Esther 2:18

Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and servants, even Esther's feast,.... A feast to all his nobles, courtiers, and ministers of state, on account of his marriage with Esther;

Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.

He made a release to the provinces, i.e. he took off a good part of those heavy taxes which the Persian kings laid upon their people.

Esther 2:18 Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, [even] Esther’ s feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.Ver. 18. Then the king made a great feast] Feasts are never more in season than at the recovery of the lost rib. Unto all his princes and his servants] So did Mauritius, the emperor of Greece, when he married Constantina (Niceph. 1. 18, c. 8), and Henry III, emperor of Germany, when he married Agnes, daughter to the prince of Pictavia, at Ingelheim; whither when a great sort of players, fiddlers, jesters, and magicians resorted, he not only sent them away without reward, but also without meat and drink, which he liberally bestowed upon the poor. Funcc. ad annum 1044. Even Esther’ s feast] So he called it, to testify his great affection and respect toward his spouse. This is no warrant for that Popish custom, of dedicating feasts to the honour of saints; or for that heathenish practice, in some places amongst us, of keeping wakes. And he made a release to the provinces] That is, he caused it to be kept holiday, as Josephus hath it. Or rather he granted to his subjects a relaxation, or freedom from their taxes, tributes, and public payments, for a time at least, that thereby the new queen might get favour and authority among them, and all men might wish them much joy and happiness, that the loins of the people might bless their prince and his marriage for this breathing and intermission; when as formerly his exactors received from his subjects no less sums of curses than of coin, to maintain his luxury. And gave gifts] Such as Xenophon reckoneth up, bracelets, chains of gold, garments, horses with rich trappings, dishes from his own table, &c. (Cyropaed. 1. 8). This was kingly, this was god-like, James 1:5. His son, Artaxerxes Longimarius, was wont to say, that he had therefore one hand longer than another (μακροχειρ), that he might be readier to give than to receive. Of Cyrus it is said, that he took more content in giving than receiving, Dιδουςμαλλονηκτωμενοςηδετο (Xenoph.). Of Stephen, king of Hungary, and of Oswald, king of England, that their right hands did not rot off for a long while after they were dead, because oft stretched out in giving gifts, and dealing alms. Christ received that he might give, Psalms 68:18 Ephesians 4:8. And held it more blessed to give than to receive, Acts 20:35. Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings, &c.; by your bounty and liberality the people shall be obliged, the state fenced, virtue encouraged, misery relieved: that you have secured. For, Extra fortunam est quicquid donatur amicis: Quas dederis solas, semper habebis opes (Martial).

(18) Release.—Literally, rest. The word only occurs here: it may refer either to a release from tribute or from military service, probably the former. Either, however, would have been consistent with Persian usage. (See Herod, iii. 67, 6:59.)

Verse 18. Made a release to the provinces] Remitted some kind of tribute or impost, in honour of Esther, at her coronation, as our kings generally do when they are crowned, ordering a discharge from prison of many who are confined for minor offenses. As it was the custom of the Persian kings to give their queens something like what is called with us the aurum reginae, "queen gold," which was a tenth of all fines, c., above what was given to the king (for they gave them such a city to buy them clothes, another for their hair, a third for their necklaces, a fourth for their pearls, c.) it is probable that, on this occasion, Esther so wishing, he relieved those cities and provinces which had before paid this queen gold from all these expenses; and this would tend greatly to make the queen popular.

18. a release] Heb. a rest, an exemption for a certain time from taxation and from military service. Such e.g. had been granted by the Pseudo-Smerdis on his usurpation (Herod. iii. 67). gifts] The Heb. word was used in older times for a portion of food sent from the table (Genesis 43:34; 2 Samuel 11:8), and afterwards for a contribution or tax imposed for sacred purposes (2 Chronicles 24:6), or a present such as largess from a superior (Jeremiah 40:5 and here). according to the bounty of the king] See on Esther 1:7.

A release - Either remission of taxation, or of military service, or of both.

18. Esther’s feast — A banquet to her honour; to celebrate her election to Vashti’s place. Made a release to the provinces — Usually understood as a release from tribute. Septuagint has αφεσιν; Vulgate, requiem.