New American Standard Bible 2020
Esther 2
Vashti’s Successor Sought
1Afterאַחַר֙'a.CharH310theseהָאֵ֔לֶּהha.'E.lehH428thingsהַדְּבָרִ֣יםha.de.va.RimH1697,when the angerחֲמַ֖תcha.MatH2534of Kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325had subsidedכְּשֹׁ֕ךְke.ShokhH7918,he rememberedזָכַ֤רza.KharH2142Vashtiוַשְׁתִּי֙vash.TiH2060and whatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834she had doneעָשָׂ֔תָה'a.Sa.tahH6213, andwhatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834had been decidedנִגְזַ֖רnig.ZarH1504regardingעָלֶֽיהָ׃'a.Lei.haH5921her.
2Then the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428attendantsנַעֲרֵֽי־na.'a.rei-H5288,who servedמְשָׁרְתָ֑יוme.sha.re.TavH8334him, saidוַיֹּאמְר֥וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “Let beautifulטוֹב֥וֹת מַרְאֶֽה׃to.Vot mar.'EhH2896H4758youngנְעָר֥וֹתne.'a.RotH5291virginsבְּתוּל֖וֹתbe.tu.LotH1330be soughtיְבַקְשׁ֥וּye.vak.ShuH1245for the kingלַמֶּ֛לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428.
3And may the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428appointוְיַפְקֵ֨דve.yaf.KedH6485overseersפְּקִידִים֮pe.ki.DimH6496inallבְּכָל־be.kholH3605the provincesמְדִינ֣וֹתme.di.NotH4082of his kingdomמַלְכוּתוֹ֒mal.khu.ToH4438, and have thembringוְיִקְבְּצ֣וּve.yik.be.TzuH6908everyכָּל־kol-H3605beautifulטוֹבַ֨ת מַרְאֶ֜הto.Vat mar.'EhH2896H4758youngנַעֲרָֽה־na.'a.rah-H5291virginבְ֠תוּלָהVe.tu.lahH1330to the citadelהַבִּירָה֙ha.bi.RahH1002of Susaשׁוּשַׁ֤ןshu.ShanH7800,to the haremבֵּ֣ית הַנָּשִׁ֔יםbeit ha.na.ShimH1004H802,into the custodyיַ֥דyadH3027ofHegaiהֵגֶ֛אhe.Ge'H1896,the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428eunuchסְרִ֥יסse.RisH5631,who is inH8104chargeH8104ofH8104the womenהַנָּשִׁ֑יםha.na.ShimH802; andlet their cosmeticsתַּמְרוּקֵיהֶֽן׃tam.ru.kei.HenH8562be givenוְנָת֖וֹןve.na.TonH5414to them.
4Then let the youngוְהַֽנַּעֲרָ֗הve.ha.na.'a.RahH5291womanH5291whoאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834pleasesתִּיטַב֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣יti.Tav be.'ei.NeiH3190H5869the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428beH4427queenH4427inH8478placeתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478ofH8478Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֑יvash.TiH2060.” And thesuggestionהַדָּבָ֛רha.da.VarH1697pleasedוַיִּיטַ֧ב בְּעֵינֵ֥יvai.yi.Tav be.'ei.NeiH3190H5869the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,and he didוַיַּ֥עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213accordinglyכֵּֽן׃ סKenH3651.
5There was a Jewיְהוּדִ֔יye.hu.DiH3064at the citadelהַבִּירָ֑הha.bi.RahH1002in Susaבְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ןbe.shu.ShanH7800whose nameוּשְׁמ֣וֹu.she.MoH8034wasMordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֗יma.re.do.KhaiH4782,the sonבֶּ֣ןbenH1121of Jairיָאִ֧ירya.'IrH2971,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Shimeiשִׁמְעִ֛יshim.'IH8096,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Kishקִ֖ישׁkishH7027,a BenjaminiteH376H3228,
6whoאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834had been takenהָגְלָה֙ha.ge.LahH1540from Jerusalemמִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔יִםmi.Ru.sha.La.yimH3389with the exilesהַגֹּלָה֙ha.go.LahH1473whoאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834had been deportedהָגְלְתָ֔הha.ge.le.TahH1540with Jeconiahיְכָנְיָ֣הye.kha.ne.YahH3204kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Judahיְהוּדָ֑הye.hu.DahH3063,whomאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834Nebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֖רne.vu.khad.ne.TzarH5019the kingמֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Babylonבָּבֶֽל׃ba.VelH894had deportedהֶגְלָ֔הheg.LahH1540.
