NOTES for Est 1:1-12
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:) |
2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, |
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: |
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. |
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; |
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. |
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. |
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. |
9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus. |
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, |
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. |
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. |
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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.
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