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Esther Chapter One

 

Esther 1 Outlines

The King Dethrones Queen Vashti

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

Esther 1:1. Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus[a] (this was the Ahasuerus who reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia)

YLT 1And it cometh to pass in the days of Ahasuerus -- he [is] Ahasuerus who is reigning from Hodu even unto Cush seven and twenty and a hundred provinces –

Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus ....

Who he was is not easy to say; almost all the kings of Persia are so named by one or another writer. He cannot be the Ahasuerus in Daniel 9:1 he was Astyages the father of Cyaxares or Darius the Mede; but this must be one who had his royal palace in Shushan which was never the royal city of the Medes but of the Persians only; nor does he seem to be the Ahasuerus in Ezra 4:6 who is thought to be Cambyses the son and successor of Cyrus; since according to the canon of Ptolemy he reigned but eight years whereas this Ahasuerus at least reigned twelve Esther 3:7 though indeed some account for it by his reigning in his father's lifetime; besides Cambyses was always an enemy to the Jews as this was not; and yet this way go many of the Jewish writersF14Targum & Jarchi in loc. Seder Olam Rabba c. 29. Zuta p. 108. and so a very learned man Nicolaus AbramF15Pharus Vet. Test. l. 11. c. 12. p. 305. ; according to Bishop UsherF16Annal. Vet. Test. p. 160. so Broughton Works p. 38 259 581. this was Darius Hystaspis who certainly was a friend to the Jewish nation; but he is rather the Artaxerxes of Ezra and Nehemiah; and so says the MidrashF17Midrash Esther fol. 86. 2. . Dr. PrideauxF18Connection &c. par. 1. B. 4. p. 252 &c. thinks Ahasuerus was Artaxerxes Longimanus which is the sense of JosephusF19Antiqu. l. 11. c. 6. sect. 1. and so Suidas in voce εσθηρ. and who is thought by many to be the Artaxerxes in the foresaid books. CapellusF20Chronolog. Sacr. p. 294. is of opinion that Darius Ochus is meant to which Bishop Patrick inclines; but I rather think with VitringaF21Hypotypos. Hist. Sacr. p. 110. and othersF23Schichart. de Festo Purim. Rainold. Praelect. 144. p. 231. Alsted. Chronolog. p. 126 181. that Xerxes is the Ahasuerus that was the husband of Esther here spoken of; so the Arabic writersF24In Abulpharag. Hist. Dynast. p. 87. ; and as he was the son and successor of Darius Hystaspis if he is meant by Artaxerxes in the preceding books the history of which is carried to the thirty second year of his reign Nehemiah 13:6 and who reigned but four years more; this book of Esther stands in right order of time to carry on the history of the Jewish affairs in the Persian monarchy; and Mr. BroughtonF25Ut supra. (Broughton Works p. 38 259 581.) owns that the name of Xerxes in Greek agrees with Achasuerus in Hebrew; and in Esther 10:1 his name is Achashresh which with the Greeks is Axeres or XerxesF26Vid. Hiller. Arcan. Keri & Ketib p. 87. & Onomastic. Sacr. p. 639. :

this is Ahasuerus which reigned from India even unto Ethiopia;

properly so called; the Ethiopians had been subdued by Cambyses the son and successor of CyrusF1Herodot. Thalia sive l. 3. c. 97. and the Indians by Darius Hystaspis the father of XerxesF2lb. Melpomene sive l. 4. c. 44. ; and both with other great nations were retained in subjection to himF3lb. Polymnia sive l. 7. c. 9. ; and many of both as well as of other nations were with him in his expedition into GreeceF4lb. c. 65 69 70. :

over an hundred and twenty and seven provinces;

there were now seven provinces more under his jurisdiction than were in the times of Darius the Mede Daniel 6:1.

 

Esther 1:2. 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom which was in Shushan[b] the citadel

   YLT 2in those days at the sitting of the king Ahasuerus on the throne of his kingdom that [is] in Shushan the palace

That in those days when the King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom ....

Not only was placed upon it but settled in it; after Xerxes had subdued Egypt in the second year of his reignF5Herodot. ib. (Thalia sive l. 3.) c. 7. and enjoyed great peace and tranquillity:

which was in Shushan the palace;

that is the throne of his kingdom was in Shushan the royal city of the kings of Persia; of which see Gill on Nehemiah 1:1 Daniel 8:2.

