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Esther i.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1.
In. Hebrew, "and in." In this manner the books of Scripture are usually connected. Septuagint place first the dream
of Mardochai, chap. xi. 2. (Calmet) --- Assuerus. Septuagint Artaxerxes; as [in] chap xvi. 1. The former is
the title of the Median, the latter of the Persian, monarchs. This king reigned over both nations, and was most probably Darius
Hystaspes, the third king of the Persians, (Tirinus) who subdued India, &c. (Herodotus) (Calmet) (Tirinus) --- Some understand
Cambyses, (1 Esdras iv.; Genebrard) or Xerxes (Scalig.) or Artaxerxes Longimanus, (Bellarmine; Salien) or Memnon, (Eusebius)
or Ochus. (Serarius) --- But (Calmet) the author of 3 Esdras iii. 1., and iv. 43., seems clearly declared for Hystaspes. (Tirinus)
--- Though that work be not canonical, (Du Hamel) it may claim some authority, as an ancient history. (Haydock) --- This king
gave orders for the building of the temple, 1 Esdras vi. 1, 14. --- India. Part had been (Calmet) subject to Xerxes.
(Herodotus vii. 65.) --- But Darius subdued the country, and imposed a heavy tribute. (Herodotus iv. 44.) --- Ethiopia,
beyond Egypt, paid an acknowledgment. Cambyses had taken possession of this country. (Calmet) --- Some understand a part of
Arabia to be meant. (Du Hamel) --- Seven: 120 had been regulated by Darius, the Mede, Daniel vi. 1. (Haydock) --- The
number might vary as the monarch chose. (Du Hamel) --- Herodotus (iii. 89.) only specifies "twenty." But he speaks of large
departments, to which he intimates that several others were subordinate. (Calmet) --- Provinces. Hebrew medina,
"seat of judges." (Haydock) --- Prefecture. (Menochius)
Ver. 2.
Captial. Hebrew, "palace, (Protestants; Haydock) or castle," (Calmet) may also signify "a capital." (Montanus, &c.)
--- Hystaspes founded this ancient royal city of Persia, (Pliny, [Natural History?] vi. 27.) or he greatly embellished it.
(Calmet) (Ælian, Anim. xiii. 18.) (Tirinus) --- He seems to have resided here almost constantly. The preceding kings (Calmet)
spent the winter in this warm climate, and perhaps the spring. See 2 Esdras i. 1. They spent other parts of the year at Ecbatana
and at Babylon. (Calmet)
Ver. 3.
Reign. When he was solemnly crowned, again, (Tirinus) or removed his court, (Calmet) and dedicated this new capital,
with feasting, &c. (Haydock)
Ver. 4.
Days, or a full half year, according to their reckoning. Nabuchodonosor, after his victory over Arphaxad, (Judith i.)
feasted 120 days; Dionysius of Syrachuse, 90; (Aristotle) Solomon seven; (3 Kings viii. 63.) and David three; when he was
recognized by all Israel, 1 Paralipomenon xii. 39. The Gaul, Ariamnes, gave a feast to all his countrymen for a whole year.
(Athen. iv. 13.) --- The Roman emperors sometimes treated all the citizens of Rome, and Alexander did the like to 9000 of
his chief officers for one day. But the magnificence of Assuerus surpasses all the rest. The Persians were famous on this
account. --- Persicos odi, puer, apparatus. (Horace i. Ode 38.) (Calmet)
Ver. 5.
Expired, (Feuardent) or in the last week. (Menochius) (Calmet) --- King. The Persian monarchs delighted in agriculture.
Cyrus the younger, planted trees at Sardis, and never eat till he had taken some exercise of this or of a military nature.
(Xenophon Memor.; Cicero Senect.)
Ver. 6.
Were. Protestants, "where were," white, green, and blue hangings. --- Ivory. Hebrew, "silver."
(Haydock) --- Beds, to lie down on at table; though sitting was formerly the fashion, Genesis xliii. 33. The other
custom prevailed among the more luxurious nations, and was observed in our Saviour's time, each person reclining upon his
left arm, and having his feet behind the next. (Tirinus) --- These beds were made very low, in Persia; so that Alexander had
one put under his feet, when he sat on the throne of Darius, as he was not so tall. (Curtius v. 7.) --- Their magnificence
was surprising. (Herodotus ix. 81.) (Calmet) --- Variety, in Mosaic work. (Tirinus) --- They lay upon sheep skins.
(Chaldean) Septuagint, "and the beds (or coverlets) were transparent, with various flowers, and full-blown roses, all round."
(Haydock)
Ver. 7.
Vessels. When Lysanias had taken the camp of Mardonius, and beheld the rich vessels, he could not help expressing a
surprise that people possessing such advantages, should come to molest the Lacedemonians, who lived so poorly. (Herodotus
ix. 79.)
