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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 1:16

And Memucan answered before the king and the princes ,.... Who was the last, and perhaps the least and the youngest of the counsellors; it being appointed by the king, according to the latter Targum that when his counsellors sat, the least should give their counsel first; just as puisne judges, and the youngest peers with us, give their opinion in a case first: Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 1:17

For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women ,.... It will soon be spread all over the king's dominions, and reach the ears of the wives of all his subjects, and become their general talk everywhere: so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes : make light of their authority, refuse subjection to them, slight their commands, and neglect to yield obedience to them, and so not give them the honour that is due unto them: when it shall be reported, the King... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 1:18

Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen ,.... From henceforward they will give a like answer to their husbands, when they lay their commands upon them, as Vashti has to the king; they will tell them to their faces they will not obey their orders: thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath ; there will be in wives a general contempt of their husbands, which will cause discord and strife,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 1:19

If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him ,.... Not only a proclamation made, but a law enacted and published by royal authority: and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and Medes that it be not altered ; for so it was, that when a law was made, and signed, and sealed, and registered among the laws of the kingdom, it remained unalterable, Daniel 6:8 , this precaution Memucan took for his own safety; for had the king acted upon his advice, without... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 1:20

And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire ,.... As it was proper it should, since the report of the queen's deed would be made everywhere: for it is great ; the empire consisting of one hundred and twenty seven provinces, Esther 1:1 , Aben Ezra and Abendana interpret it, "though" it is great, yet the decree should be published throughout; the latter observes, that this may respect the king's decree; and so the Targum is,"for his decree... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 1:21

And the saying pleased the king and the princes ,.... The king, and the other six princes and counsellors, approved of the proposal, and unanimously agreed to it: and the king did according to the word of Memucan ; passed a law according to his advice, and signed and sealed it, and registered it among the laws of the kingdom, not to be revoked. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 1:22

For he sent letters unto all the king's provinces ,.... The one hundred and twenty seven provinces, Esther 1:1 , which, according to the Targum, were written and sealed with his own seal; which is very probable: into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language ; that is, these letters were written in the language, and in the characters in which that language was written, used in each of the provinces to which these letters were sent, that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 1:16

Vashti - hath not done wrong to the king only - This reasoning or arguing was inconsequent and false. Vashti had not generally disobeyed the king, therefore she could be no precedent for the general conduct of the Persian women. She disobeyed only in one particular; and this, to serve a purpose, Memucan draws into a general consequence; and the rest came to the conclusion which he drew, being either too drunk to be able to discern right from wrong, or too intent on reducing... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 1:18

The ladies of Persia - שרות saroth , the princesses; but the meaning is very well expressed by our term ladies. read more

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