Matthew Poole
Esther 2

Introduction

The virgins of the kingdom being gathered together, a queen is to be chosen, Esther 2:1-4. Esther, nursed by Mordecai, is chosen to be one of the virgins, Esther 2:5-8; and preferred before the rest, Esther 2:9-11. The manner of her purification, Esther 2:12-14. She pleaseth the king, and is made queen, Esther 2:15-17. The king makes a feast for his princes and servants, Esther 2:18-20. Mordecai discovereth a treason against the king, Esther 2:21, 22; which is recorded in their chronicles, Esther 2:23.

Verse 1

He remembered Vashti with grief and shame, that in his wine and rage he had so severely punished, and so irrevocably rejected, so beautiful and desirable a person, and that for so small a provocation, to which she was easily led by the modesty of her sex, and by the laws and customs of Persia.

Verse 2

The king's servants, for their own interests, were obliged to quiet the king's mind, and procure him another amiable consort.

Verse 3

Keeper of the women; either,

1. Of the virgins, who are oft called women, as here, Esther 2:11, 12, and elsewhere. So it is a synecdoche. Or,
2. Of all the women, both virgins and concubines; only the virgins he himself took care of, as requiring more care and caution, and the concubines he committed to Shaashgaz, Esther 2:14, his deputy. For purification, i.e. to cleanse them from all impurities and indecencies, to anoint, and perfume, and adorn, and every way prepare them for the king's presence and service; for the legal purifications of the Jews he never regarded.

Verse 4-6

Who had been carried away: this may be referred either,

1. To Kish, Mordecai's grandfather last mentioned; or,
2. To Mordecai, who was then carried away, either,
   1. In the loins of his parents, in which sense Levi is said to be tithed in Abraham, Hebrews 7; and as those persons named Ezra 2 are said to have been carried away by Nebuchadnezzar, Ezra 2:1, which is not true of the most of them in their own persons, but only as in their fathers' loins. Or,
   2. In his own person; and then indeed he was a man of more than ordinary years. But of that See the notes on Esther 1:1.

Verse 7

That is, Esther; Hadassah was her Hebrew name before her marriage, and she was called Esther by the king after it.

Verse 8

Esther was brought, or taken, and that by force, as that word oft signifies. So great was the power and tyranny of the Persian kings, that they could and did take what persons they liked to their own use.

Verse 9

The maiden pleased him; partly because she was very beautiful, and therefore he supposed she would be very acceptable to the king, which would be his advantage; and partly by the Divine Power, which moveth the hearts of men which way he pleaseth.

Verse 10

Lest the knowledge hereof should either make her contemptible or odious, or bring some inconvenience to the whole nation, as things might happen. But there was also a hand of God in causing this to be concealed, for the better accomplishment of that which he designed, though Mordecai was ignorant of it.

Verse 11-12

According to the manner of the women; who were kept so long, partly, for their better purification, as it here follows; partly, out of state, as that which became so great a king; and partly, that being so long in safe custody, the king might be sure that the child begotten upon any of them was his own. With oil of myrrh; which is useful both for making the skin exactly clean, and smooth, and solid, and for giving strength and rigour to the body. With sweet odours; which was the more necessary, because the bodies of men and women in those hot countries did of themselves yield very ill scents, if not corrected and qualified by art.

Verse 13

Then thus; thus purified and prepared; and thus as it follows. Whatsoever she desired, for ornament, or by way of attendance.

Verse 14

Darius Nothus is reckoned to have had three hundred and sixty concubines.

Verse 15

She required nothing, to show that she was not desirous to please the king, and that she was brought to the king without and against her own inclination and choice. Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her, i.e. was admired by them for her beauty.

Verse 16

Into his house royal; and into his bed, as is implied; to which it is not strange if she, though a virtuous person, did in those circumstances yield, considering the infirmity of human nature, and of that sex, and the state of those times, when plurality of wives was permitted, and concubines were owned as wives; and these virgins were by this action made his wives or concubines. Besides, it is not known to us whether Mordecai and Esther had not direction or a dispensation from God in this matter; it being certain that God can dispense with his own positive laws.

Verse 17, 18

He made a release to the provinces, i.e. he took off a good part of those heavy taxes which the Persian kings laid upon their people.

Verse 19

The second time; either,

1. When Esther, with others, were brought to the king's house, as it was decreed above, Esther 2:2, 3, which is called the second time, because they had taken this course once before, when Vashti was chosen queen. But there is no mention of any such former use; and by the manner of proposing it seems to have been a new project. Or,
2. Since Esther was declared queen; for though that point was determined, the king's lust was not yet satisfied; and therefore being pleased with the former experiment, he desired another collection of virgins, whom he might make his concubines. And this seems best to agree with the following words. For it is not probable that Mordecai sat at the king's gate till Esther was queen; for till then he only walked before the court of the women's house, as is expressed, Esther 2:11. Mordecai sat in the king's gate; either,
   1. Voluntarily, to learn the progress of affairs. Or rather,
   2. By office, as one of the king's guard or ministers; being advanced to this place by Esther's favour, though without any discovery of her relation to him.

Verse 20, 21

Which kept the door; either,

1. Of the king's chamber. Or,
2. Of his court; and so they sat in the gate, as Mordecai did, who by that means contracting some familiar acquaintance with them, might make some discovery of their minds and design. Sought to lay hand, i.e. violent hand; to kill him, as this phrase is used, Esther 3:6, and elsewhere.

Verse 22, 23

This may be referred, either,

1. To the writing, to note that this was written in the king's presence by scribes, who were continually present with the king to write all remarkable passages happening in the court from time to time. Or,
2. To the book, which was laid up before the king, that he might more easily and frequently peruse it for his own delight or direction.