Ver. 8.
Neither. Hebrew, "and the drinking was according to the law." Greek, "was not according to the pre-established
law;" (Haydock) as the usual custom was altered, on this occasion; and thus both may be accurate. The Persians had commonly
a king of the feast, whose orders all were obliged to obey in drinking. (Horace i. Ode 4.) (Ecclesiasticus xxxii. 1.) ---
This was an occasion of quarrels, (St. Jerome) and of intoxication. Agesilaus followed the example of Assuerus. Darius, and
Cyrus the younger, gloried in being able to drink much wine without being deranged. (Calmet)
-----Reges
dicuntur urgere culullis,
Et torquere mero, quem perspexisse laborant,
An sit amicitia dignus.----- (Horace ad Pison.)
Among friends, these "absurd laws" were laid aside.
Siccat inequales calices conviva, solutus
Legibus insanis.-----
(Horace ii. Sat. 6.) (Calmet)
This may suggest to Christians, that they ought not to urge any to get
drunk, (St. Augustine, ser. 231. de Temp.) lest they should be condemned by the very heathens. (Worthington) --- Would,
and thus prevent disorders as much as possible. (Athen. x. 6.)
Ver. 9.
Vasthi. Septuagint Astin. (Haydock) --- Serarius suspects she was the king's sister, or daughter, as such marriages
were common in Persia. (Tirinus) --- The name is not very different from that of Atossa, the daughter of Cyrus, who was married
to Cambyses, Smerdis, and Darius; to the latter of whom she bore four children. (Herodotus iii. 68., and vii. 3. --- This
prince had other wives, particularly Artistona, (Calmet; our Hadossa, (Haydock) or Esther) whom he espoused a virgin, and
love the most. Herodotus seems to confound her with Atossa. --- Dwell. Some Greek copies have "in her own palaces."
(Usher) --- It was proper for women to be more retired. (Menochius) --- The men feasted in the open air. (Haydock)
Ver. 10.
Wine. From the king's excess, and the haughtiness of Vasthi, God took occasion to advance Esther, and to deliver his
people. (Calmet) --- Mauman. Septuagint, "Aman." (Tirinus) --- But the names vary. The Persians seem to have had a
predilection for the number seven, ver. 14. (Calmet) Greek, "the seven eunuchs, ministers (deacons) of Artaxerxes."
Ver. 11.
Head. But without any other covering. (Chaldean) Sulpitius entertained perhaps the same idea. Stulto rege consultior,
pudens, virorum oculis spectaculum corporis præbere jussa, abnuit. (Haydock) --- Some Greek copies assert, very improbably,
(Calmet) that she was sent for "to be crowned queen." --- Beautiful. "The Persian ladies were noted for beauty," (Ammian)
insomuch that Alexander called them eye-sores, oculorum dolores. (Curtius) --- Only prostitutes appeared publicly at
feasts. (Macrob. vii. 1.) (St. Ambrose, de Elia. i. 15.) --- In effect, Vasthi's refusal was conformable to the laws of the
country. (Josephus) (Plutarch in Themist.) --- Her offence consisted, therefore, rather in her haughty carriage or words.
(Haydock) --- For the proposal was neither decent nor safe for the king, (Grotius) as the history of Candaules shews. (Herodotus
i.) (Not. Var. in Sulpitius)
Ver. 12.
Fury. This is the usual consequence of excess. (Worthington)
Ver. 13.
According. Hebrew, "knew the times, (for so was the king's custom with those who knew law and judgment.) And the next,"
&c. (Haydock) --- These were the magi, more particularly versed in the constitutions of the country. The Persians commonly
held their consultations over wine. (Herodotus i. 133.) --- Septuagint, "and the king said to his friends, Thus has Astin
spoken; do therefore, in this affair, law and judgment. Then came forth to him Arkesaios and Saresthaios, and Malesear, the
princes of the Persians and Medes, men near the king, and who sat first after the king. (Haydock) --- The old Vulgate places
Mardochæus first. These seven counsellors were perhaps styled the king's relations," (Brisson i. p. 171.) and administered
justice; as even the kings referred their causes to them. (Plut. Artax., &c.)
Ver. 16.
Mamuchan. Old Vulgate, "Mardochæus." Yet the Jews say this was the infamous Aman; and one Greek copy has Bilgaios,
(Calmet) and Arabo, "Mouchaios," chap. iii. 1., and xii. 6. He was the youngest, but spoke first, as was sometimes the case.
Ver. 18.
Wives. Greek turannides, "princesses, or female tyrants." --- Slight. Septuagint, "dare
to slight their husbands. Wherefore if," &c. (Haydock) --- Just. Hebrew, "enough of contempt and indignation."
