II. (1) AFTER THESE THINGS. — We have seen that the great feast at Susa was in the year 483 B.C., and that in the spring of 481 B.C. Xerxes set out for Greece. At some unspecified time, then, between these limits the proposal now started is to be placed. The marriage of Esther, however (Esther 2:16... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HOUSE OF THE WOMEN. — The harem, then as now, A prominent feature in the establishment of an Eastern king. HEGE. — Called Hegai in Esther 2:8; a eunuch whose special charge seems to have been the virgins, while another, named Shaashgaz (Esther 2:14), had the custody of the concubines. The whole... [ Continue Reading ]
MORDECAI. — Canon Rawlinson is disposed to identify Mordecai with Matacas, who was the most powerful of the eunuchs in the reign of Xerxes. It may be assumed that Mordecai was a eunuch, by the way in which he was allowed access to the royal harem (Esther 2:11; Esther 2:22). The name Mordecai occurs... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HAD BEEN ... — The antecedent is obviously Kish, though as far as the mere grammar goes it might have been Mordecai. JECONIAH. — That is, Jehoiachin. (See 2 Kings 24:12.) NEBUCHADNEZZAR ... HAD CARRIED AWAY. — This was in 598 B.C., 117 years before this time, so that the four generations are r... [ Continue Reading ]
HADASSAH. — This is evidently formed from the Hebrew _hadas,_ the myrtle: Esther is generally assumed to be a Persian name, meaning a star. Unless we assume that this latter name was given afterwards, and is here used by anticipation, we have here an early case of the common Jewish practice of using... [ Continue Reading ]
OBTAINED KINDNESS OF HIM. — This is the same phrase as that which is rendered “obtained favour in his sight” in Esther 2:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
ESTHER HAD NOT SHEWED ... — From the hope on Mordecai’s part that she might pass for a native Persian, and that her Jewish birth should be no hindrance to her advancement. The king does not learn his wife’s nation till some time afterwards (Esther 7:4).... [ Continue Reading ]
MORDECAI WALKED ... — Apparently he was one of the royal doorkeepers. (See Esther 2:21; Esther 5:13.)... [ Continue Reading ]
MANNER. — Translate, _law_ or _ordinance,_ as in Esther 1:8; Esther 1:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MONTH TEBETH. — This extended from the new moon in January to that in February; the name occurs only here. The fifth Egyptian month, lasting from December 20 to January 20, was called Tybi. The time referred to in the verse will be the January or February of the year 478 B.C., and must have been... [ Continue Reading ]
RELEASE. — Literally, _rest._ The word only occurs _here: it may_ refer either to a release from tribute or from military service, probably the former. Either, however, would have been consistent with Persian usage. (See Herod, iii. 67, 6:59.)... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE VIRGINS ... — Here begins a fresh incident in the history, whose date we cannot fix precisely, save that it falls between the marriage of Esther and the twelfth year of Ahasuerus (Esther 3:7). The king “loved Esther above all the women,” but how the word “love “is degraded in this conne... [ Continue Reading ]
ESTHER HAD NOT YET ... — Perhaps this verse is added to meet the supposition that the king wished to replace Esther through finding out her nation.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THOSE DAYS. — Here the thread of Esther 2:19 is taken up, _“_then I say, in those days — “ BIGTHAN. — Called Bigtha in Esther 1:10; Bigthana in Esther 6:2. SOUGHT TO LAY HAND ON THE KING. — It is noticeable that Xerxes was ultimately murdered by Artabanus, captain of the guard, and Mithridates,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ESTHER CERTIFIED THE KING THEREOF. — Doubtless by this means an increased influence was gained over the capricious mind of the king, an influence which before long served Esther in good stead.... [ Continue Reading ]
HANGED ON A TREE. — Were crucified; a common punishment among the Persians, especially on rebels (Herod. iii. 120, 125, 159, &c). The dead body of Leonidas was crucified by Xerxes’ orders after the desperate stand at Thermopylæ. BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. — A sleepless night of Xerxes accidentally bro... [ Continue Reading ]