2:1 After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was
appeased, he a remembered Vashti, and what she had done,
and what was decreed b against her.
(a) That is, he brought the matter again into discussion.
b By the seven wise men of his counsel.
2:3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of
his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair
young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the
women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, c
keeper of the women; and let their things d for
purification be given [them]:
(c) The abuse of these countries was so great, that they
invented many means to serve the lusts of princes and
therefore they ordained wicked laws that the king might
have whose daughters he would. They had many houses
appointed, one for the virgins, another for the
concubines and another for the queen.
(d) Read what this purification was in (Es 2:12).
2:11 And Mordecai walked e every day before the court of the
women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should
become of her.
(e) For though she was taken away by a cruel law, yet he
did not cease to have a fatherly care for her, and
therefore often sought to hear of her.
2:13 Then thus came [every] maiden unto the king; whatsoever she
desired was f given her to go with her out of the house
of the women unto the king's house.
(f) Whatever apparel she asked for, the eunuch was bound
to give to her.
2:15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail 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, g
appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all
them that looked upon her.
(g) In which her modesty appeared because she did not seek
to dress to command her beauty but sought the eunuch's
appointment.
2:16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house
royal in the tenth month, which [is] the h month Tebeth,
in the seventh year of his reign.
(h) Which contained part of December and part of January.
2:18 Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and
his servants, [even] Esther's i feast; and he made a
release k to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to
the l state of the king.
(i) That is, made for her sake.
(k) He released their tribute.
(l) That is, great and magnificent.
2:19 And when the virgins were gathered together the m second
time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
(m) That is, at the marriage of Esther, which was the
second marriage for the king.
2:21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two
of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those
which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay n hand
on the king Ahasuerus.
(n) Meaning, to kill him.
2:23 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 o chronicles before the king.
(o) In the chronicles of the Medes and Persians,
(Es 10:2).
