Esther 1:1-14

1:1

Ahasuerus ....... Ahasuerus <0325> [Ahasuerus.]

Prideaux has shewn satisfactorily that Ahasuerus was the Artaxerxes Longimanus of the Greeks, agreeably to the Septuagint and Josephus. See note on Ezr 6:14.

India <01912> [from India.]

hundred <03967> [an hundred.]

1:2

<03427> [sat.]

Susa <07800> [Shushan.]

1:3

provided <06213> [A.M. 3542. B.C. 462. he made.]

Persia <06539> [of Persia.]

nobles <06579> [the nobles.]

1:4

displayed <07200> [When he.]

riches <06239> [the riches.]

majestic <08597> [excellent.]

1:5

present <04672> [present. Heb. found. seven days.]

1:6

mother-of-pearl <02353 01858> [white.]

purple <08504> [blue. or, violet.]

couches <04296> [the beds.]

These were couches, covered with gold and silver cloth, on which the guests reclined; for the Orientals do not sit, but recline at their meals.

valuable stones <0923> [red, etc. or, of porphyre, and marble, and alabaster, and stone of blue colour.]

1:7

golden containers <02091 03627> [vessels of gold.]

Royal wine <03196 04438> [royal wine. Heb. wine of the kingdom. state of the king.]

Heb. hand of the king.

1:8

<0597> [none did compel.]

Every person drank what he pleased. Among the Greeks, however, each guest was obliged to keep the round, or leave the company: hence the proverb [E pithi, e apithi,] Drink, or begone. Mr. Herbert, in his poem entitled "The Church Porch," has severely reprobated this vile custom. In Britain, however, this demoralizing custom is now almost destroyed, and a new era of social pleasure is arising, by temperate habits, increased domestic comforts, and the spread of gospel truths.

supervisors <07227> [the officers.]

1:9

Queen <04436> [the queen.]

1:10

feeling <03820> [the heart.]

Harbona <02726> [Harbona.]

[Harbonah. chamberlains. or, eunuchs.]

1:11

Vashti <02060> [Vashti.]

attractive <04758 02896> [fair to look on. Heb. good of countenance.]

1:12

Queen <04436> [the queen.]

This refusal of Vashti's, to expose herself to the view of such a group of drunken Bacchanalians, was highly praiseworthy, and became the dignity of her rank and the modesty of her sex.

refused <03985> [refused.]

through ... eunuchs <03027 05631> [by his chamberlains. Heb. which was by the hand of his eunuchs. was the king.]

consumed <01197> [burned.]

1:13

wise <02450> [the wise.]

then ......... discerners .................. proficient <03045> [knew.]

1:14

seven <07651> [the seven.]

saw <07200> [saw.]