_AHASUERUS MAKES A FEAST FOR ALL THE PRINCIPAL PERSONS OF HIS KINGDOM: HE SENDS FOR THE QUEEN TO THE BANQUET, WHO REFUSES TO COME: THE KING, BEING ANGRY, PUTS HER AWAY, AND MAKES A DECREE THAT ALL WIVES SHALL OBEY THEIR HUSBANDS._ _Before Christ 483._... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE DAYS OF AHASUERUS— Archbishop Usher is of opinion, that Darius Hystaspes was the king Ahasuerus who married Esther, that Atossa was the Vashti, and Artystona the Esther, of the Holy Scriptures; but Herodotus positively tells us, that Artystona was the daughter of Cyrus, and therefore could no... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE KING AHASUERUS SAT ON THE THRONE— That is, enjoying peace and tranquillity through his large dominions; for the history of his accession to the throne is this: Xexres, his father, was privately murdered by Artabanes, captain of his guard. He coming to him, who was then but the third son, ma... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE WERE WHITE, GREEN, AND BLUE HANGINGS— See Exodus 24:10. Dr. Shaw, after having said that the floors in the Levant are laid with painted tiles or plaister of terras, informs us in a note, that a pavement like this is mentioned in Esther, _a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black marble... [ Continue Reading ]
ROYAL WINE IN ABUNDANCE— See on Joel 1:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
VASHTI THE QUEEN MADE A FEAST, &C.— Dr. Shaw observes, that, as in former ages, so at present, it is the custom in the eastern countries, at all their festivals and entertainments, for the men to be treated in separate apartments from the women, not the least intercourse or communication being ever... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE WAS THE KING VERY WROTH— His anger was the more immoderate because his blood was heated with wine, which made his passion too strong for his reason; otherwise he would not have thought it decent for the queen to have her beauty, which was very great, exposed in this unusual manner. See Bis... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WISE MEN, WHICH KNEW THE TIMES— Some have inferred from hence, that, as the Persian kings did nothing without their magi or wise men, who were great pretenders to astrology, men of this sort were called to know whether it was a proper time to set about the thing which the king had in his mind; f... [ Continue Reading ]