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2:12 At the end <07093> of the twelve <06240> <08147> months <02320> that were <01961> required <01881> for the women <0802>, when the turn <08447> of each young woman <05291> <05291> arrived <05060> to <0413> go <0935> to King <04428> Ahasuerus <0325>– for <03588> in this way <03651> they had to fulfill <04390> their time <03117> of cosmetic treatment <04795>: six <08337> months <02320> with oil <08081> of myrrh <04753>, and six <08337> months <02320> with perfume <01314> and various ointments <08562> used by women <0802>– 2:13 the woman <05291> would go <0935> to <0413> the king <04428> in the following way: Whatever <0834> <03605> she asked <0559> for would be provided <05414> for her to take <0935> with <05973> her from <05704> the harem <0802> <01004> to <05704> the royal <04428> palace <01004>. 2:14 In the evening <06153> she <01931> went <0935>, and in the morning <01242> she <01931> returned <07725> to <0413> a separate part <08145> of the harem <0802> <01004>, to <0413> the authority <03027> of Shaashgaz <08190> the king’s <04428> eunuch <05631> who was overseeing <08104> the concubines <06370>. She would not <03808> go <0935> back <05750> to <0413> the king <04428> unless <0518> the king <04428> was pleased <02654> with her and she was requested <07121> by name <08034>. 2:15 When it became <05060> the turn <08447> of Esther <0635> daughter <01323> of Abihail <032> the uncle <01730> of Mordecai <04782> (who <0834> had raised <03947> her as if <0518> <03588> she were his own daughter <01323>) to go <0935> to <0413> the king <04428>, she did not <03808> request <01245> anything <01697> except what <0834> Hegai <01896> the king’s <04428> eunuch <05631>, who was <01961> overseer <08104> of the women <0802>, had recommended <0559>. Yet Esther <0635> met <05375> with the approval <05869> <02580> of all <03605> who saw <07200> her. 2:16 Then Esther <0635> was taken <03947> to <0413> King <04428> Ahasuerus <0325> at <0413> his royal <04438> residence <01004> in the tenth <06224> month <02320> (that <01931> is, the month <02320> of Tebeth <02887>) in the seventh <07651> year <08141> of his reign <04438>. 2:17 And the king <04428> loved <0157> Esther <0635> more than all <03605> the other women <0802>, and she met <05375> with his loving approval <02617> <02580> more than all <03605> the other young women <01330>. So he placed <07760> the royal <04438> high turban <03804> on her head <07218> and appointed her queen <04427> in place <08478> of Vashti <02060>. 2:18 Then the king <04428> prepared <06213> a large <01419> banquet <04960> for all <03605> his officials <08269> and his servants <05650>– it was actually Esther’s <0635> banquet <04960>. He also set aside <06213> a holiday <02010> for the provinces <04082>, and he provided <05414> for offerings <04864> at the king’s <04428> expense <03027>. 2:19 Now when the young women <01330> were being gathered <06908> again <08145>, Mordecai <04782> was sitting <03427> at the king’s <04428> gate <08179>. 2:20 Esther <0635> was still not <0369> divulging <05046> her lineage <04138> or her people <05971>, just as <0834> Mordecai <04782> had instructed <06680> her. Esther <0635> continued to do <06213> whatever Mordecai <04782> said <03982>, just as <0834> she had done when <01961> he was raising <0545> her. 2:21 In those <01992> days <03117> while Mordecai <04782> was sitting <03427> at the king’s <04428> gate <08179>, Bigthan <0904> and Teresh <08657>, two <08147> of the king’s <04428> eunuchs <05631> who protected <08104> the entrance <05592>, became angry <07107> and plotted <01245> to assassinate <03027> <07971> King <04428> Ahasuerus <0325>. 2:22 When Mordecai <04782> learned <03045> of the conspiracy <01697>, he informed <05046> Queen <04436> Esther <0635>, and Esther <0635> told <0559> the king <04428> in Mordecai’s <04782> behalf <08034>. 2:23 The king then had the matter <01697> investigated <01245> and, finding <04672> it to be so, had the two <08147> conspirators hanged <08518> on <05921> a gallows <06086>. It was then recorded <03789> in the daily <03117> chronicles <01697> in the king’s <04428> presence <06440>.

