Esther 2:21

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 2:21

In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate ,.... Being, as before observed, an officer at court: two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those that kept the door ; of the inner court, as Aben Ezra, of the doors of his bedchamber; perhaps they were the chief of his bodyguards, as the Septuagint version; in later times, such officers were about the chambers of great personages as their guards F1 Vid. Pignorium de Servis, p. 408, &c.; & Popma de Servis,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 2:21

Mordecai sat in the kings gate - Mordecai might have been one of the officers of the king, as the gate was the place where such usually attended to await the king's call. It is not likely that he was the porter; had he been only such, Haman could have removed him at once. Two of the king ' s chamberlains - Eunuchs. Why they conspired against the life of the king, we are not informed. The Targum says that they found out that Esther had intended to use her influence... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 2:19-23

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 2:21

In those days . Or, "at that time"— i.e. at the time when the second gathering of the virgins took place (see Esther 2:19 ). Two of the king's chamberlains . Rather, "eunuchs." Bigthan, or Bigthana ( Esther 6:2 ), is probably the same name as the Bigtha of Esther 1:10 , and possibly the same personage. Teresh is not mentioned elsewhere. Of those which kept the door . Two of the eunuchs who guarded the entrance to the king's sleeping apartment. This was a position of the highest... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 2:21-23

A plot in the palace. All arbitrary governments are liable to conspiracies; all arbitrary, absolute monarchs to assassination. Especially has this been the case in all ages with Oriental despotisms. We know from history that it was so in Persia; and in fact this very Ahasuerus, if he was the Xerxes of history, fell afterwards a victim to a foul conspiracy. It was not always a political motive that prompted such plots; the motive was oftentimes personal—it might be ambition, or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 2:21-23

Conspiracy and fidelity. I. THE INSECURITY OF ANY POSITION THAT IS NOT WELL FOUNDED . The throne of a despot is like a house built on the sand, or like a city under which smoulder volcanic fires. There is no darker page in history than that which records the doings and sufferings of despotic rulers. It is in the nature of an autocratic rule, which subjects the liberty of multitudes to the will of one man, to breed discontents and plottings. When truth and justice are... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 2:21

Conspiracies inside the palace were ordinary occurrences in Persia. Xerxes was ultimately murdered by Artabanus, the captain of the guard, and Aspamitras, a chamberlain and eunuch. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 2:21

Esther 2:21. Two of the king’s chamberlains “These were two great men, who perhaps kept the door of the king’s bed-chamber, and being either incensed at the divorce of Vashti, whose creatures they were, or at the advancement of Esther, who they thought would in all probability raise her kinsman Mordecai above them, took disgust thereat, and so resolved to avenge themselves on the king.” Dodd. See Prideaux, and Esther 6:2-3. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Esther 2:1-23

1:1-2:23 ESTHER BECOMES QUEENOfficials and leading citizens from all over the Persian Empire had gathered in the winter capital for an exhibition designed to display the riches and magnificence of the royal court. The exhibition lasted six months and was brought to a fitting climax by a lavish seven-day banquet (1:1-9). The week of wine and merriment so excited the king that his sexual urges were in danger of getting out of control. Consequently, when he told his queen Vashti to display her... read more

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