Esther 2:12-23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Esther 2:1-20

How God put down one that was high and mighty from her seat we read in the chapter before, and are now to be told how he exalted one of low degree, as the virgin Mary observes in her song (Luke 1:52) and Hannah before her, 1 Sam. 2:4-8. Vashti being humbled for her height, Esther is advanced for her humility. Observe, I. The extravagant course that was taken to please the king with another wife instead of Vashti. Josephus says that when his anger was over he was exceedingly grieved that the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Esther 2:21-23

This good service which Mordecai did to the government, in discovering a plot against the life of the king, is here recorded, because the mention of it will again occur to his advantage. No step is yet taken towards Haman's design of the Jews? destruction, but several steps are taken towards God's design of their deliverance, and this for one. God now gives Mordecai an opportunity of doing the king a good turn, that he might have the fairer opportunity afterwards of doing the Jews a good turn.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 2:12

Now 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 women ,.... That were prepared in the house of the women to be presented to the king for his liking; for it seems that these virgins came in turns to him, according to the time they had been in the house; as did the wives of the kings of Persia, as Herodotus relates F16 Thalia, sive, l. 3. c. 69. : for so were the days of their purifications accomplished ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 2:13

Then thus came every virgin unto the king ,.... When her twelve months were up, and she was purified in the manner before observed: whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house ; whatever she commanded the chamberlain was obliged to furnish her with, or grant it to her, whether for ornament, as jewels, rich apparel, &c.; or for attendance; whatever prince or peer she required to accompany her to the king, was to be obtained... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 2:14

In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women ,.... Or the other apartment of the house of the women, where were kept those the king had made his concubines or secondary wives. Aben Ezra interprets it the second time, and so the Targum by "again": to the custody of Shaashgaz the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines ; of which the kings of Persia had a great number; Darius, whom Alexander conquered, had three hundred and sixty F17 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 2:15

Now when the turn of Esther the daughter of Abihail ,.... For this was her father's name, and not Aminadab, as the Septuagint version: the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter ; which makes it quite clear that Mordecai was not Esther's uncle, as Josephus, but her own cousin: now when her turn was come to go in unto the king ; which the virgins under purification took by turns, Esther 2:14 , she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper... read more

John Gill

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 2:18

Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and servants, even Esther's feast ,.... A feast to all his nobles, courtiers, and ministers of state, on account of his marriage with Esther; which, according to the Greek version, was held seven days; but, according to Josephus, it lasted a whole month F20 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 11. c. 6. sect. 2.) : and he made a release to the provinces ; of taxes and tribute due to him, as was the custom of the kings of Persia when they came... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 2:19

And when the virgins were gathered together the second time ,.... Some think this second collection is that which was made when Esther was taken and brought to the keeper of the women, called the second, in reference to a former collection of them, made when Vashti was taken and made queen; but as there is no proof of any such collection then made, rather the case was this, such was the lust of the king, though he had a queen he loved, and a multitude of concubine's, yet a second collection... read more

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