Esther 2:16














She required nothing but what Hegai, the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. Esther's habits and tastes were simple; she cared not for the various arts supposed to lend attraction; she was content with a moderate toilet, and believed more in the charm of purity, modesty, simplicity, and piety than in artificial methods. She was right.

I. Simple tastes are LESS COSTLY.

II. Simple tastes INDICATE A PURE MIND.

III. Simple tastes ARE THE MOST ATTRACTIVE.

Behold in a queen who now lives and reigns over the British Empire - an empire wider by far than that of Persia - the power of simple tastes and habits. It is this that makes the perusal of the "Memorial of the Prince Consort," and 'Leaves from the Highland Diary,' so delightful. It is this that has given her Majesty such a hold on the affections of her subjects, and to monarchical rule a longer lease than it promised to have. Piety and purity have power not only in the palace at Shushan and the castle at Windsor, but in the lowliest cottage of the realm. - H.

After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti.
The king had given full sway to his passion and wounded pride, and treated his wife with great severity. In his moments of cool reflection he probably repented of the harshness of his proceedings towards her. Excitement is a bad guide in human affairs. He who acts under the impulse of rage is sure to be driven astray, even as a vessel in a storm is driven to situations of embarrassment and peril. Man in wrath speaks freely and eloquently, but never wisely, and he works with decision and energy, but who is benefited by his operations? He doeth much, but uniformly to a bad purpose.

(J. Hughes.)

O, memory! thou art a bitter avenger.

(T. McEwan.)

Ah! these bitter memories of earth will be ingredients in the future cup of the penal suffering of the lost.

(T. McEwan.)

Repentance may come too late. Ahasuerus could not retrace his steps.

(A. B. Davidson, D. D.)

I. THE REGRET OF THE KING FOR HIS RASH AND UNWARRANTABLE ACT. He was sensible that he had committed injury and that he had not only wronged Vashti, but also made himself a sufferer.

1. He could not devise a remedy. There are wishes that even the most powerful despots cannot get gratified, and limits to their will that even they cannot pass over.

2. The law of the Medes and Persians must stand.

II. THE EXPEDIENT WHICH HIS COUNSELLORS SUGGESTED TO FREE HIM FROM HIS DIFFICULTY. Learn —

1. When men suffer themselves to be carried away by the impulse of any violent passions, they may commit acts which cannot afterwards be remedied, and which they themselves may have especially to lament.

2. It forms no excuse for sin committed, that the transgressor had reduced himself to a condition in which he ceased to retain his full consciousness of the distinction between right and wrong. Take an illustration from the history of Saul. He failed to improve his privileges; the Spirit of the Lord departed and the evil spirit took possession of him — slew prophets, etc. He was held responsible because he had laid his heart open for the reception of the evil spirit.

3. Repentance may come too late.

(A. B. Davidson, D. D.)

People
Abihail, Ahasuerus, Benjamin, Bigthan, Bigthana, Esther, Hadassah, Hegai, Hege, Jair, Jeconiah, Jehoiachin, Kish, Mordecai, Nebuchadnezzar, Shaashgaz, Shimei, Teresh, Vashti
Places
Babylon, Jerusalem, Media, Susa
Topics
Ahasuerus, Ahasu-e'rus, Esther, Month, Palace, Reign, Residence, Royal, Rule, Seventh, Tebeth, Tenth
Outline
1. Out of the choice of virgins a queen is to be chosen.
5. Mordecai the nursing father of Esther.
8. Esther preferred before the rest.
12. The manner of purification, and going in to the king.
15. Esther, best pleasing the king, is made queen.
21. Mordecai, discovering a treason, is recorded in the chronicles.

Dictionary of Bible Themes
Esther 2:16

     4951   month

Esther 2:1-18

     5695   girls

Library
Adoption
'As many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.' John 1:12. Having spoken of the great points of faith and justification, we come next to adoption. The qualification of the persons is, As many as received him.' Receiving is put for believing, as is clear by the last words, to them that believe in his name.' The specification of the privilege is, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.' The Greek word for power, exousia, signifies
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Esther
The spirit of the book of Esther is anything but attractive. It is never quoted or referred to by Jesus or His apostles, and it is a satisfaction to think that in very early times, and even among Jewish scholars, its right to a place in the canon was hotly contested. Its aggressive fanaticism and fierce hatred of all that lay outside of Judaism were felt by the finer spirits to be false to the more generous instincts that lay at the heart of the Hebrew religion; but by virtue of its very intensity
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
Esther 2:16 NIV
Esther 2:16 NLT
Esther 2:16 ESV
Esther 2:16 NASB
Esther 2:16 KJV

Esther 2:16 Bible Apps
Esther 2:16 Parallel
Esther 2:16 Biblia Paralela
Esther 2:16 Chinese Bible
Esther 2:16 French Bible
Esther 2:16 German Bible

Esther 2:16 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Esther 2:15
Top of Page
Top of Page