Esther 2:18 - Exposition

Then the king made a great feast . As Persian kings were in the habit of doing on every joyful occasion. Even Esther's feast . It seems to be meant that the feast was one which continued to be spoken about, and which was commonly known under this title. And he made a release to the provinces . As the Pseudo-Smerdis had done when he usurped the throne (Herod; 3.67). A "release" was an exemption from taxation, or from military service, or from both, for a specified period. And gave gifts, according to the state of the king . Literally, that is, "in right royal fashion" (see Esther 1:7 ). The practice of making presents, so common in the East at all times, was much in vogue among the Persians, and was practised especially by the monarchs (Herod; 1.136; 3.135; 7.26; Xen; 'Cyrop.,' 8.2, § 7, et seq.; 'Anab.,' 1.9, § 22, etc.).