Esther 2:1

Esther Becomes Queen of Persia

1 Later, the anger of King Xerxes calmed down. Then he remembered Vashti and what she had done. He also remembered the royal order he had sent out concerning her.

Esther 2:1 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 2:1

After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was
appeased
Which went off with his wine, and so was quickly after, a few days at most, unless this can be understood as after the expedition of Xerxes into Greece, from whence he returned to Shushan, in the seventh year of his reign; and if he is the Ahasuerus here meant, he married Esther that year, ( Esther 2:16 ) and it seems certain, that after his expedition he gave himself up to his amours, and in his way to Sardis he fell in love with his brother's wife, and then with his daughter F2: he remembered Vashti;
her beauty, and was grieved, as Jarchi observes, that she was removed from him; and so Josephus says F3, that he passionately loved her, and could not bear parting with her, and therefore was grieved that he had brought himself into such difficulties: the Targumists carry it further, and say that he was wroth with those that advised him to it, and ordered them to be put to death, and that they were: and what she had done;
that it was a trivial thing, and not deserving of such a sentence as he had passed upon her; that it was not done from contempt of him, but from modesty, and a strict regard to the laws of the Persians: and what was decreed against her;
that she should come no more before him, but be divorced from him; the thought of which gave him great pain and uneasiness.


FOOTNOTES:

F2 Herodot. Calliope, sive, l. 9. c. 107.
F3 Antiqu. l. 11. c. 6. sect. 2.

Esther 2:1 In-Context

1 Later, the anger of King Xerxes calmed down. Then he remembered Vashti and what she had done. He also remembered the royal order he had sent out concerning her.
2 At that time the king's personal attendants made a suggestion. They said, "King Xerxes, let a search be made for some beautiful young virgins for you.
3 Appoint some officials in every territory in your kingdom. Have them bring all of those beautiful virgins into the safest place in Susa. Put them in the special place where the virgins stay. Then put Hegai in charge of them. He's the eunuch who serves you. He's in charge of the virgins. Let beauty care be given to the new group of virgins.
4 Then let the one who pleases you the most become queen in Vashti's place." The king liked that advice. So he followed it.
5 There was a Jew living in the safest place in Susa. He was from the tribe of Benjamin. His name was Mordecai. He was the son of Jair. Jair was the son of Shimei. Shimei was the son of Kish.
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