PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible — Esther
Gill, John, 1697-1771 · 31,302 words · 152 reading sections
Esther 1:1
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible. Esther 1:1 INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF ESTHER This book has its name from the person who is the principal subject of it; it is by Clemens of Alexandria {a} called the Book of Mordecai also; it is commonly called, in the Hebrew copies, "Megillah Esther", the Volume of Esthe…
1,449 wordsSECTION 2Esther 1:2
Esther 1:2 Ver. 2. That in those days, when the King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom,.... Not only was placed upon it, but settled in it; after Xerxes had subdued Egypt, in the second year of his reign {e}, and enjoyed great peace and tranquillity: which was in Shushan the palace; that is, the throne of hi…
96 wordsSECTION 3Esther 1:3
Esther 1:3 Ver. 3. In the third year of his reign he made a feast unto all his princes, and his servants,.... The nobles and officers in his court; on what account this was cannot be said with certainty, whether the first day of it was his birthday, or the day of his coming to the throne, on which day Xerxes used to m…
254 wordsSECTION 4Esther 1:4
Esther 1:4 Ver. 4. When he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom,.... Xerxes was the fourth king of the Persian monarchy, and was "far richer than all" that went before him, all their riches coming into his hands, Da 11:2, and now that prophecy began to be fulfilled, "that by his strength, through his riches, he s…
391 wordsSECTION 5Esther 1:5
Esther 1:5 Ver. 5. And when these days were ended,.... The one hundred and eighty, in which the nobles, princes, and great men of the kingdom were feasted: the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small; of every age, rank, state and condition of life; the…
279 wordsSECTION 6Esther 1:6
Esther 1:6 Ver. 6. Where were white, green, and blue hangings,.... Or curtains of fine linen, as the Targum, which were of these several colours; the first letter of the word for "white" is larger than usual, to denote the exceeding whiteness of them. The next word is "carpas", which Ben Melech observes is a dyed colo…
663 wordsSECTION 7Esther 1:7
Esther 1:7 Ver. 7. They gave them drink in vessels of gold, the vessels being divers one from another,.... In the pattern and workmanship of them, though of the same metal, which diversity made the festival the more grand; earthen cups, with the Persians, were reckoned very mean; when a king would disgrace a man, he o…
209 wordsSECTION 8Esther 1:8
Esther 1:8 Ver. 8. And the drinking was according to the law, none did compel,.... According to the law Ahasuerus gave to his officers next mentioned, which was not to oblige any man to drink more than he chose; the Targum is, `according to the custom of his body;' that is, as a man is able to bear it, so they drank…
284 wordsSECTION 9Esther 1:9
Esther 1:9 Ver. 9. Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women.... For it was not customary with the Persians, nor other eastern nations, to admit of women to their festivals {m}, but they feasted by themselves. Who Vashti was is not known with any certainty. Bishop Usher, who takes Ahasuerus to be Darius Hystasp…
190 wordsSECTION 10Esther 1:10
Esther 1:10 Ver. 10. On the seventh day,.... Of the feast, the last day of it, which the Rabbins, as Jarchi observes, say was the sabbath day, and so the Targum: when the heart of the king was merry with wine; when he was intoxicated with it, and knew not well what he said or did; and the discourse at table ran upon …
159 wordsSECTION 11Esther 1:11
Esther 1:11 Ver. 11. To bring Vashti the queen before the king,.... Not against her will, or by force; but they were sent to let her know it was the king's pleasure that she should come to him immediately: with the crown royal; that is, upon her head, to make her look the more grand and majestic: to show the people …
85 wordsSECTION 12Esther 1:12
Esther 1:12 Ver. 12. But the queen refused to came at the king's commandment by his chamberlains,.... Even though he sent by them again, as the Targum; and so says Josephus {o}; which might not purely arise from pride in her, and contempt of him, but because she might conclude he was drunk, and knew not well what he d…
242 wordsSECTION 13Esther 1:13
Esther 1:13 Ver. 13. Then the king said to the wise men that knew the times,.... Astrologers, as Aben Ezra, that knew the fit time for doing anything; or that had knowledge of ancient times, historians, well read in history, and knew things that had happened similar to this: for so was the king's manner towards all t…
119 wordsSECTION 14Esther 1:14
Esther 1:14 Ver. 14. And the next unto him,.... That sat next to the king, and was the chief in dignity and authority under him: was Carshena; and so everyone in their rank and order, as next mentioned: Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan; who, according to the latter Targum, were of different co…
226 wordsSECTION 15Esther 1:15
