NOW IT CAME TO PASS IN THE DAYS OF. See important note of Rabbinical commentators on Genesis 14:1. AHASUERUS. the venerable king. An appellative, like Pharaoh, Czar, Shah, &c. See notes on p. 618 and App-57 and App-68. THIS. Implying that others were so called, from whom lie is to be distinguished... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THOSE DAYS: i.e. the days when these events took place. At other times he dwelt at Ecbatana, or elsewhere. Esther 1:1 mentions the ruler; Esther 1:2, the place; Esther 1:1, the time. SAT. took his seat, or came to. SHUSHAN. Now, the ruins of _Susa,_ on the river Shapur, east of Persian Gulf. P... [ Continue Reading ]
THE THIRD YEAR: i.e. in 471; six years after the destruction of Jerusalem. Astyages now seventeen or COMMANDMENT. Hebrew. _dabar =_ word, precept. Occurs Esther 1:19; Esther 2:8; Esther 3:15; Esther 8:14; Esther 8:17. See note on Esther 1:10. EIGHTEEN YEARS. See App-50. In this year Xerxes (who is... [ Continue Reading ]
AN HUNDRED AND FOURSCORE DAYS. This was to allow all peoples to be feasted in turn. Not all at the same time; or one feast of that duration.... [ Continue Reading ]
PALACE. house, or, large house.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEDS. couches.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VESSELS. Note the frequent _Parentheses_ (App-6) in verses: Esther 1:1; Esther 1:7; Esther 1:13; Esther 1:14; Esther 1:20. WINE. Hebrew. _yayin._ App-27.... [ Continue Reading ]
LAW. Heb, _dath =_ royal decree, or special mandate, as in verses: Esther 1:1; Esther 1:13; Esther 1:15; Esther 1:19; Esther 3:8; Esther 4:11; Esther 4:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
VASHTI. The daughter of Alyattes (king of Lydia), married by Cyaxares to his son Astyages after the battle of Halys. See App-57.... [ Continue Reading ]
COMMANDED. Hebrew. _'amar._ So rendered in verses: Esther 1:1; Esther 1:15; Esther 1:17; Esther 2:20; Esther 4:13; Esther 6:1; Esther 9:14; Esther 9:25. Note the different words rendered "command" and "decree" in this book. SEVEN CHAMBERLAINS. seven eunuchs. This shows the minuteness of the writer's... [ Continue Reading ]
PEOPLE. peoples.... [ Continue Reading ]
REFUSED. Probably because sent for by servants; not by the nobles (Esther 1:3), and before the "peoples" (Esther 1:5).... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR. See note on the parentheses, Esther 1:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
LADIES. princesses.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT ALTERED. Compare Daniel 6:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
DECREE PRESCRIPT. Only here and Ecclesiastes 8:11. IT IS GREAT: i.e. the decree is important. ALL THE WIVES SHALL GIVE. This is the first of the five _Acrostics_ (App-6), exhibiting in the initials the Divine name. See App-60.... [ Continue Reading ]