The beginning of the Book of Esther portrays the political situation that will form the background to the central events of the narrative...
The beginning of the Book of Esther portrays the political situation that will form the background to the central events of the narrative. The action of the book takes place in the Persian Empire, whose rulers favored the chosen people. After the Persians conquered Babylon and destroyed the Babylonian power, the Jews were able to return to Jerusalem. Many took advantage of this opportunity, but a great many remained in Mesopotamia and lived among the Babylonians, Persians, and other peoples who inhabited the domains of the Persian kings. The introduction translated from Greek, which concerns Mordecai’s dream, is somewhat reminiscent of the account in Genesis of Joseph in Egypt and of several other biblical narratives. Its essential meaning for us is that the Jews, who worshiped the one God, stood at the heart of the events in the life of a state foreign to them and occupied a significant position within it. The account of the feast given by Artaxerxes completes the picture: the action takes place beyond Judea geographically, historically, and culturally. Yet here too, as we shall see later, God’s purpose is fulfilled through the destinies of particular people, directing the course of both sacred and universal history.
1 Ahasuerus feasts his great men, Est 1:1-9.
Sends for his queen, who refuses to come, Est 1:10-11.
He divorces her, Est 1:12-22.
1:1 Ahasuerus - Many suppose this to be Darius Hystapas, for his kingdom was thus vast, and he subdued India, as Herodotus reports: and one of his wives was called Atossa, differing little from Hadassah, which is Esther's other name, Est 2:7.Provinces - So seven new provinces were added to those hundred and twenty mentioned, Dan 6:1.
1:2 Sat - Was settled in the peaceable possession of it.Shushan - The chief or royal city. Shushan might be the proper name of the palace, which thence was given to the whole city.Here the kings of Persia used to keep their courts in winter, as at Exbatana in summer.
1:4 Many days - Making every day a magnificent feast, either for all his princes, or for some of them, who might come to the feast successively, as the king ordered them to do. The Persian feasts are much celebrated in authors, for their length and luxury.
1:6 Beds - For in those eastern countries, they did not then sit at tables as we do, but rested or leaned upon beds or couches.
1:8 The law - According to this law which the king had now made, that none should compel another to drink more than he pleased. How does this Heathen prince shame many, that are called Christians, who think they do not make their friends welcome, unless they make them drunk, and under pretence of sending the health round, send the sin round, and death with it!
1:9 Women - While the king entertained the men. For this was the common custom of the Persians, that men and women did not feast together.
1:12 Refused - Being favoured in this refusal by the law of Persia, which was to keep mens wives, and especially queens, from the view of other men.