win it.
B. The king himself fell in love with her. She was not considerate, as the rest of the maidens were, to set herself off with artificial beauty; she required nothing but just what was appointed for her and yet she was most acceptable. The more natural beauty is the more agreeable. The king loved Esther above all the women. Now he needed not to make any further trials, or take time to deliberate; he is soon determined to set the royal crown upon her head, and make her queen. This was done in his seventh year and Vashti was divorced in his third year (1:3); so that he was four years without a queen.