Esther 2 | |
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![]() An intricately illustrated early 18th-century manuscript scroll of the Book of Esther. | |
Book | Book of Esther |
Category | Ketuvim |
Christian Bible part | Old Testament |
Order in the Christian part | 17 |
Esther 2 is the second chapter of the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. [1] The author of the book is unknown and modern scholars have established that the final stage of the Hebrew text would have been formed by the second century BCE. [2] Chapters 1 and 2 form the exposition of the book. [3] This chapter introduces Mordecai and his adoptive daughter, Esther, whose beauty won the approval of the king Ahasuerus, and she was crowned the queen of Persia ( verse 17). [4] Given information from Mordecai, Esther warned the king of an assassination plan ( verses 21– 22), so that the would-be assassins were executed on the gallows, and the king owed Mordecai his life. [4]
This chapter was originally written in the Hebrew language and since the 16th century, is divided into 23 verses.
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes Codex Leningradensis (1008). [5] [a]
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; A; 5th century). [7]
To find a replacement for a Persian queen after the deposal of Vashti, the king decided to hold a nationwide contest following the advice of his counselors. [8]
As the requirement to enter the contest is simply her beauty ( verse 3), Esther's status of being Jewish, a descendant of captives ( verse 6), without father and mother, did not hinder her entrance to the court. Once she was in the harem, she obtained 'a favored position in eyes of the harem-master'. [15]
This part contains the description of the twelve-month course of beautifying treatments for the candidates of the Persian queen. It also gives a hint of Esther's character: she might possess 'innate cunning' to distinguish herself from her competitors and at the end was chosen to be the queen. [32]
The time referred to in the verse falls in the January or February of 478 BC which would have been very shortly after Xerxes' return to Susa from the war with the Greeks, thus the long delay in replacing Vashti can be explained by the long absence of Xerxes in Greece. [13]
This section records how Mordecai overheard a plot to assassinate the king and told Esther, so she could save the king's life based on the information "in the name of Mordecai" ( verse 22). [32] This episode foreshadows the future events and becomes truly functional with the rewarding of Mordecai in chapter 6. [32]
Esther 2 | |
---|---|
![]() An intricately illustrated early 18th-century manuscript scroll of the Book of Esther. | |
Book | Book of Esther |
Category | Ketuvim |
Christian Bible part | Old Testament |
Order in the Christian part | 17 |
Esther 2 is the second chapter of the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. [1] The author of the book is unknown and modern scholars have established that the final stage of the Hebrew text would have been formed by the second century BCE. [2] Chapters 1 and 2 form the exposition of the book. [3] This chapter introduces Mordecai and his adoptive daughter, Esther, whose beauty won the approval of the king Ahasuerus, and she was crowned the queen of Persia ( verse 17). [4] Given information from Mordecai, Esther warned the king of an assassination plan ( verses 21– 22), so that the would-be assassins were executed on the gallows, and the king owed Mordecai his life. [4]
This chapter was originally written in the Hebrew language and since the 16th century, is divided into 23 verses.
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes Codex Leningradensis (1008). [5] [a]
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; A; 5th century). [7]
To find a replacement for a Persian queen after the deposal of Vashti, the king decided to hold a nationwide contest following the advice of his counselors. [8]
As the requirement to enter the contest is simply her beauty ( verse 3), Esther's status of being Jewish, a descendant of captives ( verse 6), without father and mother, did not hinder her entrance to the court. Once she was in the harem, she obtained 'a favored position in eyes of the harem-master'. [15]
This part contains the description of the twelve-month course of beautifying treatments for the candidates of the Persian queen. It also gives a hint of Esther's character: she might possess 'innate cunning' to distinguish herself from her competitors and at the end was chosen to be the queen. [32]
The time referred to in the verse falls in the January or February of 478 BC which would have been very shortly after Xerxes' return to Susa from the war with the Greeks, thus the long delay in replacing Vashti can be explained by the long absence of Xerxes in Greece. [13]
This section records how Mordecai overheard a plot to assassinate the king and told Esther, so she could save the king's life based on the information "in the name of Mordecai" ( verse 22). [32] This episode foreshadows the future events and becomes truly functional with the rewarding of Mordecai in chapter 6. [32]