1Ahasuerus's royal feasts. 10Vashti refuseth to come, when sent for by the king. 13The king consulteth with his wise men concerning this act of disobedience, and by the advice of Memucan putteth away Vashti, and asserteth by a decree the sovereignty of the men over their own wives.
1NOW it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is 1Ahasuerus which reigned, 2from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)
1 He is called in the Greek histories (according to the opinion of some) Xerxes, the son of Darius Hystaspes, of whom mention is made Ezra 4:6.
2 Hebr. from Hodu unto Cush.
2That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was 3in Shushan the palace,
3 Or, in the palace. Other, in the metropolis Shushan. It seems that the city and the palace had but one name. See Esther 3:15; 4:1, 16.
3In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the 4nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:
4 See Dan. 1 on verse 3.
4When he shewed 5the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.
5 That is, the riches of his glorious kingdom.
5And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people 6that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;
6 This is more than if it were said: who dwelt at Shushan; for, there were many present at this feast who dwelt not at Shushan.
6Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: 7the beds were of gold and silver, upon a 8pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, 9marble.
7 Or, bed-cases, namely, wherein they lay and ate at the table after the custom of the Persians and other nations. See the 17th annotation at Esther 7 on verse 8.
8 Hebr. bahat, that is, porphyritic stone or marble, red as purple. Other, red marble.
9 Hebr. sochereth; this is the name of a precious stone which is unknown to us. Others take it to be a speckled marble of divers colors.
7And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (10the vessels being diverse one from another,) and 11royal wine in abundance, 12according to the 13state of the king.
10 Hebr. and the vessels were distinct from the vessels, that is, diverse, or altered.
11 Hebr. wine of the kingdom.
12 That is, as it became so mighty a king.
13 Hebr. hand.
8And the drinking was according to the law; 14none did compel: for 15so the king had appointed 16to all the officers of his house, that they should do according 17to every man's pleasure.
14 Other, LET NO MAN COMPEL. The meaning is, that they were to fill for every man as much wine as he desired, but not that one man would compel another to pledge whole cups, but that every one would drink as he pleased, and suffer another to do so likewise.
15 Hebr. founded, laid the groundwork.
16 Hebr. to master of all or ruler of his house.
17 Hebr. of the man and of the man. The meaning is, that they should fill for every man, and let every one to drink as much wine as he pleased, and no more.
9Also Vashti the queen made 18a feast for the women 19in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
18 Hebr. a feast of the women, namely, with those women whose husbands were feasting by the king. It was not the custom among the Persians for women at feasts to sit at the table with their husbands and to eat with them.
19 Hebr. in the house of the kingdom.
10¶On 20the seventh day, when the heart of the king was 21merry with wine, he 22commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven 23chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
20 This was the last day of that excellent feast.
21 Hebr. good.
22 Or, he said, that is, he commanded, or, he charged.
23 Or, courtiers; and so in the sequel. See Gen. 37 on verse 36.
1124To bring Vashti the queen before the king 25with the crown royal, to shew 26the people and the princes her beauty: for she was 27fair to look on.
24 To command such a thing, the king is more moved thereto by drunkenness than by solid reason.
25 Hebr. with the crown of the kingdom.
26 Namely, who were at Shushan.
27 Hebr. good.
12But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment 28by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
28 Hebr. by the hand, that is, by the ministry, as Exod. 9:35; see the annotation there.
13¶Then the king said to the wise men, which knew 29the times, 30(for so 31was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
29 That is, who were well skilled in the histories of ancient times, and knew the carriage of things full well. Compare 1 Chron. 12:32.
30 He wants to say, that the kings of Persia, in great and weighty affairs, did nothing without the advice and approbation of the princes of the realm.
31 That is, to be advised or consulted on.
14And the 32next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the 33seven princes of Persia and Media, 34which saw the king's face, and which sat 35the first in the kingdom;)
32 Other, To wit unto the next unto him, Carshena, etc. Understand that these princes sat next to the king, that they were in highest account or estimation with the king.
33Ezra 7:14 they are called seven counselors of the king.
34 That is, who were daily with and about the king. See the annotations at 2 Kings 25:19; Ezra 7:14. When the king was incensed against any man, the same party might not see the king’s face, as appears Esther 7:8.
35 Or, highest of all.
15What shall we do unto the queen Vashti 36according to law, 37because she hath not performed 38the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
36 Namely, according to the laws of the Medes and Persians.
37 That is, because she would not come when she was called for.
38 That is, my word and command; he speak of himself in the third person.
1639And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong 40to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
39 It seems that Memucan passed this sentence, being yet at table with the king; it having been frequently usual with the Persians to consult about weighty affairs in their drink.
40 Memucan wants to say, that Vashti had sinned against the king by deed, against the princes and the people by evil example.
17For 41this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, 42so 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.
41 Or, this word, that is, the answer of the queen. He wants to say: The rumor of this deed or of this answer will spread abroad and will come to the ears of all women. See verse 18.
42 Memucan wants to say: It shall become a cause that also our and other women shall despise their husbands.
18Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of 43the deed of the queen. 44Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.
43 See verse 17.
44 He wants to say: From this will arise that women will despise their husbands, at which men will then be incensed and enraged against their wives, and so there will be a continual dissension and disturbances between man and wife.
1945If it please the king, let there 46go a royal commandment 47from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, 48that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her 49royal estate 50unto another that is better than she.
45 Hebr. if it be good with the king.
46 That is, be published or openly proclaimed.
47 That is, in his name. Hebr. from his presence, or, from before his face.
48 Other, that none be revoked. Also Esther 3:3. Or, and it be irrevocable.
49 That is, her royal dignity.
50 Or, unto her companion, that is, unto another.
20And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (51for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands 52honour, both to great and small.
51 Or, although it be great.
52 Or, perform honor, that is, have them in honor.
21And the 53saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
53 That is, this counsel or advise.
22For 54he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, 55into every province according to the writing thereof, and 56to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and 57that it should be published according to the language of every people.
54 Namely, the king. Other, there were letters sent unto, etc.
55 Hebr. unto country and country, that is, unto all governors and rulers of every country.
56 Hebr. and to people and to people.
57 Understand withal: and not the speech of his wife. It is a sign of lordship or mastership for a man to speak his own language and not to be compelled to alter his language to please another. See Dan. 1:4. The Romans caused the Latin tongue to be imported into the provinces which they had conquered, and the laws to be published in the same language. Other. now they spoke this every man according to the language of his people; so that every one might be able to understand it.