Esther 2:1

Esther Becomes Queen in Vashti’s Place

2:1 When these things had been accomplished 1  and the rage of King Ahasuerus had diminished, he remembered 2  Vashti and what she had done and what had been decided 3  against her.

Esther 2:6

2:6 who had been taken into exile from Jerusalem 4  with the captives who had been carried into exile with Jeconiah 5  king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken into exile.

1 tn Heb “after these things” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV). The expression is very vague from a temporal standpoint, not indicating precisely just how much time might have elapsed. Cf. v. 21.

2 sn There may be a tinge of regret expressed in the king’s remembrance of Vashti. There is perhaps a hint that he wished for her presence once again, although that was not feasible from a practical standpoint. The suggestions by the king’s attendants concerning a replacement seem to be an effort to overcome this nostalgia. Certainly it was to their advantage to seek the betterment of the king’s outlook. Those around him the most were probably the most likely to suffer the effects of his ire.

3 tn Or “decreed” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV); TEV “and about his proclamation against her.”

4 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.

5 sn Jeconiah is an alternative name for Jehoiachin. A number of modern English versions use the latter name to avoid confusion (e.g., NIV, NCV, TEV, NLT).