1) Esther was already of royal descent as she was the daughter of Avichayil, son of Kish, a descendant of King Saul, whose father also bore the name Kish.
2) She was a double orphan! Esther was raised in the home of her relative Mordechai, who took her in after her mother and father both passed away. Mordechai was a wise and learned leader of the Jewish nation at that time, and he continued to look out for her even after she was taken to the palace. Contrary to popular belief, Mordechai was Esther’s first cousin, not her uncle.
3) Esther is identified as “Hadassah. Hadassah is Hebrew for “myrtle,” a delicate white flower with a red edge. Esther is a Persian name, related to the “morning star” as she was as beautiful as the heavenly orbs. Esther in Hebrew is related to the root word for “hidden,” as G‑d’s intervention was hidden throughout the entire turn of events. On the surface, all one sees is a dramatic tale of palace intrigue, but behind the scenes every development was intimately guided by God’s hand.