Esther 2:6

6 He had been taken into exile from Jerusalem with the other captives when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took King Jeconiah[a] of Judah into exile.[b]

Esther 2:6 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 2:6

Who had been carried away from Jerusalem
Which, according to some F6, is to be connected, not with Mordecai, but with Kish, his great-grandfather; and indeed otherwise Mordecai must be now a very old man, and Esther his first cousin, they being brothers' children, must be at an age, one would think, not to be reckoned among young virgins, and not be so amiable as she is represented; and indeed, according to the former Targum, she was seventy five years of age, which is not credible; and yet this, and more she must be, to be equal to Mordecai, if he was carried captive, as follows:

with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of
Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away;
which was eleven years before the destruction of Jerusalem, for so long Zedekiah reigned after that captivity of Jeconiah: hence Sir John Marsham F7 makes this affair of Esther to be within the time of the Babylonish captivity, and places Ahasuerus her husband between Darius the Mede and Cyrus, contrary to history and Scripture, see ( Daniel 6:28 )


FOOTNOTES:

F6 Vid. Rainold. de Lib. Apocryph. Praelect. 113, 117, 146.
F7 Chronicon. see. 18. p. 609, 621.

Esther 2:6 In-Context

4 Then the young woman who pleases the king will reign in place of Vashti." This suggestion pleased the king, and he did accordingly.
5 A Jewish man was in the fortress of Susa named Mordecai son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite.
6 He had been taken into exile from Jerusalem with the other captives when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took King Jeconiah of Judah into exile.
7 Mordecai was the legal guardian of his cousin Hadassah (that is, Esther), because she didn't have a father or mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was extremely good-looking. When her father and mother died, Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter.
8 When the king's command and edict became public knowledge, many young women gathered at the fortress of Susa under Hegai's care. Esther was also taken to the palace and placed under the care of Hegai, who was in charge of the women.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or Jehoiachin; 2 Kg 24; 25:27; 1 Ch 3:16-17
  • [b]. 2 Kg 24:20-25:21
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