It came to pass on the third day, when she had ceased praying, that she took off her servant’s dress and put on her glorious apparel. Being splendidly dressed and having called upon God the Overseer and Preserver of all things, she took her two maids, and she leaned upon one, as a delicate female, and the other followed bearing her train. She was blooming in the perfection of her beauty. Her face was cheerful and looked lovely, but her heart was filled with fear. Having passed through all the doors, she stood before the king. He was sitting on his royal throne. He had put on all his glorious apparel, covered all over with gold and precious stones, and was very terrifying. And having raised his face resplendent with glory, he looked with intense anger. The queen fell, and changed her color as she fainted. She bowed herself upon the head of the maid who went before her. But God changed the spirit of the king to gentleness, and in intense feeling, he sprang from off his throne, and took her into his arms, until she recovered. He comforted her with peaceful words, and said to her, “What is the matter, Esther? I am your relative. Cheer up! You shall not die, for our command is openly declared to you: ‘Draw near.’”
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 1. And. Instead of these two verses, the Septuagint place ( Bible.) what we have Calmet. 15 with some small variation from the present account in Hebrew But there is nothing incompatible with the truth. Calmet.—The king might be at first displeased; but, seeing the effect which it had upon Esther, he might feel his former sentiments of love rekindle. Calmet. Tirinus.—House, or inner apartment, Calmet. 4:11. The throne was surprizingly magnificent, yet inferior to that of Solomon. 3 Kennicott. 10:18. Calmet.—It was formed of gold and precious stones, with a curtain over it of purple and other colours. Athen. xi. 2.
From the first verse to the third, the Greek widely differs from the Hebrew