Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Esther 1:19

If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.

19. If it please the king ] a standing formula in proposing royal decrees. So often in this book: cp. Neh 2:5.

a royal commandment ] lit. a commandment of the kingdom, i.e. an edict which, though directed against an individual, should be registered as a public ordinance, in order that it might come under the class of laws which could not be altered. Memucan had reason to insist upon this course, as he and those sympathising with him in the advice tendered to the king, would have good cause to dread the vengeance of Vashti, if she should regain her position as queen. Another case of making into an unalterable edict what from its nature was but a temporary measure is to be seen in Dan 6:8 f. As regards the whole question, how far the king was bound by any laws, there existed evidently a certain elasticity. Cambyses, desiring to marry his sister (see on Est 1:13), was told by his advisers that, although there was no law permitting such an act, yet there was one to the effect that the king might do as he pleased.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

That it be not altered – Compare the margin reference. This was the theory. Practically, the monarch, if he chose, could always dispense with the law. It was therefore quite within his power to restore Vashti to her queenly dignity notwithstanding the present decree, if he so pleased.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 19. That it be not altered] Let it be inserted among the permanent laws, and made a part of the constitution of the empire. Perhaps the Persians affected such a degree of wisdom in the construction of their laws, that they never could be amended, and should never be repeated. And this we may understand to be the ground of the saying, The laws of the Medes and Persians, that change not.

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

If it please the king, which this cunning politician knew it would do.

That it be not altered; which caution was necessary for his own security; for if the queen should recover her state and the kings favour, he was most likely to fall into his displeasure.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him,…. Not only a proclamation made, but a law enacted and published by royal authority:

and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and Medes that it be not altered; for so it was, that when a law was made, and signed, and sealed, and registered among the laws of the kingdom, it remained unalterable, Da 6:8, this precaution Memucan took for his own safety; for had the king acted upon his advice, without passing it into a law in such form, he might change his mind, and recall Vashti, who would not fail of venting her wrath upon the counsellor, and so he be in danger of losing his life for it:

that Vashti come no more before King Ahasuerus; but be entirely divorced, never to be received any more:

and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she; or “to her companions” z; that was with her in the house of the women in the seraglio; one that was fairer, as the Targum, or of a better disposition than her; let her be made queen, and enjoy all the honour, and dignity, and marks of royalty Vashti did; her throne, her crown, and royal apparel, as it is interpreted in an ancient Jewish writing a.

z “sodali ejus”, Montanus; “sociae ejus”, Tigurine version, Drusius, Rambachius. a Tikkune Zohar, correct. 21. fol. 59. 2.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. After this argument on the queen’s conduct, follows the proposal: “If it please the king ( like Neh 2:5), let there go from him a word of the kingdom (i.e., a royal edict), and let it be written (entered) in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, and not pass away, that Vashti come no more before King Ahashverosh; and let the king give her queenship (her royal rank) to another who is better than she.” An edict issued by the king, entered among the laws of the Persians and Medes, and sealed with the royal signet (Est 8:8), does not pass away, i.e., remains in force, is irrevocable (comp. Dan 6:9). The counsellors press for the issue of such an edict, for the purpose of making it impossible to the king to take Vashti again into favour, lest they should experience her vengeance on the restoration of her influence. , her companion, is any other woman, Vashti being here regarded merely as a woman. includes both beauty and good behaviour (Berth.). By this means, add the counsellors in Est 1:20, all the ill effects of Vashti’s contumacy will be obviated. “And when the king’s decree, which he shall make, is heard in his whole kingdom, for it is great, all wives shall give honour to their husbands, from great to small.” is according to the Keri to be pointed as the constructive state, . The expression is explained by the circumstance, that signifies not only edict, decree, but also thing (see on Dan 3:16): to do a thing. In the present verse also it might be so understood: when the thing is heard which the king will do in his whole kingdom. The parenthetical clause, for it is great, is intended to flatter the king’s vanity, and induce an inclination to agree to the proposal. “From great to small” signifies high and low, old and young.

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

(19) That it be not altered.Literally, that it pass not away. The order having been committed to writing was, in theory at any rate, immutable. The best illustration is the well-known case of Daniel; see also below (Est. 8:8). Probably a strong-willed monarch would interpret this inviolability rather freely.

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

19. That it be not altered Literally, and it shall not pass away; that is, it shall remain as a precedent, and be a permanent law for such matters in the empire. On the proverbial inviolability of the laws of the Medes and Persians, compare the marginal references. It originated, probably, in a desire to enhance in the national mind the sacredness of law, and also to forestall capricious and hasty changes in administration. But it was a defective and pernicious principle, making no provision against the capricious enactment of rash and harmful laws, and then allowing no repeal nor modification of them. Practically, however, it was often evaded, and the monarch found some way to make it lawful to do as he pleased.

Her royal estate The queenly privileges and honours with which the king had been pleased to distinguish her.

Unto another Hebrew, her female companion. This expression indicates that she herself was but a concubine, for the monarch’s legitimate marriage with one who was to be principal wife, and who, according to Persian law, ( Herod., 3:84,) could be taken only from one of the seven princely families of the empire, would hardly be spoken of in this way.

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

Est 1:19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.

Ver. 19. If it please the king ] Courtier-like; lest he should seem to prescribe to the king, or to prejudice the rest of the royal counsellors, he thus modestly prefaceth to his ensuing harsh and hard sentence. He knew well enough it would please the king at present, in the mind he now was in; and to prevent any alteration, he moves to have it made sure by an irrevocable law, that he might not hereafter be censured for this his immoderate and unmerciful censure, but be sure to save one howsoever.

Let it be written, saith he, among the laws of the Persians ] Which the king himself could not repeal, Dan 6:8 ; Dan 6:15 , but once passed and registered, they remained binding for ever. I have read of a people among whom the laws they had lasted in force but for three days at utmost. This was a fault in the other extreme. Laws are to be made with due deliberation, Legem dicimus, , quasi (Plato), and then to be established, and not altered without very great reason, as sometimes there is, since

Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis.

That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus ] But be absolutely deposed and divorced. Here was no proportion between the offence and the sentence. This judgment was like the laws of Draco; of which Aristotle saith, that they were not worth remembrance, but only for their great severity; as being written not with black, but with blood.

And let the king give her royal estate unto another ] The more to vex her. Surely such an exauthoration of so great a personage, with so great disgrace and ignominy, could not but be very grievous, yea, worse than death. High seats, as they are never but uneasy; so the fall from them must needs be dangerous and dismal. How well might holy Esther sing with the Virgin Mary, God putteth down the mighty from their thrones, and exalteth them of low degree, Luk 1:52 .

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

not altered. Compare Dan 6:8.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

it please the king: Heb. it be good with the king, Est 1:21, Est 3:9, Est 8:5

from him: Heb. from before him

it be not altered: Heb. it pass not away, Est 8:8, Dan 6:8-15, Dan 6:17, Let it be inserted among the permanent laws, and be made a part of the constitution of the empire. The Persians seem to have affected such a degree of wisdom in the construction of their laws, that they never could be amended, and should never be repealed; and this formed the ground of the saying, “The laws of the Medes and Persians that change not.”

another: Heb. her companion

that is better: 1Sa 15:28, 1Ki 3:28

Reciprocal: 1Ki 2:32 – more righteous Neh 2:5 – If it please Est 4:11 – but I Dan 6:12 – The thing

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Est 1:19. If it please the king Which this cunning politician knew it would do. That it be not altered Which caution was necessary for his own security, lest the kings anger should cool, and the queen should recover her former state, and the kings favour, in which case this lord would, most likely, have fallen under his displeasure: but the order being once registered as a law of the kingdom, the king could not alter his decree without disgracing himself.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1:19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come {n} no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.

(n) Let her be divorced and another made queen.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes