Esther 2:12














Mordecai walked every day before the court. Esther was cousin-german to Mordecai, being the daughter of his father's brother. Her relationship was not, therefore, very close, yet we see what great interest Mordecai took in her. The text teaches us -

I. How GOD RAISES UP FRIENDS FOR THE APPARENTLY FRIENDLESS, Esther's parents were possibly very troubled, when passing from this world, as to what would become of their daughter. God, however, found her a protector in Mordecai. God appointed her path in life. Her parents little expected that she would become the queen of Persia, and deliverer of her people.

II. How ANXIOUS ARE RELATIVES AND PARENTS WHEN THEIR CHILDREN ARE ENTERING ON NEW POSITIONS. Esther's was not only new, but dangerous. She might have become vain and degraded in mind, like many with whom she had to associate. "Mordecai walked." etc. He wished to know how Esther succeeded. How our heavenly Father walks "every day" by our side, watching what will become of us! - 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
Accomplished, Ahasuerus, Ahasu-e'rus, Anointing, Beautification, Beautifying, Beauty, Clean, Complete, Completed, Cosmetics, Drawing, Follows, Fragrances, Fulfil, Girl, Lady, Law, Maiden, Maiden's, Maid's, Making, Manner, Month, Months, Myrrh, Necessary, Needed, Nigh, Odors, Odours, Oil, Ointments, Ordered, Perfumes, Period, Preparations, Prescribed, Purification, Purifications, Purifying, Regular, Regulations, Six, Space, Spices, Sweet, Treated, Treatments, Turn, Twelve, Undergoing, Wit, Woman's, Women, Women-, Women-for, Xerxes
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 2:12

     4040   beauty
     4466   herbs and spices
     4486   myrrh
     4490   ointment
     4496   perfume
     4978   year

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

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