Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Esther 1:1

Clarke's Commentary

THE BOOK OF ESTHER

Chronological Notes relative to this Book

-Year from the Creation, according to Archbishop Usher, 3540.

-Year before the birth of Christ, 460.

-Year before the vulgar era of Christ's nativity, 464.

-Year of the Julian Period, 4250.

-Year since the flood of Noah, 1904.

-Year of the Cali Yuga, or Indian era of the Deluge, 2638.

-Year from the vocation of Abram, 1458.

-Year from the destruction of Troy, 721.

-Year from the foundation of Solomon's temple. 547.

-Year since the division of Solomon's monarchy into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, 511.

-Year of the era of Iphitus, 421.

-Year since Coroebus won the prize at the Olympic games, 313.

-First year of the seventy-ninth Olympiad.

-Year of the Varronian era of the building of Rome, 290.

-Year from the building of Rome, according to Cato and the Fasti Consulares, 289.

-Year from the building of Rome according to Polybius the historian, 288.

-Year from the building of Rome, according to Fabius Pictor, 284.

-Year of the era of Nabonassar, 284.

-Year since the commencement of the first Messenian war, 280.

-Year since the destruction of the kingdom of Israel by Shalmaneser, the king of Assyria, 258.

-Year since the commencement of the second Messenian war, 222.

-Year from the destruction of Solomon's temple by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, 125.

-Year since the publication of the famous edict of Cyrus, king of Persia, empowering the Jews to rebuild their temple, 72.

-Year since the conquest of Egypt by Cambyses, 62.

-Year since the abolition of the tyranny of the Pisistratidae at Athens, 43.

-Year since the expulsion of the Tarquins from Rome, which put an end to the regal government of the Romans, 44.

-Year since the famous battle of Marathon, 26.

-Year after the commencement of the third Messenian war, 2.

-Year before the commencement of the first sacred war concerning the temple at Delphi, 17.

-Year before the commencement of the celebrated Peloponnesian war, 34.

-Year before the celebrated retreat of the ten thousand Greeks, and the expulsion of the thirty tyrants from Athens by Thrasybulus, 65.

-Year before the commencement of the era of the Seleucidae, 152.

-Year before the formation of the famous Achaean league, 183.

-Year before the commencement of the first Punic war, 200.

-Year before the fall of the Macedonian empire, 296.

-Year before the destruction of Carthage by Scipio, and of Corinth by Mummius, 317.

-Year before the commencement of the Jugurthine war, which continued five years, 354.

-Year before the commencement of the Social war, which continued for five years, and was finished by Sylla, 374.

-Year before the commencement of the Mithridatic war, which continued for twenty-six years, 376.

-Year before the commencement of the Servile war, under Spartacus, 392.

-Year before the extinction of the reign of the Seleucidae in Syria, on the conquest of that country by Pompey, 399.

-Year before the era of the Roman emperors, 433.

-Year of Archidamus, king of Lacedaemon, and of the family of the Proclidae, or Eurypontidae, 6.

-Year of Plistoanax, king of Lacedaemon, and of the family of the Eurysthenidae, or Agidae, 3.

-Year of Alexander, the tenth king of Macedon, 34.

-Year of Artaxerxes Longimanus, king of Persia, 1.

-Roman Consuls, Aulus Postumius, and Sp. Furius.

CHAPTER I

Ahasuerus makes royal feasts for his nobles and people, 1-9.

Vashti is sent for by the king, but refuses to come, 10-12.

Vashti is disgraced; and a law made for the subjection of

women, 13-22.

The whole history of this book in its connected order, with the occurrences in the Persian empire at that time, will be found in the introduction: to which the reader is referred.

Concerning the author of this book there are several opinions: some attribute the work to Ezra; some to one Joachim, a high priest; others, to the men of the Great Synagogue; and others to Mordecai. This latter is the most likely opinion: nor is that to be disregarded which gives to Mordecai for co-partner Ezra himself; though it is likely that the conclusion, from Esther 9:23 to the end of the book, was inserted by another hand, and at a later time. Though some Christians have hesitated to receive the book of Esther into the sacred canon; yet it has always been received by the Jews, not only as perfectly authentic, but also as one of the most excellent of their sacred books. They call it megillah, THE VOLUME, by way of eminence; and hold it in the highest estimation. That it records the history of a real fact, the observation of the feast of Purim, to the present day, is a sufficient evidence. Indeed, this is one of the strongest evidences that any fact can have, viz., that, to commemorate it, a certain rite, procession, feast, or the like, should have been instituted at the time, which, without intermission, has been continued annually through every generation of that people, and in whatsoever place they or parties of them may have sojourned, to the present day. This is the fact concerning the feast of Purim here mentioned; which the Jews, in all places of their dispersion, have uninterruptedly celebrated, and do still continue to celebrate, from the time of their deliverance from the massacre intended by Haman to the present time. Copies of this book, widely differing from each other, exist in Hebrew, Chaldee, Syriac, Greek, and Latin. All these differ much from the Hebrew text, particularly the Greek and the Chaldee: the former has many additional paragraphs; and the latter, as it exists in the London Polyglot, contains five times more than the Hebrew text. To notice all the various readings, additions, and paraphrases, in the above copies, would require a volume of no inconsiderable magnitude. The reader who is curious may consult the above Polyglot. This book does not appear to be extant in Arabic, or in any other of the Oriental languages, besides the Hebrew and Syriac.

