Esther 2

Ahasuerus remembreth Vasthi, verse 1. Many beautiful virgins are gathered together, 2. That the king might chuse one out of them to the Queen in Vasthi’s room, 4. Mordecai bringeth also Esther among those maidens, 8. She findeth favour with Hegai the keeper of the maidens, 9. Hegai giveth her ornaments, 12. She is brought unto the king, 16. He putteth the Crown upon her head, and maketh her Queen, 17. And he maketh a great marriage-Feast, to the honour of her, 18. Two Chamberlains his plot, 22. It is recorded in the Chronicle, 23.

1. After these things, when the wrath of Ahasuerus, [To wit, against Queen Vasthi] was appeased, he remembered Vasthi, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. [He made mentioned of her to his Courtiers; peradventure being now sorry that he had so rashly put away from him.]

2. Then said the kings young men that ministered unto him, [That is, the Princes, that had condemned Vasthis, chap.1.16, etc.] Let (there) be young daughters, maidens, virgins, fair of countenance, [Hebr. good to look on] sought for the king.

3. And let the king appoint overseers in all the countries of his kingdom, that they may gather together, Understand withal, and bring] all young daughters, maidens, virgins, fqair of countenance, unto the Castle of Susan to the house of the women, [That is, of the Virgins. So again straightway in this very verse. And Gal.4.4. the blessed Virgin Mary is called a woman] under the hand [that is, care, or providing, custody, oversight, as verse 8.] of Hege [called Hegai, v.8.] the kings Chamberlain, keeper of the women: [That is, of the Virgins, as immediately before] and let their ornaments be given them. [by ornaments in this place is meant what so ever in any wise belongeth to the attiring and dressing of Virgins, as namely apparel, rings and jewels, and also perfumes, and Sweet-smelling ointments, oil, or sweet balls. See below verse 13. And 14. See also of the attiring, dressing, or adorning of maidens and virgins, Isa.3.]

4. And let the young daughter which shall be fair [Heb. good. So likewise ver.9.] in the kings eyes, be Queen in stead of Vasthi: [the Princes of Persia, that had past hard a sentence against Vasthi, fearing left the king might be moved with compassion towards Vasthi, and take her again unto himself, and so by that means she might come to be revenged on them, for giving the king such counsel as to reject and put her away; they go about to prevent this, and for that end propound away unto the king how he may satisfy his pleasure, and in time quite forget Vasthi] Now this thing was good in the eyes of the king, and he did so.

5. (Now) there was a Jewish man in the Castle of Susan, whose name Mordechai, a son of Jair, the son of Simei, the son of Kis, a man of Jimini: [That is, a Benjamite. See Judg.3.15.]

6. Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with those that were carried away [Hebr. with the carrying away] who were carried away with Jechonja, [otherwise called Jehojachin, 2 Kings 24:6. and Chonja, by way of contempt, Jerem.22.24.] king of Juda, whom [to wit, Jechonja, those that had been carried away] Nebuchadnezer [otherwise called Nabuchodonosor] king of Babel had carried away.

7. And it was he that brought up Hadassa, (this is Estaher, [She was called Esther, when she became the wise of king Ahasueros. Herodotus calleth the wife of Xerxes, Amestris, which some do apply unto Esther] his uncles daughter) [to wit, the daughter of his fathers brother, called Abichail, verse 15. So that Mordechai and Esther were brothers children] for she had neither Father nor Mother; and she was a damsel fair of shape, and beautiful of countenance, and when her Father and her mother died, Mordechai had taken her for his own daughter.

8. Now it came to pass when the king word and his law was published, and when many young daughters were gathered together [Josephus writeth, that four hundred Virgins were brought together] unto the Castle of Susan, under the hand Hegai: Esther also was taken into the kings house, under the hand of Hegai, keeper of the women.

9. And that young daughter was beautiful in his eyes, and she obtained favour before his face, therefore he hastened to given her her ornaments, [See above ver.3.] and her portions, [That is, all that belonged to her, to the end she might be duely adorned] and to give her seven comely [or, choice, or fit, and meet to be given] damsels out of the kings house: And he removed her and her maidens into the best place of the house of the women. Her maidens into the best place of the house of the women. [Hebr. altered or, changed them to the good of the house: that is, he gave them a better and sitter place or chamber to be in, then he had given them at first.]

10. Esther had not made it known to her people, nor to her kindred; for Mordechai had charged her, that she should not make it known. [to wit, because the Jews at that time were in great contempt.]

11. Now Mordechai walked every day [Hebr. in all (or every) day and day] before the court of the womens [that is, of the maidens: And so continually in this Book] house, to enquire about Esther welfare, [Hebr. peace] and what should be done with her. [or, what should become of her, or, what should be done to her.]

