Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Esther 1:14

And the next unto him [was] Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, [and] Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king’s face, [and] which sat the first in the kingdom;)

14. The names of the seven princes have evidently suffered much in transmission. According to Herodotus (vii. 5 17) Mardonius (Xerxes’ cousin) and Artabanus (his uncle) were the king’s chief advisers in the early part of his reign. These names may be represented in the text by ‘Marsena’ and ‘Admatha.’ The LXX. gives but three names. This may be owing to a scribe (or the original translators) having a partially illegible manuscript to work upon.

the seven princes of Persia and Media ] who took rank as members of the king’s council above the other great men of the kingdom. So in Ezra (Ezr 7:14) we find that Artaxerxes had seven special advisers. There were, according to Herodotus (iii. 84), seven great families in Persia, the heads of which had peculiar rights. One of these rights was that of access to the king at all times, unless when he was in the women’s apartments.

which saw the king’s face ] i.e. who had the right of access to his presence. Some connect this privilege with the story of the assassination of the Pseudo-Smerdis (b.c. 522) by Darius and six other conspirators. The latter, we are told, made a bargain with their colleague, whose claims to the throne they were championing, to the effect that they should at all times have the right of approach just mentioned (Herod. iii. 84).

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

In Marsena we may perhaps recognize the famous Mardonius, and in Admatha, Xerxes uncle, Artabanus.

The seven princes – There were seven families of the first rank in Persia, from which alone the king could take his wives. Their chiefs were entitled to have free access to the monarchs person. See the margin reference note.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 14. And the next unto him – the seven princes] Probably, the privy counsellors of the king. Which saw the king’s face – were at all times admitted to the royal presence.

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

Which saw the kings face; which had constant freedom of access to the king, and familiar converse with him; which is thus expressed, because the Persian kings were very seldom seen by their subjects.

Which sat the first in the kingdom; which were his chief counsellors and officers, and had the precedency from all others.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

And the next unto him,…. That sat next to the king, and was the chief in dignity and authority under him:

was Carshena; and so everyone in their rank and order, as next mentioned:

Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan; who, according to the latter Targum, were of different countries; the first of Africa, the second of India, the third of Idumea, the fourth of Egypt, the fifth of Resen, Ge 10:12 which is framed out of Marsena, who is dropped, and the last of Jerusalem, said to be Daniel; though the former Targum makes him to be Haman:

the seven powers of Persia and Media; which custom of having seven counsellors with the kings of Persia arose from the seven princes that slew Smerdis the pretender, and made Darius Hystaspis king, the father of Xerxes:

which saw the king’s face; were intimate and familiar with him, often in his presence; yea, might go into it when they pleased, without the ceremony of being introduced; which privilege the above persons reserved to themselves, when they placed Darius on the throne, as Herodotus relates u:

and which sat the first in the kingdom; next to the king, and were assisting to him in the administration of government, see Ezr 7:14.

u lb. (Thalia, sive, l. 3.) c. 84, 118.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(14) Marsena.It has been suggested that we may possibly recognise here Mardonius, the commander at Marathon; and in Admatha, Artabanus, the uncle of Xerxes.

The seven princes.There were seven leading families in Persia, the heads of which were the kings chief advisers, the seven counsellors of Ezr. 7:14. Herodotus (iii. 84) speaks of the seven nobles who rose against the Pseudo-Smerdis as chief in the nation.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

14. The seven princes These seven, whose names are here given, are among the wise men whom he consulted. They were his most intimate counsellors, and the very highest nobles of the empire. See the note on Ezr 7:14. In the name Admatha we may, perhaps, recognise Artabanus, the uncle of Xerxes, ( Herod., Est 7:10,) and in Marsena, his famous general Mardonius.

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