After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. Ver. 1. _After these things_] After the wine was out, the fuel of his anger spent, and the lust thereof satisfied. _ When the wrath of king Ahasuerus wa... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: Ver. 2. Then said the king's servants] His friends, saith Josephus, to whom he had opened his mind; the young courtiers, say others (green wood is ever shrinking and warping), but most proba... [ Continue Reading ]
And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given [th... [ Continue Reading ]
And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so. Ver. 4. _And let the maiden_] Herein unhappy that she got her honour with the loss of her honesty; and that so many maids are made miserable for her sake. _ That pleaseth the king_... [ Continue Reading ]
Esther 2:5 [Now] in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name [was] Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; Ver. 5. _Now in Shushan the palace_] Not in Babylon, as Josephus doteth. _There was a certain Jew_] That had not returned to Jerusalem, as he... [ Continue Reading ]
Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. Ver. 6. _Who had been carried away from Jerusalem_] Kish had, not Mordecai; unless it were in the loins of his great grandfa... [ Continue Reading ]
And he brought up Hadassah, that [is], Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid [was] fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter. Ver. 7. _And he brought up_] He both nourished and nurtured her in the t... [ Continue Reading ]
So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. Est 2:8 So it came to pass, when... [ Continue Reading ]
And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, [which were] meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best [place] of the hous... [ Continue Reading ]
Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew [it]. Ver. 10. _Esther had not shewed her people_] Because the Jews were slighted as captives and forlorn (how dear to the gods that nation is, saith Cicero, it appeareth, _quod est victa, quod e... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her._ Ver. 11. _And Mordecai walked every day_] What marvel that Esther was so obedient to Mordecai when he was so solicitous of her welfare? These mutual respects draw on one ano... [ Continue Reading ]
Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, [to wit], six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with [other] things fo... [ Continue Reading ]
Then thus came [every] maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house. Ver. 13. _Then thus came every maiden to the king_] Thus prepared, anointed, appointed, &c., rejoicing in that whereof they had reason rather to repe... [ Continue Reading ]
In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name. Ver. 14. _In the evening... [ Continue Reading ]
Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that lo... [ Continue Reading ]
_So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which [is] the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign._ Ver. 16. _So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus_] And so that sweet promise was fulfilled and exemplified in her: "Though ye have lien among the pots,... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. Ver. 17. _And the king loved Esther_] This was the Lord's own work, who regarded the low estat... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, [even] Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king. Ver. 18. _Then the king made a great feast_] Feasts are never more in season than at the recovery of the lost ri... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate. Ver. 19. _And when the virgins were gathered together, &c._] For a new supply of the king's insatiable lust, say some, this affection soon growing cold to Esther. So unreasonable is lust, so inconstan... [ Continue Reading ]
Esther had not [yet] shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him. Ver. 20. _Esther had not yet shewed her kindred_] Taciturnity is sometimes a virtue, and Tacitus the best historian. Queen Eliza... [ Continue Reading ]
In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. Ver. 21. _In those days_] While the king was drowning himself in pleasure, and dreadeth no danger; while... [ Continue Reading ]
And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told [it] unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king [thereof] in Mordecai's name. Ver. 22. _And the thing was known to Mordecai_] How he came to know it is uncertain. Josephus saith that it was revealed to him by one Barnabazus, a Jew, who was ser... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king._ Ver. 23. _And when inquisition was made of the matter_] The king neither slighted this accusation, nor too hastily believed i... [ Continue Reading ]