12. Now when every Damsels [Hebr. of Damsels and Damsels] turn [or, appointed time, order] approached, to come unto king Ahasuerus, after (there) was done unto her for a twelve month, according to the law of the women, [Hebr. from, or, after the end to be done, etc.] for so were the days of their adorning accomplished: [that is, they were to have so much time to purify and adorn themselves] six months with oil of myrrhe, and six months with spices, and with (other) ornaments of women.

13. There with [To wit, thus attired, adorned, and perfumed] came the Damsel then unto the king: what so ever she said [that is, what so ever she desired, to wit, of ornaments, apparel, attire, perfume, etc.] was given her, to go therewith [or, to go with her] out of the house of the women unto the kings house. [that is, unto the Kings bed-chamber.]

14. In evening she went in there, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, [In this second house were the Concubines, and those that had lain with the King: But in the first house, whereof mentioned is made vers.2. were only virgins or maidens] under the hand [that is, care, oversight] of Saasgaz the kings chamberlain, Keeper of the concubines; she came not unto the king again, except the king had a mind to her, and that she were called by name.

15. When the turn of Esther the daughter of Abichal the uncle of Mordechai, (whom he [to wit, Mordechai] had taken for his daughter) [above vers.7.] approached, to go unto the king, she required nothing at all, but what Hegai the kings chamberlain the keeper of the women said: [that is, gave her, appointed for her: That is, she was well contented with the apparel and ornament that Hegai gave her, be it what it would. Thus making it appear that she gave up her self, and relyed wholly upon the providence of God] and Esther obtained grace [that is here, acceptation, or, was accepted, as Prov.1.9. and elsewhere] in the eyes of all that saw her.

16. So Esther was taken [That is, taklen and brought. In the Hebrew there is but one word used, which signifieth sometimes bringing, and sometimes both together, as here, and Matth.4.5. Compare Gen.12.15. with the annotate.] unto king Ahasuerus, into his royal house, in the teth month, which is the month Tebeth, [this month agreeth partly with our December, and partly with our January: And this was the fourth month of the year, according to the account to the account of the Chaldeans, who begin the year in September: but it was the tenth month, according to the account of the Hebrews, who begin the Ecclesiastical year from March. This account of the Hebrews is followed in this book] in the seventh year of his reign.

17. And the king loved Esther above all women, [That is, the maidens, or women-kind] and she obtained grace and favour before his face, above all the virgins: And he set the royal Crown [Hebr. the crown of the kingdom] upon her head, and he made her Queen in stead of Vasthi.

18. Then the king made a great feast unto all his Princes, and his servants, [See Esth.1.on v,3, etc.] Esthers feast, [the word feast signifieth here as much as wedding, or the royal Banquet made to the honour of Esther, when the king took her to wife] and he gave rest to the countrys. [Hebr. he made, etc. That is, he lessened or diminished the burdens and taxes of his subjects] and he gave gifts [both to the Queen and to the great ones, yea peradventure to the people also] according to the kings ability. [Hebr. according to the hand of the king.]

19. When Damsels were gathered together the second time, [Some conceive that maidens or virgins were gathered together the second time, not for to chuse a wife out of them for the King, as they were gathered together the first time for that end and purpose; but for to chuse out of them certain concubines for the king] then Mordechai sate in the kings gate. [that is, he was continually present at, or in the Kings court, as he was wont to do, and likewise ought to do, as being also (as it seemeth) a court-servant, or minister at court, and waiting and attending upon the Kings service.]

20. Now Esther had not made known to her kindred, nor her people, like as Mordechai had charged her: [Fearing lest she might come to be dispised or disdained by reason of her kindred and pedigree] for Esther did the commandment of Mordechai, like as when she was brought up by him. [or, when she was a nurse-child with him.]

21. In those days, when Mordechai sate in the kings gate; Bigthan [Below chap.6.v.2. he is called Bighthana] and Theres, two Chamberlaines of the king, of the threshold-keepers, were very angry, [to wit, with the king] and they sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

22. And this thing was made known unto Mordechai, and he acquinted Queen Esther therewith; and Esther told it to the king in Mordechai’s name.

23. When the matter was searched into, it was found (to be) so, and they were both hanged on a gallows; [Or, on a tree, or, on a piece of wood] and it was written in the Chronicle, [Hebr. in the book of the words of days; that is, in the Chronicle, to wit, of the Persians] before the face of the king. [that is, in the kings presence: Or in the book of the Chronicle, which lay daily before the King, for him to read in: wherein were recorded, the most memorable things, which daily occurred.]