Esther 2:11-21

11 And Mordecai walked each day before the porch of the door, in which the chosen virgins were kept, and he did the care of the health of Esther, and would know, what befelled to her. (And each day Mordecai walked before the courtyard of the house, in which the chosen virgins were kept, for he was concerned about her, and wanted to know what would happen to her.)
12 And when the time of all the damsels by order was come, that they should go in to the king, and when all things were fulfilled that pertained to women's attire, the twelfth month was turned (about); so only that they were anointed with the oil of myrrh by six months, and by (an)other six months they used some pigments and sweet-smelling ointments. (And when the twelfth month had come; that is, after the young women had been anointed with the oil of myrrh for six months, and then they had used some pigments and sweet-smelling ointments, or perfume, for another six months, and all things were fulfilled that pertained to women's attire; then the time had come, for all the young women, each in her turn, to go in to the king.)
13 And they entered to the king, and whatever thing pertaining to their ornament(s) (that) they asked (for), they took it with them; and they were arrayed as it pleased to them, and then they passed forth from the chamber of women to the king's bed. (And so they went in to the king, taking with them whatever things pertaining to their adornment that they had asked for; and arrayed as it pleased them, they passed forth from the house for the women to the king's bed.)
14 And she that had entered in the eventide, went out in the morrowtide; and from thence they were led forth into the second houses, that were under the hand of Shaashgaz, honest servant and chaste (the honest and chaste servant), that was governor of the king's concubines; and she had not power to go again more to the king, no but the king would, and had commanded her to come by name. (And she who entered in the evening, went out in the morning; and from there they were led forth to the second house for the women, that was under the hand of the eunuch Shaashgaz, who was the overseer of the king's concubines; and from that point on, she had no power to go again to the king, unless the king desired to see her, and had commanded her to come by name.)
15 And when the time was turned about by order, the day nighed, wherein Esther, the daughter of Abihail, the brother of Mordecai, the which Esther Mordecai had taken to him, and made her his daughter, ought to enter to the king; and she asked not (for) women's ornament(s), but whatever things Hegai, the honest servant and chaste (the honest and chaste servant), and keeper of the virgins, would, he gave these things to Esther to her ornament; for she was full shapely, and of fairness that may not lightly be believed, and she was seen (to be) gracious and amiable to the eyes of all men. (And so the time turned about, and the day nighed, when, by turn, Esther, the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, this Esther which Mordecai had taken unto himself, and had made her his own daughter, ought to go in to the king; and she asked not for any women's ornaments, or adornment, but whatever things the eunuch Hegai, the keeper of the virgins, desired, he gave these things to Esther for her adornment; and certainly she was very shapely, and had a beauty that could not easily be believed, and she was seen to be gracious and amiable in the eyes of all people.)
16 Therefore she was led to the bed of king Ahasuerus, in the tenth month, which is called Tebeth, in the seventh year of his realm. (And so she was led to King Ahasuerus? bed, in the tenth month, which is called Tebeth, or January, in the seventh year of his reign.)
17 And the king loved Esther more fervently than all women, and she had grace and mercy before him over all other women; and he setted the diadem, or crown, of the realm on her head, and made her to reign in the stead of Vashti. (And the king loved Esther more fervently than all the other women, and she received more favour and love from him than all the other women; and he put a crown of his kingdom on her head, and he made her the queen in place of Vashti.)
18 And he commanded a full worshipful feast to be made ready to all his princes and servants, for the joining together and the weddings of Esther; and he gave rest, that is, (the) releasing of tribute, to all provinces, and gave gifts, after the worshipful doing of a prince. (And he commanded that a large feast be prepared for all his princes, or his leaders, and his servants in honour of Esther, and their joining together by their wedding; and he gave rest, that is, an amnesty from taxation, to all his provinces, and also gifts worthy of a king.)
19 And when (the) virgins were sought also the second time, and were gathered together, Mordecai dwelled at the gate of the king. (And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai sat at the king's gate./And meanwhile Mordecai was in attendance at the royal court.)
20 And Esther had not yet showed her country and her people, by the behest of Mordecai; for-why whatever thing he commanded, Esther kept, and she did so then all things, as she was wont (to) in that time, in which he nourished her (as) a little child. (And Esther had not yet declared her kindred or her people, by Mordecai's command; for whatever thing he commanded, Esther did it, as she had always done, from the time in which he nurtured her as a young child.)
21 Then in that time, wherein Mordecai dwelled at the gate of the king, Bigthan(a) and Teresh, two servants of the king, were wroth (against the king), that were porters, and sat in the first threshold of the palace; and they would rise (up) against the king, and slay him. (Now one day, when Mordecai was in attendance at the royal court, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who were guards, or doorkeepers, guarding the first threshold of the palace, became hostile toward the king, and plotted to kill him.)

Esther 2:11-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ESTHER 2

By the advice of the ministers of King Ahasuerus, fair virgins were sought for throughout his dominions, and brought to his chamberlain, the keeper of the women, among whom was Esther, a Jewish virgin, Es 2:1-8, who found favour with the chamberlain, and afterwards with the king, who made her queen instead of Vashti, and a feast on that account, Es 2:9-18. Mordecai, to whom Esther was related, and according to whose advice she acted, sitting in the king's gate, discovered a conspiracy against the king, which he now made known to Esther, Es 2:19-23.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.