Esther 2
DOYLYChap. III. ver. 1. — the Agagite,] Haman was by descent an Amalekite, of the posterity of Agag, who was king of Amalek in the time of Saul, 1 Sam. xv. Dean Prideaux.
Esther 2:2
- — that ministered unto him.] That ministered unto him in chief; that is, his seven chief counsellors mentioned in chap. i. 14. Dr. Wells.
She is made queen. Mordecai discovereth a treason. Before CHRIST about 515. Or, blindness. before him. about 514. Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
Esther 2:17
- And the king loved Esther above all &c.] Providence determined the choice of Ahasuerus in favour of one who should be afterward an instrument of preserving His people in a time of imminent danger. The same Divine wisdom had formerly provided for the welfare of his chosen race, by sending Joseph before them into Egypt, and making him lord of all Egypt, that he might save the lives of his brethren in a season of famine, Gen. xlv. 7. Bp. Hall, Collyer.
— so that he set the royal crown upon her head, &c.] It always has been, and still is, the custom of the kings of Abyssinia to marry what number of wives they choose: these are not therefore all queens; but among them there is one, who is considered particularly as queen, and upon her head is placed the crown, and she is called the Iteghe. Thus, in Persia, we read that Ahasuerus loved Esther, who had found grace in his sight more than the other virgins, and he placed a golden crown upon her head. And Josephus informs us, that when Esther was brought before the king, he was exceedingly delighted with her, and made her his lawful wife, and, when she came into the palace, he put a crown upon her head. Bruce.
Esther 2:18
- Then the king made a great feast &c.] The royal marriage was celebrated with magnificent entertainments; all the provinces were released from a certain portion of their taxes, in honour of the new empress, and vast presents were made to her, and to the court favourites. Pyle.
Esther 2:19
- — when the virgins were gathered together the second time.] That is, at the time of this present marriage of Ahasuerus with Esther: Vashti having been also before chosen in the same manner from among the virgins gathered together out of different parts of his empire. Pyle, Dr. Wells.
— Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.] Mordecai was an officer in the court of Ahasuerus; his service called him daily to attend in the king’s gate. Bp. Hall. It appears from several passages of Scripture, that the king’s gate was the place in which publick affairs were transacted. Bp. Patrick. The Scripture says of Daniel, (after having stated that Nebuchadnezzar made him a
VOL. I. as when she was brought up with him.
Esther 2:20
- — for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.] That mind is truly great and noble that is not changed with the highest prosperity: and such was the disposition of queen Esther, whom even the splendour of royalty could not induce to disregard her kinsman and friend, or to depart from a dutiful observance of his directions. Bp. Hall.
Esther 2:22
- And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther] Mordecai sets before us the example of a faithful subject, in counteracting the treasonable designs of these men: and it may be remarked, that he shewed this loyalty toward an heathen sovereign, and one under whom he lived as a captive, true religion and loyalty being inseparable; and that herein he exemplified the injunction of the Lord by the Prophet Jeremiah, “Seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives,” Jer. xxix. 7. Bp. Andrewes, Dr. Isaac Barrow.
Mordecai discreetly communicated his discovery, not to indifferent persons, but to the queen: Esther, in laying it before the king, dutifully remembered Mordecai, and commended him to the royal favour, by mentioning him as the author of her information. Bp. Andrewes.
Esther 2:23
- — and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.] Mordecai was thus registered in the public annals, as the author of this service done to the crown: the circumstance of his name being so recorded.