_A.M. 3486. B.C. 518._ The virgins of the kingdom are gathered together, Esther 2:1; and Esther with the rest, Esther 2:5. She finds favour with the king's chamberlain, Esther 2:9. The manner of preparing the virgins, and bringing them to the king, Esther 2:12. Esther pleases him, who makes her que... [ Continue Reading ]
_He remembered Vashti_ With grief and shame, that in his wine and rage he had so severely punished, and so irrevocably rejected, so beautiful and desirable a person, and that for so small a provocation, to which she was easily led by the modesty of her sex and by the laws and customs of Persia.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said the king's servants_ Who, for their own interests, were obliged to quiet the king's mind, and procure him another amiable consort. _To the house of the women_ Or rather, of the virgins; for the house of those who were wives or concubines was different from this, and under another governor... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who had been carried away from Jerusalem_ This may refer either to Kish, Mordecai's grandfather, last mentioned, or to Mordecai himself, which, however, is not probable, as in that case he must have been a very old man, not less than a hundred and forty years of age.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther_ Hadassah was her Hebrew name, before her marriage; and she was called Esther by the king after it. _Esther was brought also unto the king's house_ Or taken, and that by force, as the word תלקח, _tillakach_, often signifies: for so great was the power and... [ Continue Reading ]
_The maiden pleased him_ Because she was very beautiful, therefore he supposed she would be acceptable to the king; and by the divine power, which moveth the hearts of men which way he pleaseth.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mordecai had charged her that she should not show it_ Lest the knowledge hereof should either make her contemptible, or bring some inconvenience to the whole nation: but there was also a hand of God in causing this to be concealed, for the better accomplishment of that which he designed, though Mor... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mordecai walked every day_, &c. He might walk there without being suspected, because he belonged to the court, and was a man of some rank; for those that were carried away in Jeconiah's captivity (as his ancestors were, Est 2:6) were of the better sort, 2 Kings 24:14, &c.; Daniel 1:4. And Esther mi... [ Continue Reading ]
_According to the manner of the women_ Who were kept so long, partly for their better purification, as it here follows; partly out of state, as that which became so great a king; and partly that, being so long in safe custody, the king might be sure he was not imposed upon by a child begotten by ano... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus came every maiden unto the king_ Thus purified and prepared, and thus furnished and attended, as it follows. _Whatsoever she desired was given her_ For ornament, or by way of attendance. And it should be observed, that every one whom the king took to his bed was his wife of a lower rank, as Ha... [ Continue Reading ]
_She required nothing_ Not being desirous to set herself off with artificial beauty, nor, probably, to please the king; having been brought to the king's house without and against her own inclination and choice. _But what Hegai, the king's chamberlain, appointed_ Being covetous of nothing, she left... [ Continue Reading ]
_So Esther was taken into his house-royal_ She was not sent back unto the second house of the women, as the rest were, but the king kept her in his own house. _In the seventh year of his reign_ How it came to pass that it was so long before Esther was advanced to succeed Vashti, seems difficult to r... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he made a release to the provinces_ According to Herodotus, it was customary for the Persian kings, upon their accession to the throne, to remit the tribute which was due to them from all their cities; and Ahasuerus, on this occasion, out of his abundant joy, remitted some tax, or part of a tax... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the virgins were gathered together the second time_ They in all probability were gathered together first in the provinces, and afterward in Susa, before they were taken into the house of the king's chamberlain. The writer now goes back to what happened before Esther's marriage. _Then Mordecai... [ Continue Reading ]
_Esther did the commandment of Mordecai_, &c. A rare example of virtue, that she should be so observant of him when she was a queen: for most persons forget what they were when they are unexpectedly advanced to great honour, dignity, or riches.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Two of the king's chamberlains_ “These were two great men, who perhaps kept the door of the king's bed-chamber, and being either incensed at the divorce of Vashti, whose creatures they were, or at the advancement of Esther, who they thought would in all probability raise her kinsman Mordecai above... [ Continue Reading ]
_It was written in the book of the Chronicles_ A day-book, wherein all memorable things were recorded. _Before the king_ This may refer either, 1st, To the _writing_ of it, signifying that it was written in the king's presence by scribes, who were continually with the king, to record all remarkable... [ Continue Reading ]