• Est 2:19-23 -- Mordecai Learns of a Plot against the King

• Chamberlain

  [ebd] a confidential servant of the king (Gen. 37:36; 39:1). In Rom. 16:23 mention is made of "Erastus the chamberlain." Here the word denotes the treasurer of the city, or the quaestor, as the Romans styled him. He is almost the ...
  [isbe] CHAMBERLAIN - cham'-ber-lin: In the Old Testament the word rendered chamberlain, caric, is more properly "eunuch," an officer which oriental monarchs placed over their harems (Est 1:10,12,15; 2:3,14,21; 4:4 f; 6:2,14; 7:9; 2...
  [nave] CHAMBERLAIN, an officer of a king, 2 Kin. 23:11; Esth. 1:10-15; 2:3-21; 4:4, 5; Acts 12:20; Rom. 16:23.
  

• Servant

  [nave] SERVANT Distinguished as bond servant, who was a slave, and hired servant. Bond Laws of Moses concerning, Ex. 21:1-11, 20, 21, 26, 27, 32; Lev. 19:20-22; 25:6, 10, 35-55; Deut. 15:12, 14, 18; 24:7. Kidnapping forbidden, D...
  

• Government

  [nave] GOVERNMENT Paternal functions of, Gen. 41:25-57. Civil service school provided by, Dan. 1:3-20. Maintains a system of public instruction, 2 Chr. 17:7-9. Executive departments in. See: Cabinet; King; Ruler; Statecraft. Ju...
  

• Teresh

  [ebd] severe, a eunuch or chamberlain in the palace of Ahasuerus, who conspired with another to murder him. The plot was detected by Mordecai, and the conspirators were put to death (Esther 2:21; 6:2).
  [isbe] TERESH - te'-resh (teresh (Est 2:21; 6:2); Codex Vaticanus, Codex Alexandrinus, and Codex Sinaiticus omit it; but Codex Sinaiticus' margin has Tharas and Tharras): A chamberlain of King Ahasuerus. Oppert compares the name wi...
  [smith] (strictness), one of the two eunuchs whose plot to assassinate Ahasuerus was discovered by Mordecai. (Esther 2:21; 6:2) He was hanged. (B.C. 479.)
  [nave] TERESH, a Persian chamberlain. Plotted against Ahasuerus, Esth. 2:21-23; 6:2.
  

• Bigthan

  [ebd] one of the eunuchs who "kept the door" in the court of Ahasuerus. With Teresh he conspired against the king's life. Mordecai detected the conspiracy, and the culprits were hanged (Esther 2:21-23; 6:1-3).
  [nave] BIGTHAN, a conspiring Persian courtier, Esth. 2:21-23; 6:2.
  

• Crown

  [ebd] (1.) Denotes the plate of gold in the front of the high priest's mitre (Ex. 29:6; 39:30). The same Hebrew word so rendered (ne'zer) denotes the diadem worn by Saul in battle (2 Sam. 1:10), and also that which was used at the...
  [isbe] CROWN - kroun: The word crown in the Old Testament is a translation of five different Hebrew words, and in the New Testament of two Greek words. These express the several meanings, and must be examined to ascertain the same....
  [smith] This ornament, which is both ancient and universal, probably originated from the fillets used to prevent the hair from being dishevelled by the wind. Such fillets are still common; they gradually developed into turbans, which...
  [nave] CROWN Prescribed for priests, Ex. 29:6; 39:30; Lev. 8:9. Worn by kings, 2 Sam. 1:10; 12:30; 2 Kin. 11:12; Esth. 6:8; Song 3:11; Rev. 6:2; by queens, Esth. 1:11; 2:17; 8:15. Made of gold, Psa. 21:3; Zech. 6:11. Of victory,...
  

