Revised Version 1895

Esther 2

1Afterאַחַר֙'a.CharH310theseהָאֵ֔לֶּהha.'E.lehH428things, when thewrathחֲמַ֖תcha.MatH2534ofkingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325was pacified, herememberedזָכַ֤רza.KharH2142Vashtiוַשְׁתִּי֙vash.TiH2060, andwhatH834sheH834haddoneעָשָׂ֔תָה'a.Sa.tahH6213, andwhatH834wasdecreedנִגְזַ֖רnig.ZarH1504againstH5921herH5921.

2Thensaidוַיֹּאמְר֥וּvai.yo.me.RuH559theking’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428servantsH5288thatministeredמְשָׁרְתָ֑יוme.sha.re.TavH8334unto him, Let there be fairyoungנַעֲרֵֽי־na.'a.rei-H5288virginsבְּתוּל֖וֹתbe.tu.LotH1330soughtיְבַקְשׁ֥וּye.vak.ShuH1245for thekingלַמֶּ֛לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428:

3andletH5414thekingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428appointוְיַפְקֵ֨דve.yaf.KedH6485officersH6485inallבְּכָל־be.kholH3605theprovincesמְדִינ֣וֹתme.di.NotH4082of hiskingdomמַלְכוּתוֹ֒mal.khu.ToH4438, thatyoungנַעֲרָֽה־na.'a.rah-H5291virginsבְ֠תוּלָהVe.tu.lahH1330unto Shushan thepalaceH1004, they maygatherוְיִקְבְּצ֣וּve.yik.be.TzuH6908togetherH6908allכָּל־kol-H3605the fair to thehouseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of thewomenהַנָּשִׁ֔יםha.na.ShimH802, unto thecustodyיַ֥דyadH3027ofHegaiהֵגֶ֛אhe.Ge'H1896theking’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428chamberlain,keeperשֹׁמֵ֣רsho.MerH8104of thewomenהַנָּשִׁ֑יםha.na.ShimH802; andletH5414their things for purification begivenוְנָת֖וֹןve.na.TonH5414them:

4andletH3651the maidenwhichאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834pleaseth thekingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428be queeninsteadתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478ofVashtiוַשְׁתִּ֑יvash.TiH2060. And thethingהַדָּבָ֛רha.da.VarH1697pleasedH3190thekingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428, and hedidוַיַּ֥עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213soH3651.

5There was acertainH376Jewיְהוּדִ֔יye.hu.DiH3064in Shushan the palace,whoseH1121nameוּשְׁמ֣וֹu.she.MoH8034wasMordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֗יma.re.do.KhaiH4782, thesonבֶּ֣ןbenH1121ofJairיָאִ֧ירya.'IrH2971, thesonבֶּן־ben-H1121ofShimeiשִׁמְעִ֛יshim.'IH8096, thesonבֶּן־ben-H1121ofKishקִ֖ישׁkishH7027, aBenjamiteיְמִינִֽי׃ye.mi.NiH1145;

6who had beencarriedH1540awayH1540fromJerusalemמִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔יִםmi.Ru.sha.La.yimH3389with thecaptivesH1540whichH834had beencarriedH1540awayH1540withJeconiahיְכָנְיָ֣הye.kha.ne.YahH3204kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428ofJudahיְהוּדָ֑הye.hu.DahH3063,whomH834Nebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֖רne.vu.khad.ne.TzarH5019hekingמֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekhH4428ofBabylonבָּבֶֽל׃ba.VelH894hadcarriedH1540awayH1540.

7And hebroughtH3947upאֶת־'et-H853Hadassahהֲדַסָּ֗הha.da.SahH1919, that is,Estherאֶסְתֵּר֙'es.TerH635, hisuncle’sדֹּד֔וֹdo.DoH1730daughterבַּת־bat-H1323: forsheהִ֤יאhi'H1931hadneitherH369fatherאָ֣ב'avH1norH369motherוָאֵ֑םva.'EmH517, and the maiden wasfairH3303andbeautifulיְפַת־ye.fat-H3303; and whenherH3947fatherאָבִ֙יהָ֙'a.Vi.haH1andmotherוְאִמָּ֔הּve.'i.MahH517weredeadוּבְמ֤וֹתu.ve.MotH4194,Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֛יma.re.do.KhaiH4782tookH3947herH3947for hisownוַיְהִ֨יvay.HiH1961daughterלְבַֽת׃le.VatH1323.

