Esther 2

Esther 2:1-20

We have here, 1. Either advanced to be queen, ver. 1—20. 2. A plot against the king’s life discovered by Mordecai, ver. 21—23.

1. AFTER these things, when the wrath of king Ahafoerus was appealed, he remembered Vafiti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. 2. Then said the king’s servants, that minifred unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king. 3. And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shufan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the *cuttody of Hege the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women, and let their things for purification be given them: 4. And let the maiden which pleaeth the king, be queen infreated of Vafiti. And the thing pleaded the king, and he did so. 5. Now in Shufan the palace, there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kifis, a Benjamin: 6. Who had been carried away from Jerusalem, with the captivity which had been carried away with *Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 7. And he brought up Hadafah (that is Either) his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful, whom Mordecai (when her father and mother were dead) took for his own daughter. 8. So it came to pass when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shufan the palace, to the cuttody of Hegai, that Either was brought also unto the king’s house, to the cuttody of Hegai keeper of the women. 9. And the maiden pleaded him, and the obtained kindness of him, and he speedily gave her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens which were meet to be given her out of the king’s house, and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. 10. Either had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it. 11. And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house to know how Either did, and what should become of her. 12. Now when every maid’s turn was come, to go in to king Ahafoerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, the months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women). 13. Then thus came every maiden unto the king, whichever the desired was given her, to go with her out of the house of the women, unto the king’s house. 14. In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women to the cuttody of Shaafsga, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name. 15. Now when the turn of *Ether, the daughter of Abhail, the uncle of Mordecai (who had taken her for his daughter) was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing, but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women appointed: and Either obtained favour in the fight of all them that looked upon her. 16. So *Ether was taken unto king Ahafoerus, into his house royal, in the tenth month (which is the month Teheris) in the seventh year of his reign. 17. And the king loved Either above all the women, and the obtained grace and favour in his fight more than all the virgins: so that he let the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen infreated of Vafiti. 18. Then the king made a great fealt unto all his princes and his servants, now Either’s fealt, and he made a *releaste to the provinces, and gave gifts according to the state of the king. 19. And when the virgins were gathered

the queen before the king, with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. 12. But the queen Vafiti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger buried in him. 13. Then the king said to the wife men, which knew the times, (for so was the king’s manner towards all that knew law and judgment: 14. And the next unto him was Carfena, Shether, Admatha, Tarfith, Mores, Marfena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king’s face, and which sat the first in the kingdom) 15. What shall we do unto the queen Vafiti, according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahafoerus, by the chamberlains? 16. And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vafiti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahafoerus. 17. For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall *despite their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahafoerus commanded Vafiti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not. 18. Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king’s princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath. 19. If it pleads the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes; that it be not altered, that Vafiti come no more before king Ahafoerus, and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. 20. And when the king’s decree which he shall make, shall be published throughout all his empire (for it is great) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small. 21. And the saying pleaded the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan: 22. For he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.

9. 17—22. The end of carnal mirth is commonly heaviness. The last day of Ahafoerus’s jolling closes with vexation.

10. In the heat of wine, during the last day of the fealt, having delighted all his other magnificence, he resolved that his beautiful queen should appear in public, with her royal crown, and close with her majestic presence this grand entertainment.

11. The chamberlains, or eunuchs, who were dispatched to the queen, met with a resolute denial. She thought it an indignity to be thus exposed, and therefore proudly refused to come.

12. The refusal highly exasperated the monarch, and before his company he could not with-hold his anger, but rashly refused to be re-engaged of her. His counsellors are called, his princes considered, that in so unusual a case he might know what, according to law, he might do; for, though a king, he thought not himself above it. Note, (1.) Family quarrels, and before company too, are very grievous, and damp the joy of any entertainment. (2.) It is easier to govern a kingdom, than to rule over our own spirit. (3.) It is well for a kingdom, when princes profess such a veneration for the law.

13. Memucan, in the name of the rest, proposes his opinion, that Vafiti should be divorced for her disobedience. As the quarrel was public, it would be dangerous to the peace of families, if wives were permitted thus to despite their husbands command; and the queen’s example would afford a dangerous precedent; while some condign punishment on one so great would for ever engage obedience from all infusions throughout the kingdom, and secure to every man the rule of his own house. Note, Where women insert the ordinance of God, refuse to be in subjection, and grasp at dominion, there will be confidious, and every evil work.