7He was the guardianאֹמֵ֜ן'o.MenH539to Hadassahהֲדַסָּ֗הha.da.SahH1919, that isEstherאֶסְתֵּר֙'es.TerH635,his uncle’sדֹּד֔וֹdo.DoH1730daughterבַּת־bat-H1323,for she hadH369noH369fatherאָ֣ב'avH1orH369motherוָאֵ֑םva.'EmH517.Now the youngוְהַנַּעֲרָ֤הve.ha.na.'a.RahH5291womanH5291was beautifulיְפַת־ye.fat-H3303of formתֹּ֙אַר֙to.'arH8389andfaceמַרְאֶ֔הmar.'EhH4758,and when her fatherאָבִ֙יהָ֙'a.Vi.haH1and her motherוְאִמָּ֔הּve.'i.MahH517diedוּבְמ֤וֹתu.ve.MotH4194,Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֛יma.re.do.KhaiH4782tookלְקָחָ֧הּle.ka.ChahH3947her as his own daughterלְבַֽת׃le.VatH1323.
Esther Finds Favor
8So it cameH1961aboutH1961,when the commandדְּבַר־de.var-H1697and decreeוְדָת֔וֹve.da.ToH1881of the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428were heardבְּהִשָּׁמַ֤עbe.hi.sha.Ma'H8085andmanyרַבּ֛וֹתra.BotH7227youngנְעָר֥וֹתne.'a.RotH5291ladiesH5291were gatheredוּֽבְהִקָּבֵ֞ץu.ve.hi.ka.VetzH6908to the citadelהַבִּירָ֖הha.bi.RahH1002of Susaשׁוּשַׁ֥ןshu.ShanH7800into thecustodyיַ֣דyadH3027ofHegaiהֵגָ֑יhe.GaiH1896,that Estherאֶסְתֵּר֙'es.TerH635was takenוַתִּלָּקַ֤חva.ti.la.KachH3947to the king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428palaceבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004into the custodyיַ֥דyadH3027of Hegaiהֵגַ֖יhe.GaiH1896,who was inH8104chargeH8104ofH8104the womenהַנָּשִֽׁים׃ha.na.ShimH802.
9Now the youngH5291ladyH5291pleasedוַתִּיטַ֨ב בְעֵינָיו֮va.ti.Tav ve.'ei.NavH3190H5869him and foundוַתִּשָּׂ֣אva.ti.Sa'H5375favorחֶ֣סֶדChe.sedH2617with him. So he quicklyוַ֠יְבַהֵלVay.va.helH926providedלָתֵ֣תla.TetH5414her with hercosmeticsתַּמְרוּקֶ֤יהָtam.ru.Kei.haH8562andfoodמָנוֹתֶ֙הָ֙ma.no.Te.haH4490,gaveלָֽתֶת־la.tet-H5414her sevenשֶׁ֣בַעShe.va'H7651choiceהָרְאֻי֥וֹתha.re.'u.YotH7200femaleH5291attendantsH5291from the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428palaceמִבֵּ֣יתmi.BeitH1004,and transferredH8132her and her attendantsH5291to the bestלְט֖וֹבle.TovH2896place in the haremבֵּ֥ית הַנָּשִֽׁים׃beit ha.na.ShimH1004H802.
11And everyוּבְכָל־u.ve.Khol-H3605dayH3117Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַי֙ma.re.do.KhaiH4782walkedמִתְהַלֵּ֔ךְmit.ha.LekhH1980backH1980andH1980forthH1980in frontלִפְנֵ֖יlif.NeiH6440of the courtyardחֲצַ֣רcha.TzarH2691of the haremבֵּית־ הַנָּשִׁ֑יםbeit- ha.na.ShimH1004H802to learnלָדַ֙עַת֙la.Da.'atH3045howשְׁל֣וֹםshe.LomH7965Estherאֶסְתֵּ֔ר'es.TerH635was and whatוּמַה־u.mah-H4100was happeningיֵּעָשֶׂ֖הye.'a.SehH6213to her.
12Now when the turnתֹּר֩torH8447cameוּבְהַגִּ֡יעַu.ve.ha.Gi.a'H5060for eachH5291youngנַעֲרָ֨הna.'a.RahH5291womanוְנַעֲרָ֜הve.na.'a.RahH5291to goלָב֣וֹא׀la.Vo'H935inH935to Kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325,afterH4480the endמִקֵּץ֩mi.KetzH7093of her twelveשְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֣רshe.Neim 'a.SarH8147H6240monthsחֹ֔דֶשׁCho.deshH2320under the regulationsכְּדָ֤תke.DatH1881for the womenהַנָּשִׁים֙ha.na.ShimH802--for the daysיְמֵ֣יye.MeiH3117of their beautyH4795treatmentH4795were completedיִמְלְא֖וּyim.le.'UH4390asH3651followsH3651:sixשִׁשָּׁ֤הshi.ShahH8337monthsחֳדָשִׁים֙cho.da.ShimH2320with oilבְּשֶׁ֣מֶןbe.She.menH8081of myrrhהַמֹּ֔רha.MorH4753and sixוְשִׁשָּׁ֤הve.shi.ShahH8337monthsחֳדָשִׁים֙cho.da.ShimH2320with balsamH1314oilH1314and the cosmeticsוּבְתַמְרוּקֵ֖יu.ve.tam.ru.KeiH8562for womenהַנָּשִֽׁים׃ha.na.ShimH802--
13the youngהַֽנַּעֲרָ֖הha.na.'a.RahH5291womanH5291would goH935inH935to the kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428in thisH2088wayH2088:anythingכָּל־kol-H3605that shedesiredתֹּאמַ֜רto.MarH559was givenיִנָּ֤תֵֽןyi.Na.tenH5414her totakeH935with her from the haremמִבֵּ֥ית הַנָּשִׁ֖יםmi.Beit ha.na.ShimH1004H802to the king’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428palaceבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004.
