Esther 3:15
scurried <01765> [hastened.]
sat down <03427> [sat down.]
city <05892> [the city.]
Esther 8:15
royal attire <03830 04438> [royal apparel.]
purple <08504> [blue. or, violet.]
large ... crown <01419 05850> [and with a great crown.]
Mordecai was now made the chief minister, or vizier, instead of Haman; and was accordingly invested with the "royal apparel," in conformity to the custom of the East. So we are informed, in the History of the Revolt of Ali Bey, that on the election of a new {sheikh bellet,} or chief of the country, in Egypt, the {pasha} who approves of him invests him with a robe of valuable fur. Perhaps the crown was one of the insignia of the office of vizier. Concerning the blue, fine linen, and purple, see the Notes on Ex 25:4; 39:27.
city <05892> [the city.]
Haman was too proud to be popular: few lamented his fall.
Esther 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.]
Esther 2:8
Hegai ................ Hegai <01896> [Hegai.]
One of Dr. Kennicott's MSS., instead of Hegai has Heg‚, as in ver. 3.
