1) What “earned” Esther favor? – My thought: Favor isn’t favor if it’s earned. Favor, like grace, is freely given by God to whom He wills. None of us deserve God’s favor. Also, notice in Esther 2:7 what Esther’s condition was prior to her elevation to Queen. She was an orphan! Not only that, she was an orphan living in a foreign land! Ouch! Doesn’t sound favorable does it? I wonder how often God’s favor follows after a season of apparent “curse?” And I wonder if God’s favor toward Esther (Her Persian name. Her real Hebrew name: Hadassah, meaning “myrtle.”) was put into place so that His favor could be shown to all the “chosen” (or favored) people? As her uncle Mordecai reminded her for “such a time as this.” So, favor is given for “such a time as this.” Whatever “this” you’re facing.
2) Why not bow to Haman? – Possibly because bowing and worship are related in the Jewish mind. Jews had laws against this. The 3 Hebrews wouldn’t bow to Neb’s idol and he threw them in the furnace for it.
3) King Xerxes 1/2 kingdom offer? – It shows the extent of Esthers favor with the king. Perhaps he uses hyperbole here, but he is giving her permission to ask large. Reminds me of King Herod’s promise to his stepdaughter… who then requested John the Baptist’s head on a platter.
Esther is one of two books named for women in the Bible. She is the recipient of the first “Miss Universe” contest. Her name comes from “Aster,” meaning “star” (as in asteroid). She was God’s star!