Introduction
Overview
Esther 1 . 1 , Ahasuerus makes royal feasts; Esther 1 . 10 , Vashti , sent for , refuses to come; Esther 1 . 13 , Ahasuerus , by the counsel of Memucan , puts away Vashti , and makes the decree of men’s sovereignty.
Ahasuerus . Prideaux has shewn satisfactorily that Ahasuerus was the Artaxerxes Longimanus of the Greeks , agreeably to the Septuagint and Josephus. See note on Ezra 6 . 14. Ezra 4 . 6 , Daniel 9 . 1
from India . Esther 8 . 9 , Isaiah 18 . 1 , Isaiah 37 . 9
an hundred . Daniel 6 . 1
Reciprocal . Ezra 2 . 1 . the children Ezra 5 . 8 . the province Nehemiah 1 . 3 . the province Esther 2 . 3 . in all the provinces Esther 4 . 3 . in every province Esther 9 . 20 . in all the provinces Esther 9 . 30 . the hundred Esther 10 . 1 . laid a tribute Daniel 3 . 1 . in the province Acts 23 . 34 . he asked
sat . 2 Samuel 7 . 1 , 1 Kings 1 . 46 , Daniel 4 . 4
Shushan . Esther 2 . 3 , Esther 3 . 15 , Esther 4 . 16 , Esther 9 . 12-15 , Nehemiah 1 . 1 , Daniel 8 . 2
Reciprocal . Exodus 1 . 1 . General Ezra 4 . 9 . Susanchites Esther 2 . 5 . Shushan Esther 8 . 14 . Shushan Matthew 14 . 6 . birthday
am 3542 , bc 462
he made . Esther 2 . 18 , Genesis 40 . 20 , 1 Kings 3 . 15 , Daniel 5 . 1 , Mark 6 . 21
of Persia . Esther 1 . 14 , Ezra 1 . 2 , Isaiah 21 . 2 , Jeremiah 51 . 11 , Daniel 5 . 28 , Daniel 8 . 20
the nobles . Daniel 3 . 2 , Daniel 3 . 3 , Daniel 6 . 1 , Daniel 6 . 6 , Daniel 6 . 7
Reciprocal . Genesis 21 . 8 . feast 1 Samuel 25 . 36 . a feast 2 Samuel 3 . 20 . David Ezra 2 . 1 . the children Esther 3 . 7 . in the twelfth Jeremiah 51 . 28 . the kings Daniel 8 . 3 . one Luke 7 . 25 . are in 1 John 2 . 16 . and the pride
When he . Isaiah 39 . 2 , Ezekiel 28 . 5 , Daniel 4 . 30
the riches . Psalm 76 . 1-4 , Psalm 145 . 5 , Psalm 145 . 12 , Psalm 145 . 13 , Daniel 2 . 37-44 , Daniel 7 . 9-14 , Matthew 4 . 8 , Matthew 6 . 13 , Romans 9 . 23 , Ephesians 1 . 18 , Colossians 1 . 27 , Revelation 4 . 11
excellent . 1 Chronicles 29 . 11 , 1 Chronicles 29 . 12 , 1 Chronicles 29 . 25 , Job 40 . 10 , Psalm 21 . 5 , Psalm 45 . 3 , Psalm 93 . 1 , Daniel 4 . 36 , Daniel 5 . 18 , 2 Peter 1 . 16 , 2 Peter 1 . 17
Reciprocal . Esther 5 . 11 . the glory Acts 25 . 23 . with 1 Thessalonians 2 . 6 . of men
present . Heb. found
seven days . 2 Chronicles 7 . 8 , 2 Chronicles 7 . 9 , 2 Chronicles 30 . 21-25
Reciprocal . 2 Kings 23 . 2 . both small and great Mark 6 . 39 . General
white . Exodus 26 . 1 , Exodus 26 . 31 , Exodus 26 . 32 , Exodus 26 . 36 , Exodus 26 . 37
blue . or , violet , Esther 8 . 15
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. Esther 7 . 8 , Ezekiel 23 . 41 , Amos 2 . 8 , Amos 6 . 4
red . etc. or , of porphyre , and marble , and alabaster , and stone of blue colour
Reciprocal . Mark 6 . 39 . General
vessels of gold . 1 Kings 10 . 21 , 2 Chronicles 9 . 20 , Daniel 5 . 2-4
royal wine . Heb. wine of the kingdom
state of the king . Heb. hand of the king.