 

Esther 1:3. 3 that in the third year of his reign he made a feast for all his officials and servants—the powers of Persia and Media the nobles and the princes of the provinces being before him—

   YLT 3in the third year of his reign he hath made a banquet to all his heads and his servants; of the force of Persia and Media the chiefs and heads of the provinces [are] before him

In the third year of his reign he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants ....

The nobles and officers in his court; on what account this was cannot be said with certainty whether the first day of it was his birthday or the day of his coming to the throne on which day Xerxes used to make a feast annually as Herodotus relatesF6lb. (Herodot.) Calliope sive l. 9. c. 109. :

the power of Persia and Media;

the mighty men therein the potentates thereof; or the "army" the principal officers of it:

the nobles and princes of the provinces being with him.

The first word Aben Ezra declares his ignorance of whether it is Hebrew or Persian; Jarchi interprets it governors; and the persons intended by both seem to be the deputy governors of the one hundred and twenty seven provinces who were present at this feast. Xerxes having reduced Egypt meditated a war with Greece to which he was pressed by Mardonius a relation of his; upon which he summoned the chief men of his kingdom to have their advice about itF7Ib. l. 7. c. 8. which perhaps was taken at this time; for it was in the third year of his reign he resolved upon the war and began to make preparations for it; and it was usual at banquets and feasts that the Persians debated their most important affairsF8lb. Clio sive l. 1. c. 133. .

 

Esther 1:4. 4 when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days one hundred and eighty days in all.

   YLT 4in his shewing the wealth of the honour of his kingdom and the glory of the beauty of his greatness many days -- eighty and a hundred days.

When he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom ....

Xerxes was the fourth king of the Persian monarchy and was "far richer than all" that went before him all their riches coming into his hands Daniel 11:2 and now that prophecy began to be fulfilled "that by his strength through his riches he should stir up all against the realm of Grecia"; which he began to do in the third year of his reign and for which these his nobles might be called together as to have their advice so to animate them to come in the more readily into the expedition by showing them the riches he was possessed of; for to none of the kings of Persia does this largeness of riches better belong than to Xerxes:

and the honour of his excellent majesty;

the grandeur he lived in the pomp and splendour of his court; he was the most grand and magnificent of all the kings of the Medes and PersiansF9Pausan. Laconica sive l. 3. p. 165. :

and this he did many days even an hundred and fourscore days;

to which seven more being added as in the following verse it made one hundred and eighty seven the space of full six months; though some think the feast did not last so long only seven days and that the one hundred and eighty days were spent in preparing for it; but the Persian feasts were very long large and sumptuous. Dr. FryeF11Travels p. 348. apud Patrick in loc. says this custom of keeping an annual feast one hundred and eighty days still continues in Persia. CheusF12In Martin. Sinic. Hist. l. 3. p. 78. a Chinese emperor used frequently to make a feast which lasted one hundred and twenty days; though it cannot be well thought that the same individual persons here were feasted so long but when one company was sufficiently treated they removed and made way for another; and so it continued successively such a number of days as here related which was six months or half a year; a year then in use consisting of three hundred and sixty days as was common with the Jews and other nations and so the PersiansF13Prideaux's Connect. par. 1. p. 197. .

 

Esther 1:5. 5 And when these days were completed the king made a feast lasting seven days for all the people who were present in Shushan the citadel from great to small in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.

   YLT 5And at the fulness of these days hath the king made to all the people who are found in Shushan the palace from great even unto small a banquet seven days in the court of the garden of the house of the king –

And when these days were ended ....

The one hundred and eighty in which the nobles princes and great men of the kingdom were feasted:

the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace both unto great and small;

of every age rank state and condition of life; these were the common people whether inhabitants of the city or country people there on business whether natives or foreigners; according to the Targum there were Israelites there but not Mordecai and his family; yea it is said in the MidrashF14Midrash Esther fol. 94. 1. that they were all Jews and that their number was 18 500; but this is not probable; it is very likely there were some Jews among them as there were many in the army of Xerxes when he made his expedition into Greece according to the poet ChoerilusF15Apud Joseph. contr. Apion. l. 1. c. 22. ; which is not to be wondered at since there were so many of them in his dominions and they men of valour and fidelity and to whose nation he was so kind and favourable: and this feast was kept

seven days in the court of the garden of the king's palace;

which no doubt was very large and sufficient to hold such a number as was assembled together on this occasion when there was not room enough for them in the palace. There is in history an account of a Persian king that supped with 15 000 men and in the supper spent forty talentsF16Ctesias & Dinon in Athenaei Deipnosoph. l. 4. .

