Bible Commentaries
Esther 2

Verse 1

After these things: i.e. in 467. Astyages was now twenty-one. In the seventh year (Esther 2:16 ); one of these spent in preparations (Esther 2:12 ).

Ahasuerus. See note on Esther 1:1 .

Vashti. See note on Esther 1:9 .

Verse 2

virgins. Hebrew. bethulah. See note on Genesis 24:43 .

Verse 3

custody = hand.

chamberlain = eunuch.

Verse 4

maiden = a young person. Hebrew. na'ar.

Verse 5

a certain Jew = a man (Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 .), a Jew. The contrast between Judah and Israel was lost in a strange land; and, as Nebuchadnezzar's campaign was against Judah, so "Jew" became the name used by Gentiles.

Mordecai. Daniel and Ezekiel taken to Babylon (2 Kings 24:14 , 2 Kings 24:15 ); Nehemiah and Mordecai to Shushan; and Mordecai dwelt in the royal palace, as did Daniel and others (Daniel 1:4 . 2 Kings 20:16-18 ).

a Benjamite. Thus Mordecai, a Benjamite, ends Jehovah's war against Amalek, Exodus 17:16 . Compare Esther 3:1 with Esther 7:10 ; Esther 9:10 . A work entrusted to Saul (a Benjarnite). 1 Samuel 15:2-33 .

Verse 6

Jeconiah = Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:6 ).

carried away. Compare 2 Kings 24:14 , 2 Kings 24:15 . Jer 52:24-34:133 years before the generally received date (i.e. 598-465 = 133), which, therefore, cannot be correct. From the carrying away of Jeconiah to the marriage of Esther to Astyages in his seventh year was only twenty-two years (489-467). See App-50 .

Verse 7

Hadassah = myrtle. Not living with Mordecai (who was in the palace, Esther 2:5 ), but brought up by him.

Esther = star. But Rabbi Yehudah derives it from sathar, to hide, because she was hidden in her guardian's house; and her nationality also was concealed (Esther 2:10 ).

Verse 8

commandment = word. Hebrew. dabar. See note on Esther 1:12 .

decree = Imperial decree. Hebrew. dath , as in Esther 3:15 ; Esther 4:3 , Esther 4:8 ; Esther 8:14 , Esther 8:17 ; Esther 9:1 , Esther 9:13 , Esther 9:14 .

Verse 9

obtained = won.

preferred = promoted. Probably influenced by Mor-deoai.

Verse 10

not shewed. Not till Esther 7:3-5 . This was Mordecai's wisdom. Compare Esther 2:20 .

Verse 11

to know. This was Mordecai's solicitude. All this proves that these events must have taken place before the emancipation made by Cyras (the son of this Astyages, App-57 ), recorded in Ezr . No such secrecy would have been necessary, and no thought of allowing the People, whom he had just emancipated, to be exterminated, as is described in the book of Esther: But Cyrus, being her son, would be carefully prepared by her and Mordecai to begin his reign by such emancipation from Babylon (note, not from Shushan: compare Esther 1:1 with Jeremiah 25:11 , Jeremiah 25:12 ), thus fulfilling Isaiah 44:28 with Isaiah 45:1-4 .

Verse 12

for. Another Parenthesis . App-6 . See note on Esther 1:7 .

Verse 16

Tebeth. See App-51 .

seventh year. The first feast was in the third year. The search probably took one year; the preparation another; oblations another. Other seasons are unnamed.

Verse 18

release = a holiday. Hebrew. hanahah.

Verse 19

when, &c. = while they were collecting, &c.

sat in the king's gate. Mordecai was of the king's household. See Esther 2:5 . This guarded Esther's interests, and enabled him to obtain all information. (N. B. Haman lived in his own house with his family in the city.)

Verse 20

as = according as.

for, &c. Thus revealing a new characteristic of Esther. This secrecy was hardly needed if the emancipation of Ezra 1:1 had already taken place.

commandment. Hebrew. 'amar , as in Esther 1:10 .

Verse 21

gate. Hebrew. sha'ar = the lofty gate of a palace, not the same word as "door", Esther 2:21 ; Esther 6:2 .

door = threshold. Hebrew. saph.

Verse 22

was known. Mordecai sat in the king's gate: the very place to hear all news.

Verse 23

written. See note on Esther 6:1 .