Esther 2:23

21-23 Good subjects must not conceal any bad design they know of against the prince, or the public peace. Mordecai was not rewarded at the time, but a remembrance was written. Thus, with respect to those who serve Christ, though their recompence is not till the resurrection of the just, yet an account is kept of their work of faith and labour of love, which God is not unrighteous to forget. The servant of God must be faithful to every trust, and watchful for those who employ him. If he appear to be neglected now, he will be remembered hereafter. None of our actions can be forgotten; even our most secret thoughts are written in lasting registers, Revelation 20:12...

Verse Esther 2:23. _IT WAS FOUND OUT_] It was proved against them, in consequence of which they were _hanged_. Perhaps the words _vaiyittalu al ets, they were hung upon wood_ or _a tree_, may refer to their being _impaled_. A pointed stake is set upright in the ground, and the culprit is taken, placed on the sharp point, and then pulled down by his legs till the stake that went in at the fundament passes up through the body and comes out by the side of the neck. A most dreadful species of punishment, in which _revenge_ and _cruelty_ may glut the utmost of their malice. The culprit lives a considerable time in excruciating agonies. It has been observed that the _name of God_ does not once occur in this book. This is true of the _Hebrew_ text, and all _translations_ from it; but in the _Septuagint_ we find the following wor

BOTH HANGED ON A TREE - i. e. “crucified” or “impaled” the ordinary punishment of rebels and traitors in Persia. THE BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES - Ctesias drew his Persian history from them, and they are often glanced at by Herodotus....

EXPOSITION MORDECAI'S DISCOVERY OF A PLOT AGAINST AHASUERUS' LIFE (Esther 2:19-17). Some time after Esther had been made queen, there was a second collection of virgins at Susa (verse 19), under circumstances which are not related, and which were probably of small importance. _At this time _(verse 21) Mordecai, still serving in his humble office at the palace gate, from which he had not been advanced, since Esther had told no one that he was her relation (verse 20), happened to detect a conspiracy against the king's life, which had been formed by two of the palace eunuchs, Bigthan and Tercsh, whom Ahasuerus had somehow offended (verse 21). Being still in the habit of holding communication with Esther, Mordecai was able to make her acquainted with th

AND WHEN INQUISITION WAS MADE OF THE MATTER, IT WAS FOUND OUT,.... That these two men had entered into a conspiracy to take away the king's life; full proof and evidence were given of it: THEREFORE THEY WERE BOTH HANGED ON A TREE; Josephus e says they were crucified; but hanging was frequent among the Persians, as Grotius observes, and better agrees with the word here used: AND IT WAS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES BEFORE THE KING; in a diary kept by the king's order, in which memorable events were set down, and might be done in the presence of the king, as well as the book lay open before him to read at any time; and this is observed to agree with the manner of Xerxes, who is reported f to sit on a throne of gold to behold a sea fight between the Grecians and Persians, and had several scribes by him to take down whatever was done in the fight. e Ibid. (Antiqu. l. 11. c. 6. sec...

ESTHER CHOSEN QUEEN AND MORDECAI'S DISCOVERY CHAPTER 2 _ 1. The suggestion (Esther 2:1)_ 2. Mordecai and Esther introduced (Esther 2:5) 3. Esther brought to the king's house (Esther 2:8) 4. Esther chosen as queen (Esther 2:12) 5.Mordecai's discovery and exposure of the plot (Esther 2:19) Esther 2:1. This probably did not happen immediately after the feast. We learn this from verse 16 in this chapter. He took Esther in the place of Vas

MORDECAI DETECTS A PLOT TO MURDER THE KING. A story of the conspiracy of regicides is set here in both Heb. and LXX, because the earlier mention of it had been cut out. But this insertion is badly made; for Mordecai would surely not send his report of the conspiracy to the king through Esther, and so violate his own advice to her to conceal her relationship. Probably it was Haman that was trusted by Mordecai to carry the message; hence followed Haman's jealousy and hence also, doubtless, resulted Mordecai's contempt for Haman, and the refusal to honour him. Mordecai has often been condemned for this stiff refusal: it is called Jewish narrowness. But why condemn the man for his stern honesty and for his obedience to the Decalogue?...

WRITTEN. See note on Esther 6:1....

Mordecai's discovery of the plot against the king's life 19. _And when the virgins were gathered together the second time_ Render, _Now when maidens were being gathered together a second time_. There is no article attached to the word -virgins" in the original, and we have no means of knowing what kind of occasion is referred to here. It is merely a conjecture that the reference is to an effort made by the officials to supplant Esther in the king's affections by introducing to his notice such as would better support their influence. The clause is omitted in the LXX. _then Mordecai sat etc._ better, perhaps, _and when Mordecai was sitting etc._In this way we have another circumstantial clause, which is added to the first, and resumed in Esther 2:21. Mordecai occupied a place at the gate of the palace properly so called, or of that division of the women's apartment

E. Sedition Revealed TEXT: Esther 2:19-23 19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai was sitting in the king's gate. 20 Esther had not yet made known 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. 21 In those days, while Mordecai was sitting in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those that kept the threshold, were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus. 22 And the thing became known to Mordecai, who showed it unto Esther the queen; and Esther told the king thereof in Mordecai's name. 23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the