Reciprocal . Judges 14 . 10 . made there 2 Kings 7 . 15 . vessels
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 ניטי , ח בניטי , 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. Jeremiah 35 . 8 , Jeremiah 51 . 7 , Habakkuk 2 . 15 , Habakkuk 2 . 16
the officers . John 2 . 8
Reciprocal . Ezra 2 . 1 . the children
the queen . Esther 5 . 4 , Esther 5 . 8
the heart . Genesis 43 . 34 , Judges 16 . 25 , 1 Samuel 25 . 36 , 1 Samuel 25 . 37 , 2 Samuel 13 . 28 , Proverbs 20 . 1 , Ecclesiastes 7 . 2-4 , Ecclesiastes 10 . 19 , Ephesians 5 . 18 , Ephesians 5 . 19
Harbona . Esther 7 . 9 , Harbonah
chamberlains . or , eunuchs , Daniel 1 . 3-5 , Daniel 1 . 18 , Daniel 1 . 19
Reciprocal . Genesis 37 . 36 . officer Judges 19 . 6 . let thine heart Ruth 3 . 7 . his heart 2 Kings 9 . 32 . eunuchs Esther 2 . 2 . king's servants Esther 4 . 5 . appointed to attend upon her Matthew 14 . 6 . danced Mark 6 . 22 . General
Vashti . Proverbs 16 . 9 , Proverbs 23 . 29-33 , Mark 6 . 21 , Mark 6 . 22
fair to look on . Heb. good of countenance , 1 Samuel 25 . 3 , 2 Samuel 14 . 25 , Proverbs 31 . 30
Reciprocal . Ezra 2 . 1 . the children Esther 2 . 7 . fair and beautiful Esther 5 . 1 . royal Luke 7 . 25 . are in
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 . Genesis 3 . 16 , Ephesians 5 . 22 , Ephesians 5 . 24 , 1 Peter 3 . 1
by his chamberlains . Heb. which was by the hand of his eunuchs
was the king . Proverbs 19 . 12 , Proverbs 20 . 2 , Daniel 2 . 12 , Daniel 3 . 13 , Daniel 3 . 19 , Nahum 1 . 6 , Revelation 6 . 16 , Revelation 6 . 17
burned . Exodus 32 . 19 , Exodus 32 . 22 , Deuteronomy 29 . 20 , Psalm 74 . 1 , Psalm 79 . 5
Reciprocal . Genesis 44 . 18 . anger 2 Samuel 14 . 29 . but he would Esther 2 . 1 . what was decreed Esther 3 . 5 . full of wrath Esther 4 . 4 . chamberlains Esther 4 . 5 . appointed to attend upon her Esther 7 . 7 . in his wrath Proverbs 31 . 30 . Favour
the wise . Jeremiah 10 . 7 , Daniel 2 . 2 , Daniel 2 . 12 , Daniel 2 . 27 , Daniel 4 . 6 , Daniel 4 . 7 , Daniel 5 . 7 , Matthew 2 . 1
knew . 1 Chronicles 12 . 32 , Matthew 16 . 3
Reciprocal . Daniel 2 . 21 . he changeth
the seven . Ezra 7 . 14
saw . 2 Kings 25 . 19 , Matthew 18 . 10 , Revelation 22 . 4
Reciprocal . Esther 1 . 3 . of Persia Esther 2 . 2 . king's servants Esther 3 . 1 . above all the princes Esther 8 . 1 . came before Jeremiah 52 . 25 . were near the king's person
What shall we do . Heb. What to do , Esther 6 . 6
Vashti . This reasoning was inconsequent and false. Vashti had not generally disobeyed the king , therefore she could be no precedent for the general conduct of the Persian women. She disobeyed only in one particular; and this , to serve a purpose , Memucan draws into a general consequence , and the rest came into the conclusion , being either too intoxicated to be able to discern right from wrong , or too intent on reducing women to a state of vassalage , to neglect the present favourable opportunity.
done wrong . Acts 18 . 14 , Acts 25 . 10 , 1 Corinthians 6 . 7 , 1 Corinthians 6 . 8
Reciprocal . 1 Kings 12 . 14 . the counsel Ephesians 5 . 22 . submit 1 Peter 3 . 1 . ye
despise . 2 Samuel 6 . 16 , Ephesians 5 . 33
Reciprocal . 1 Corinthians 14 . 34 . as
the ladies . Saroth , the princesses , but the meaning is well expressed by our term ladies. Judges 5 . 29 , 1 Kings 11 . 3
it please the king . Heb. it be good with the king , Esther 1 . 21 , Esther 3 . 9 , Esther 8 . 5
from him . Heb. from before him
it be not altered . Heb. it pass not away , Esther 8 . 8 , Daniel 6 . 8-15 , Daniel 6 . 17 , Let it be inserted among the permanent laws , and be made a part of the constitution of the empire. The Persians seem to have affected such a degree of wisdom in the construction of their laws , that they never could be amended , and should never be repealed; and this formed the ground of the saying , "The laws of the Medes and Persians that change not."
another . Heb. her companion
that is better . 1 Samuel 15 . 28 , 1 Kings 3 . 28
Reciprocal . 1 Kings 2 . 32 . more righteous Nehemiah 2 . 5 . If it please Esther 4 . 11 . but I Daniel 6 . 12 . The thing
throughout . Deuteronomy 17 . 13 , Deuteronomy 21 . 21
all the wives . Ephesians 5 . 33 , Colossians 3 . 18 , 1 Peter 3 . 1-7
Reciprocal . Genesis 3 . 16 . rule Ephesians 5 . 22 . submit 1 Timothy 2 . 11 . General
pleased the king . Heb. was good in the eyes of the king , Esther 1 . 19 , Esther 2 . 4 , Genesis 41 . 37
Reciprocal . Genesis 45 . 16 . it pleased Pharaoh well Joshua 22 . 30 . it pleased them 2 Samuel 17 . 4 . pleased Absalom well
into every province . Esther 3 . 12 , Esther 8 . 9 , Daniel 3 . 29 , Daniel 4 . 1
that every man . Both the law of God and common sense taught this from the foundation of the world; and this parade of enactment was only to deprive Vashti of her crown. Ephesians 5 . 22-24 , 1 Timothy 2 . 12 , Titus 2 . 4 , Titus 2 . 5
it should . etc. Heb. one should publish it according to the language of his country , Esther 3 . 12
according . Luke 16 . 8 , Acts 2 . 5-11 , 1 Corinthians 14 . 19 , 1 Corinthians 14 . 20
Reciprocal . Ezra 5 . 8 . the province Esther 9 . 20 . in all the provinces