8SoH3947itcameH1961topassH1961, when theking’sהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428commandmentדְּבַר־de.var-H1697and hisdecreeוְדָת֔וֹve.da.ToH1881washeardבְּהִשָּׁמַ֤עbe.hi.sha.Ma'H8085, and whenmanyרַבּ֛וֹתra.BotH7227maidensנְעָר֥וֹתne.'a.RotH5291weregatheredוּֽבְהִקָּבֵ֞ץu.ve.hi.ka.VetzH6908togetherH6908unto Shushan thepalaceH1004, to thecustodyיַ֣דyadH3027ofHegaiהֵגָ֑יhe.GaiH1896, thatEstherאֶסְתֵּר֙'es.TerH635wastakenH3947intoH413theking’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004, to thecustodyיַ֥דyadH3027ofHegaiהֵגַ֖יhe.GaiH1896,keeperשֹׁמֵ֥רsho.MerH8104of thewomenהַנָּשִֽׁים׃ha.na.ShimH802.

9And the maidenpleasedוַתִּיטַ֨בva.ti.TavH3190him, andsheH2896obtainedH5375kindnessחֶ֣סֶדChe.sedH2617of him; and he speedilygaveלָתֵ֣תla.TetH5414herH802herH802things for purification, withherH802portionsמָנוֹתֶ֙הָ֙ma.no.Te.haH4490, and thesevenשֶׁ֣בַעShe.va'H7651maidensH5291,whichבְעֵינָיו֮ve.'ei.NavH5869weremeetH6440to begivenלָֽתֶת־la.tet-H5414herH802,outH6440of theking’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428houseמִבֵּ֣יתmi.BeitH1004: and heremovedH5375herH802andherH802maidensH5291to thebestלְט֖וֹבle.TovH2896placeH5414of thehouseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of thewomenH802.

10Estherאֶסְתֵּ֔ר'es.TerH635hadnotH3808shewedherH5046peopleעַמָּ֖הּ'a.MahH5971norH3808herH5046kindredמֽוֹלַדְתָּ֑הּmo.lad.TahH4138: forMordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֛יma.re.do.KhaiH4782hadchargedצִוָּ֥הtzi.VahH6680herH5046thatsheאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834shouldnotH3808shew it.

11AndMordecaiמָרְדֳּכַי֙ma.re.do.KhaiH4782walkedמִתְהַלֵּ֔ךְmit.ha.LekhH1980everyH3605dayH3117beforeלִפְנֵ֖יlif.NeiH6440thecourtחֲצַ֣רcha.TzarH2691of the women’shouseבֵּית־beit-H1004, toknowלָדַ֙עַת֙la.Da.'atH3045howH4100Estherאֶסְתֵּ֔ר'es.TerH635didיֵּעָשֶׂ֖הye.'a.SehH6213, andwhatH4100shouldbecomeH1980ofherH3605.

12NowH1961when theturnH1961ofeveryH3117maiden wascomeH935togoלָב֣וֹא׀la.Vo'H935in tokingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325,afterמִקֵּץ֩mi.KetzH7093that it had beendoneH1961toherH413accordingH413to thelawכְּדָ֤תke.DatH1881for thewomenהַנָּשִׁים֙ha.na.ShimH802,twelveעָשָׂ֣ר'a.SarH6240monthsחֹ֔דֶשׁCho.deshH2320, (forsoכֵּ֥ןkenH3651were thedaysיְמֵ֣יye.MeiH3117of their purificationsaccomplishedיִמְלְא֖וּyim.le.'UH4390, to wit,sixשִׁשָּׁ֤הshi.ShahH8337monthsחֳדָשִׁים֙cho.da.ShimH2320withoilבְּשֶׁ֣מֶןbe.She.menH8081ofmyrrhהַמֹּ֔רha.MorH4753, andsixוְשִׁשָּׁ֤הve.shi.ShahH8337monthsחֳדָשִׁים֙cho.da.ShimH2320withsweetבַּבְּשָׂמִ֔יםba.be.sa.MimH1314odours, and with the things for the purifying of thewomenהַנָּשִֽׁים׃ha.na.ShimH802,)

13then in this wisecameבָּאָ֣הba.'AhH935the maiden unto thekingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,whatsoeverH3605sheאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834desiredתֹּאמַ֜רto.MarH559wasgivenיִנָּ֤תֵֽןyi.Na.tenH5414herH3605togoלָב֣וֹאla.Vo'H935withherH3605outאֶל־'el-H413of thehouseמִבֵּ֥יתmi.BeitH1004of thewomenהַנָּשִׁ֖יםha.na.ShimH802unto theking’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004.