 

Esther 1:6. 6 There were white and blue linen curtains fastened with cords of fine linen and purple on silver rods and marble pillars; and the couches were of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of alabaster turquoise and white and black marble.

   YLT 6white linen white cotton and blue fastened with cords of fine linen and purple on rings of silver and pillars of marble couches of gold and of silver on a pavement of smaragdus and white marble and mother-of-pearl and black marble –

Where were white green and blue hangings ....

Or curtains of fine linen as the Targum which were of these several colours; the first letter of the word for "white" is larger than usual to denote the exceeding whiteness of them. The next word is "carpas" which Ben Melech observes is a dyed colour said to be green. PausaniasF17Attica sive l. 1. p. 48. makes mention of Carpasian linen and which may be here meant; the last word used signifies blue sky coloured or hyacinth:

fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble;

these pillars are said in the Targum to be of divers colours red green and shining yellow and white on which the silver rings were fixed and into them were put linen strings of purple colour which fastened the hangings to them and so made an enclosure within which the guests sat at the feast:

the beds were of gold and silver;

the couches on which they sat or rather reclined at eating as was the manner of the eastern nations; these according to the Targum were of lambs' wool the finest and the softest and the posts of them were of gold and their feet of silver. Such luxury obtained among the Romans in later timesF18Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 33. c. 11. Sueton. Vit. Caesar. c. 49. :

these were placed in a pavement of red and blue and white and black marble;

which according to some are the porphyrite Parian alabaster and marble of various colours; the marble of the Persians is of four colours white black red and black and white and blackF19Universal History vol. 5. p. 87. ; but others take them to be precious stones as Jarchi and Aben Ezra; the first is by the Targum interpreted crystal by others the emerald one of which TheophrastusF20Apud Plin. l. 37. c. 5. speaks of as four cubits long and three broad which might be laid in a pavement; the third is by BochartF21Hierozoic. par. 2. l. 5. c. 8. supposed to be the pearl; and in the TalmudF23T. Bab. Megillah fol. 12. 1. it is said to be of such a nature that if placed in the middle of a dining room will give light in it as at noonday which seems to be what is called lychnites; to which LucianF24De Dea Syria. ascribes a like property: nor need all this seem strange since great was the luxury of the eastern nations. PhilostratusF25Vit. Apollon. l. 2. c. 11. speaks of a temple in India paved with pearls and which he says all the Barbarians use in their temples; particularly it is saidF26Aristot. de Mundo c. 6. Apuleius de Mundo. that the roofs of the palaces of Shushan and Ecbatana the palaces of the kings of Persia shone with gold and silver ivory and amber; no wonder then that their pavements were of very valuable and precious stones: and from hence it appears that the "lithostrata" the word here used by the Septuagint or tesserated pavements were in use four hundred years before the times of Sylla where the beginning of them is placed by PlinyF1Nat. Hist. l. 36. c. 25. ; there was a "lithostraton" in the second temple at Jerusalem by us rendered the pavement John 19:13 perhaps the same with the room Gazith so called from its being laid with hewn stone. AristeasF2De 70 Interpret. p. 32. who lived in the times of Ptolemy Philadelphus testifies that the whole floor of the temple was a "lithostraton" or was paved with stone: it is most likely therefore that these had their original in the eastern country and not in Greece as PlinyF3Ut supra. (Nat. Hist. l. 36. c. 25.) supposed.

 

Esther 1:7. 7 And they served drinks in golden vessels each vessel being different from the other with royal wine in abundance according to the generosity of the king.

  YLT 7and the giving of drink in vessels of gold and the vessels [are] divers vessels and the royal wine [is] abundant as a memorial of the king.

They gave them drink in vessels of gold the vessels being divers one from another ....

In the pattern and workmanship of them though of the same metal which diversity made the festival the more grand; earthen cups with the Persians were reckoned very mean; when a king would disgrace a man he obliged him to use earthen cupsF4Ctesias in Athenaei Deipnosoph. l. 11. . The Targum represents these vessels to be the golden vessels of the temple at Jerusalem Nebuchadnezzar carried away; which could not be since they had been delivered by Cyrus to Zerubbabel Ezra 1:7

and royal wine in abundance according to the state of the king;

such as the king was able to give the best he had and that in great plenty; the wine the kings of Persia used to drink as StraboF5Geograph. l. 15. p. 505. relates was Chalybonian wine or wine of Helbon as it is called Ezekiel 27:18; see Gill on Ezekiel 27:18 but by the wine of the kingdom as it may be rendered is meant wine of the country; the wine of Schiras is reckoned the best in PersiaF6Universal History vol. 5. p. 85. .

