Esther 1:15
done <06213> [What shall we do. Heb. What to do.]
Esther 2:1
remembered <02142> [A.M. 3543. B.C. 461. he remembered.]
decided <01504> [what was decreed.]
Esther 2:16
tenth month ..... month <02320 06224> [the tenth month.]
seventh <07651> [the seventh.]
Esther 7:5
presumptuous <04390> [Who is he.]
presumptuous <04390> [that durst, etc. Heb. whose heart hath filled him.]
Esther 8:12
This ........ certain day <03117 0259> [one day.]
thirteenth <07969> [upon the thirteenth.]
Esther 9:20
Mordecai <04782> [Mordecai.]
That is, as the words imply, the history contained in this book; and not merely the letters afterwards mentioned, as some understand it.
wrote ... matters <03789 01697> [wrote these.]
provinces <04082> [in all the provinces.]
Esther 9:30
hundred <03967> [the hundred.]
words .... peace <07965 01697> [words of peace.]
Esther 10:3
second .... King <04428 04932> [next unto king.]
<07521> [accepted.]
enthusiastically <01875> [seeking.]
REMARKS ON THE BOOK OF ESTHER. This Book, which derives its name from the person whose history it chiefly relates, is termed in Hebrew, [megillƒh <\\See definition 04039\\> 'Ectˆr <\\See definition 0635\\>,] megillath Esther, "the volume of Esther." Concerning its author there are various opinions: some attribute it to Ezra; some to Joachim, the son of Joshua the high priest; others to the men of the great synagogue; and others to Mordecai, which seems the most probable opinion. The events here related probably refer to the time of Artaxerxes Longimanus, who, according to Prideaux, was the Ahasuerus of Esther, agreeably to Josephus, (Ant. 1 xi. c. 6,) the Septuagint version, and the apocryphal additions to this book. The history, therefore, comes in between the sixth and seventh chapters of Ezra, commencing about A.M. 3540, and continuing through a period of twelve years: it relates the royal feast of Ahasuerus; the disgrace of Vashti, (ch. 1:;) the elevation of Esther to the Persian throne; the essential service rendered to the king by Mordecai, in detecting a plot against his life, (ch. 2:;) the promotion of Haman, and his purposed destruction of the Jews, (ch. 3:;) the consequent affliction of the Jews, and the measures pursued by them, (ch. 4:;) the defeat of Haman's plot, through the instrumentality of Esther, against Mordecai, (ch. 5:-7:;) and also the defeat of his general plot against the Jews, (ch. 8:; 9:1-15;) the institution of the feast of Purim to commemorate this deliverance, (ch. 9:16-32;) and the advancement of Mordecai, (ch. 10:;) and though some Christians have hesitated to receive this book into the sacred canon, yet it has always been received by the Jews, not only as perfectly authentic, but also as one of the most excellent of their sacred books. That it is a genuine and faithful description of a real fact, the observation of the feast of Purim, to the present day, is a sufficient evidence; since it is impossible, and in fact inconceivable, that a nation should institute, and afterwards continue to celebrate without interruption, through every generation of that people, in a long succession of ages, in whatever places they may have sojourned, this solemn annual festival, merely because one of their nation had written an agreeable fable or romance. It has been remarked, as an objection to this book, that the name of God no where occurs in it: His superintending providence, however, is frequently illustrated. It is shewn, indeed, in every part of the work; disconcerting evil designs, and producing great events, by means seemingly inadequate. It also presents an interesting description of mortified pride, and of malice baffled to the destruction of its possessors; and exhibits a very lively representation of the vexations and troubles, the anxieties, treachery, and dissimulation of a corrupt court.
Esther 1:10
feeling <03820> [the heart.]
Harbona <02726> [Harbona.]
[Harbonah. chamberlains. or, eunuchs.]
Esther 1:16-17
Vashti <02060> [Vashti.]
This reasoning was inconsequent and false. Vashti had not generally disobeyed the king, therefore she could be no precedent for the general conduct of the Persian women. She disobeyed only in one particular; and this, to serve a purpose, Memucan draws into a general consequence: and the rest came into the conclusion, being either too intoxicated to be able to discern right from wrong, or too intent on reducing women to a state of vassalage, to neglect the present favourable opportunity.
wrong <05753> [done wrong.]
contempt <0959> [despise.]
Esther 1:19
king .... inclined ................................... King ......... royalty <04428 02895> [it please the king. Heb. it be good with the king.]
from him ......................... presence <06440> [from him. Heb. from before him. it be not altered. Heb. it pass not away.]
Let it be inserted among the permanent laws, and be made a part of the constitution of the empire. The Persians seem to have affected such a degree of wisdom in the construction of their laws, that they never could be amended, and should never be repealed; and this formed the ground of the saying, "The laws of the Medes and Persians that change not."
another <07468> [another. Heb. her companion. that is better.]
Esther 2:12
arrived <0935> [A.M. 3546. B.C. 458. to go in.]
months .................................. six months ....... six months <02320 08337> [six months.]
Esther 3:1
promoted Haman <01431 02001> [A.M. 3551. B.C. 453. promote Haman.]
Agagite <091> [Agagite.]
officials <08269> [above all the princes.]
Esther 3:6-8
sought <01245> [sought.]
first month ..... month ............................. month ......... month ..... month <02320 07223> [the first month.]
twelfth <08147> [in the twelfth.]
pur ....... cast <05307 06332> [they cast Pur.]
Adar <0143> [Adar.]
particular <06340> [scattered abroad.]
laws ................ laws <01881> [their laws.]
King ...................................... king's ......... king ..... haven <07737 04428> [for the king's profit to. Heb. meet, or equal for the king to, etc.]
Esther 6:2
Bigthana <0904> [Bigthana.]
[Bigthan. door. Heb. threshold.]
Esther 8:1
gave ... estate <05414 01004> [give the house.]
come before <0935 06440> [came before.]
Esther 9:2
assembled <06950> [gathered.]
seeking <01245> [as sought.]
dread <06343> [the fear.]