14In theeveningבָּעֶ֣רֶב׀ba.'E.revH6153sheH1931wentבָאָ֗הva.'AhH935, and on the morrowsheH1931returnedשָׁבָ֞הsha.VahH7725intoH413thesecondשֵׁנִ֔יshe.NiH8145houseבֵּ֤יתbeitH1004of thewomenהַנָּשִׁים֙ha.na.ShimH802, to thecustodyיַ֧דyadH3027ofShaashgazשַֽׁעֲשְׁגַ֛זsha.'ash.GazH8190, theking’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428chamberlain,whichH1931keptשֹׁמֵ֣רsho.MerH8104theconcubinesהַפִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑יםha.pi.lag.ShimH6370:sheH1931cameתָב֥וֹאta.Vo'H935in unto thekingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428noלֹא־lo'-H3808moreעוֹד֙'OdH5750,exceptאִם־'im-H518thekingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428delighted inherH413, and thatsheH1931werecalledוְנִקְרְאָ֥הve.nik.re.'AhH7121bynameבְשֵֽׁם׃ve.ShemH8034.

15NowH1961when theturnH1961ofEstherאֶסְתֵּ֣ר'es.TerH635, thedaughterבַּת־bat-H1323ofAbihailאֲבִיחַ֣יִל'a.vi.Cha.yilH32theuncleדֹּ֣דdodH1730ofMordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֡יma.re.do.KhaiH4782, who hadtakenלָקַֽח־la.kach-H3947herH3605for hisdaughterלְבַ֜תle.VatH1323, wascomeH935togoלָב֣וֹאla.Vo'H935in unto thekingהַמֶּ֗לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,sheאֲשֶׁר֩'a.SherH834requiredדָּבָ֔רda.VarH1697nothingלֹ֤אlo'H3808butwhatאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834Hegaiהֵגַ֥יhe.GaiH1896theking’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428chamberlain, thekeeperשֹׁמֵ֣רsho.MerH8104of thewomenהַנָּשִׁ֑יםha.na.ShimH802, appointed. AndEstherאֶסְתֵּר֙'es.TerH635obtainedנֹשֵׂ֣אתno.SetH5375favour in thesightבְּעֵינֵ֖יbe.'ei.NeiH5869ofallH3605them thatlookedרֹאֶֽיהָ׃ro.'Ei.haH7200uponH935herH3605.

16SoH3947Estherאֶסְתֵּ֜ר'es.TerH635wastakenH3947untokingהַמֶּ֤לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ֙'a.chash.ve.ro.VoshH325intoH413hishouseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004royalמַלְכוּת֔וֹmal.khu.ToH4438in thetenthהָעֲשִׂירִ֖יha.'a.si.RiH6224monthבַּחֹ֥דֶשׁba.Cho.deshH2320,whichהוּא־hu'-H1931is themonthחֹ֣דֶשׁCho.deshH2320Tebethטֵבֵ֑תte.VetH2887, in theseventhשֶׁ֖בַעShe.va'H7651yearבִּשְׁנַת־bish.nat-H8141of hisreignלְמַלְכוּתֽוֹ׃le.mal.khu.ToH4438.

17And thekingהַמֶּ֤לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428lovedוַיֶּאֱהַ֨בvai.ye.'e.HavH157Estherאֶסְתֵּר֙'es.TerH635aboveH6440allH3605thewomenH802, andsheH635obtainedH5375graceחֵ֥ןchenH2580and favour in hissightH6440morethanH4428allH3605thevirginsהַבְּתוּלֹ֑תha.be.tu.LotH1330;soH5375that hesetH7760theroyalמַלְכוּת֙mal.KhutH4438crownכֶּֽתֶר־ke.ter-H3804uponH802herH3605headבְּרֹאשָׁ֔הּbe.ro.ShahH7218, andmadeH7760herH3605queeninsteadתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478ofVashtiוַשְׁתִּֽי׃vash.TiH2060.

