Esther 2:1

Esther Becomes Queen in Vashti’s Place

2:1 When these things had been accomplished ¹  and the rage of King Ahasuerus had diminished, he remembered ²  Vashti and what she had done and what had been decided ³  against her.

Esther 2:10

2:10 Now Esther had not disclosed her people or her lineage, ⁴  for Mordecai had instructed her not to do so. ⁵ 

Esther 2:20

2:20 Esther was still not divulging her lineage or her people, ⁶  just as Mordecai had instructed her. ⁷  Esther continued to do whatever Mordecai said, just as she had done when he was raising her.

Esther 4:8

4:8 He also gave him a written copy of the law that had been disseminated ⁸  in Susa for their destruction so that he could show it to Esther and talk to her about it. He also gave instructions that she should go to the king to implore him and petition him on behalf of her people.

Esther 7:8

7:8 When the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet of wine, Haman was throwing himself down ⁹  on the couch where Esther was lying. ¹⁰  The king exclaimed, “Will he also attempt to rape the queen while I am still in the building!”

As these words left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.

¹ tn Heb “after these things” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV). The expression is very vague from a temporal standpoint, not indicating precisely just how much time might have elapsed. Cf. v. 21.

² sn There may be a tinge of regret expressed in the king’s remembrance of Vashti. There is perhaps a hint that he wished for her presence once again, although that was not feasible from a practical standpoint. The suggestions by the king’s attendants concerning a replacement seem to be an effort to overcome this nostalgia. Certainly it was to their advantage to seek the betterment of the king’s outlook. Those around him the most were probably the most likely to suffer the effects of his ire.

³ tn Or “decreed” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV); TEV “and about his proclamation against her.”

⁴ tn Cf. v. 20, where the same phrase occurs but with the word order reversed.

⁵ tn Heb “that she not tell” (NRSV similar); NASB “that she should not make them known.”

⁷ sn That Esther was able so effectively to conceal her Jewish heritage suggests that she was not consistently observing Jewish dietary and religious requirements. As C. A. Moore observes, “In order for Esther to have concealed her ethnic and religious identity…in the harem, she must have eaten…, dressed, and lived like a Persian rather than an observant Jewess” (Esther [AB], 28.) In this regard her public behavior stands in contrast to that of Daniel, for example.

⁸ tc The LXX adds the words “to fear God.”

¹⁰ tn Heb “given” (so KJV); NASB, NRSV, TEV, NLT “issued”; NIV “published”; NAB “promulgated.”

¹³ tn Heb “falling”; NAB, NRSV “had (+ just TEV) thrown himself (+ down TEV).”

¹⁴ tn Heb “where Esther was” (so KJV, NASB). The term “lying” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons; cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT “was reclining.”