• Abihail

  [ebd] father of might. (1.) Num. 3:35. (2.) 1 Chr. 2:29. (3.) 1 Chr. 5:14. (4.) The second wife of King Rehoboam (2 Chr. 11:18), a descendant of Eliab, David's eldest brother. (5.) The father of Esther and uncle of Mordecai (Esthe...
  [isbe] ABIHAIL - ab'-i-hal ('abhichayil; in some manuscripts 'abhihayil, when feminine, but best reading is the former: "father, or cause, of strength"): Five persons in the Old Testament are called by this name: (1) A Levite and t...
  [smith] (father of , i.e. possessing, strength). Father of Zuriel, chief of the Levitical father of Merari, a contemporary of Moses. (Numbers 3:35) (B.C. 1490.) Wife of Abishur. (1 Chronicles 2:29) Son of Huri, of the tribe of Ga...
  [nave] ABIHAIL 1. Father of Esther, Esth. 2:15. 2. The second wife of Rehoboam, 2 Chr. 11:18, 19. 3. Father of Zuriel, Num. 3:35. 4. Wife of Abishur, 1 Chr. 2:29.
  

• Marriage

  [nave] MARRIAGE In family blood lines, Abraham and Sarah, Gen. 11:29; 12:13; 20:3, 9-16. Isaac and Rebekah, Gen. 24:3, 4, 67; 28:2. Jacob and his wives, Gen. 29:15-30; see below, in the elaborated text. Levirate (the brother requ...
  

• Mordecai

  [ebd] the son of Jair, of the tribe of Benjamin. It has been alleged that he was carried into captivity with Jeconiah, and hence that he must have been at least one hundred and twenty-nine years old in the twelfth year of Ahasueru...
  [nave] MORDECAI A Jewish captive in Persia, Esth. 2:5, 6. Foster father of Esther, Esth. 2:7. Informs Ahasuerus of a conspiracy against his life, and is rewarded, Esth. 2:21-23; Esth. 6:1-11. Promoted in Haman's place, Esth. 8:1...
  

• Esther

  [ebd] the queen of Ahasuerus, and heroine of the book that bears her name. She was a Jewess named Hadas'sah (the myrtle), but when she entered the royal harem she received the name by which she henceforth became known (Esther 2:7)...
  [nave] ESTHER, called also Hadassah. Niece of Mordecai, Esth. 2:7, 15. Chosen queen, Esth. 2:17. Tells the king of the plot against his life, Esth. 2:22. Fasts on account of the decree to destroy the Israelites; accuses Haman to ...
  

• Loyalty

  [nave] LOYALTY Enjoined, Ex. 22:28; Num. 27:20; Ezra 6:10; 7:26; Job 34:18; Prov. 24:21; Eccl. 8:2; 10:4; Rom. 13:1; Tit. 3:1. Enforced, Ezra 10:8; Prov. 17:11. Disloyalty, 2 Pet. 2:10. See: Patriotism. Instances of Israelites...
  

• Lasciviousness

  [nave] LASCIVIOUSNESS. Ex. 32:6; Prov. 2:16-18; Prov. 5:3-5, 8-13; Prov. 7:6-27; Prov. 9:13-18; Prov. 20:16; Prov. 30:18-20; Joel 3:3; Mark 7:21-23; Rom. 1:22-29; Rom. 7:8; Rom. 13:13; 1 Cor. 6:9, 10, 13, 15-18; 1 Cor. 9:27; 2 Cor...
  

• Conspiracy

  [nave] CONSPIRACY. Law Against Ex. 23:1, 2 Instances of Joseph's brethren, against Joseph, Gen. 37:18-20. Miriam and Aaron, against Moses, Num. 12; 14:4; 16:1-35. Abimelech, against Gideon's sons, Judg. 9:1-6. Gaal, against ...
  

• Myrrh

  [ebd] Heb. mor. (1.) First mentioned as a principal ingredient in the holy anointing oil (Ex. 30:23). It formed part of the gifts brought by the wise men from the east, who came to worship the infant Jesus (Matt. 2:11). It was use...
  [smith] This substance is mentioned in (Exodus 30:23) as one of the ingredients of the "oil of holy ointment:" in (Esther 2:12) as one of the substances used in the purification of women; in (Psalms 45:8; Proverbs 7:17) and in severa...
  [nave] MYRRH, a fragrant gum. A product of the land of Canaan, Song 4:6, 14; 5:1. One of the compounds in the sacred anointing oil, Ex. 30:23. Used as a perfume, Esth. 2:12; Psa. 45:8; Prov. 7:17; Song 3:6; 5:13. Brought by wise ...
  

• Shaashgaz

  [ebd] servant of the beautiful, a chief eunuch in the second house of the harem of king Ahasuerus (Esther 2:14).
  [isbe] SHAASHGAZ - sha-ash'-gaz (sha`ashgaz; Septuagint reads Gai, the same name it gives to the official referred to in Est 2:8,15; the name may go back to the Old Bactrian word Sasakshant, "one anxious to learn" (Scheft); most co...
  [nave] SHAASHGAZ, a chamberlain of Ahasuerus, Esth. 2:14.
  

• Tebeth

  [ebd] (Esther 2:16), a word probably of Persian origin, denoting the cold time of the year; used by the later Jews as denoting the tenth month of the year. Assyrian tebituv, "rain."
  [isbe] TEBETH - te-beth', te'-beth (tebheth): The tenth month of the Jewish year, corresponding to January (Est 2:16). See CALENDAR.
  [nave] TEBETH, the tenth month (January), Esth. 2:16; Ezek. 29:1.
  

• Citizenship

  [nave] CITIZENSHIP. Duties of Ex. 22:28 Acts 23:5. Num. 27:20; Ezra 6:10; Ezra 7:26; Ezra 10:8; Prov. 16:14, 15; Prov. 24:21; Prov. 25:6, 7, 15; Eccl. 8:2-4; Eccl. 10:4, 20; Jer. 29:7; Matt. 17:24-27; Matt. 22:17-21 Mark 12:14-17...
  

• Harem

  [nave] HAREM, Persian household, Esth. 2:3, 13, 14.
  

• Hegai

  [smith] (eunuch), one of the eunuchs of the court of Ahasuerus. (Esther 2:8,15) (B.C. 474.)
  [nave] HEGAI, chamberlain of Ahasuerus, Esth. 2:3, 8, 15.
  

• Month

  [smith] From the time of the institution of the Mosaic law downward the religious feasts commencing with the passover depended not simply on the month, but on the moon; the 14th of Abib was coincident with the full moon; and the new ...
  [nave] MONTH Ancient use of, Gen. 7:11; 8:4. Twelve months reckoned to a year, 1 Chr. 27:1-15. 1. Abib (April). The Jewish calendar began with, Ex. 12:2; 13:4; Deut. 16:1. Passover instituted and celebrated in, Ex. 12:1-28; 23:1...
  

• Esther Becomes Queen

  

• [Est 2:16] O Day Of Light And Gladness

  O day of light and gladness, Of prophecy and song, What thoughts within us waken, What hallowed memories throng! The soul’s horizon widens, Past, present, future blend; And rises on our vision The life that hath no end. Earth feels the season’s joyance, From mountain range to sea The tides of life are flowing Fresh, manifold and free. In valley and on upland, By forest pathways dim, All nature lifts in chorus The resurrection hymn. O Lord of life eternal, To Thee our hearts upraise The Easter song of gladness, The Passover of praise. Thine are the many mansions, The dead die not to Thee, Who fillest from Thy fullness Time and eternity.

  Play

  source: Cyberhymnal

• The book of Esther says that Mordecai was a Benjamite in one place and a Jew in others. Which was he?
  In Esther 2:5-6 we are told: 2:5 Now there happened to be a Jewish man in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai. He was the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjaminite, 2:6 who had been taken into ex...

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