18Then thekingהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428madeוַיַּ֨עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213agreatגָד֗וֹלga.DolH1419feastמִשְׁתֶּ֣הmish.TehH4960untoallלְכָל־le.kholH3605hisprincesשָׂרָיו֙sa.RavH8269and hisservantsוַעֲבָדָ֔יוva.'a.va.DavH5650,evenאֵ֖ת'etH853Esther’sאֶסְתֵּ֑ר'es.TerH635feastמִשְׁתֵּ֣הmish.TehH4960; and hemadeעָשָׂ֔ה'a.SahH6213a release to theprovincesלַמְּדִינוֹת֙la.me.di.nOtH4082, andgaveוַיִּתֵּ֥ןvai.yi.TenH5414giftsמַשְׂאֵ֖תmas.'EtH4864,accordingH3027to thebountyH3027of thekingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428.

19And when thevirginsבְּתוּל֖וֹתbe.tu.LotH1330weregatheredוּבְהִקָּבֵ֥ץu.ve.hi.ka.VetzH6908togetherH6908thesecondשֵׁנִ֑יתshe.NitH8145time, thenMordecaiוּמָרְדֳּכַ֖יu.ma.re.do.KhaiH4782satיֹשֵׁ֥בyo.ShevH3427in theking’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428gateבְּשַֽׁעַר־be.sha.'ar-H8179.

20Estherאֶסְתֵּ֗ר'es.TerH635hadnotH369yet shewedherH5046kindredמֽוֹלַדְתָּהּ֙mo.lad.TahH4138norH369herH5046peopleעַמָּ֔הּ'a.MahH5971; asMordecaiמָרְדֳּכָ֑יma.re.do.KhaiH4782hadchargedH6680herH5046: forEstherאֶסְתֵּ֣ר'es.TerH635didעֹשָׂ֔ה'o.SahH6213thecommandmentH6680ofMordecaiמָרְדֳּכַי֙ma.re.do.KhaiH4782, like as whensheH834wasbroughtהָיְתָ֥הha.ye.TahH1961upעָלֶ֖יהָ'a.Lei.haH5921with him.

21InthoseH1992daysבַּיָּמִ֣יםbai.ya.MimH3117,whileH3117Mordecaiוּמָרְדֳּכַ֖יu.ma.re.do.KhaiH4782satיֹשֵׁ֣בyo.ShevH3427in theking’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428gateבְּשַֽׁעַר־be.sha.'ar-H8179,twoשְׁנֵֽי־she.nei-H8147of theking’sהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428chamberlains,Bigthanבִּגְתָ֨ןbig.TanH904andTereshוָתֶ֜רֶשׁva.Te.reshH8657, ofthoseH1992whichkeptמִשֹּׁמְרֵ֣יmi.sho.me.ReiH8104the door, were wroth, andsoughtוַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙vay.vak.ShuH1245tolayלִשְׁלֹ֣חַlish.Lo.achH7971handsיָ֔דYadH3027on thekingבַּמֶּ֖לֶךְba.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵֽרֹשׁ׃'a.chash.Ve.roshH325.

22And thethingהַדָּבָר֙ha.da.VarH1697wasknownוַיִּוָּדַ֤עvai.yi.va.Da'H3045toMordecaiלְמָרְדֳּכַ֔יle.ma.re.do.KhaiH4782, who shewed it untoEstherלְאֶסְתֵּ֣רle.'es.TerH635thequeenהַמַּלְכָּ֑הha.mal.KahH4436; andEstherאֶסְתֵּ֛ר'es.TerH635toldוַיַּגֵּ֖דvai.ya.GedH5046thekingלַמֶּ֖לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428thereof inMordecai’sמָרְדֳּכָֽי׃ma.re.do.KhaiH4782nameבְּשֵׁ֥םbe.ShemH8034.

23And when inquisition wasmadeוַיְבֻקַּ֤שׁvay.vu.KashH1245of thematterH1697, and it wasfoundוַיִּמָּצֵ֔אvai.yi.ma.Tze'H4672to besoH1697, they werebothשְׁנֵיהֶ֖םshe.nei.HemH8147hangedוַיִּתָּל֥וּvai.yi.ta.LuH8518on atreeעֵ֑ץ'EtzH6086: and it waswrittenוַיִּכָּתֵ֗בvai.yi.ka.TevH3789in thebookבְּסֵ֛פֶרbe.Se.ferH5612of thechroniclesH1697beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440thekingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ פha.Me.lekhH4428.

Commentaries on Esther 2

Revised Version 1895 — 1895 — Public Domain