Esther 2:7-17 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 2:16

So Esther was taken unto King Ahasuerus, into his house royal ,.... Did not return on the morrow to the house of the women, as those who only became the king's concubines did, Esther 2:14 , but she was taken to be his wife, and designed for his queen, and so was retained in his palace, and placed in an apartment suitable to the dignity she was about to be advanced unto: and this was done in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth ; and answers to part of December and part of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 2:17

And the king loved Esther above all the women ,.... The virgins he made his concubines, as next explained; though Jarchi interprets it of married women, for such he supposes were gathered and brought to him, as well as virgins: and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins ; who had been purified, and in their turns brought to him: so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti ; declared her queen, and gave her all the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 2:7

He brought up Hadassah - הדשה hadassah signifies a myrtle in Chaldee: this was probably her first or Babylonish name. When she came to the Persian court, she was called Esther, aster , or sitara , which signifies a star in Persian: the name is undoubtedly Persian. Esther was the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, and therefore must have been Mordecai's cousin, though the Vulgate and Josephus make her Mordecai's niece: but it is safest here to follow the Hebrew. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 2:9

The maiden pleased him - He conceived a partiality for her above the rest, probably because of the propriety of her deportment, and her engaging though unassuming manners. Seven maidens - These were to attend her to the bath, to anoint and adorn her, and be her servants in general. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 2:10

Esther had not showed her people - This might have prejudiced her with the king; for it was certainly no credit at the Persian court to be a Jew; and we shall find from the sequel that those who were in the Persian dominions were far from being reputable, or in a safe state. Besides, had her lineage been known, envy might have prevented her from ever having access to the king. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 2:12

Six months with oil of myrrh - See on Esther 2:3 ; (note). The reason of this purification seems not to be apprehended by any writer I have seen. The most beautiful of all the young virgins of all the provinces of Babylon were to be selected; and these were taken out of all classes of the people, indiscriminately; consequently there must have been many who were brought up in low life. Now we know that those who feed on coarse strong food, which is not easily digested, have... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 2:13

Whatsoever she desired - When any of the young women were called to go to the king, it appears that it was an ordinance that whatever kind of dress stuff, color, jewels, etc., they thought best to set off their persons, and render them more engaging, should be given them. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 2:14

She returned into the second house - This was the place where the king's concubines were kept. They went out no more, and were never given in marriage to any man, and saw the king's face no more unless specially called. Custody of Shaashgaz - This is probably another Persian name; sheshkhunj , beardless, a proper epithet of a eunuch; or sestgunj , weak loins, for the same reason. Names of this kind at once show the reason of their imposition, by describing the state of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 2:15

She required nothing - She left this entirely to her friend Hege, who seems to have been intent on her success. She therefore left her decorations to his judgment alone, and went in that dress and in those ornaments which he deemed most suitable. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 2:16

The tenth month - Tebeth - Answering to part of our December and January. read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 2:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 2:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 2:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 2:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 2:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 2:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 2:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 2:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 2:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 2:16

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