Esther 1:15 Ver. 15. What shall we do unto the Queen Vashti, according to law,.... The king desired to know what law was provided in such a case as her's, and what to be done according to it: because she hath not performed the commandment of the king by the chamberlains? as this was the crime, disobedience to his com…
194 wordsSECTION 16Esther 1:16
Esther 1:16 Ver. 16. And Memucan answered before the king and the princes,.... Who was the last, and perhaps the least and the youngest of the counsellors; it being appointed by the king, according to the latter Targum that when his counsellors sat, the least should give their counsel first; just as puisne judges, and…
133 wordsSECTION 17Esther 1:17
Esther 1:17 Ver. 17. For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women,.... It will soon be spread all over the king's dominions, and reach the ears of the wives of all his subjects, and become their general talk everywhere: so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes: make light of their author…
126 wordsSECTION 18Esther 1:18
Esther 1:18 Ver. 18. Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen,.... From henceforward they will give a like answer to their husbands, when they lay their commands upon them, as Vashti has to the king; they will tell them to their faces…
108 wordsSECTION 19Esther 1:19
Esther 1:19 Ver. 19. If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him,.... Not only a proclamation made, but a law enacted and published by royal authority: and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and Medes that it be not altered; for so it was, that when a law was made, and signed, and s…
253 wordsSECTION 20Esther 1:20
Esther 1:20 Ver. 20. And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire,.... As it was proper it should, since the report of the queen's deed would be made everywhere:for it is great; the empire consisting of one hundred and twenty seven provinces, Es 1:1, Aben Ezra and Abendan…
577 wordsSECTION 21Esther 2:1
Esther 2:1 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, who found favour with the chamberlain, and afterwards with the king, who…
378 wordsSECTION 22Esther 2:2
Esther 2:2 Ver. 2. Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him,.... Fearing that, if Vashti should be restored, vengeance would be taken on them; or however to remove the grief and melancholy of the king, they gave the following advice: let there be fair young virgins sought for the king; that he might enj…
76 wordsSECTION 23Esther 2:3
Esther 2:3 Ver. 3. And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom,.... Who best knew where beautiful virgins might be found in their respective provinces, in which they dwelt: that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace; the metropolis of the kingdom, where …
200 wordsSECTION 24Esther 2:4
Esther 2:4 Ver. 4. And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti,.... Have the royal estate, that was taken from Vashti, given to her, the crown royal set on her head, &c. and the thing pleased the king, and he did so; appointed officers in all his provinces to seek out the most beautiful virg…
149 wordsSECTION 25Esther 2:5
Esther 2:5 Ver. 5. Now in Shushan the palace was a certain Jew,.... Not one of the tribe of Judah, for he was afterwards called a Benjaminite; but was so called, because he was of the kingdom of Judah, which consisted of both tribes. Jarchi says, all that were carried captive with the kings of Judah were called Jews a…
134 wordsSECTION 26Esther 2:6
Esther 2:6 Ver. 6. Who had been carried away from Jerusalem,.... Which, according to some {f}, 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 …
209 wordsSECTION 27Esther 2:7
Esther 2:7 Ver. 7. And he brought up Hadassah (that is Esther) his uncle's daughter,.... Her Hebrew name was Hadassah, which signifies a myrtle, to which the Israelites, and good men among them, are sometimes compared, Zec 1:8. Her Persian name was Esther, which some derive from "satar", to hide, because hidden in the…
524 wordsSECTION 28Esther 2:8
Esther 2:8 Ver. 8. So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and decree was heard,.... In the several provinces of his kingdom: and when many maidens were gathered unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai; Josephus {o} says, there were gathered to the number of four hundred: that Esther was brought als…
96 wordsSECTION 29Esther 2:9
Esther 2:9 Ver. 9. And the maiden pleased him,.... Not the king, into whose presence she was not yet introduced, but the chamberlain; her beauty and her behaviour recommended her to him, and he concluded within himself that she was the person that of all would be acceptable to the king: and she obtained kindness of h…
174 wordsSECTION 30Esther 2:10
Esther 2:10 Ver. 10. Esther had not showed her people nor her kindred,.... What nation or family she was of; it not being asked, she was under no obligation to declare it; and being born in Shushan, as very probable, she was taken to be a Persian: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not show it; lest she sho…
104 wordsSECTION 31Esther 2:11