 

Esther 1:8. 8 In accordance with the law the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had ordered all the officers of his household that they should do according to each man’s pleasure.

   YLT 8And the drinking [is] according to law none is pressing for so hath the king appointed for every chief one of his house to do according to the pleasure of man and man.

And the drinking was according to the law none did compel ....

 According to the law Ahasuerus gave to his officers next mentioned which was not to oblige any man to drink more than he chose; the Targum is `according to the custom of his body;'that is as a man is able to bear it so they drank: someF6Vid. Drusium in loc. read it "the drinking according to the law let none exact"; or require it to be according to the custom then in use in Persia; for they were degenerated from their former manners and indulged to intemperance as XenophonF7Cyropaedia l. 8. c. 51. suggests: the law formerly was not to carry large vessels into feasts; but now says he they drink so much that they themselves must be carried out because they cannot go upright: and so it became a law with the Greeks at their festivals that either a man must drink or go outF8Cicero. Tusculan. Quaest. l. 5. ; so the master of a feast at which Empedocles was ordered either that he should drink or the wine be poured on his headF9Laert. in Vit. ejus l. 8. p. 608. ; but such force or compulsion Ahasuerus forbad: and thus with the Chinese now they force none to drink but modestly invite themF11Semedo's History of China par. 1. c. 13. :

for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house that they should do according to every man's pleasure;

to let them have what wine they would but not force them to drink more than was agreeable to them.

 

Esther 1:9. 9 Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.

   YLT 9Also Vashti the queen hath made a banquet for women in the royal house that the king Ahasuerus hath.

Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women....

For it was not customary with the Persians nor other eastern nations to admit of women to their festivalsF13Justin c Trogo l. 41. c. 3. but they feasted by themselves. Who Vashti was is not known with any certainty. Bishop Usher who takes Ahasuerus to be Darius Hystaspis thinks Vashti was Atossa the daughter of Cyrus whom he married. The Targumist says she was the daughter of Evilmerodach the son of Nebuchadnezzar. Her name seems to be the same with Vesta a deity worshipped by the Persians as XenophonF14Cyropaedia l. 1. c. 23. and signifies vehement fire which was in great veneration with them; and therefore this queen is most likely to be of Persian original: she kept her feast

in the royal house which belonged to Ahasuerus;

her guests not being so many there was room enough in the king's palace for them and where it was more decent for them to be than in the open air in the garden and exposed to the sight of men.

 

Esther 1:10. 10 On the seventh day when the heart of the king was merry with wine he commanded Mehuman Biztha Harbona Bigtha Abagtha Zethar and Carcas seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus

   YLT 10On the seventh day as the heart of the king is glad with wine he hath said to Mehuman Biztha Harbona Bigtha and Abagtha Zethar and Carcas the seven eunuchs who are ministering in the presence of the king Ahasuerus

On the seventh day ....

Of the feast the last day of it which the Rabbins as Jarchi observes say was the sabbath day and so the Targum:

when the heart of the king was merry with wine;

when he was intoxicated with it and knew not well what he said or did; and the discourse at table ran upon the beauty of women as the latter Targum; when the king asserted there were no women so beautiful as those of Babylon and as a proof of it ordered his queen to be brought in:

he commanded Mehuman Biztha Harbona Bigtha and Abagtha Zethar and Carcas the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king;

or "eunuchs" as the word is sometimes rendered; and such persons were made use of in the eastern countries to wait upon women and so were proper to be sent on the king's errand to the queen.

 

Esther 1:11. 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king wearing her royal crown in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials for she was beautiful to behold.

   YLT 11to bring in Vashti the queen before the king with a royal crown to shew the peoples and the heads her beauty for she [is] of good appearance

To bring Vashti the queen before the king ....

Not against her will or by force; but they were sent to let her know it was the king's pleasure that she should come to him immediately:

with the crown royal;

that is upon her head to make her look the more grand and majestic:

to show the people and the princes her beauty;

for she was fair to look upon; which was not wisely done neither was it comely nor safe.

 

Esther 1:12. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs; therefore the king was furious and his anger burned within him.

   YLT 12and the queen Vashti refuseth to come in at the word of the king that [is] by the hand of the eunuchs and the king is very wroth and his fury hath burned in him.

But the queen refused to came at the king's commandment by his chamberlains ....

