---
title: "Bullinger"
description: "After these things: i.e. in 467. Astyages was now twenty-one. In the seventh year (Esther 2:16 ); one of these spent in preparations (Esther 2:12 ).  Aha"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/bullingers-companion-bible-notes/esther/2"
---

**After these things:** i.e. in 467. Astyages was now twenty-one. In the seventh year ([Esther 2:16](../../../kjv/esther/2/16) ); one of these spent in preparations ([Esther 2:12](../../../kjv/esther/2/12) ).
**Ahasuerus.** See note on [Esther 1:1](../../../kjv/esther/1/1) .
**Vashti.** See note on [Esther 1:9](../../../kjv/esther/1/9) .

**virgins.** Hebrew. *bethulah.* See note on [Genesis 24:43](../../../kjv/genesis/24/43) .

**custody** = hand.
**chamberlain** = eunuch.

**maiden** = a young person. Hebrew. *na'ar.*

**a certain Jew** = a man (Hebrew. *'ish* . App-14 .), a Jew. The contrast between Judah and Israel was lost in a strange land; and, as Nebuchadnezzar's campaign was against Judah, so "Jew" became the name used by Gentiles.
**Mordecai.** Daniel and Ezekiel taken to Babylon ([2 Kings 24:14](../../../kjv/2-kings/24/14) , [2 Kings 24:15](../../../kjv/2-kings/24/15) ); Nehemiah and Mordecai to Shushan; and Mordecai dwelt in the royal palace, as did Daniel and others ([Daniel 1:4](../../../kjv/daniel/1/4) . [2 Kings 20:16-18](../../../kjv/2-kings/20/16-18) ).
**a Benjamite.** Thus Mordecai, a Benjamite, ends Jehovah's war against Amalek, [Exodus 17:16](../../../kjv/exodus/17/16) . Compare [Esther 3:1](../../../kjv/esther/3/1) with [Esther 7:10](../../../kjv/esther/7/10) ; [Esther 9:10](../../../kjv/esther/9/10) . A work entrusted to Saul (a Benjarnite). [1 Samuel 15:2-33](../../../kjv/1-samuel/15/2-33) .

**Jeconiah** = Jehoiachin ([2 Kings 24:6](../../../kjv/2-kings/24/6) ).
**carried away.** Compare [2 Kings 24:14](../../../kjv/2-kings/24/14) , [2 Kings 24:15](../../../kjv/2-kings/24/15) . Jer 52:24-34:133 years before the generally received date (i.e. 598-465 = 133), which, therefore, cannot be correct. From the carrying away of Jeconiah to the marriage of Esther to Astyages in his seventh year was only twenty-two years (489-467). See App-50 .

**Hadassah** = myrtle. Not living with Mordecai (who was in the palace, [Esther 2:5](../../../kjv/esther/2/5) ), but brought up by him.
**Esther** = star. But Rabbi Yehudah derives it from *sathar,* to hide, because she was hidden in her guardian's house; and her nationality also was concealed ([Esther 2:10](../../../kjv/esther/2/10) ).

**commandment** = word. Hebrew. *dabar.* See note on [Esther 1:12](../../../kjv/esther/1/12) .
**decree** = Imperial decree. Hebrew. *dath* , as in [Esther 3:15](../../../kjv/esther/3/15) ; [Esther 4:3](../../../kjv/esther/4/3) , [Esther 4:8](../../../kjv/esther/4/8) ; [Esther 8:14](../../../kjv/esther/8/14) , [Esther 8:17](../../../kjv/esther/8/17) ; [Esther 9:1](../../../kjv/esther/9/1) , [Esther 9:13](../../../kjv/esther/9/13) , [Esther 9:14](../../../kjv/esther/9/14) .

**obtained** = won.
**preferred** = promoted. Probably influenced by Mor-deoai.

**not shewed.** Not till [Esther 7:3-5](../../../kjv/esther/7/3-5) . This was Mordecai's wisdom. Compare [Esther 2:20](../../../kjv/esther/2/20) .

**to know.** This was Mordecai's solicitude. All this proves that these events must have taken place before the emancipation made by Cyras (the son of this Astyages, App-57 ), recorded in Ezr . No such secrecy would have been necessary, and no thought of allowing the People, whom he had just emancipated, to be exterminated, as is described in the book of Esther: But Cyrus, being her son, would be carefully prepared by her and Mordecai to begin his reign by such emancipation from Babylon (note, not from Shushan: compare [Esther 1:1](../../../kjv/esther/1/1) with [Jeremiah 25:11](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/11) , [Jeremiah 25:12](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/12) ), thus fulfilling [Isaiah 44:28](../../../kjv/isaiah/44/28) with [Isaiah 45:1-4](../../../kjv/isaiah/45/1-4) .

**for.** Another *Parenthesis* . App-6 . See note on [Esther 1:7](../../../kjv/esther/1/7) .

**Tebeth.** See App-51 .
**seventh year.** The first feast was in the third year. The search probably took one year; the preparation another; oblations another. Other seasons are unnamed.

**release** = a holiday. Hebrew. *hanahah.*

**when, &c.** = while they were collecting, &c.
**sat in the king's gate.** Mordecai was of the king's household. See [Esther 2:5](../../../kjv/esther/2/5) . This guarded Esther's interests, and enabled him to obtain all information. (N. B. Haman lived in his own house with his family in the city.)

**as** = according as.
**for, &c.** Thus revealing a new characteristic of Esther. This secrecy was hardly needed if the emancipation of [Ezra 1:1](../../../kjv/ezra/1/1) had already taken place.
**commandment.** Hebrew. *'amar* , as in [Esther 1:10](../../../kjv/esther/1/10) .

**gate.** Hebrew. *sha'ar =* the lofty gate of a palace, not the same word as "door", [Esther 2:21](../../../kjv/esther/2/21) ; [Esther 6:2](../../../kjv/esther/6/2) .
**door** = threshold. Hebrew. *saph.*

**was known.** Mordecai sat in the king's gate: the very place to hear all news.

**written.** See note on [Esther 6:1](../../../kjv/esther/6/1) .

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