Esther 2:11 Ver. 11. And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house,.... Being one of the court, and in an high post, as Aben Ezra thinks, he might walk there without being examined, and called to an account for it: to know how Esther did; to inquire of her health and prosperity, or peace, the wo…
101 wordsSECTION 32Esther 2:12
Esther 2:12 Ver. 12. Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to King Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of women,.... That were prepared in the house of the women to be presented to the king for his liking; for it seems that these virgins came in turns to him, according to t…
213 wordsSECTION 33Esther 2:13
Esther 2:13 Ver. 13. Then thus came every virgin unto the king,.... When her twelve months were up, and she was purified in the manner before observed: whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house; whatever she commanded the chamberlain was obliged to furnish…
111 wordsSECTION 34Esther 2:14
Esther 2:14 Ver. 14. In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women,.... Or the other apartment of the house of the women, where were kept those the king had made his concubines or secondary wives. Aben Ezra interprets it the second time, and so the Targum by "again": to th…
137 wordsSECTION 35Esther 2:15
Esther 2:15 Ver. 15. Now when the turn of Esther the daughter of Abihail,.... For this was her father's name, and not Aminadab, as the Septuagint version: the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter; which makes it quite clear that Mordecai was not Esther's uncle, as Josephus, but her own cousin: now wh…
203 wordsSECTION 36Esther 2:16
Esther 2:16 Ver. 16. So Esther was taken unto King Ahasuerus, into his house royal,.... Did not return on the morrow to the house of the women, as those who only became the king's concubines did, Es 2:14, but she was taken to be his wife, and designed for his queen, and so was retained in his palace, and placed in an …
256 wordsSECTION 37Esther 2:17
Esther 2:17 Ver. 17. And the king loved Esther above all the women,.... The virgins he made his concubines, as next explained; though Jarchi interprets it of married women, for such he supposes were gathered and brought to him, as well as virgins: and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgi…
138 wordsSECTION 38Esther 2:18
Esther 2:18 Ver. 18. Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and servants, even Esther's feast,.... A feast to all his nobles, courtiers, and ministers of state, on account of his marriage with Esther; which, according to the Greek version, was held seven days; but, according to Josephus, it lasted a who…
297 wordsSECTION 39Esther 2:19
Esther 2:19 Ver. 19. And when the virgins were gathered together the second time,.... Some think this second collection is that which was made when Esther was taken and brought to the keeper of the women, called the second, in reference to a former collection of them, made when Vashti was taken and made queen; but as …
893 wordsSECTION 40Esther 3:1
Esther 3:1 INTRODUCTION TO ESTHER 3 This chapter gives an account of the promotion of Haman, and of the mortification of him by Mordecai, who refused to bow to him, upon which he vowed revenge on him, and on all his people the Jews, Es 3:1, for which purpose, through a false representation of them, he obtained letter…
367 wordsSECTION 41Esther 3:2
Esther 3:2 Ver. 2. And the king's servants that were in the king's gate,.... Or court, all his courtiers; for it cannot be thought they were all porters, or such only that bowed and reverenced Haman; gave him divine honours, as to a deity; for such were given to the kings of Persia {k}, and might be given to their fa…
315 wordsSECTION 42Esther 3:3
Esther 3:3 Ver. 3. Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate,.... Observing the behaviour of Mordecai towards Haman from time to time: said unto Mordecai, why transgressest thou the king's commandment? of giving reverence to Haman, which they knew he could not be ignorant of.…
49 wordsSECTION 43Esther 3:4
Esther 3:4 Ver. 4. Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him,.... Putting him in mind of his duty to obey the king's command, suggesting to him the danger he exposed himself to, pressing him to give the reasons of his conduct: and he hearkened not unto them; regarded not what they said, and continued disobe…
298 wordsSECTION 44Esther 3:5
Esther 3:5 Ver. 5. And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence,.... For, after the information given him, he observed and watched him, to see whether he bowed and did him reverence or not: then was Haman full of wrath; exceedingly displeased and angry; it was such a mortification to him he could…
60 wordsSECTION 45Esther 3:6
Esther 3:6 Ver. 6. And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone,.... That would not be a sufficient gratification of his revenge; he was too low and mean a person only to wreak his vengeance on; nothing short of his whole nation would satisfy him: for they had showed him the people of Mordecai; that they were …
175 wordsSECTION 46Esther 3:7
