Esther 10:1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Esther 10:1-3

We are here told, I. How great and powerful king Ahasuerus was. He had a vast dominion, both in the continent and among the islands, from which he raised a vast revenue. Besides the usual customs which the kings of Persia exacted (Ezra 4:13), he laid an additional tribute upon his subjects, to serve for some great occasion he had for money (Est. 10:1): The king laid a tribute. Happy is our island, that pays no tribute but what is laid upon it by its representatives, and those of its own... read more

John Gill

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

And the King Ahasuerus laid a tribute on the land, and upon the isles of the sea. Which include all his dominions, both on the continent, and on the sea, the Aegean sea; though Aben Ezra thinks it regards such as were not under his government, but stood in fear of him, of whom he demanded tribute. If Ahasuerus was Xerxes, perhaps his exchequer might be drained by his wars with the Grecians, which put him upon this; though some understand this of his renewing the taxes and tribute, which he... read more

Adam Clarke

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

Laid a tribute upon the land - On the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces of which we have already heard. The isles of the sea - Probably the isles of the Aegean sea, which were conquered by Darius Hystaspes. Calmet supposes that this Hystaspes is the Ahasuerus of Esther. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 10:1

King Ahasuerus laid a tribute on the land . Darius, the son of Hystaspes, was the first to do this (Herod; 3.89); but, as the tribute had to be rearranged from time to time ( ibid; 6.42), any subsequent Persian monarch who made a fresh arrangement might be said to "lay a tribute on the land." Xerxes is not unlikely to have done so after his return from Greece, as he had lost portions of his territories. And on the islands of the sea . The Hebrew expression translated by "islands of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 10:1

A king's tribute and power. Ahasuerus is certainly not brought before us in this book as a model king. He was careless of the lives of his subjects, indifferent to justice, callous to suffering, capricious in his likings, and fond of his own pleasure and ease. If Xerxes be the Ahasuerus of this book, it would be hard to light in history upon a character less worthy of respect. Yet he was, if not a great king, king of a great empire—an embodiment of the idea of sovereignty and monarchy. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 10:1-3

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 10:1-3

Wisdom at the helm. These concluding verses give a brief and comprehensive view of the results of Mordecai's advancement to power. The influence of the great Jew soon made itself felt to the utmost boundaries of the wide empire. I. A UNIVERSAL TAXING . The laying of "a tribute on the land and the isles of the sea" may seem very arbitrary, but it was probably in the manner of a notable reform. It is to be attributed to Mordecai, and is given as a special instance of his wisdom and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 10:1

A tribute - Perhaps an allusion to some fresh arrangement of the tribute likely to have followed on the return of Xerxes from Greece.Upon the isles of the sea - Cyprus, Aradus, the island of Tyre, Platea, etc., remained in the hands of the Persians after the victories of the Greeks, and may be the “isles” here intended. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 10:1

Esther 10:1. King Ahasuerus, laid a tribute upon the land That is, he laid a tax upon every part of his dominions, both on the continent, and on the islands over which his power extended. By the isles here mentioned are meant those in the Æegean sea, conquered by Darius Hystaspes. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Esther 10:1-3

Continued prosperity (10:1-3)The book concludes by noting the greatness of Mordecai and the benefits that he brought to the Jewish people. Under his administration, non-Jewish peoples were forced to contribute more to the Empire’s economy, so the burden on the Jews was eased (10:1-2). Mordecai continued in his position as chief minister in the government of Ahasuerus for many years, and under him the Jews had security and contentment (3). read more

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