Esther 1:1 ¶ Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)
This book opens with a time marker referencing a king referred to as Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus that reigned over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia. The implication is that there is more than one Ahasuerus. I read through several commentaries, and I liked Ray Stedman’s thoughts.
“The name of this king is never given to us. Ahasuerus is not his name, it is his title, like the word "Czar" or "Shah" or "Pharaoh." There are several men identified in Scripture as Ahasuerus, not all the same man, because this is a common title. It means "The Venerable Father" and was an apt title for the king. Secular history identifies this man as possibly being Xerxes the Great, the one who attacked the power of Greece in the fourth century B.C., but it's much more likely, I think, that this man is Astyages, the son of Cyrus the First, who is the one called in the book of Daniel, "Darius the Mede," the man who took the kingdom from Belshazzar during the great drunken orgy in the city of Babylon on the night that Babylon fell. However, this is somewhat beside the point, for the fact that the name is never given to us here indicates that it is not too important.”
Guzik notes that the kingdom of Ahasuerus included the area of today’s “Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel; and also parts of modern day Egypt, Sudan, Libya, and Arabia.”
I found more than one reference that places these events between chapters 6 and 7 of Ezra.
Chuck Smith offers this observation: “Ezra records the first return from the captivity. Some forty years later Esther came on the scene, and some forty years after that Nehemiah came on the scene. So the book of Esther fits about halfway between the rebuilding of the temple (the decree given by Cyrus) and the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem (the decree given by Artaxerxes to Nehemiah).”
Esther 1:2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
It is noted that this ruler has established his throne in Shushan, not in Babylon.
Some commentators note that this was the winter residence of the king. Shushan is also know as Susa and is located on the east side of the Tigris, about 150 miles north of the Persian Gulf.
Esther 1:3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:
Time marker = 3rd year of this king’s reign
The king hosted a great feast for all his princes and servants, the military leaders (from the Hebrew for “power”) and high-ranking officials of Persia and Media.
Esther 1:4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.
The king is a man of great pride since the purpose of his feast is to show off the riches of his kingdom. This feast lasted for 180 days.
Esther 1:5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace;
At the end of the first feast, the king made a feast for all the people (great and small, nobility and commoner) that lived in Shushan. This feast was held in the garden court of the palace.
This ancient palace has been discovered. Consider this quote from the Jerusalem Post dated March 14, 2017: “Originally, explorer Jacques de Morgan cleared much of the area and his colleague Roland de Mecquenem excavated the palace of Darius and Xerxes (Esther’s consort Ahasuerus) with its many courtyards, royal apartments and gardens, while his work was continued by the archaeologist Roman Grishman from 1946 to 1967. They all dug great trenches across the mounds and revealed its ancient secrets. The 90 years of French work rescued many exquisite pieces of pottery and statuary, that are now in the Louvre Museum in Paris, but also produced a detailed plan of the palace, which confirms and supplements the original descriptions in the Book of Esther.”
Esther 1:6 Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.
The decorations were beautiful! They were a striking blend of white, green, blue and purple. The couches provided to accommodate the guests were made of gold and silver. The flooring was of red, blue, white and black marble.
Esther 1:7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.
Esther 1:8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.
The guests were served their drinks in gold cups, each one unique in design. Royal wine was available in abundance, but no one was forced to drink more than he wanted. The king had commanded that they should serve the guests according to individual pleasure in accordance with the law.
Esther 1:9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
Queen Vashti hosted a separate feast in the palace for the women.
Esther 1:10 ¶ On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
Esther 1:11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.
Esther 1:12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
On the last day of the feast, the king was drunk. He decided to send for the queen to present herself adorned with the royal crown to show off her beauty before his guests. He sent the seven chamberlains that served him to bring the queen to him, but she refused to obey his command. This made the king very angry; his pride had been hurt, and he felt publicly humiliated.
The chamberlains were eunuchs according to the Hebrew. These were the men that took care of the king’s women.
I have heard some teach, based on the Jewish Targum, that the king wanted Vashti to appear wearing only her crown. That would certainly provide a good reason for her to refuse the request of a drunken king, but I don’t think you can make that case just from reading the text.
John Gill offers this explanation: “…it was contrary to the law of the Persians, as not only Josephus, but Plutarch observes, which suffered not women to be seen in public; and particularly did not allow their wives to be with them at feasts, only their concubines and harlots, with whom they could behave with more indecency; as for their wives, they were kept out of sight, at home; and therefore Vashti might think it an indignity to be treated as an harlot or concubine….”
Esther 1:13 Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
Esther 1:14 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king’s face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
Esther 1:15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
The king conferred with the top lawyers in the kingdom—Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan—to determine how he could and should punish Queen Vashti for disobeying his command.
“saw the king’s face” – Other translations clarify that these men were the king’s closest advisers and had special access to the king.
Esther 1:16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, 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 provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
Esther 1:17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
Esther 1:18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king’s princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.
Memucan was the spokesman for the lawyers. He pointed out that the queen’s actions affected more than just the king. It was likely that the women of the kingdom would follow her example and show disrespect to their own husbands. This would end up causing great disrespect and strife in the homes of the kingdom.
Esther 1:19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
Esther 1:20 And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.
Memucan went on to suggest that the king issue a royal command to make a law among the Persians and Medes that Vashti no longer be allowed in the presence of the king. This law would become permanent and inalterable. He then suggested that a better woman be chosen to replace Vashti. The law was to specifically declare that all wives were to honor their husbands.
The prophet Daniel made note of the strength of the law of the Medes and Persians. Daniel’s enemies made use of this truth to get Daniel thrown into the den of lions.
Daniel 6:8 “Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.”
