Esther 3:2
king's servants ...... king's ............ king <05650 04428> [the king's servants.]
Dr. Shaw, speaking of the cities in the East, says, "If we quit the streets, and enter into any of the principal houses, we shall first pass through a porch, or gate-way, with benches on each side, where the master of the family receives visits, and despatches business; few persons, not even the nearest relations, having admission any farther, except upon extraordinary occasions." These servants were probably officers who here waited the king's call; and it is likely that Mordecai was one of them.
paying ..................... homage <03766> [bowed.]
bowing ... paying ............... bow ....... homage <03766 07812> [bowed not.]
{YichrÆ’ welo yishtachaweh,} "bowed not down, nor prostrated himself," or worshipped him. Had this meant only civil reverence the king would not have needed to command it; nor would Mordecai have refused it; there was, therefore, some kind of divine honour intended, such as was paid to the Persian kings, and which even the Greeks refused, as express adoration.
Esther 5:14
Zeresh ...... said ............... tell <02238 0559> [said Zeresh.]
gallows ......................................... gallows <06086> [Let a gallows. Heb. Let a tree.]
said ............... tell ... king ............. king <0559 04428> [speak thou.]
go ........ contented <0935 08056> [go thou in.]
idea <01697> [the thing.]
built <06213> [he caused.]
Esther 10:2
actions <04639> [all the acts.]
promoted ..... written <01431 03789> [advanced him. Heb. made him great.]
Book <05612> [in the book.]
Media <04074> [Media.]
Media, which comprehended the modern Azerbijan and part of Irak, was a celebrated country of Asia, bounded on the north by the Caspian Sea and Armenia, west by Assyria, south by Susiana and Persia, and east by Hyrcania and Parthia, extending from 30 degrees to 37 degrees N. lat. and 45 degrees to 53 degrees E. long.
Persia <06539> [Persia.]
Persia Proper, now Fars, was but a small province, being bounded on the north by Media, west by Susiana, south by the Persian Gulf, and east by Caramania, extending from 27 degrees to 33 degrees N. lat. and 50 degrees to 55 degrees E. long. But the Persian empire in its ancient state extended from the Hellespont to the Indus, above 2,800 miles, and from Pontus to the shores of Arabia, above 2,000 miles; comprehending a multitude of various nations.