14. The advice was readily embraced, an edict instantly issued through the kingdom, and Vafiti divorced. Thus, however wrong the hope were which brought on this quarrel, the peace of the kingdom was greatly secured by this edict, and, through Divine Providence, a way opened for Either to the throne. Thus one God being good still out of evil, and make mean sins and follow subsystems to the purposes of his own glory.

VOL. I.

Babes Chief gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate. 20. ‘Either had not yet shewed her kindred, nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Either did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.

The advancement of Either is here recorded, with the various steps of Divine Providence, which led to this wonderful event.

1. The king soon repented of the raihenes that in his wine he had committed, and with deep regret parted with his beauteous queen, that by an unalterable law he must see no more. Note, What is done hastily in anger, often gives cause to long and bitter remorse.

2. The courtiers, to divert the king’s melancholy, and by some new object to obliterate the remembrance of Vashti, propose to him the collecting of the most beautiful daniels in his dominions, that out of them he might select the most agreeable, as reign in the stead of the divorced queen. Note, In kings courts, enough watch the monarch’s eye, and appear ready ministers to all his pleasures.

3. The king approved the proposal, and Hege, the king’s chamberlain, or eunach, was appointed to take charge of them, and after a year for purification, that their native beauty might be heightened by the charms of art, they were then in turn to be brought to the king; and if they pleaded him not, they returned to be shut up in the scraglio, whilst the favoured virgin was to be chosen queen.

4. Among those that were collected at Shufian was a Jewess, named Esther; an orphan, brought up under the care of her cousin-german Mordecai, a Benjamin, whose sacrifice had been carried away from Jerusalem at the captivity of Jeconiah. As he in tenderness had shewed himself a father to her, and with daily solicitude enquired after her welfare, she, in obedience, behaved as a dutiful child, observant of his directions. He had had her conceal her parentage, as it might be an objection to her advancement; and as she was born in Shufian, no questions probably were asked of her country, and the puffed for one of Persian extraction. Note, (1.) They who show to orphans parental tenderness, should meet with the grateful return of said duty and affection. (2.) Though we may never call a lie, we are not always obliged to speak all we know.

5. The manners, as well as the beauty of this denial, exceedingly ingratiated her to the keeper of the women, and he shewed her especial regard and kindness. When her turn came to be introduced to the king, she required no ornament; her native beauty was sufficient distinction. She no sooner appeared, than all who saw, admired her; and the king, charmed with her person, determined to fix on her head the imperial diadem. Behold a captive, a Jew, an orphan, now exalted to the royal throne of Persia! Thus God can work, and radi the poor from the duft, to set them among princes.

6. At the coronation of Esther a royal feast is made, which she graced with her presence, which Vashti had refused. To heighten the general joy, a release of taxes was published thro’ the provinces, and royal gifts followed. Though a second collection of virgins was made, Esther seems to have continued unrivalled in the king’s affections; and Mordecai now was advanced to some honourable post at court, probably thro’ Esther’s influence, who retained the fame respect and defiance for his advice, and changed not her manners with her station, though she had still continued to conceal, as Mordecai directed, her kindred and people. Note, (1.) No change of station should make us forget our benefactors. (2.) Younger persons shew their wisdom in being guided by the counsel of their more aged and experienced friends.

About 475. Hah. Irechid. = See Mid. II. 16. = Chap. vi. L.

21. ¶ In those days (while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate) two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teereth, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and fought to lay hand on the king Ahafuerus: 22. And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s name. 23. And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out: therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and “it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.

Esther 2:21-23

We have here,

1. A plot formed against the king’s life by two of his servants, whom he had disguised. Monarchs stand on a dangerous eminence: how many of these have gone down murdered in the grave! Let them learn justice, and to raids with equity, that they may engage the affections as well as the subposition of their subjects.

2. The plot was discovered by Mordecai, for treasons usually transpire; and, as a loyal subject, he communicates his intelligence through Esther to the king. Inquisition is made, the

traitors convicted and hanged, and a record entered of the faithful service he had performed. Note, (1.) God has strange ways of bringing treasons and bloody designs to light. (2.) Concealment of any plot against the sovereign or state, is highly criminal. (3.) May every trainer meet a like reward. (4.) Good services done us deserve to be recorded, that they may be remembered long, and recompenseled.