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

And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate. No JFB commentary on these verses.

The second time; either, 1. When Esther, with others, were brought to the king’ s house, as it was decreed above, ,3, which is called the second time, because they had taken this course once before, when Vashti was chosen queen. But there is no mention of any such former use; and by the manner of proposing it seems to have been a new project. Or, 2. Since Esther was declared queen; for though that point was determined, the king’ s lust was not yet satisfied; and therefore being pleased with the former experiment, he desired another collection of virgins, whom he might make his concubines. And this seems best to agree with the following words. For it is not probable that Mordecai sat at the king’ s gate till Esther was queen; for till then he only walked before the court of the women’ s house, as is expressed, . Mordecai sat in the king’ s gate; either, 1. Voluntarily, to learn the progress of affairs. Or rather, 2. By office, as one of the king’ s guard or ministers; being advanced to this place by Esther’ s favour, though without any discovery of her relation to him.

Esther 2:19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’ s gate.Ver. 19. And when the virgins were gathered together, &c.] For a new supply of the king’ s insatiable lust, say some, this affection soon growing cold to Esther. So unreasonable is lust, so inconstant carnal affection, so lawless are the wicked, so short is any happiness of perfection in this life. The Septuagint leave out this word [the second time], but the Hebrew version hath it. Others say, the second time, signifieth into the second house of the women. For they went not each to their own homes, because the king was now fully satisfied in his choice, as Tremellius and Junius conceive, but they remained in the custody of Shaazgar, keeper of the king’ s concubines, not suffered to converse with any man ever after, as Aben Ezra observeth. Therefore they were twice gathered together. Once, when they were brought to Hegai the eunuch, and again, when, from the king’ s house, they met all together in the second house of the women, under the government of Shaazgar. Then Mordecai sat in the king’ s gate] As porter or other officer, saith Severus; and he attended still upon his office, not fawning on Esther, nor prowling for preferment. His ambition was to be quiet, and to do his own business, intra pelliculam suam se continere, Negotiorum familiarium curator: 1 Thessalonians 4:11, φιλοτιμεισθαιησυχαζεν, high seats he knew were never but uneasy, and long robes cannot but contract much soil. In the place he now holdeth he can hear how it goeth with his Esther, and do the king good service, as Esther 2:21.

(19) And when the virgins . . .—Here begins a fresh incident in the history, whose date we cannot fix precisely, save that it falls between the marriage of Esther and the twelfth year of Ahasuerus (Esther 3:7). The king “loved Esther above all the women,” but how the word “love “is degraded in this connection is seen by the fact that after she had been his wife certainly less (possibly much less) than five years, there takes place a second gathering of virgins (there is no article in the Hebrew), like the one previously mentioned (Esther 2:2). We should treat Esther 2:20 as parenthetical, and join Esther 2:21 closely to Esther 2:19. Then Mordecai sat.—Translate, and Mordecai was sitting.

19–23. Mordecai’s discovery of the plot against the king’s life 19. And when the virgins were gathered together the second time] Render, Now when maidens were being gathered together a second time. There is no article attached to the word ‘virgins’ in the original, and we have no means of knowing what kind of occasion is referred to here. It is merely a conjecture that the reference is to an effort made by the officials to supplant Esther in the king’s affections by introducing to his notice such as would better support their influence. The clause is omitted in the LXX. then Mordecai sat etc.] better, perhaps, and when Mordecai was sitting etc. In this way we have another circumstantial clause, which is added to the first, and resumed in Esther 2:21. Mordecai occupied a place at the gate of the palace properly so called, or of that division of the women’s apartments which was assigned to the queen herself (see on Esther 2:3), that he might utilise any opportunity which presented itself of communicating with his ward. His occupation of this subordinate position is accounted for in Esther 2:20, which is of the nature of a parenthesis.

When the virgins ... - Rather, “when virgins” etc. The words begin a new paragraph.

EXPOSES A COURT , Esther 2:19-23. 19. When the virgins… the second time — Rather, at the gathering together of virgins a second time.