Esther 2:21-23

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 2:22

And the thing was known to Mordecai ,.... But by what means does not appear; the Jewish writers say F3 T. Bab. Megillah, fol. 13. 2. Targum prius & Jarchi in loc. , these two men were Tarsians, and spoke in the Tarsian language, which they thought Mordecai did not understand; but he, being skilled in languages, overheard them, and understood what they said; but, according to Josephus F4 Antiqu. l. 11. c. 6. sect. 4. , it was discovered to him by Barnabazus, a servant of one... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 2:23

And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out ,.... That these two men had entered into a conspiracy to take away the king's life; full proof and evidence were given of it: therefore they were both hanged on a tree ; Josephus F5 Ibid. (Antiqu. l. 11. c. 6. sect. 4.) says they were crucified; but hanging was frequent among the Persians, as Grotius observes, and better agrees with the word here used: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king ... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 2:22

Was known to Mordecai - Josephus says that a Jew, named Barnabasus, overheard the plot, told it to Mordecai, Mordecai to Esther, and Esther to the king, in Mordecai's name; and he was registered as the discoverer. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 2:23

It was found out - It was proved against them, in consequence of which they were hanged. Perhaps the words עץ על ויתלו vaiyittalu al ets , they were hung upon wood or a tree, may refer to their being impaled. A pointed stake is set upright in the ground, and the culprit is taken, placed on the sharp point, and then pulled down by his legs till the stake that went in at the fundament passes up through the body and comes out by the side of the neck. A most dreadful species of... 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

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