Esther 1

Esther 1:1-9

Before Christ 451. L

Long before Human’s plot was laid, we have here the providential introduction of Esther to court, who was designed as the instrument to defeat it. 1. Ahafuerus feasts all his great men, ver. 1—9. 2. So anger he divorced his queen, because she would not come to him when sent for, ver. 10—22.

9 Or eiuht. 4 Chap. xii. 8. Turk. xviii. 41. Amos. 1. & vi. 4. 2 Or of pur-phyrt, and marble, and alabaster, or three of him colour. 3 Heb. Wm. of the king-iron. 4 Heb. Hand.

NOW it came to pass in the days of 1 Ahafuerus, (this is Ahafuerus which reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, 2 over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces) 2. That in those days, when the king Ahafuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, 3. In the third year of his reign he made 4 a feast unto all his princes, and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, 5 the nobles and princes of the provinces being before him. 4. When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom, and the honour of his excellent majesty, many days, even an hundred and fourfcore days. 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 king’s palace. 6. Where were white, green, and 7 blue hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen, and purple, to silver rings, and pillars of marble: 8 the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement 9 of red, and blue, and white, and black marble. 7. And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being divers one from another) and 8 royal wine in abundance, according to the 9 state of the king. 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 man’s pleasure. 9. Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahafuerus.

Which of the kings of Persia Ahafuerus was, is difficult to determine. The most probable opinion seems to fix on Xerxes, who succeeded Darius Hyfafnis. We have here,

1. An account of his vast empire, extending over 127 provinces; considerably increased since the time of Cyrus, Dan. vi. 1. and now reached the summit of its grandeur.

2. To display his magnificence, he made a most sumptuous feast during 180 days successively, entertaining his princes and great men; and when these were ended, for seven days more he feasted all the people, small and great, in the court of the garden of the palace, which was adorned with the most gorgeous tapestry and hangings, the pavement was marble of the most exquisite beauty, the beds on which they lay were many gold and silver, and all the vessels gold, of various and most curious workmanship. The nobles were plentifully flowed, and every guest was welcome, but none compelled to drink. Note, (1.) There is no evil in the splendor of a court, or the elegance of a royal table; the evil lies in the abuse of these things. (2.) Let the sobriety of a heathen feast confound the foretils customs of our entertainments; where repeated healths, as they are called, drown the lenses in drunkenness, and the soul in perdition and destruction.

3. The queen in her palace entertained her ladies at the same time, according to the eastern manner, where the women never mix in company, but are always kept separate from the men.

4. ¶ On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, 1 Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and 2 Carcas, the seven 3 chamberhans that served in the presence of Ahafuerus the king, 11. 3 To bring Vashti the