Esther 2:1
AFTER THESE THINGS: i.e. in 467. Astyages was now twenty-one. In the seventh year (Esther 2:16); one of these spent in preparations (Esther 2:12). AHASUERUS. See note on Esther 1:1. VASHTI. See note on Esther 1:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THESE THINGS: i.e. in 467. Astyages was now twenty-one. In the seventh year (Esther 2:16); one of these spent in preparations (Esther 2:12). AHASUERUS. See note on Esther 1:1. VASHTI. See note on Esther 1:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
VIRGINS. Hebrew. _bethulah._ See note on Genesis 24:43.... [ Continue Reading ]
CUSTODY. hand. CHAMBERLAIN. eunuch.... [ Continue Reading ]
MAIDEN. a young person. Hebrew. _na'ar._... [ Continue Reading ]
A CERTAIN JEW. a man (Hebrew. _'ish_. App-14.),. Jew. The contrast between Judah and Israel was lost in. strange land; and, as Nebuchadnezzar's campaign was against Judah, so "Jew" became the name used by Gentiles. MORDECAI. Daniel and Ezekiel taken to Babylon (2 Kings 24:14; 2 Kings 24:15); Nehemi... [ Continue Reading ]
JECONIAH. Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:6). CARRIED AWAY. Compare 2 Kings 24:14; 2 Kings 24:15; Jeremiah 1:24:133 years before the generally received date (i.e. 598-465. 133), which, therefore, cannot be correct. From the carrying away of Jeconiah to the marriage of Esther to Astyages in his seventh year... [ Continue Reading ]
HADASSAH. myrtle. Not living with Mordecai (who was in the palace, Esther 2:5), but brought up by him. ESTHER. star. But Rabbi Yehudah derives it from _sathar,_ to hide, because she was hidden in her guardian's house; and her nationality also was concealed (Esther 2:10).... [ Continue Reading ]
COMMANDMENT. word. Hebrew. _dabar._ See note on Esther 1:12. DECREE. Imperial decree. Hebrew. _dath_, as in Esther 3:15; Esther 4:3; Esther 4:8; Esther 8:14; Esther 8:17; Esther 9:1; Esther 9:13; Esther 9:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
OBTAINED. won. PREFERRED. promoted. Probably influenced by Mor-deoai.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT SHEWED. Not till Esther 7:3. This was Mordecai's wisdom. Compare Esther 2:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO KNOW. This was Mordecai's solicitude. All this proves that these events must have taken place before the emancipation made by Cyras (the son of this Astyages, App-57), recorded in Ezr. No such secrecy would have been necessary, and no thought of allowing the People, whom he had just emancipated,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR. Another _Parenthesis_. App-6. See note on Esther 1:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
TEBETH. See App-51. SEVENTH YEAR. The first feast was in the third year. The search probably took one year; the preparation another; oblations another. Other seasons are unnamed.... [ Continue Reading ]
RELEASE. a holiday. Hebrew. _hanahah._... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN, &C.. while they were collecting, &c. SAT IN THE KING'S GATE. Mordecai was of the king's household. See Esther 2:5. This guarded Esther's interests, and enabled him to obtain all information. (N. B. Haman lived in his own house with his family in the city.)... [ Continue Reading ]
AS. according as. FOR, &C. Thus revealing. new characteristic of Esther. This secrecy was hardly needed if the emancipation of Ezra 1:1 had already taken place. COMMANDMENT. Hebrew. _'amar_, as in Esther 1:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
GATE. Hebrew. _sha'ar =_ the lofty gate of. palace, not the same word as "door", Esther 2:21; Esther 6:2. DOOR. threshold. Hebrew. _saph._... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS KNOWN. Mordecai sat in the king's gate: the very place to hear all news.... [ Continue Reading ]
WRITTEN. See note on Esther 6:1.... [ Continue Reading ]