Bible Commentary

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’ … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Esther 1:14”

Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so [was] the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment: 13. the wise men, which knew the times ] The expression includes two classes of functionaries, ( a) the astronomers and astrologers, who based their advice upon observation of the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Esther 1:13”

But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by [his] chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him. 12. refused to come ] as being aware of the insults likely to be put upon her in a scene of drunken revelry, and by a king so capricious … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Esther 1:12”

To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the people and the princes her beauty: for she [was] fair to look on. 11. with the crown royal ] a species of peaked turban, perhaps set off with jewels. the peoples ] A.V. the people. The R.V., by using the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Esther 1:11”

On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, 10 22. Vashti’s disgrace 10. he commanded Mehuman etc. ] The names of the seven chamberlains, or rather, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Esther 1:10”

Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women [in] the royal house which [belonged] to king Ahasuerus. 9. Vashti the queen ] If we identify Ahasuerus with Xerxes, the queen here mentioned must have been Amestris, his only wife known to secular history. She was daughter of Otanes (Herod. vii. 61), one of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Esther 1:9”

And the drinking [was] according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure. 8. according to the law ] rather, according to the direction given by the king for the occasion. The words which follow … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Esther 1:8”

And they gave [them] drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king. 7. vessels of gold ] Many such were captured by the Greeks in the Persian camp near Plataea. the vessels being diverse one from another ] This … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Esther 1:7”

[Where were] white, green, and blue, [hangings], fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds [were of] gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black marble. 6. there were hangings of white cloth, of green, and of blue ] marg. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Esther 1:6”

And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace; 5. in the court of the garden ] See notes on Est 1:2. Fuente: The Cambridge … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Esther 1:5”