Esther 2

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 2:23

Convicted conspirators. "And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out." Two men, Bigthan and Teresh, had a grievance. The king's favouritism may have pained them, or their own ambition galled them. Absolute systems of government, like that in Persia, generally foster conspiracies. Kings have always been "fair marks for traitors." Queens also have shared this danger. Our Queen Elizabeth said," In trust I found treason;" and, "I marvel not so much that I am, as that I am... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 2:23

Written, but not remembered. "It was written in the book of the chronicles before the king." The king had been delivered from danger, but he seems to have overlooked the deliverer. Ahasuerus had at least one faithful subject, Mordecai. This man had proved his loyalty by his acts, while Bigthan and Teresh paid the penalty of disloyalty by being hung. Criminals and the righteous were alike spoken of, in the chronicles of the king. I. MAN , EVEN WHEN HE PROMISES TO REMEMBER ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 2:1

These events must belong to the time between the great assembly held at Susa in Xerxes’ third year (483 B.C.), and the departure of the monarch on his expedition against Greece in his fifth year, 481 B.C. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 2:3

The house of the women - i. e. the “gynaeceon,” or “haram” - always an essential part of an Oriental palace (Compare 1 Kings 7:8). In the Persian palaces it was very extensive, since the monarchs maintained, besides their legitimate wives, as many as 300 or 400 concubines (compare Esther 2:14). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 2:5

Mordecai, the eunuch Esther 2:7, Esther 2:11, has been conjectured to be the same as Matacas, who, according to Ctesias, was the most powerful of the eunuchs during the latter portion of the reign of Xerxes. Mordecai’s line of descent is traced from a certain Kish, carried off by Nebuchadnezzar in 598 B.C. - the year of Jeconiah’s captivity - who was his great-grandfather. The four generations, Kish, Shimei, Jair, Mordecai, correspond to the known generations in other cases, for example: ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 2:7

Hadassah, הדסה hădassâh from הדס hădas (“myrtle”) would seem to have been the Hebrew, and Esther the Persian, name of the damsel. Esther is thought to be connected through the Zend with ἀστήρ astēr, “star.” But there is not at present any positive evidence of the existence in Old Persian of a kindred word. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 2:10

The Persians had no special contempt for the Jews; but, of course, they despised more or less all the subject races. Esther, with her Aryan name, may have passed for a native Persian. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 2:11

Mordecai occupied, apparently, a humble place in the royal household. He was probably one of the porters or doorkeepers at the main entrance to the palace Esther 2:21. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 2:14

The second house of the women - i. e. Esther returned to the “house of the women,” but not to the same part of it. She became an inmate of the “second house,” or “house of the concubines,” under the superintendence of a distinct officer, Shaashgaz. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 2:15

She required nothing - The other virgins perhaps loaded themselves with precious ornaments of various kinds, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, anklets, and the like. Esther let Hegai dress her as he would. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 2:23

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 2:23

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 2:1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 2:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 2:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 2:7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 2:10

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 2:11

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 2:14

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 2:15

Verse of the Day

Daily Devotional

Group of Brands