CRITICAL NOTES.] ESTHER 2:1. AFTER THESE THINGS] How long after the divorce of Vashti is uncertain. It may have been only a few months, or it may have been a year or more after. HE REMEMBERED VASHTI] And along with the remembrance came a desire to have her restored to favour again, and probably, al... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.] ESTHER 2:2.] The youths, or male domestics, without regard to age, that served before the king, sought to avert the danger that threatened. They advised that maidens, virgins, be brought to the king, and that these should be beautiful to look upon. ESTHER 2:3. THE HOUSE OF THE WOM... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.] ESTHER 2:5.] Jair, Shimei, and Kish can hardly mean the father, grandfather, and great-grandfather of Mordecai. On the contrary, if Jair were perhaps his father, Shimei and Kish may have been the names of renowned ancestors. Shimei was probably the son of Gera, and Kish the father o... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.] ESTHER 2:9. SEVEN MAIDENS] Probably each of the virgins had the same number of maids to attend her; but Esther’s maids were chosen with special care. It seems also that both Esther and her maids were favoured with the choicest apartments in the harem. ESTHER 2:10. NOT SHOWED HER P... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.] ESTHER 2:11. MORDECAI … BEFORE THE COURT OF THE WOMEN’S HOUSE] This leads us to suppose that he was an eunuch. It is not probable that be would, otherwise, have such access to the house of the women as it appears he had. It is the opinion of many that he was a royal porter having c... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.] ESTHER 2:13. WHATSOEVER SHE DESIRED] In the way of jewels, ornaments, or dress. “No doubt,” says Rawlinson, “the virgins generally took the opportunity—one that would occur but once in their lives—to load themselves with precious ornaments of various kinds—necklaces, bracelets, ear... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.] ESTHER 2:15. SHE REQUIRED NOTHING] She made no effort to adorn her person with jewellery or dress to please her own fancy, but left the matter entirely to Hegai, who would be likely to know best what would please the king. ESTHER 2:16. TEBETH (answering to part of our December and... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.] ESTHER 2:21. BIGTHAN] Probably the same as _Bigtha_ (Esther 1:10). Called _Bigthana_ in Esther 6:2. WHICH KEPT THE DOOR] Lit., _guards of the threshold_. Being doorkeepers, like Mordecai, the latter was able the more readily to learn of their conspiracy. Such conspiracies among the... [ Continue Reading ]