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Easton's Bible Dictionary
The queen of Ahasuerus, and heroine of the book that bears her name. She was a
Jewess named Hadas'sah (the myrtle), but when she entered the royal harem she
received the name by which she henceforth became known ( Esther
2:7 ). It is a Syro-Arabian modification of the Persian word satarah, which
means a star. She was the daughter of Abihail, a Benjamite. Her family did not
avail themselves of the permission granted by Cyrus to the exiles to return to
Jerusalem; and she resided with her cousin Mordecai, who held some office in the
household of the Persian king at "Shushan in the palace." Ahasuerus having divorced
Vashti, chose Esther to be his wife. Soon after this he gave Haman the Agagite,
his prime minister, power and authority to kill and extirpate all the Jews throughout
the Persian empire. By the interposition of Esther this terrible catastrophe was
averted. Haman was hanged on the gallows he had intended for Mordecai ( Esther
7 ); and the Jews established an annual feast, the feast of Purim (q.v.),
in memory of their wonderful deliverance. This took place about fifty-two years
after the Return, the year of the great battles of Plataea and Mycale (B.C. 479).
Esther appears in the Bible as a "woman of deep piety, faith, courage, patriotism,
and caution, combined with resolution; a dutiful daughter to her adopted father,
docile and obedient to his counsels, and anxious to share the king's favour with
him for the good of the Jewish people. There must have been a singular grace and
charm in her aspect and manners, since 'she obtained favour in the sight of all
them that looked upon her' ( Esther
2:15 ). That she was raised up as an instrument in the hand of God to avert
the destruction of the Jewish people, and to afford them protection and forward
their wealth and peace in their captivity, is also manifest from the Scripture
account."
Hitchcock's Dictionary of Bible Names
secret; hidden
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(a star) The Persian name of HADASSAH (myrtle), daughter of Abihail, the son of
Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite. Esther was a beautiful Jewish maiden. She
was an orphan, and had been brought up by her cousin Mordecai, who had an office
in the household of Ahasuerus king of Persia --supposed to be the Xerxes of history--
and dwelt at "Shushan the palace." When Vashti was dismissed from being queen,
the king chose Esther to the place on account of her beauty, not knowing her race
or parentage; and on the representation of Haman the Agagite that the Jews scattered
through his empire were pernicious race, he gave him full power and authority
to kill them all. The means taken by Esther to avert this great calamity from
her people and her kindred are fully related in the book of Esther. The Jews still
commemorate this deliverance in the yearly festival Purim, on the 14th and 15th
of Adar (February, March). History is wholly silent about both Vashti and Esther.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
es'-ter ('ecter, akin to the Zend tstara, the Sanskrit stri, the Greek aster,
"a star," Esther):
Esther was a Jewish orphan, who became the queen of Xerxes, in some respects the
greatest of the Persian kings. She was brought up at Susa by her cousin Mordecai,
who seems to have held a position among the lower officials of the royal palace.
Vashti, Xerxes' former queen, was divorced; and the most beautiful virgins from
all the provinces of the empire were brought to the palace of Susa that the king
might select her successor. The choice fell upon the Jewish maiden. Soon after
her accession a great crisis occurred in the history of the Jews. The entire people
was threatened with destruction. The name of Esther is forever bound up with the
record of their deliverance. By a course of action which gives her a distinguished
place among the women of the Bible, the great enemy of the Jews was destroyed,
and her people were delivered. Nothing more is known of her than is recorded in
the book which Jewish gratitude has made to bear her name.
Change of Name:
The change in the queen's name from Hadassah hadacah, "a myrtle," to Esther, "a
star," may possibly indicate the style of beauty for which the Persian queen was
famous. The narrative displays her as a woman of clear judgment, of magnificent
self- control, and capable of the noblest self-sacrifice.
See ESTHER,
BOOK OF.
John Urquhart
Tags:
ahasuerus, bible commentary, bible history, bible reference, bible study, define, esther, hadassah, haman, mordecai, queen, vashti, xerxes
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