14In the eveningבָּעֶ֣רֶב׀ba.'E.revH6153she would enterH935and in the morningוּ֠בַבֹּקֶרU.va.bo.kerH1242she would returnשָׁבָ֞הsha.VahH7725to the secondשֵׁנִ֔יshe.NiH8145haremבֵּ֤ית הַנָּשִׁים֙beit ha.na.ShimH1004H802, to thecustodyיַ֧דyadH3027of Shaashgazשַֽׁעֲשְׁגַ֛זsha.'ash.GazH8190,the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428eunuchסְרִ֥יסse.RisH5631who was inH8104chargeH8104ofH8104the concubinesהַפִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑יםha.pi.lag.ShimH6370.She would not goH935inH935to the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428againעוֹד֙'OdH5750,unlessכִּ֣י אִם־ki 'im-H3588H518the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428delightedחָפֵ֥ץcha.FetzH2654in her and she was summonedוְנִקְרְאָ֥הve.nik.re.'AhH7121by nameבְשֵֽׁם׃ve.ShemH8034.
15Now when the turnתֹּר־tor-H8447of Estherאֶסְתֵּ֣ר'es.TerH635,the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Abihailאֲבִיחַ֣יִל'a.vi.Cha.yilH32the uncleדֹּ֣דdodH1730of Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֡יma.re.do.KhaiH4782whoאֲשֶׁר֩'a.SherH834had takenלָקַֽח־la.kach-H3947her as his daughterלְבַ֜תle.VatH1323,cameוּבְהַגִּ֣יעַu.ve.ha.Gi.a'H5060to goלָב֣וֹאla.Vo'H935inH935to the kingהַמֶּ֗לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,she did not requestבִקְשָׁה֙vik.ShahH1245anythingדָּבָ֔רda.VarH1697exceptכִּ֠י אִ֣םki 'imH3588H518whatאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834Hegaiהֵגַ֥יhe.GaiH1896,the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428eunuchסְרִיס־se.ris-H5631who was inH8104chargeH8104ofH8104the womenהַנָּשִׁ֑יםha.na.ShimH802,advisedיֹאמַ֛רyo.MarH559.And Estherאֶסְתֵּר֙'es.TerH635was findingנֹשֵׂ֣אתno.SetH5375favorחֵ֔ןChenH2580in the eyesבְּעֵינֵ֖יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of allכָּל־kol-H3605who sawרֹאֶֽיהָ׃ro.'Ei.haH7200her.
16So Estherאֶסְתֵּ֜ר'es.TerH635was takenוַתִּלָּקַ֨חva.ti.la.KachH3947to Kingהַמֶּ֤לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ֙'a.chash.ve.ro.VoshH325in his royalמַלְכוּת֔וֹmal.khu.ToH4438palaceבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004in the tenthהָעֲשִׂירִ֖יha.'a.si.RiH6224monthבַּחֹ֥דֶשׁba.Cho.deshH2320,whichהוּא־hu'-H1931is the monthחֹ֣דֶשׁCho.deshH2320Tebethטֵבֵ֑תte.VetH2887,in the seventhשֶׁ֖בַעShe.va'H7651yearבִּשְׁנַת־bish.nat-H8141of his reignלְמַלְכוּתֽוֹ׃le.mal.khu.ToH4438.
Esther Becomes Queen
17The kingהַמֶּ֤לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428lovedוַיֶּאֱהַ֨בvai.ye.'e.HavH157Estherאֶסְתֵּר֙'es.TerH635moreH4480thanH4480allמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605the womenהַנָּשִׁ֔יםha.na.ShimH802,and she foundוַתִּשָּׂא־va.ti.sa'-H5375favorחֵ֥ןchenH2580and kindnessוָחֶ֛סֶדva.Che.sedH2617with him moreH4480thanH4480allמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605the virginsהַבְּתוּלֹ֑תha.be.tu.LotH1330, so thathe setוַיָּ֤שֶׂםvai.Ya.semH7760the royalמַלְכוּת֙mal.KhutH4438turbanכֶּֽתֶר־ke.ter-H3804on her headבְּרֹאשָׁ֔הּbe.ro.ShahH7218and madeH4427her queenH4427inH8478placeתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478ofH8478Vashtiוַשְׁתִּֽי׃vash.TiH2060.
