Esther 1

NOw it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus Qu. Who was this King? Ans. It is confessed and manifest that this was one of the Kings of Persia: But which of them it was, is not yet agreed, nor is it of any necessity for us now to know. But it is sufficiently evident that this was either 1. Darius Hystaspis, as divers both Jewish and Christian Writers affirm: for his Kingdom was thus vast, and he subdued India, as Herodotus reports: and one of his Wives was called Atossa, which differs little from Hadassah, which is Esthers other name, Esth. 2. 7. Or 2. Xerxes, whose Wife, as Herodotus notes, was called Amestris, which is not much differing from Esther: by whom all these things were transacted whilst he was potent and prosperous, before his unhappy expedition against the Grecians. Or 3. Artaxerxes Longimanus; to whom the characters of Ahasuerus represented in this Book do not disagree. And whereas it is objected that by this account Mordecai must be a man of about 140 Years, and consequently Esther, who is called his Uncles daughter, ch. 2. 7. must be too old to make a Wife for the King; as for Mordecai it may be granted, there being divers instances of persons of greater Age than that in sacred and prophane Historians; and for Esther it may be said that she was his Uncles Grand-Daughter, nothing being more frequent than for the names of sons or daughters to be given to more remote posterity., (this is Ahasuerus, which reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces So seven new Provinces were added to those 120 mentioned, Dan. 6. 1..)

That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sate on the Throne of his kingdom i. e. Either was lately advanced to it: or rather was settled in the peaceable possession of it., which was in Shushan the palace Or, the castle: or the chief or royal city, as both Jewish and Christian Interpreters render it. Shushan might be the proper name of the Palace, which thence was given to the whole City. Here the Kings of Persia used to keep their Courts chiefly in Winter, as ordinarily they were in Ecbatana in Summer.,

In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his Princes, and his servants, the power i. e. The mighty men; the chief Officers of State, and Commanders of all his Forces: whom by this splendid entertainment he endeavoured to oblige and assure to himself. of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces being before him.

When he showed the riches of his glorious Kingdom, and the honour of his excellent majesty, many days, even an hundred and fourscore days Making every day a magnificent Feast either for all his Princes, or for some of them, who might come to the Feast successively, as the King ordered them to do. The Persian Feasts are much celebrated in Authors for their length and Luxury..

And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present Both such as constantly resided there, and such as were come thither upon their occasions, of whatsoever condition or quality. in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden The Persian Gardens were exceeding large and pleasant. of the kings palace.

Where were white, green, and blue hangings fastened with cords of fine linnen and purple, to silver rings, and pillars of marble: the beds For in those Eastern Countries, and ancient times, they did not sit at Tables, as we do, but rested or leaned upon Beds: of which we have many testimonies both in Scripture, as Esth. 7. 8. Amos 2. 8. & 6. 4. Ioh. 13. 23. and in all other Authors. were of gold, and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black marble.

And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being divers one from another) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.

And the drinking was according to the law, none did compel i. e. According to this Law which the King had now made that none should compel another to drink more than he pleased which the Persians, and other loose and heathenish Nations used to do; though that practice was connemned by the wise and sober Heathens, and among others by this great Prince. Or, no man did compel another to drink according to the Law, i. e. as by the Laws or Orders of the Persians prescribed and used in their Feasts they might have done, if not restrained by this Law.: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every mans pleasure.

Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women Whilest the King entertained the men. For this was the common custom of the Persians, that Men and Women did not feast together, but in several places., in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.

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 Or, Eunuchs, which were much in use, and in favour in the Eastern Courts, and particularly with the Persian Emperours, as ancient Histories inform us., that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

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.

But the queen Vashti refused to come Being favoured in this refusal by the Laws and customs of Persia, which was to keep Mens Wives, and especially Queens, as much as might be, from the view of other men. at the kings commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

Then the King said to the wise-men, which knew the times Either 1. The Histories of former times, what Princes have done in such cases as this was. Or 2. Things done or to be done in time, what was just and fit to be done, or what was the Law and Iudgment in these cases, as the following words explain it, and how and when things were to be done. See my Notes on 1 Chr. 12. 32. Times are oft put in Scripture, and other Authors, for the things done in them, by a common Figure called a Metonymy of the Adjunct., (for so was the kings manner towards all that knew law and judgment To wit, to consult with them in all matters of moment..

And next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the kings face Which had constant freedom of access to the King, and familiar converse with him: which is thus expressed, because the Persian Kings were very seldom seen by their Subjects., and which sate the first in the kingdom Which were his chief Counsellors and Officers, and had the precedency from all others..)

What shall we do unto the queen Vashti, according to law, because she has not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus, by the chamberlains?

And Memucan answered Who, though last named, spake first, either because the king first asked him; or because he was the chief of them all, either in Dignity, or in Reputation: or because it then was, as now it is in many places, the custom for the youngest Counsellors or Judges to deliver their opinion first. before the king, and the princes, Vashti the queen has not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people By giving them an Example and Encouragement to contemn and disobey their Husbands. It is a crime of an high nature, and therefore deserves an exemplary punishment. that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.

Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the kings princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath Contempt in the Wives, and thereupon wrath in the Husbands; and consequently Strife in Families; which may produce great and general mischiefs..

If it please the king Which this cunning Politician knew it would do., let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians, and the Medes, that it be not altered Which caution was necessary for his own security; for if the Queen should recover her State, and the kings Favour, he was most likely to fall into his displeasure., that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.

And when the kings decree which he shall make, shall be published throughout all his Empire, (for it is great) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.

And the saying pleased the king and the princes Partly because their own Authority and Interest was concerned in it: and especially by the singular Providence of God who designed to bring about his own great work by this small occasion., and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

For he sent letters into all the kings provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people That all sorts of persons, not Men only (who by study or travel many times understand divers Languages) but the Women also might understand it, and therefore be inexcusable if they did not comply with it; for which end it was not only written in each language, for that writing might come but to few hands, but moreover it was published in the several Cities and Towns by such persons as used to publish the Kings Edicts. Others, That he should speak in the language of his own People; i. e. that Men should not in compliance with their Wives, who were oft of other Nations and Languages, inure themselves to it, and bring their Wives Language into the Family; but that men should use their own proper Language, and cause their Wives and Children to use it; this being one sign of Dominion, and therefore frequent after this time among the Greeks and Romans, who, together with their victorious Arms, brought in their Language into other Countries, and in a great measure imposed it upon them..