Now it came to pass in the days of (a) Ahasuerus, (this [is] Ahasuerus
which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, [over] an (b) hundred
and seven and twenty provinces:)
The Argument - Because of the variety of names, by which they used to
call their kings, and the number of years in which the Heb... [ Continue Reading ]
[That] in those days, when the king Ahasuerus (c) sat on the throne of
his kingdom, which [was] in Shushan the palace,
(c) That is, had rest and quietness.... [ Continue Reading ]
[Where were] white, green, and blue, [hangings], fastened with cords
of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the
(d) beds [were of] gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue,
and white, and black, marble.
(d) Which they used in those countries instead of tables.... [ Continue Reading ]
And they gave [them] drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being
diverse one from another), and royal wine in abundance, according to
the (e) state of the king.
(e) As was befitting for so magnificent a king.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the drinking [was] according to the law; none did (f) compel: for
so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they
should do according to every man's pleasure.
(f) No one was forced to drink more than it pleased him.... [ Continue Reading ]
On the (g) seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with
wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha,
Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence
of Ahasuerus the king,
(g) Which was the last day of the feast that the king made for the
people... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the king said to the wise men, (h) which knew the times, (for so
[was] the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
(h) Who had experience in things as they had learned by diligent
marking in continuance of time.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the next unto him [was] Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish,
Meres, Marsena, [and] Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media,
which saw the (i) king's face, [and] which sat the first in the
kingdom;)
(i) Who were his chief counsellors that always had access to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen
hath not done (k) wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes,
and to all the people that [are] in all the provinces of the king
Ahasuerus.
(k) By her disobedience she has given an example to all women to do
the same to... [ Continue Reading ]
For [this] (l) deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so
that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be
reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought
in before him, but she came not.
(l) That is, her disobedience.... [ Continue Reading ]
[Likewise] shall the (m) ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto
all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen.
Thus [shall there arise] too much contempt and wrath.
(m) Meaning, that they would take the first opportunity to do the same
and the rest of the women would also... [ Continue Reading ]
If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and
let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that
it be not altered, That Vashti come (n) no more before king Ahasuerus;
and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better
than she.
(n) Let her... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published
throughout all his empire, (for it is (o) great), all the wives shall
give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.
(o) For he had under him a hundred and twenty-seven countries.... [ Continue Reading ]
For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province
according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their
language, that every man should (p) bear rule in his own house, and
that [it] should be published according to the language of every
people.
(p) That is, that the... [ Continue Reading ]