Esther 1

Esther 1:1

Ahasuerus] Heb. Ahasuerosh. It is doubted which of the Persian Monarchs this was. The LXX. still name him in their Translation Artaxerxes. Others take him to be Xerxes. Others fix their several fancies upon sundry others of the Persian Monarchs.

But the greatest probability is for Darius Hystaspis; who first extended the bounds of that Empire so farre and wide, and over so many Provinces; and married Atossa the daughter of Cyrus, called Vasthi, ver. 9, who was the third King of Persia; omitting Darius the Mede, before Cyrus; and the Magus Smerdis, not worthy the reckoning; and was next before Xerxes, that fourth and rich King, Dan. XI. 2. See the Observations on Esther II. 5. This Ahasuerus in his third year makes that Imperial Feast of one hundred eighty seven dayes; And therein that good Law for drinking, as most take it; And at the end of it, he deposeth Vashti, by the learned thought to be the daughter of Cyrus, chap. 1. In his fourth year Haggai, and Zechariah do prophesie: In his sixth year the Temple is built: In his seventh year, chap. II. 16, 17. he marries Esther.

After promotes Haman; And in his twelfth year hangs him, chap. III. 7. and VII. 10. And about his twenty sixth year he imposeth that tribute, chap. X. as Historians do accompt.

Esther 1:2

Shushan] The chief Citie of the Assyrian Empire was Nineve: of the Babylonian, Babylon: of the Persian, Shushan, and Ecbatana: of the Grecian, divers; as the divisions of it were: of the Romane, Rome. Of Shushan, see more on Neh. I. 1.

Esther 1:3-9

a feast] The greatnesse of his Empire was, ver. 1. and is also Ch. VIII. 9. See that, Dan. VI. 1. Here is the greatnesse of his Feast; and chap. II. 18. And great was his riotous luxury in the Purification of the Virgins, chap. II. 12.

Esther 1:6

beds] Beds whereon they feasted; after the maner of those ancient times. See chap. VII. 8. Beds, i. e. bedsteads of gold and silver. And Amos VI. 4. Beds of Ivory. Those for cost and beauty. That of Ogs, Deut. III. 1. for largenesse.

Esther 1:8

according to the Law, none did compel] Compel; or restraine rather. For so a learned Divine renders the word, and sense of the place; That the drinking was according to the Kings Law, not of the Kingdome, but of all the Officers of his house; or that the Officers should give them royal wine, such as the King himself used, and that in abundance, according to the state of the King when now in this Feast the Kings purpose was to shew the riches of his glorious Kingdome, and the honour of his excellent Majesty; that none therefore of his officers should restraine, inhibit, or hinder it, but give to every one of the guests freely and bountifully what wine, and as much, and as often as he desired; that as no restraint, so no complaint should be to the contrary.

Esther 1:10

On the seventh day] On the seventh day of that Feast, ver. 5.

Esther 1:12

refused] Shee might have made some fair excuse: and not seeme in this sort to despise her husband, ver. 17.

his anger burn] See the Annotations on Dan. III. 19.

Esther 1:13

wise men] Wise men in State affairs, in policie, and experience, in prudence and knowledge; and so of great place and accompt, ver. 14. Such are Kings Counsellors. Such as those, Ezra VII. 14. and 1 Chron. XII. 32. men gathering wisdome by observation of times and seasons, for passages of State, in ages past and present: and so the ablest to give counsel and judgement, the fittest for wise plots and projects. Such were still of great use in all Nations. We finde mention of wise men, chap.

VI. 13. Esay XIX. 11, 12. and XXIX. 14. Jer. X. 7. and chap. L. 35. Matth.

II. 1. And such a great Polititian, a man expert in State-skill; was Achitophel in his time, 2 Sam. XVI. 23. and Jonathan, 1 Chr. XXVII. 32. and others, ver. 34. Of such we read, Prov. XV. 22.

Esay I. 26. and chap. III. 3. Micah IV. 9.

Esther 1:15

according to Law] Thus he keeps close to the Law, and that laudable maner, ver. 13. notwithstanding his burning anger.

Esther 1:17

deed of the Queen] Examples have in them a kinde of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; And magnates, men, or women, are in a sort magnetes, loadstones, by their example to dray on others.

Esther 1:19

among the Lawes] Irrevocable, chap. VIII. 8. Dan. VI. 8, 12, 15.