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Esther 2:1 open_in_new
After these things: i.e. in 467. Astyages was now twenty-one. In the seventh year (Esther 2:16); one of these spent in preparations (Esther 2:12).
Ahasuerus. See note on Esther 1:1.
Vashti. See note on Esther 1:9.
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Esther 2:2 open_in_new
virgins. Hebrew. bethulah. See note on Genesis 24:43.
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Esther 2:3 open_in_new
custody. hand.
chamberlain. eunuch.
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Esther 2:4 open_in_new
maiden. a young person. Hebrew. na'ar.
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Esther 2:5 open_in_new
a certain Jew. a man (Hebrew. 'ish. App-14.),. Jew. The contrast between Judah and Israel was lost in. strange land; and, as Nebuchadnezzar's campaign was against Judah, so "Jew" became the name used by Gentiles.
Mordecai. Daniel and Ezekiel taken to Babylon (2 Kings 24:14; 2 Kings 24:15); Nehemiah and Mordecai to Shushan; and Mordecai dwelt in the royal palace, as did Daniel and others (Daniel 1:4; 2 Kings 20:16-18).
a Benjamite. Thus Mordecai,. Benjamite, ends Jehovah's war against Amalek, Exodus 17:16. Compare Esther 3:1 with Esther 7:10; Esther 9:10. A work entrusted to Saul (a Benjarnite). 1 Samuel 15:2-33.
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Esther 2:6 open_in_new
Jeconiah. Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:6).
carried away. Compare 2 Kings 24:14; 2 Kings 24:15; Jeremiah 1:24-34:133 years before the generally received date (i.e. 598-465. 133), which, therefore, cannot be correct. From the carrying away of Jeconiah to the marriage of Esther to Astyages in his seventh year was only twenty-two years (489-467). See App-50.
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Esther 2:7 open_in_new
Hadassah. myrtle. Not living with Mordecai (who was in the palace, Esther 2:5), but brought up by him.
Esther. star. But Rabbi Yehudah derives it from sathar, to hide, because she was hidden in her guardian's house; and her nationality also was concealed (Esther 2:10).
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Esther 2:8 open_in_new
commandment. word. Hebrew. dabar. See note on Esther 1:12.
decree. Imperial decree. Hebrew. dath, as in Esther 3:15; Esther 4:3; Esther 4:8; Esther 8:14; Esther 8:17; Esther 9:1; Esther 9:13; Esther 9:14.
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Esther 2:9 open_in_new
obtained. won.
preferred. promoted. Probably influenced by Mor-deoai.
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Esther 2:10 open_in_new
not shewed. Not till Esther 7:3-5. This was Mordecai's wisdom. Compare Esther 2:20.
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Esther 2:11 open_in_new
to know. This was Mordecai's solicitude. All this proves that these events must have taken place before the emancipation made by Cyras (the son of this Astyages, App-57), recorded in Ezr. No such secrecy would have been necessary, and no thought of allowing the People, whom he had just emancipated, to be exterminated, as is described in the book of Esther: But Cyrus, being her son, would be carefully prepared by her and Mordecai to begin his reign by such emancipation from Babylon (note, not from Shushan: compare Esther 1:1 with Jeremiah 25:11; Jeremiah 25:12), thus fulfilling Isaiah 44:28 with Isaiah 45:1-4.
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Esther 2:12 open_in_new
for. Another Parenthesis. App-6. See note on Esther 1:7.
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Esther 2:16 open_in_new
Tebeth. See App-51.
seventh year. The first feast was in the third year. The search probably took one year; the preparation another; oblations another. Other seasons are unnamed.
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Esther 2:18 open_in_new
release. a holiday. Hebrew. hanahah.
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Esther 2:19 open_in_new
when, &c.. while they were collecting, &c.
sat in the king's gate. Mordecai was of the king's household. See Esther 2:5. This guarded Esther's interests, and enabled him to obtain all information. (N. B. Haman lived in his own house with his family in the city.)
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Esther 2:20 open_in_new
as. according as.
for, &c. Thus revealing. new characteristic of Esther. This secrecy was hardly needed if the emancipation of Ezra 1:1 had already taken place.
commandment. Hebrew. 'amar, as in Esther 1:10.
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Esther 2:21 open_in_new
gate. Hebrew. sha'ar = the lofty gate of. palace, not the same word as "door", Esther 2:21; Esther 6:2.
door. threshold. Hebrew. saph.
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Esther 2:22 open_in_new
was known. Mordecai sat in the king's gate: the very place to hear all news.
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Esther 2:23 open_in_new
written. See note on Esther 6:1.