Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Esther 2:18

Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, [even] Esther’s feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.

18. a release ] Heb. a rest, an exemption for a certain time from taxation and from military service. Such e.g. had been granted by the Pseudo-Smerdis on his usurpation (Herod. iii. 67).

gifts ] The Heb. word was used in older times for a portion of food sent from the table (Gen 43:34; 2Sa 11:8), and afterwards for a contribution or tax imposed for sacred purposes (2Ch 24:6), or a present such as largess from a superior (Jer 40:5 and here).

according to the bounty of the king ] See on Est 1:7.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

A release – Either remission of taxation, or of military service, or of both.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 18. Made a release to the provinces] Remitted some kind of tribute or impost, in honour of Esther, at her coronation, as our kings generally do when they are crowned, ordering a discharge from prison of many who are confined for minor offenses. As it was the custom of the Persian kings to give their queens something like what is called with us the aurum reginae, “queen gold,” which was a tenth of all fines, c., above what was given to the king (for they gave them such a city to buy them clothes, another for their hair, a third for their necklaces, a fourth for their pearls, c.) it is probable that, on this occasion, Esther so wishing, he relieved those cities and provinces which had before paid this queen gold from all these expenses; and this would tend greatly to make the queen popular.

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

He made a release to the provinces, i.e. he took off a good part of those heavy taxes which the Persian kings laid upon their people.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and servants, even Esther’s feast,…. A feast to all his nobles, courtiers, and ministers of state, on account of his marriage with Esther; which, according to the Greek version, was held seven days; but, according to Josephus, it lasted a whole month t:

and he made a release to the provinces; of taxes and tribute due to him, as was the custom of the kings of Persia when they came to the throne, as Herodotus u relates; so Smerdis the magus, that mounted the throne after Cambyses, pretending to be his brother, released them for three years to come w; and Grotius says kings used to do it at their marriage, but gives no instance of it:

and gave gifts: according to the latter Targum, to the provinces, all of them, that he might be sure that the people of Esther shared his favours, who were as yet unknown; but rather these gifts were given to his nobles, or it may be to Esther; so the former Targum,

“he gave to her a gift and portion:”

according to the state of the king; his royal ability and munificence, and suitable to his grandeur; and it was usual with the Persian kings to give to their wives whole cities for one thing or another, as for necklaces, hair laces, shoes, c. x Socrates y speaks of a whole country in Persia called the “Queen’s girdle”, and another her “Headdress”.

t Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 11. c. 6. sect. 2.) u Erato, sive, l. 6. c. 59. w Thalia, sive, l. 3. c. 67. x Herodot. Euterpe, sive, l. 2. c. 98. Cicero in Verrem, l. 3. Orat. 8. y In Plat. Alcibiad.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(18) Release.Literally, rest. The word only occurs here: it may refer either to a release from tribute or from military service, probably the former. Either, however, would have been consistent with Persian usage. (See Herod, iii. 67, 6:59.)

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

18. Esther’s feast A banquet to her honour; to celebrate her election to Vashti’s place.

Made a release to the provinces Usually understood as a release from tribute. Septuagint has ; Vulgate, requiem. The Hebrew word , which occurs nowhere else, comes from a root which means to rest, and may, therefore, properly denote a respite from taxation. The Persian kings were wont to remit the arrears of tribute due at the time of their accession, ( Herod., 3:67; 6:59,) and Xerxes may have thought it wise to grant such a release just after the disastrous Grecian war.

According to the state of the king The feast, the release, and the gifts, were all in keeping with true kingly munificence.

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

Est 2:18. He made a release to the provinces, &c. The manner of the Persian kings was, to give their queens, at their marriages, such a city to buy them clothes, another for their hair, another for their necklaces, and so on for the rest of their expences; and as it was customary for them, according to the testimony of Herodotus, upon their accession to the throne, to remit the tribute which was then due to them from all the cities; so Ahasuerus, upon this occasion, out of his abundant joy, might make a release to the provinces, and forgive them some of the duties and imposts which they were wont to pay him.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

Est 2:18 Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, [even] Esther’s feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.

