Esther 2

1 Out of the choice of virgins a queen is to be chosen.

5 Mordecai the nursing father of Esther.

8 Esther preferred before the rest.

12 The manner of purification, and going in to the king.

15 Esther best pleasing the king, is made queen.

21 Mordecai discovering a treason, is recorded in the chronicles.

2:1

remembered <02142> [A.M. 3543. B.C. 461. he remembered.]

decided <01504> [what was decreed.]

2:2

king's servants ............. king's <05288 04428> [king's servants.]

attractive <02896> [Let there be.]

2:3

provinces <04082> [in all the provinces.]

gather <06908> [that they may gather.]

This was the usual way in which the harem, or {seraglio,} was furnished; the finest women in the land, whether of high or low birth, were sought out and brought to the harem. They all became the king's concubines; but one was raised as chief wife, or sultana, to the throne; and her issue was especially entitled to inherit.

authority <03027> [the custody. Heb. the hand. Hege.]

[Hegai. the king's chamberlain.]

{Saris hammelech,} "the king's eunuch:" so the LXX., Vulgate, Targum, and Syriac.

cosmetics <08562> [their things.]

2:4

young woman <05291> [let the maiden.]

idea <01697> [the thing.]

2:5

Susa <07800> [Shushan.]

Jewish man <03064 0376> [a certain Jew.]

son ..... son ... Shimei ... son <01121 08096> [the son of Shimei.]

2:6

Jeconiah <03204> [Jeconiah.]

[Jeboiachin.]

[Coniah.]

2:7

guardian <0539> [brought up. Heb. nourished.]

Hadassah <01919> [Hadassah.]

uncle <01730> [his uncle's.]

beautiful <02896 03303> [fair and beautiful. Heb. fair of form and good of countenance.]

raised <03947> [took.]

2:8

Hegai ................ Hegai <01896> [Hegai.]

One of Dr. Kennicott's MSS., instead of Hegai has Heg‚, as in ver. 3.

2:9

found <05375> [she obtained.]

cosmetics <08562> [her her things.]

rations <04490> [such things. Heb. her portions. preferred her. Heb. changed her.]

2:10

disclosed <05046> [had not shewed.]

Mordecai <04782> [for Mordecai.]

2:11

Mordecai <04782> [Mordecai.]

The apartments of the women are accounted so inviolable, that it is even a crime to enquire what passes within their walls. A man, says Chardin, may walk a hundred days, one after the other, by the house where the women are, and yet know no more what is done there than at the farther end of Tartary. This sufficiently explains the conduct of Mordecai.

walk <01980> [walked.]

Esther <0635 07965> [how Esther did. Heb. the peace of Esther.]

2:12

arrived <0935> [A.M. 3546. B.C. 458. to go in.]

months .................................. six months ....... six months <02320 08337> [six months.]

2:14

pleased <02654> [delighted.]

requested <07121> [she were called.]

2:15

her <03947> [who had taken.]

Esther ............................................. Esther <0635> [Esther.]

2:16

tenth month ..... month <02320 06224> [the tenth month.]

seventh <07651> [the seventh.]

2:17

loving approval <02617> [favour. or, kindness. in his sight. Heb. before him. so that he set.]

Bishop Patrick observes, that those who suggest that Esther committed a great sin to come at the dignity of queen of Persia, do not consider the custom of those times and countries. Every one that the king took to his bed was married to him, and was his wife of a lower rank, as Hagar was to Abraham.

2:18

prepared ... large ................. set aside <06213 01419> [A.M. 3547. B.C. 457. made a great.]

prepared ................... set aside <06213> [he made.]

We learn from Herodotus and Athen‘us, that the Persian monarchs were accustomed to give their wives distinct cities and provinces for the purpose of supplying them with different articles of dress: one was assigned for ornamenting the head and neck; another provided robes, zones, etc.; and the city of Anthilla was given to a Persian queen, we read, to supply her with shoes and sandals. It is probable, therefore, that, at the desire of Esther, Ahasuerus relieved those cities and provinces that had before paid it, from this expense.

holiday <02010> [release. Heb. rest. gave gifts.]

2:19

young women <01330> [the virgins.]

sitting .... king's gate <03427 04428 08179> [sat in the king's gate.]

2:20

divulging <05046> [had not yet shewed.]

Esther ................. Esther <0635> [for Esther.]

2:21

Bigthan <0904> [Bigthan.]

[Bigthana. door. Heb. threshold. and sought.]

2:22

conspiracy <01697> [the thing.]

Esther ... Esther told <0635 0559> [and Esther certified.]

Mordecai ................ Mordecai's behalf <08034 04782> [Mordecai's name.]

2:23

hanged <08518> [hanged.]

<05612> [the book.]