Even though he sent by them again as the Targum; and so says JosephusF15Antiqu. l. 11. c. 6. sect. 1. ; which might not purely arise from pride in her and contempt of him but because she might conclude he was drunk and knew not well what he did; and therefore had she come at his command when he was himself and sober he might blame her for coming nay use her ill for it and especially if she was to come naked as say the JewsF16Targum in loc. Midrash Esther fol. 90. 1. ; and besides it was contrary to the law of the Persians as not only JosephusF17Antiqu. l. 11. c. 6. sect. 1. but PlutarchF18In Themistoele. observes which suffered not women to be seen in public; and particularly did not allow their wives to be with them at feasts only their concubines and harlots with whom they could behave with more indecency; as for their wives they were kept out of sight at homeF19Macrob. Saturnal. l. 7. c. 1. ; and therefore Vashti might think it an indignity to be treated as an harlot or concubine:

therefore was the king very wroth and his anger burned in him;

which was the more fierce as he was inflamed with wine.

 

Esther 1:13. 13 Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times (for this was the king’s manner toward all who knew law and justice

   YLT 13And the king saith to wise men knowing the times -- for so [is] the word of the king before all knowing law and judgment

Then the king said to the wise men that knew the times ....

Astrologers as Aben Ezra that knew the fit time for doing anything; or that had knowledge of ancient times historians well read in history and knew things that had happened similar to this:

for so was the king's manner towards all that knew law and judgment;

it was customary with him in any case of difficulty to have the opinion and advice of those that were expert in the law and well understood right and wrong. These are called by HerodotusF20Thalia sive l. 3. c. 14 31. so in Aelian. Var. Hist. l. 1. c. 34. the king's judges.

 

Esther 1:14. 14 those closest to him being Carshena Shethar Admatha Tarshish Meres Marsena and Memucan the seven princes of Persia and Media who had access to the king’s presence and who ranked highest in the kingdom):

   YLT 14and he who is near unto him [is] Carshena Shethar Admatha Tarshish Meres Marsena Memucan seven heads of Persia and Media seeing the face of the king who are sitting first in the kingdom –

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 Genesis 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 relatesF21lb. (Thalia sive l. 3.) c. 84 118. :

and which sat the first in the kingdom;

next to the king and were assisting to him in the administration of government see Ezra 7:14.

 

Esther 1:15. 15 “What shall we do to Queen Vashti according to law because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus brought to her by the eunuchs?”

   YLT 15`According to law what -- to do with queen Vashti because that she hath not done the saying of the king Ahasuerus by the hand of the eunuchs?'

What shall we do unto the Queen Vashti according to law ....

The king desired to know what law was provided in such a case as her's and what to be done according to it:

because she hath not performed the commandment of the king by the chamberlains?

as this was the crime disobedience to his commands he would have those who had knowledge of the law consider what punishment was to be inflicted on her for it according to former laws usages and customs or as reason and justice required; and it being a festival and they heated with wine was no objection to a consultation on this head; for it was the manner of the Persians at festivals and when inflamed with wine to consult and determine about matters of the greatest momentF23Clio sive l. 1. c. 133. ; yea reckoned their counsels and decrees firmer than when made when they were soberF24Strabo. Geograph. l. 15. p. 505. Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 4. c. 11. & l. 5. c. 21. ; so the ancient GermansF25Tacitus de Mor. German. c. 22. .

 

Esther 1:16. 16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes: “Queen Vashti has not only wronged the king but also all the princes and all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

   YLT 16And Memucan saith before the king and the heads `Not against the king by himself hath Vashti the queen done perversely but against all the heads and against all the peoples that [are] in all provinces of the king Ahasuerus;

And Memucan answered before the king and the princes ....

Who was the last and perhaps the least and the youngest of the counsellors; it being appointed by the king according to the latter Targum that when his counsellors sat the least should give their counsel first; just as puisne judges and the youngest peers with us give their opinion in a case first:

Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only but also to all the princes and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus;

he means by setting a bad example to their wives as after explained; it is an exaggeration of her crime and made with a design to incense the king the more against her.

 

Esther 1:17. 17 For the queen’s behavior will become known to all women so that they will despise their husbands in their eyes when they report ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him but she did not come.’

   YLT 17for go forth doth the word of the queen unto all the women to render their husbands contemptible in their eyes in their saying The king Ahasuerus said to bring in Vashti the queen before him and she did not come;

For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women ....

It will soon be spread all over the king's dominions and reach the ears of the wives of all his subjects and become their general talk everywhere:

so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes:

make light of their authority refuse subjection to them slight their commands and neglect to yield obedience to them and so not give them the honour that is due unto them:

when it shall be reported the King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him and she came not;

was disobedient to his commands refused to go along with the chamberlains sent by the king to fetch her.