Ver. 18. Then the king made a great feast ] Feasts are never more in season than at the recovery of the lost rib. See Trapp on “ Gen 29:22 “

Unto all his princes and his servants ] So did Mauritius, the emperor of Greece, when he married Constantina (Niceph. 1. 18, c. 8), and Henry III, emperor of Germany, when he married Agnes, daughter to the prince of Pictavia, at Ingelheim; whither when a great sort of players, fiddlers, jesters, and magicians resorted, he not only sent them away without reward, but also without meat and drink, which he liberally bestowed upon the poor. Funcc. ad annum 1044.

Even Esther’s feast] So he called it, to testify his great affection and respect toward his spouse. This is no warrant for that Popish custom, of dedicating feasts to the honour of saints; or for that heathenish practice, in some places amongst us, of keeping wakes.

And he made a release to the provinces ] That is, he caused it to be kept holiday, as Josephus hath it. Or rather he granted to his subjects a relaxation, or freedom from their taxes, tributes, and public payments, for a time at least, that thereby the new queen might get favour and authority among them, and all men might wish them much joy and happiness, that the loins of the people might bless their prince and his marriage for this breathing and intermission; when as formerly his exactors received from his subjects no less sums of curses than of coin, to maintain his luxury.

And gave gifts ] Such as Xenophon reckoneth up, bracelets, chains of gold, garments, horses with rich trappings, dishes from his own table, &c. (Cyropaed. 1. 8). This was kingly, this was god-like, Jas 1:5 . His son, Artaxerxes Longimarius, was wont to say, that he had therefore one hand longer than another ( ), that he might be readier to give than to receive. Of Cyrus it is said, that he took more content in giving than receiving, D (Xenoph.). Of Stephen, king of Hungary, and of Oswald, king of England, that their right hands did not rot off for a long while after they were dead, because oft stretched out in giving gifts, and dealing alms. Christ received that he might give, Psa 68:18 Eph 4:8 . And held it more blessed to give than to receive, Act 20:35 . Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings, &c.; by your bounty and liberality the people shall be obliged, the state fenced, virtue encouraged, misery relieved: that you have secured. For,

Extra fortunam est quicquid donatur amicis:

Quas dederis solas, semper habebis opes (Martial).

According to the state of the king ] Not pinchingly and sparingly, but bountifully, and as became a king; as Alexander the Great, when he sent his tutor a ship full of frankincense; and when a poor man asked him for an alms, he gave him a city, which when the poor man started at and made strange of, Alexander said unto him, Non quaero quid te accipere decent, sed quid me dare, The question is not what thou shouldest receive, but what it beseemeth me to give (Sen. de Benef. 1. 2, c. 16). And thus is the marriage of Esther solemnized with state and pomp suitable; thus is God’s promise made by Jeremiah fulfilled, that if Jechoniah would not stand out against Nebuchadnezzar, but yield up the city, and go into captivity, it should be well with him and the people in the land of their captivity. It was so with him, Jer 52:31 ; it was so likewise with Esther, Daniel, and many others by their means. And why? God will not suffer his faithfulness to fail, nor alter the word that is gone out of his mouth, Psa 89:33 .

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

release = a holiday. Hebrew. hanahah.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

am 3547, bc 457

made a great: Est 1:3-5, Gen 29:22, Jdg 14:10-17, Son 3:11, Son 5:1, Mat 22:2, Luk 14:8, Rev 19:9

he made: We learn from Herodotus and Atheneus, that the Persian monarchs were accustomed to give their wives distinct cities and provinces for the purpose of supplying them with different articles of dress: one was assigned for ornamenting the head and neck; another provided robes, zones, etc.; and the city of Anthilla was given to a Persian queen, we read, to supply her with shoes and sandals. It is probable, therefore, that, at the desire of Esther, Ahasuerus relieved those cities and provinces that had before paid it, from this expense.

release: Heb. rest

gave gifts: Est 9:22, 1Sa 25:8, Neh 8:11, Rev 11:10

Reciprocal: Mat 14:6 – birthday Mar 6:21 – his birthday Eph 4:8 – and

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Est 2:18. And he made a release to the provinces According to Herodotus, it was customary for the Persian kings, upon their accession to the throne, to remit the tribute which was due to them from all their cities; and Ahasuerus, on this occasion, out of his abundant joy, remitted some tax, or part of a tax, then due, which he did that every body might rejoice with him.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2:18 Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, [even] Esther’s {i} feast; and he made a release {k} to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the {l} state of the king.

(i) That is, made for her sake.

(k) He released their tribute.

(l) That is, great and magnificent.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes