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Esther 2:3

Esther 2:3

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public Domain

The house of the women. In an Oriental palace the women's apartments are always distinct from those of the men, and are usually placed in a separate building, which the Greeks called the gynaeceum, and the Jews "the house of the women."

At Susa this was a large edifice, and comprised several subdivisions (see ). Hege, the king's chamberlain. Literally, "the king's eunuch, i.e. one of the royal eunuchs (see ). Keeper of the women.

Strictly speaking, Hege seems to have been keeper of the virgins only (see ); but he may have exercised a certain superintendence over the entire gynaeceum. Their things for purification. See .

Such a divinity lodged in the Persian king that even pure maidens had to be purified before approaching him! It would have been well if the divinity had been himself less impure.

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Esther 2 — OverviewEsther 2 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleTwo things are recorded in this chapter, which were working towards the deliverance of the Jews from Haman's conspiracy:--I. The advancement of Esther to be queen instead of Vashti. Many others were candidates for…Esther 2 — OverviewEsther 2 · The Pulpit CommentaryEsther 1 Esther Esther 3Esther 2 — OverviewEsther 2 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeEsther 2:1, Out of the choice of virgins a queen is to be chosen; Esther 2:5, Mordecai the nursing father of Esther; Esther 2:8, Esther preferred before the rest; Esther 2:12, The manner of purification, and going in to…Esther 2 — OverviewEsther 2 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleBy the advice of the ministers of King Ahasuerus, fair virgins were sought for throughout his dominions, and brought to his chamberlain, the keeper of the women, among whom was Esther, a Jewish virgin, Es 2:1, who found…Esther 2:1-20Esther 2:1-20 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleHow God put down one that was high and mighty from her seat we read in the chapter before, and are now to be told how he exalted one of low degree, as the virgin Mary observes in her song (Luke i. 52) and Hannah…Esther 2:1-4Esther 2:1-4 · The Pulpit CommentaryEvil counsel overruled. When a king takes counsel of flatterers and favourites, it bodes no good either to himself or to his people. Such parasites think only how they may make their masters' vices the stepping-stones…
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