18Thenthe kingהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428heldוַיַּ֨עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213a greatגָד֗וֹלga.DolH1419banquetמִשְׁתֶּ֣הmish.TehH4960,Esther’sאֶסְתֵּ֑ר'es.TerH635banquetמִשְׁתֵּ֣הmish.TehH4960,for allלְכָל־le.kholH3605his officialsשָׂרָיו֙sa.RavH8269and his servantsוַעֲבָדָ֔יוva.'a.va.DavH5650;he also madeעָשָׂ֔ה'a.SahH6213a holidayוַהֲנָחָ֤הva.ha.na.ChahH2010for the provincesלַמְּדִינוֹת֙la.me.di.nOtH4082and gaveוַיִּתֵּ֥ןvai.yi.TenH5414giftsמַשְׂאֵ֖תmas.'EtH4864in proportion to the king’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428bountyכְּיַ֥דke.YadH3027.
20Estherאֶסְתֵּ֗ר'es.TerH635stillhad not revealedH5046her relativesמֽוֹלַדְתָּהּ֙mo.lad.TahH4138or her peopleעַמָּ֔הּ'a.MahH5971,justH3512asH3512Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכָ֑יma.re.do.KhaiH4782had instructedצִוָּ֥הtzi.VahH6680her; for Estherאֶסְתֵּ֣ר'es.TerH635didעֹשָׂ֔ה'o.SahH6213whatמַאֲמַ֤רma.'a.MarH3982Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַי֙ma.re.do.KhaiH4782toldמַגֶּ֤דֶתma.Ge.detH5046her justH3512asH3512she hadהָיְתָ֥הha.ye.TahH1961whenH3512under his careבְאָמְנָ֖הve.'a.me.NahH545.
Mordecai Saves the King
21In thoseהָהֵ֔םha.HemH1992daysבַּיָּמִ֣יםbai.ya.MimH3117,while Mordecaiוּמָרְדֳּכַ֖יu.ma.re.do.KhaiH4782was sittingיֹשֵׁ֣בyo.ShevH3427at the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428gateבְּשַֽׁעַר־be.sha.'ar-H8179,Bigthanבִּגְתָ֨ןbig.TanH904and Tereshוָתֶ֜רֶשׁva.Te.reshH8657,twoשְׁנֵֽי־she.nei-H8147of the king’sהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428officialsסָרִיסֵ֤יsa.ri.SeiH5631from those who guardedמִשֹּׁמְרֵ֣יmi.sho.me.ReiH8104the doorהַסַּ֔ףha.SafH5592,becameH7107angryקָצַף֩ka.TzafH7107and soughtוַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙vay.vak.ShuH1245toattackלִשְׁלֹ֣חַ יָ֔דlish.Lo.ach YadH7971H3027Kingבַּמֶּ֖לֶךְba.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵֽרֹשׁ׃'a.chash.Ve.roshH325.
22But theplotהַדָּבָר֙ha.da.VarH1697became knownוַיִּוָּדַ֤עvai.yi.va.Da'H3045to Mordecaiלְמָרְדֳּכַ֔יle.ma.re.do.KhaiH4782andhe informedוַיַּגֵּ֖דvai.ya.GedH5046Queenהַמַּלְכָּ֑הha.mal.KahH4436Estherלְאֶסְתֵּ֣רle.'es.TerH635,and Estherאֶסְתֵּ֛ר'es.TerH635toldוַתֹּ֧אמֶרva.To.merH559the kingלַמֶּ֖לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428in Mordecai’sמָרְדֳּכָֽי׃ma.re.do.KhaiH4782nameבְּשֵׁ֥םbe.ShemH8034.
23Then when the plotהַדָּבָר֙ha.da.VarH1697was investigatedוַיְבֻקַּ֤שׁvay.vu.KashH1245and foundוַיִּמָּצֵ֔אvai.yi.ma.Tze'H4672to be so,they were bothשְׁנֵיהֶ֖םshe.nei.HemH8147hangedוַיִּתָּל֥וּvai.yi.ta.LuH8518on a woodenעֵ֑ץ'EtzH6086gallows;and it was writtenוַיִּכָּתֵ֗בvai.yi.ka.TevH3789inthe Bookבְּסֵ֛פֶרbe.Se.ferH5612of the Chroniclesדִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖יםdiv.Rei hai.ya.MimH1697H3117in the king’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ פha.Me.lekhH4428presenceלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440.
Commentaries on Esther 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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Commentaries