Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Esther 2:14

In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.

The second house of the women – i. e. Esther returned to the house of the women, but not to the same part of it. She became an inmate of the second house, or house of the concubines, under the superintendence of a distinct officer, Shaashgaz.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 14. She returned into the second house] This was the place where the king’s concubines were kept. They went out no more, and were never given in marriage to any man, and saw the king’s face no more unless specially called.

Custody of Shaashgaz] This is probably another Persian name; [Persian] sheshkhunj, beardless, a proper epithet of a eunuch; or [Persian] sestgunj, weak loins, for the same reason. Names of this kind at once show the reason of their imposition, by describing the state of the person.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Darius Nothus is reckoned to have had three hundred and sixty concubines.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women,…. Or the other apartment of the house of the women, where were kept those the king had made his concubines or secondary wives. Aben Ezra interprets it the second time, and so the Targum by “again”:

to the custody of Shaashgaz the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines; of which the kings of Persia had a great number; Darius, whom Alexander conquered, had three hundred and sixty q:

she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she was called by name; but remained shut up in the house, and might not lie with, nor be married to, another man.

q Curt. Hist. l. 3. c. 3.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

14. The second house of the women An apartment or division of the harem of secondary importance or rank the place of the concubines. But the word second may be taken in the sense of again, and the passage rendered, she returned to the house of the women again, or, a second time. So Bertheau and Keil. When, however, these women returned again to the harem, they were assigned to a different department from that of the virgins. This is evident from their being placed in custody of Shaashgaz, the keeper of the concubines, not of Hegai, who had charge of the virgins.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Est 2:14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.

Ver. 14. In the evening she went ] As the fittest time for a work of darkness.

And on the morrow she returned ] So short is the pleasure of sin. Laura venire Venus, tristis abire solet.

Into the second house of the women ] That having made sale of her honesty, she might converse with such as had likewise left their honesties behind them; companions in evil, and miserable comforters, with whom they might make up their measure, and God’s power on his.

She came in unto the king no more ] But must burn in lust, without means of allayment; being scalded, as it were, in her own grease, frying within and freezing without. Sed , as Cyril saith in a like case, We do but rake a dunghill in a discourse of this nature. Let us therefore stay here no longer (as Merlin hath it) in setting forth the filthiness of this heathen prince, who yet hath too many among us that imitate his uncleanness and intemperance.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

delighted: Est 4:11, Gen 34:19, Deu 21:14, Isa 62:4, Isa 62:5

she were called: Isa 43:1, Isa 45:4

Reciprocal: Jdg 19:1 – a concubine Est 2:11 – walked

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge