Esther 2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 2:9

Esther 2:9 . The maiden pleased him Because she was very beautiful, therefore he supposed she would be acceptable to the king; and by the divine power, which moveth the hearts of men which way he pleaseth. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 2:10

Esther 2:10. Mordecai had charged her that she should not show it Lest the knowledge hereof should either make her contemptible, or bring some inconvenience to the whole nation: but there was also a hand of God in causing this to be concealed, for the better accomplishment of that which he designed, though Mordecai was ignorant of it. If Mordecai sought or desired that his niece should become either the king’s concubine or wife, he certainly acted contrary to the Jewish law, which forbid... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 2:11

Esther 2:11. Mordecai walked every day, &c. He might walk there without being suspected, because he belonged to the court, and was a man of some rank; for those that were carried away in Jeconiah’s captivity (as his ancestors were, Est 2:6 ) were of the better sort, 2 Kings 24:14, &c.; Daniel 1:4. And Esther might find means, by some of those that attended her, to acquaint him with the state of her health and affairs. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 2:12

Esther 2:12. According to the manner of the women Who were kept so long, partly for their better purification, as it here follows; partly out of state, as that which became so great a king; and partly that, being so long in safe custody, the king might be sure he was not imposed upon by a child begotten by another man. Six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours It is observed by Pliny, lib. 13, cap. 1, that ointments were first invented by the Persians. Oil of myrrh... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 2:13

Esther 2:13. Thus came every maiden unto the king Thus purified and prepared, and thus furnished and attended, as it follows. Whatsoever she desired was given her For ornament, or by way of attendance. And it should be observed, that every one whom the king took to his bed was his wife of a lower rank, as Hagar was Abraham’s; so that it would have been no sin or dishonour to Esther, though she had not been made queen. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 2:15

Esther 2:15 . She required nothing Not being desirous to set herself off with artificial beauty, nor, probably, to please the king; having been brought to the king’s house without and against her own inclination and choice. But what Hegai, the king’s chamberlain, appointed Being covetous of nothing, she left it entirely to the king’s chamberlain to give her what he pleased, which was a mark of a modest and generous temper in her. And Esther obtained favour of all them that looked upon... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 2:16

Esther 2:16. So Esther was taken into his house-royal She was not sent back unto the second house of the women, as the rest were, but the king kept her in his own house. In the seventh year of his reign How it came to pass that it was so long before Esther was advanced to succeed Vashti, seems difficult to resolve. But we are to consider, that a great deal of time was spent in gathering the virgins together, and that it was a year after they were collected, before she was brought to the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 2:18

Esther 2:18. And he made a release to the provinces According to Herodotus, it was customary for the Persian kings, upon their accession to the throne, to remit the tribute which was due to them from all their cities; and Ahasuerus, on this occasion, out of his abundant joy, remitted some tax, or part of a tax, then due, which he did that every body might rejoice with him. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 2:19

Esther 2:19. When the virgins were gathered together the second time They in all probability were gathered together first in the provinces, and afterward in Susa, before they were taken into the house of the king’s chamberlain. The writer now goes back to what happened before Esther’s marriage. Then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate It was ordered by Cyrus, as Xenophon informs us, Cyropaæd., lib. 8, that all persons whatever, who had any employment at court, should attend at the palace... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 2:20

Esther 2:20. Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, &c. A rare example of virtue, that she should be so observant of him when she was a queen: for most persons forget what they were when they are unexpectedly advanced to great honour, dignity, or riches. read more

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 2:9

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 2:10

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 2:11

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 2:12

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 2:13

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 2:15

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 2:16

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 2:18

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 2:19

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 2:20

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