Esther 1:8-12 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Esther 1:1-9

Which of the kings of Persia this Ahasuerus was the learned are not agreed. Mordecai is said to have been one of those that were carried captive from Jerusalem (Est. 2:5, 6), whence it should seem that this Ahasuerus was one of the first kings of that empire. Dr. Lightfoot thinks that he was that Artaxerxes who hindered the building of the temple, who is called also Ahasuerus (Ezra 4:6, 7), after his great-grandfather of the Medes, Dan. 9:1. We have here an account, I. Of the vast extent of... read more

Matthew Henry

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 1:8

And the drinking was according to the law, none did compel ,.... According to the law Ahasuerus gave to his officers next mentioned, which was not to oblige any man to drink more than he chose; the Targum is,`according to the custom of his body;'that is, as a man is able to bear it, so they drank: some F6 Vid. Drusium in loc. read it, "the drinking according to the law, let none exact"; or require it to be, according to the custom then in use in Persia; for they were degenerated from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 1:9

Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women .... For it was not customary with the Persians, nor other eastern nations, to admit of women to their festivals F13 Justin c Trogo, l. 41. c. 3. , but they feasted by themselves. Who Vashti was is not known with any certainty. Bishop Usher, who takes Ahasuerus to be Darius Hystaspis, thinks Vashti was Atossa, the daughter of Cyrus, whom he married. The Targumist says, she was the daughter of Evilmerodach, the son of Nebuchadnezzar. Her... 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 1:8

None did compel : for so the king had appointed - Every person drank what he pleased; he was not obliged to take more than he had reason to think would do him good. Among the Greeks, each guest was obliged to keep the round, or leave the company: hence the proverb Η πιθι, η απιθι ; Drink or begone. To this Horace refers, but gives more license: - Pasco libatis dapibus; prout cuique libido est. Siccat inaequales calices conviva, solutus Legibus insanis: seu quis... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 1:9

Also Vashti the queen - Vashti is a mere Persian word; and signifies a beautiful or excellent woman. Made a feast for the women - The king, having subdued all his enemies, left no competitor for the kingdom; and being thus quietly and firmly seated on the throne, made this a time of general festivity. As the women of the East never mingle with the men in public, Vashti made a feast for the Persian ladies by themselves; and while the men were in the court of the garden,... 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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Esther 1:1-9

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 1:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 1:9

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 1:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 1:9

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

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