with "Atossa," and "Esther" with "Ames- Ver. 10. -Either had not showed her tris;" but there is probably no more ground people. To have confessed that she was 11 for the one identification than the other. Jewess would probably he.ve roused a preju• Mord,cai's cousin received originally the dice against her, or at any rate have pre- Hebrew name of "RlldRSSah," a derivative vented her from being received with specie.I of lu:ulaJJ, "myrtle" (compare "Susannah" favour. Mordecai, knowing this, had in- from sh.ushan, "lily") ; but was subse- structed her to say nothing to Hegai on the quently celled by the Persians "Esther," subject, 1111d no one else, it would seem, had which may either be Ish.tar, "Venus," or enlightened him. an equivalent of the Zend ftare, Mod. Pers. Ver. 11. -Mordeoai w&lked every d&y 8itarek, Greek curr;,p, Engl. "star," &c. Bis before the court of the women's house. uncle's daughter. Therefore his own first Mordecai seems to have been one of the cousin, but probably ranch younger than porters at the main entrance to the palace, himself. Whom Kordec&i . . . took for his e.nd his proper ple.ce was at the gateway. own d&ughter. Not perhaps by a forme.l He contrived, however, during some part of e.doption, bnt by taking her to live with each day to visit the court in front of the him, and treating her es if she hlld been his seraglio, in order to see Esther, or at nny own child. This fa.et is related to account rate obtain intelligence concerning her. for the terms of familiarity between the two, Ver. 12. -After she h&d been twelve which form &n essentie.l part of the later months, aocording to the manner of the n&rrative. It introduces Mordecai to the women. Rather, "After she had been (in reader Ullder a favourable aspect, as kindly the pale.ce), according to the law prescribed and benevolent. to the women, twelve months." A year•~ Ver. 8.-B:is decree. Literally, "his law" purification was considered necessary before -the same word &S the.t which occurs in the B.Ily maiden could e.pproach the king (see the phrase "the law of the Medes &nd Persi&ns, comment on ver. 3). Silt months with oil which altereth not" (Dan. vi. 8, 12, &c.). of myrrh. Myrrh was highly esteemed, both Begai. The " Hege" of ver. 3. Slight for its scent and for its purifying power, by differences in the mode of spelling names the ancients. In Egypt it was employed were common at this period. Esther was largely in the preparation of mummies brought. Some have rendered, " wru; fore~ (Herod., ii 86). The Jews were directed to bly brought ; " e.nd in the second Targum on me.ke it one of the chief ingredients in their Esther there is a story that Mordecai con- "holy anointing oil" (Exod. xxx. 23-25). cealed her to prevent her from becoming an Dresses B.Ild beds were scented with it (Ps. inmate of the royal harem, and that the xlv. 8; Prov. vii 17). And ailr. months king's authority was invoked to force him to with sweet odours. The word translated give her np; but the Hebrew word translated " sweet odours " seems to mean " spices " "was brought" does not contain any idea of generally (comp. Cant. iv. 16). violence; e.nd the Persian Jews probably saw Ver. 13.-Then thus came every maiden, no disgrace, but rather honour, in one of &c. Rather, "And when ea.eh maiden came their nation becoming even a seconde.ry wife thus purified to the king, whatever she asked to the gree.t king. was given her," &c. The whole verse is one Ver. 9.-The maiden pleased him. Liter- sentence. The meaning is, that on quitting ally, "was good in his eyes," the same the hollSe of the women for the king's apart- expression as that which occurs in eh. i 21. ments, each maiden was entitled to demand And she obtained kindness of him. This is anything that she liked in the way of dreSB a phrase pecnlia.r to the Book of Esther, and or ornament, and it had to be given her. a favourite one with the author (see vers. 15, Ver. 14.--0n the morrow. Literally, "in 17; e.nd eh. v. 2). It is better translated the morning." The second house of the "she obtained favour" (as in e.ll the other women. The gynmcenm comprised at least pl.e.ces where it occurs) than "she obtained three distinct houses :-1. A residence for the kindneas," though the latter translation is queen, corresponding to that which Solomon more literal. Her things for purific&tion. built for the daughter of Pharaoh (1 Kings See ver. 12. With such things as belonged vii 8) ; 2. A house for the secondary wives, to her. Literally, us in the margin, "with or concubines ; and, 3. A honse for the vir- her portions "-by which is probably meant gins. On returning from her first visit to her daily allowB.Ilce of food. And seven the king's chamber, & woman ordinarily be- maidena. Rather, "e.nd her seven maidens." came an inmate of the " second house." lt is implied that each virgin had seven This " second house " wes under the care of female &ttende.nt.s assigned to her. Keet to &ellllnch called Sha'ashgaz. be given her. It was in this point that the Ver. 16.-Abihail, the unole of MordecaL '' favour " or '' kindness " of Hegai was Literally, "the paternal uncle," or "father's shown. He selected for her use the most brother." The genealogy may be thus ex• enitable of the attendants. hibited :- OB. II, 1-18.) THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 41
Kish reign. Four years after the disgrace of I Vashti, probably in January, B.C. 479. Shimei Xerxes had recently returned from tho