Esther 1:13

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 1:13

Wise men ... - Not “astrologers,” who were unknown in Persia; but rather men of practical wisdom, who knew the facts and customs of former times.For so was the king’s manner - Some render it: “for so was the king’s business laid before all that knew law ...” read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 1:13

Esther 1:13. Which knew the times The histories of former times, what princes had done in such cases as this was, and were well skilled in the laws and customs of their country, and were therefore able to give the king counsel in all extraordinary and perplexed cases. Inasmuch, however, as the Persian kings did nothing without their magi, or wise men, who were great pretenders to astrology, some have supposed that men of this sort were now called in, to know whether it was a proper time to... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Esther 1:1-22

1:1-2:23 ESTHER BECOMES QUEENOfficials and leading citizens from all over the Persian Empire had gathered in the winter capital for an exhibition designed to display the riches and magnificence of the royal court. The exhibition lasted six months and was brought to a fitting climax by a lavish seven-day banquet (1:1-9). The week of wine and merriment so excited the king that his sexual urges were in danger of getting out of control. Consequently, when he told his queen Vashti to display her... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Esther 1:13

for. See note on the parentheses, Esther 1:7 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Esther 1:13

"Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment; and next unto him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meshes, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom), What shall we do unto the queen Vashti, according to law, because she hath not done the bidding of the king Ahashuerus by the chamberlains? And Memucan answered before the king and the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Esther 1:13

Esther 1:13. The wise men, which knew the times— Some have inferred from hence, that, as the Persian kings did nothing without their magi or wise men, who were great pretenders to astrology, men of this sort were called to know whether it was a proper time to set about the thing which the king had in his mind; for, such was the superstition of the eastern people, that, as the satirist remarks. ——Quicquid Dixerit astrologus, credent a fonte relatum Ammonis. JUVENAL, Sat. 6: Such credit to... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Esther 1:13

13-19. Then the king said to the wise men—These were probably the magi, without whose advice as to the proper time of doing a thing the Persian kings never did take any step whatever; and the persons named in :- were the "seven counsellors" (compare :-) who formed the state ministry. The combined wisdom of all, it seems, was enlisted to consult with the king what course should be taken after so unprecedented an occurrence as Vashti's disobedience of the royal summons. It is scarcely possible... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Esther 1:1-20

I. GOD’S PREPARATIONS 1:1-2:20Joyce Baldwin believed that the writer composed the book in a chiastic structure that focuses on the providence of God in the king’s sleepless night. [Note: Baldwin., p. 30.] A Opening and background (ch. 1) B The king’s first decree (chs. 2-3) C The clash between Haman and Mordecai (chs. 4-5) D "On the night the king could not sleep" (Esther 6:1) C’ Mordecai’s triumph over Haman (chs. 6-7) B’ The king’s second decree (chs. 8-9)A’ Epilogue (ch. 10)This first major... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Esther 1:10-22

2. The queen’s dismissal 1:10-22The Persian kings castrated many of the men who served the king and his family (Esther 1:10) so they could not have sexual relations with the female members of the royal court and start dynasties of their own."Vashti" ("best," "the beloved," or "the desired one," Esther 1:11) was evidently the Persian name of the queen whom Herodotus referred to as Amestris (her Greek name). [Note: J. Stafford Wright, "The Historicity of Esther," in New Perspectives on the Old... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 1:1-22

The Disobedience and Disgrace of Queen Vashti1. Ahasuerus] LXX has ’Artaxerxes,’ but probably ’Xerxes,’ the son of Darius Hystaspis, is meant, who succeeded his father in 485 b.c.India.. Ethiopia] India here means not the peninsula of Hindostan, but the region near the Indus: Ethiopia is the modern Nubia.2. Shushan] i.e. Susa in Elam, the country lying to the E. of the Persian Gulf. The palace] lit. ’the fortress,’ as in Nehemiah 1:1.; 3. In the third year] i.e. 483 b.c. Thy power] better, ’the... read more

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