Esther
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Esther 2
Esther 2
1After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
2Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
1After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
2Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
Commentary · verses 1-2
3and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hegai the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them;
3And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:
Commentary · verse 3
The "king's chamberlain," of which Ahasuerus had more than one, was a man who was the keeper of the king's women. Chamberlains were often eunuchs who protected and observed the king's women.
4and let the maiden that pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
4And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
Commentary · verse 4
Ahasuerus liked the solution: the virgin that pleased him the most would be the new queen.
5There was a certain Jew in Shushan the palace, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, 6who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives that had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
5Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
6Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
Commentary · verses 5-6
Introduction: Mordecai was one of the Jews (of the tribe of Benjamin) carried away to Babylon with Jehoiachin by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24). This was before Zedekiah's eleven year reign. Daniel and Ezekiel were not taken in this group. In fact, Mordecai may not have been taken as a slave. He may have been selected for his special talents in order to work in the palace and since he was older than the youths kept in Babylon, he would have been sent to the palace of one of the lesser kings.
Commentary · verse 6
The events documented in this book occurred before the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. There were two thoughts as to why this book was placed last in the historical section of the Old Testament even though it was not the final book chronologically. First, this book appeared to be written by the Medes and the Persians, which may have caused the assemblers of the Old Testament to defer to the books written by Jewish authors. Second, the section that followed the historical section was the poetic section. This book was as good as any book in the entire Bible in its storytelling and may have facilitated the transition between the historical section and poetic section of the Old Testament.
7And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.
7And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
Commentary · verse 7
Introduction: Mordecai brought up Hadassah (Esther's Jewish name) to the king's house because she was an orphan. Esther was Mordecai's cousin.
- The name "Hadassah" meant "myrtle" which its root word meant "myrtle tree." This tree was called a "myrtle tree" because it sprang; it grew rapidly.
- "Esther" meant "star." It was a Persian name.
8So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
8So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
Commentary · verse 8
This was the only "beauty pageant" mentioned in the Bible.
9And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with her portions, and the seven maidens who were meet to be given her out of the king’s house: and he removed her and her maidens to the best place of the house of the women.
10Esther had not made known her people nor her kindred; for Mordecai had charged her that she should not make it known.
11And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what would become of her.
9And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.
10Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
11And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
Commentary · verses 9-11
Esther kept her nationality hidden because Mordecai told her to. It appeared Mordecai was presenting her as a Persian when he changed her name.
12Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that it had been done to her according to the law for the women twelve months (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors and with the things for the purifying of the women), 13then in this wise came the maiden unto the king: Whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king’s house.
14In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, who kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and she were called by name.
12Now when every maid’s turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)
13Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king’s house.
14In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.
Commentary · verses 12-14
The rules of the beauty pageant: twelve months to prepare, she got to take anything into the king's house when it was her turn, the next day she went to a second house and remained until the king called her by name.
15Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
15Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
Commentary · verse 15
When it was Esther's turn, she asked for nothing but what was given to her and she gained favor from all that saw her. Perhaps the other women distracted the king, while Esther's simplicity caused her beauty and confidence to stand out from all the other women.
16So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
16So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
Commentary · verses 16-17
Resolution: The king loved Esther more than all the other women. He gave her the crown and she became queen. Notice, four years had elapsed since the 180 day feast. We learn from Daniel 9 Ahasuerus' son was Darius the Mede. Cyrus was Darius' son and leader of his armies.
If Esther got pregnant around this time, Cyrus would have been in his early twenties when he commanded his father's armies which took Babylon in Daniel 5. Darius ruled Babylon for two years before Cyrus began to reign at around age twenty-seven and made the decree in Ezra 1:1. Depending on when Esther had Darius and how old Darius was when Cyrus was born, we would be able to figure out the date of these events, but notice, it would still put us during Nebuchadnezzar's reign.
18Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the bounty of the king.
19And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate.
20Esther had not yet made known her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
21In those days, while Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those that kept the threshold, were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.
18Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.
19And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.
20Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
21In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
Commentary · verses 18-21
Introduction and Conflict: Bigthan and Teresh (two chamberlains) sought to kill the king.
22And the thing became known to Mordecai, who showed it unto Esther the queen; and Esther told the king thereof in Mordecai’s name.
22And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s name.
Commentary · verse 22
Mordecai found out about the conspiracy against the king and told Esther. Esther told the king that Mordecai was the one who found out.
23And when inquisition was made of the matter, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
23And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
Commentary · verse 23
Resolution: The two chamberlains were hung on a tree and Mordecai's name was recorded in the king's chronicles. Remember this "mini-story" because it resulted in a critical fact that will prove to be crucial during the "Featured Story" that began in the next verse...
Conflict: Ahasuerus realized what happened after he sobered up and realized he would never see her again. The proposed solution was to find Ahasuerus a wife.