Matthew Poole and continuators on Esther 1

1 NOw it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus , (this is Ahasuerus, which reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces .)

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.

So seven new Provinces were added to those 120 mentioned, Dan. 6. 1.

2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sate on the Throne of his kingdom , which was in Shushan the palace ,

i. e. Either was lately advanced to it: or rather was settled in the peaceable possession of it.

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.

Marginal references: Or, chief city.

3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his Princes, and his servants, the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces being before him.

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.

4 When he shewed 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.

5 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 kings palace.

Both such as constantly resided there, and such as were come thither upon their occasions, of whatsoever condition or quality.

The Persian Gardens were exceeding large and pleasant.

Marginal references: Heb. found.

6 Where were white, green, and blue hangings fastened with cords of fine linnen 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.

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.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word].; Or, of [illegible: 1 word], [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word], [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word], [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] of [illegible: 1 word].

8 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 mans pleasure.

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.

9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women , in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.

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.

10 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,

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.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word].

12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the kings commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

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.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] was b[illegible: 1+ letters] [illegible: 1 word] of his [illegible: 1 word].

13 Then the King said to the wise-men, which knew the times , (for so was the kings manner towards all that knew law and judgment .

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.

To wit, to consult with them in all matters of moment.

14 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 , and which sate the first in the kingdom .)

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.

Which were his chief Counsellors and Officers, and had the precedency from all others.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] 14.; [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word]. 1[illegible: 1+ letters].

16 And Memucan answered before the king, and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king onely, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

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.

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.

18 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.

19 If it please the king , 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 , that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.

Which this cunning Politician knew it would do.

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.

Marginal references: Heb. if it [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] with the King.; Heb. from [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word].; Heb. that it [illegible: 1 word] away. Ch. 8. 8.; Heb. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] c[illegible: 1+ letters]panion.

21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes , and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

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.

Marginal references: Heb. was [illegible: 1 word] the eyes of the king.

22 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.

Marginal references: Heb. that one [illegible: 1 word] publish [illegible: 1+ letters] according to [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1+ letters]guage of [illegible: 1+ letters] people.