Chapter 1


1
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; Dan 9:1

from India Esth 8:9; Isa 18:1, Isa 37:9

an hundred Dan 6:1


2
sat 2Sam 7:1; 1Kgs 1:46; Dan 4:4

Shushan Esth 2:3, Esth 3:15, Esth 4:16, Esth 9:12-15; Neh 1:1; Dan 8:2


3
am 3542, bc 462

he made Esth 2:18; Gen 40:20; 1Kgs 3:15; Dan 5:1; Mark 6:21

of Persia Esth 1:14; Ezra 1:2; Isa 21:2; Jer 51:11; Dan 5:28, Dan 8:20

the nobles Dan 3:2-3, Dan 6:1, Dan 6:6-7


4
When he Isa 39:2; Ezek 28:5; Dan 4:30

the riches Ps 76:1-4, Ps 145:5, Ps 145:12-13; Dan 2:37-44, Dan 7:9-14; Matt 4:8, Matt 6:13; Rom 9:23; Eph 1:18; Col 1:27; Rev 4:11

excellent 1Chr 29:11-12, 1Chr 29:25; Job 40:10; Ps 21:5, Ps 45:3, Ps 93:1; Dan 4:36, Dan 5:18; 2Pet 1:16-17


5
present Heb. found

seven days 2Chr 7:8-9, 2Chr 30:21-25


6
white Exod 26:1, Exod 26:31-32, Exod 26:36-37

blue or, violet, Esth 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. Esth 7:8; Ezek 23:41; Amos 2:8, Amos 6:4

red etc. or, of porphyre, and marble, and alabaster, and stone of blue colour


7
vessels of gold 1Kgs 10:21; 2Chr 9:20; Dan 5:2-4

royal wine Heb. wine of the kingdom

state of the king Heb. hand of the king.


8
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 Η πιθι, η απιθι, 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. Jer 35:8, Jer 51:7; Hab 2:15-16

the officers John 2:8


9
the queen Esth 5:4, Esth 5:8


10
the heart Gen 43:34; Judg 16:25; 1Sam 25:36-37; 2Sam 13:28; Prov 20:1; Eccl 7:2-4; Eccl 10:19; Eph 5:18-19

Harbona Esth 7:9, Harbonah

chamberlains or, eunuchs, Dan 1:3-5, Dan 1:18-19


11
Vashti Prov 16:9, Prov 23:29-33; Mark 6:21-22

fair to look on Heb. good of countenance, 1Sam 25:3; 2Sam 14:25; Prov 31:30


12
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 Gen 3:16; Eph 5:22, Eph 5:24; 1Pet 3:1

by his chamberlains Heb. which was by the hand of his eunuchs

was the king Prov 19:12, Prov 20:2; Dan 2:12, Dan 3:13, Dan 3:19; Nah 1:6; Rev 6:16-17

burned Exod 32:19, Exod 32:22; Deut 29:20; Ps 74:1, Ps 79:5


13
the wise Jer 10:7; Dan 2:2, Dan 2:12, Dan 2:27, Dan 4:6-7, Dan 5:7; Matt 2:1

knew 1Chr 12:32; Matt 16:3


14
the seven Ezra 7:14

saw 2Kgs 25:19; Matt 18:10; Rev 22:4


15
What shall we do Heb. What to do, Esth 6:6


16
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; 1Cor 6:7-8


17
despise 2Sam 6:16; Eph 5:33


18
the ladies Saroth, the princesses, but the meaning is well expressed by our term ladies. Judg 5:29; 1Kgs 11:3


19
it please the king Heb. it be good with the king, Esth 1:21, Esth 3:9, Esth 8:5

from him Heb. from before him

it be not altered Heb. it pass not away, Esth 8:8; Dan 6:8-15, Dan 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 1Sam 15:28; 1Kgs 3:28


20
throughout Deut 17:13, Deut 21:21

all the wives Eph 5:33; Col 3:18; 1Pet 3:1-7


21
pleased the king Heb. was good in the eyes of the king, Esth 1:19, Esth 2:4; Gen 41:37


22
into every province Esth 3:12, Esth 8:9; Dan 3:29, Dan 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. Eph 5:22-24; 1Tim 2:12; Titus 2:4-5

it should etc. Heb. one should publish it according to the language of his country, Esth 3:12

according Luke 16:8; Acts 2:5-11; 1Cor 14:19-20


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