Esther 3:7 Ver. 7. In the first month, that is the month Nisan,.... Which was the first month of the sacred year of the Jews, by divine appointment, Ex 12:2, and there called Abib, and answers to part of February and part of March; from hence it is clear this book was written by a Jew, and very probably by Mordecai: …
308 wordsSECTION 47Esther 3:8
Esther 3:8 Ver. 8. And Haman said unto King Ahasuerus, Or "had said" {r}, as some choose to render it; nor indeed is it likely that Haman should cast lots to know when would be a proper time to destroy the Jews, until he had got leave of the king to do it: there is a certain people scattered abroad, and dispersed amo…
386 wordsSECTION 48Esther 3:9
Esther 3:9 Ver. 9. If it please the king, let it be written, that they may be destroyed,.... That is, a law made, signed and sealed, for their destruction, and letters written and sent everywhere, ordering it to be put in execution: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those who have the char…
234 wordsSECTION 49Esther 3:10
Esther 3:10 Ver. 10. And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. As a token of his affection for him, and a mark of honour to him; with the Persians {w} for a king to give a ring to anyone was a token and bond of the greatest love and friendship…
154 wordsSECTION 50Esther 3:11
Esther 3:11 Ver. 11. And the king said unto Haman, the silver is given unto thee,.... The 10,000 talents of silver Haman proposed to pay into the treasury were returned to him, or the king out of his great munificence refused to take them: the people also, to do with them as seemeth good unto thee; that is, the peopl…
88 wordsSECTION 51Esther 3:12
Esther 3:12 Ver. 12. Then were the king's scribes called, on the thirteenth day of the first month,.... The month Nisan, Es 3:7, after Haman had leave and power from the king to destroy the Jews, and his ring given him in token of it; the king's scribes or secretaries of state were called together on that day, to writ…
292 wordsSECTION 52Esther 3:13
Esther 3:13 Ver. 13. And the letters were sent by post into all the king's provinces,.... Or by the runners {x}; by which it seems as if these letters were carried by running footmen, men swift of foot; or rather they were running horses, on which men rode post with letters, and which the Persians called Angari; a sch…
283 wordsSECTION 53Esther 3:14
Esther 3:14 Ver. 14. The copy of the writing, for a commandment to be given in every province, was published unto all people,.... Not only letters were sent to the governors, but a copy, or the sum of the contents of them, was published by heralds, or stuck up as with us, in various places, that it might be publicly k…
94 wordsSECTION 54Esther 3:15
Esther 3:15 Ver. 15. The post went out, being hastened by the king's command,.... Both to set out and make as much dispatch as possible: and the decree was given in Shushan the palace; by the king, and with the advice of his courtiers: and the king and Haman sat down to drink; at a banquet which perhaps Haman had pr…
189 wordsSECTION 55Esther 4:1
Esther 4:1 INTRODUCTION TO ESTHER 4 This chapter relates the mourning of Mordecai, and of the Jews in every province, on account of the edict to destroy them, Es 4:1, the information Esther had of it, and what passed between her and Mordecai, through Hatach, a chamberlain, by whom he put her upon making a request to …
344 wordsSECTION 56Esther 4:2
Esther 4:2 Ver. 2. And came even before the king's gate,.... Or court, that Esther might if possible be made acquainted with this dreadful calamity coming upon her people: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth: or appear in such a dress at court, where nothing was admitted to damp the pleas…
59 wordsSECTION 57Esther 4:3
Esther 4:3 Ver. 3. And in every province whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came,.... For destroying the Jews on such a day, in every place where they were to be found: there was great mourning among the Jews, and weeping, and wailing; which continued all day: and many lay in sackcloth and ashes: al…
73 wordsSECTION 58Esther 4:4
Esther 4:4 Ver. 4. So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her,.... Her maids of honour and eunuchs that attended her, which they might tell her merely as a piece of news, there being something shocking in it to tender minds; or perhaps nothing more than that Mordecai was in sackcloth; and they might h…
162 wordsSECTION 59Esther 4:5
Esther 4:5 Ver. 5. Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her,.... Which, according to the Targum, was Daniel {a}; but it is not likely that Daniel should have lived to this time; however, this officer was not only intrusted with the care of the queen by the…
123 wordsSECTION 60Esther 4:6
Esther 4:6 Ver. 6. So Hatach went forth to Mordecai, unto the street of the city,.... Where he was, in a public manner, expressing his grief and sorrow: which was before the king's gate: that led to the royal palace.…
41 wordsSource & rights
Public domain; John Gill (1697–1771). Source item is marked Public Domain on Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.