This may be referred either to the king or to the women's husbands. The example will prove a source of continual quarrels.
(Calmet) --- Brentius approves the decision of this parasite; though St. Ambrose, &c., think that the queen was justified
by the laws, which the king had no right to infringe, to gratify his drunken humour, ver. 10. Luther would also wrest this
text in favour of adultery, p.ii. Divort. p. 177. (Worthington)
Ver. 19.
Altered. This regarded the more solemn acts, signed by the counsellors, Daniel vi. 17. (Grotius) --- Some decrees were
neglected or changed, chap. viii. 9., and 1 Esdras iv. 5, 21., and vi. 1. (Calmet)
Ver. 21.
Counsel. It was very inconclusive; (Menochius) and even supposing the queen were guilty of some indiscretion, the punishment
was too severe. (Menochius) (Grotius, v. 11) (Haydock)
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Bible Text & Cross-references:
King Assuerus maketh a great feast. Queen Vasthi being sent for, refuseth to come: for which disobedience
she is deposed.
1 In the days of Assuerus, who reigned from India to Ethiopia
over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces:
2 When he sat on the throne of his kingdom, the city Susan
was the capital of his kingdom.
3 Now in the third year* of his reign he made a great feast
for all the princes, and for his servants, for the most mighty of the Persians, and the nobles of the Medes, and the governors
of the provinces, in his sight,
4 That he might shew the riches of the glory of his kingdom,
and the greatness, and boasting of his power, for a long time, to wit, for a hundred and fourscore days.
5 And when the days of the feast were expired, he invited
all the people that were found in Susan, from the greatest to the least: and commanded a feast to be made seven days in the
court of the garden, and of the wood, which was planted by the care and the hand of the king.
6 And there were hung up on every side sky-coloured, and
green, and violet hangings, fastened with cords of silk, and of purple, which were put into rings of ivory, and were held
up with marble pillars. The beds, also, were of gold and silver, placed in order upon a floor, paved with porphyry and white
marble: which was embellished with painting of wonderful variety.
7 And they that were invited, drank in golden cups, and
the meats were brought in divers vessels, one after another. Wine, also, in abundance and of the best was presented, as was
worthy of a king's magnificence.
8 Neither was there any one to compel them to drink that
were not willing, but as the king had appointed, who set over every table one of his nobles, that every man might take what
he would.
9 Also Vasthi, the queen, made a feast for the women in
the palace, where king Assuerus was used to dwell.
10 Now on the seventh day, when the king was merry, and
after very much drinking, was well warmed with wine, he commanded Mauman, and Bazatha, and Harbona, and Bagatha, and Abgatha,
and Zethar, and Charcas, the seven eunuchs that served in his presence,
11 To bring in queen Vasthi before the king, with the crown
set upon her head, to shew her beauty to all the people, and the princes: for she was exceedingly beautiful.
12 But she refused, and would not come at the king's commandment,
which he had signified to her by the eunuchs. Whereupon the king, being angry, and inflamed with a very great fury,
13 Baked the wise men, who, according to the custom of the
kings, were always near his person, and all he did was by their counsel, who knew the laws, and judgments of their forefathers:
14 (Now the chief and nearest him were, Charsena, and Sethar,
and Admatha, and Tharsis, and Mares, and Marsana, and Mamuchan, seven princes of the Persians, and of the Medes, who saw the
face of the king, and were used to sit first after him:)
15 What sentence ought to pass upon Vasthi, the queen, who
had refused to obey the commandment of king Assuerus, which he had sent to her by the eunuchs?
16 And Mamuchan answered, in the hearing of the king and
the princes: Queen Vasthi hath not only injured the king, but also all the people and princes that are in all the provinces
of king Assuerus.
17 For this deed of the queen will go abroad to all women,
so that they will despise their husbands, and will say: King Assuerus commanded that queen Vasthi should come in to him, and
she would not.
18 And by this example, all the wives of the princes of
the Persians, and the Medes, will slight the commandments of their husbands: wherefore, the king's indignation is just.
19 If it please thee, let an edict go out from thy presence,
and let it be written according to the law of the Persians, and of the Medes, which must not be altered, that Vasthi come
in no more to the king, but another, that is better than her, be made queen in her place.
20 And let this be published through all the provinces of
thy empire (which is very wide) and let all wives, as well of the greater as of the lesser, give honour to their husbands.
21 His counsel pleased the king, and the princes: and the
king did according to the counsel of Mamuchan.
22 And he sent letters to all the provinces of his kingdom,
as every nation could hear and read, in divers languages and characters, that the husbands should be rulers and masters in
their houses: and that this should be published to every people.
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3: Year of the World 3485, Year before Christ 519.
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