Esther 1:21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
Esther 1:22 For he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that itshould be published according to the language of every people.
The king liked the proposed solution and did accordingly. He sent letters to every province, providing translations for every language represented by the people of his kingdom.
Esther 2:1 ¶ After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
Esther 2:2 Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
Esther 2:3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:
Esther 2:4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
As I read through this section, the implication seems to be that once the king had recovered his senses from his drunken rage, he began to regret the decree against Vashti. His servants recognized that they needed to get someone to replace her in the king’s heart, so they suggested that he appoint officers in all 127 provinces of his kingdom to identify the most beautiful young virgins and bring them to the palace in Shushan. They would then be placed under the supervision of Hege, the chamberlain responsible for taking care of the king’s women, and would undergo the process of purification. The king could then choose the one among them that he liked the best to become his queen.
The king liked the suggestion and put the plan into action.
Esther 2:5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
Esther 2:6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
Esther 2:7 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
Living in Shushan was a certain Jew named Mordecai, a Benjamite from the descent of Kish. My first thought was that this was identifying Mordecai with the family of King Saul. Considering these events occur many years after the Babylonian captivity, that cannot be the case. I think Kish must be the name of Mordecai’s kinsman that was taken captive to Babylon during the second deportation along with Jeconiah the king. Like King Saul, Mordecai was a Benjamite.
Mordecai had assumed custody of Hadassah, called Esther, his uncle’s daughter, after the death of her parents. It is noted that she was fair and beautiful and Mordecai treated her like his own daughter.
Hadassah = Hebrew name meaning myrtle (a beautiful, fragrant tree), joy
Esther = Persian name, meaning star, secret, hidden
Esther 2:8 So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
Esther 2:9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.
Esther 2:10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
V8 - “brought” = led away, captured
As a result of the king’s decree, many young girls were brought to the palace and placed in the custody of Hegai, the keeper of the women; and Esther was among those chosen. She pleased Hegai, so he was kind to her. He quickly saw to it that she was given all she needed for purification, including the services of seven maidens and the best accommodations available.
It is noted that Esther had not revealed her heritage because Mordecai had commanded her to keep it secret.
I think it is clear that the maidens that were taken to Shushan did not have a choice but to comply. It is also likely that most would have considered it an honor.
Esther 2:11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
Mordecai went every day to the area before the court of the women to get news of how Esther was doing. He must have had some connections on the inside, possibly due to his position (v19).
Esther 2:12 Now when every maid’s turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)
Esther 2:13 Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king’s house.
Esther 2:14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.
Every girl went through a 12-month process of purification before going in to the king. This process included six months of using oil of myrrh to treat her skin followed by six months of treatment with sweet perfumes and the other things considered necessary to prepare her for her night with the king. When the time came for a girl’s encounter with the king, she was given whatever she wanted with which to adorn herself. After her night with the king, she was given into the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain that supervised the king’s concubines. She would not see the king again unless he called for her by name because she so pleased him.
Guzik offered this observation: “One reason for the lengthy time of preparation was to tell if the women had been pregnant upon coming into the harem, so that the king would not be charged with fathering a child that was not his.”
Esther 2:15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
Esther 2:16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
Esther 2:17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
Esther 2:18 Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.
Eventually, it was Esther’s turn to go in to the king. She asked for nothing beyond what Hegai chose for her. Was this because she did not care because she did not want to be there, or was it because she trusted completely that Hegai knew best? Everyone that saw her admired her. Her night with the king was in the tenth month of Tebeth (December/January), in the 7th year of his reign. This is four years after the banishment of Vashti.
There is nothing in the scripture narrative so far that indicates in any way how Esther or Mordecai felt about her situation. It is obvious that Mordecai was concerned for her well-being. In many ways I think her situation was similar to Joseph’s. She lost her freedom and her family and became a prisoner before emerging in a position of power that brought deliverance to her people.
We are told that the king loved Esther above all the other women, and he chose her to replace Vashti as his queen. To celebrate, he hosted a great feast for all his princes and servants; it was called Esther’s feast. He also declared a holiday throughout the kingdom and distributed generous gifts.
Gill states that the release was “of taxes and tribute due to him, as was the custom of the kings of Persia when they came to the throne, as Herodotus relates…and Grotius says kings used to do it at their marriage, but gives no instance of it….”
Esther 2:19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.
Esther 2:20 Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
I have no clue about the first part of verse 19, and most commentators ignore it. Constable, however, offers the following quoting Gordis: “Evidently the reassembling of the virgins was part of a procession the king designed to show off Esther"s beauty compared with the other contestants in his beauty contest.”
It seems that Mordecai had some sort of position in the palace. According to the NIV Commentary: “Men who ‘sat at the gate’ were frequently elders and leading men, respected citizens who settled disputes that were brought to them.”
Esther continued to keep her ethnicity a secret in accordance with Mordecai’s command just as she had obeyed him since childhood.
Esther 2:21 ¶ In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
Esther 2:22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s name.
Esther 2:23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
During those days, Bigthan and Terest, two of the king’s security officers, became angry with the king and planned to kill him. In some way, Mordecai found out about the plan and told Esther; she then told the king and made sure he knew that Mordecai was her source of information. An investigation was conducted and the report affirmed. The two schemers were hung on a tree, and it was recorded in the historical record in the king’s presence.
“hanged on a tree” – Clarke: “A pointed stake is set upright in the ground, and the culprit is taken, placed on the sharp point, and then pulled down by his legs till the stake that went in at the fundament passes up through the body and comes out through the neck. A most dreadful species of punishment, in which revenge and cruelty may glut the utmost of their malice. The culprit lives a considerable time in excruciating agonies.”