Esther 1:10-12 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Esther 1:10-22

We have here a damp to all the mirth of Ahasuerus's feast; it ended in heaviness, not as Job's children's feast by a wind from the wilderness, not as Belshazzar's by a hand-writing on the wall, but by is own folly. An unhappy falling out there was, at the end of the feast, between the king and queen, which broke of the feast abruptly, and sent the guests away silent and ashamed. I. It was certainly the king's weakness to send for Vashti into his presence when he was drunk, and in company with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 1:10

On the seventh day ,.... Of the feast, the last day of it, which the Rabbins, as Jarchi observes, say was the sabbath day, and so the Targum: when the heart of the king was merry with wine ; when he was intoxicated with it, and knew not well what he said or did; and the discourse at table ran upon the beauty of women, as the latter Targum; when the king asserted there were no women so beautiful as those of Babylon, and, as a proof of it, ordered his queen to be brought in: he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 1:11

To bring Vashti the queen before the king ,.... Not against her will, or by force; but they were sent to let her know it was the king's pleasure that she should come to him immediately: with the crown royal ; that is, upon her head, to make her look the more grand and majestic: to show the people and the princes her beauty ; for she was fair to look upon; which was not wisely done, neither was it comely nor safe. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 1:12

But the queen refused to came at the king's commandment by his chamberlains ,.... Even though he sent by them again, as the Targum; and so says Josephus F15 Antiqu. l. 11. c. 6. sect. 1. ; which might not purely arise from pride in her, and contempt of him, but because she might conclude he was drunk, and knew not well what he did; and therefore had she come at his command, when he was himself and sober, he might blame her for coming, nay, use her ill for it, and especially if she was... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 1:10

He commanded Mehuman - All these are doubtless Persian names; but so disguised by passing through a Hebrew medium, that some of them can scarcely be known. Mehuman signifies a stranger or guest. We shall find other names and words in this book, the Persian etymology of which may be easily traced. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 1:11

To bring Vashti the queen - The Targum adds naked. For she was fair to look on - Hence she had her name Vashti , which signifies beautiful. See Esther 1:9 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 1:12

Vashti refused to come - And much should she be commended for it. What woman, possessing even a common share of prudence and modesty, could consent to expose herself to the view of such a group of drunken Bacchanalians? Her courage was equal to her modesty: she would resist the royal mandate, rather than violate the rules of chaste decorum. Her contempt of worldly grandeur, when brought in competition with what every modest woman holds dear and sacred, is worthy of observation. She... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 1:1-22

The Book of Esther. There is a striking contrast between the Books of RUTH and ESTHER . The earlier book is an idyll; the later a chronicle. The earlier relates to lowly persons and to rural life; the later to kings and queens, and to a great Oriental metropolis. The earlier is the story of a family, and its interest is domestic; the later is a chapter from the history of a people, and deals with the intrigues of a court and the policy of a state. The religious character and aim of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 1:9-11

Queen Vashti. It would seem that the character of Vashti has been by many writers darkened in order to bring out the brightness of Esther's virtues. But it is not fair to make one queen simply the foil to the other. Haughty, disobedient, defiant, Vashti may have been, but she was placed in no ordinary position, and treated in no ordinary manner. I. Observe THE POSITION OF VASHTI . Her name (according to some) indicates her beauty, and it is expressly said that she was fair to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 1:10

When the heart of the king was merry with wine . We are told that once a year, at the feast of Mithra, the king of Persia was bound to intoxicate himself (Duris, Fr. 13). At other times he did as he pleased, but probably generally drank reason was somewhat obscured. Mehuman , etc. Persian etymologies have been given for most of these names, but they are all more or less uncertain; and as eunuchs were often foreigners, mutilated for the Persian market (Herod; 3:93; 8:105), who bore foreign... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Esther 1:10-22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 1:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 1:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 1:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 1:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 1:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 1:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 1:1-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 1:9-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 1:10

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