 

Esther 1:18. 18 This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media will say to all the king’s officials that they have heard of the behavior of the queen. Thus there will be excessive contempt and wrath.

   YLT 18yea this day do princesses of Persia and Media who have heard the word of the queen say [so] to all heads of the king even according to the sufficiency of contempt and wrath.

Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto the king's princes which have heard of the deed of the queen ....

From henceforward they will give a like answer to their husbands when they lay their commands upon them as Vashti has to the king; they will tell them to their faces they will not obey their orders:

thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath;

there will be in wives a general contempt of their husbands which will cause discord and strife quarrels wrath and anger; contempt on one part wrath on the other and contention between both.

 

Esther 1:19. 19 If it pleases the king let a royal decree go out from him and let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it will not be altered that Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.

   YLT 19`If to the king [it be] good there goeth forth a royal word from before him and it is written with the laws of Persia and Media and doth not pass away that Vashti doth not come in before the king Ahasuerus and her royalty doth the king give to her companion who [is] better than she;

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 Daniel 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"F26לרעותה "sodali ejus" Montanus; "sociae ejus" Tigurine version Drusius Rambachius. ; 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 writingF1Tikkune Zohar correct. 21. fol. 59. 2. .

 

Esther 1:20. 20 When the king’s decree which he will make is proclaimed throughout all his empire (for it is great) all wives will honor their husbands both great and small.”

   YLT 20and the sentence of the king that he maketh hath been heard in all his kingdom -- for it [is] great -- and all the wives give honour to their husbands from great even unto small.'

And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire ....

As it was proper it should since the report of the queen's deed would be made everywhere:

for it is great;

the empire consisting of one hundred and twenty seven provinces Esther 1:1 Aben Ezra and Abendana interpret it "though" it is great yet the decree should be published throughout; the latter observes that this may respect the king's decree; and so the Targum is "for his decree is great;'it respecting a matter of great importance and relating to a great personage and would have great effect on the minds of persons when it was observed that one so great was treated in this manner: and therefore

all the wives shall give to their husbands honour both to great and small;

speaking respectfully to them yielding a ready and cheerful obedience to all their commands; which would be done to princes and peasants to high and low to every rank of men.

 

Esther 1:21. 21 And the reply pleased the king and the princes and the king did according to the word of Memucan.

   YLT 21And the thing is good in the eyes of the king and of the princes and the king doth according to the word of Memucan

And the saying pleased the king and the princes ....

The king and the other six princes and counsellors approved of the proposal and unanimously agreed to it:

and the king did according to the word of Memucan;

passed a law according to his advice and signed and sealed it and registered it among the laws of the kingdom not to be revoked.

 

Esther 1:22. 22 Then he sent letters to all the king’s provinces to each province in its own script and to every people in their own language that each man should be master in his own house and speak in the language of his own people.

   YLT 22and sendeth letters unto all provinces of the king unto province and province according to its writing and unto people and people according to its tongue for every man being head in his own house -- and speaking according to the language of his people.

For he sent letters unto all the king's provinces ....

The one hundred and twenty seven provinces Esther 1:1 which according to the Targum were written and sealed with his own seal; which is very probable:

into every province according to the writing thereof and to every people after their language;

that is these letters were written in the language and in the characters in which that language was written used in each of the provinces to which these letters were sent that they might be easily read and understood by all: the sum of which was:

that every man should bear rule in his own house;

be prince lord and master there and his commands obeyed not only by his children and servants but by his wife also:

and that it should be published according to the language of every people;

but as this is expressed or at least implied in the first clause of this verse it should rather be rendered "and that he should speak according to the language of his people"; and so is the latter Targum; it seems as if a man who had married a woman in another country in complaisance to her had neglected his own native tongue and used hers in the family by which means he lost or seemed to lose his authority in it: now to guard against this this part of the law was made; and according to Jarchi the husband was to compel his wife to learn and speak his language if she was a foreigner; to which agrees the first Targum which paraphrases the whole thus "that a man rule over his wife and oblige her to speak according to the language of her husband and the speech of his people;'and in later times Bahram Gaur forbid any other language besides the Persian to be used within his port either in speaking or writingF2Vid. Castel. Lexic. Persic. col. 266. .

 

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Footnotes:

a.    Esther 1:1 Generally identified with Xerxes I (485–464 b.c.)

b.    Esther 1:2 Or Susa and so throughout this book