PERSIAN SPLENDOUR CRITICAL NOTES.] ESTHER 1:1. AHASUERUS] Heb. Ahashverosh. Prince, chief. A name given in Scripture to Cambyses, the son of Cyrus, and to Astyages, king of the Medes (Ezra 4:6; Daniel 9:1). INDIA TO ETHIOPIA] describes the king’s dominion, but does not definitely fix the date of h... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.] ESTHER 1:3. THE POWER OF PERSIA] The king’s body-guard. The princes, the pashas, or governors of those provinces. ESTHER 1:4. AN HUNDRED AND FOURSCORE DAYS] We are not obliged to conclude that all or any of the governors were present during the whole period of festivity.—_Rawlinso... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.] ESTHER 1:7. ROYAL WINE] A very costly wine, called the Chalybonian wine, that the Persian kings used to drink. MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH. Esther 1:7 UNWISE LIBERALITY, BUT A WISE REGULATION Here is liberality shown not merely by a warmth of feeling, or by a flow of well-ex... [ Continue Reading ]
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH. Esther 1:9 VASHTI, THE PERSIAN MONARCH’S QUEEN I. HER SIGNIFICANT NAME. Those critics who determine the personality of Ahasuerus do not speak so positively about the personality of Vashti. We read her name, but cannot tell either her ancestors or the place of her b... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.] ESTHER 1:12. VASHTI REFUSED TO COME] It was regarded as something unheard of if the queen appeared in public unveiled.—_Lange_. Vashti means the best. ESTHER 1:13. WHICH KNEW THE TIMES] Astrologers and magicians; generally to be learned. ESTHER 1:14. THE SEVEN PRINCES] refers in... [ Continue Reading ]
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH. Esther 1:15 A KING IN CONSULTATION Most men have not the opportunity of being present when a king holds a consultation. Such an opportunity is now presented. Enter the banqueting-hall. Let silence be kept, for the king is about to speak. But we shall find here onl... [ Continue Reading ]
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH. Esther 1:16 COURTIERS FORSAKE A FAILING CAUSE It is not here asserted that this is a characteristic of courtiers, which may not be observed in other men; for it is a too general custom to push a man or woman down when tokens of falling are visible. But the courtly... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.] ESTHER 1:22. ACCORDING TO THE LANGUAGE OF THE PEOPLE] Obscure. The native tongue of the head of the house to be used in the family. MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH. Esther 1:21 VASHTI IS STRIPPED OF QUEENLY EXTERNALS Popular oratory is very frequently only the art of articulatin... [ Continue Reading ]