The question may naturally arise, What was the original of this book? or, In what language was it written? Though learned men in general decide in favour of a Hebrew original, yet there are many reasons which might be urged in favour of the Persian. Several of the proper names are evidently of a Persian origin; and no doubt all the others are so; but they are so transformed by passing through the Hebrew, that they are no longer discernible. The Hebrew has even retained some of the Persian words, having done little else than alter the character, e.g., Esther, Mehuman, Mishak, Melzar, Vashti, Shushan, Pur, Darius, Paradise, c., several of which will be noted in their proper places. The Targum in the London Polyglot is widely different from that in the Complutum, Antwerp, and Paris editions. The principal additions in the Greek are carefully marked in the London Polyglot, but are too long and too numerous to be inserted here. It is a singular circumstance that the name of God does not once occur in the whole of this book as it stands in Hebrew.

NOTES ON CHAP. I

Verse Esther 1:1. Now it came to pass — The Ahasuerus of the Romans, the Artaxerxes of the Greeks and Ardsheer of the Persians, are the same. Some think that this Ahasuerus was Darius, the son of Hystaspes but Prideaux and others maintain that he was Artaxerxes Longimanus.

Reigned from India even unto Ethiopia — This is nearly the same account that is given by Xenophon. How great and glorious the kingdom of Cyrus was beyond all the kingdoms of Asia, was evident from this: Ὡρισθῃ μεν πρως ἑῳ τῃ Ερυθρᾳ θαλαττῃ· προς αρκτον δε τῳ Ευξεινῳ ποντῳ· προς ἑσπεραν δε Κυπρῳ και Αιγυπτῳ· προς μεσημβριαν δε Αιθιοπιᾳ. "It was bounded on the east by the Red Sea; on the north by the Euxine Sea; on the west by Cyprus and Egypt; and on the south by Ethiopia." - CYROP. lib. viii., p. 241, edit. Steph. 1581.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

1:1-2:23 ESTHER BECOMES QUEEN

Officials and leading citizens from all over the Persian Empire had gathered in the winter capital for an exhibition designed to display the riches and magnificence of the royal court. The exhibition lasted six months and was brought to a fitting climax by a lavish seven-day banquet (1:1-9). The week of wine and merriment so excited the king that his sexual urges were in danger of getting out of control. Consequently, when he told his queen Vashti to display her beauty before the crowd of wine-soaked men at the banquet, Vashti refused (10-12). The queen had defied the king’s authority and his pride was hurt. In anger he removed her from being queen (13-22).
For some time the king made no attempt to replace Vashti. He still had plenty of concubines, but his advisers suggested that he appoint an official queen (2:1-4). The most beautiful young women in the land were therefore brought together in the palace, where they were further beautified and trained so that the king might choose one as his queen. Among them was an orphan Jew named Esther, who had been brought up by her cousin Mordecai. But she did not reveal to anyone in the palace that she was a Jew (5-11).
After a year of beauty preparation, all the young women were taken in turn to the king. In the end he chose Esther and crowned her queen (12-18). (This happened four years after he removed Vashti; cf. 1:3; 2:16.)
Mordecai apparently worked in or around the palace (see v. 11,19). When he heard that two of the palace guards were plotting to assassinate the king, he passed on the information to the king by way of Esther. The guards were executed, and Mordecai’s good deed was noted in the official records (19-23).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

A HALF-DRUNKEN XERXES DEPOSES HIS QUEEN VASHTI (AMESTRIS);
XERXES MAKES PREPARATIONS TO INVADE GREECE

"Now it came to pass in the days of Ahashuerus (this is Ahashuerus who reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and twenty and seven provinces), that in those days when the king Ahashuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and of Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him; when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellant majesty many days, even a hundred and fourscore days. And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace. There were hangings of white cloth, of green, and of blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble; the couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and white, and yellow, and black marble. And they gave them drink in vessels of gold (the vessels being diverse one from another), and royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king. And the drinking was according to the law; none could compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure."

Although not apparent in our text, the very first words in the the Hebrew text of the O.T. (the Hebrew) are "and it came to pass," which is made the occasion by Duff to declare that, "The book of Esther is a truncated narrative,"Arthur S. Peake's Commentary, p. 336. but Keil pointed out that no such conclusion is justified.C. F. Keil, Keil and Delitzsch's Old Testament Commentaries, Vol. 3, p. 319. Many of the Biblical books begin with the word and, indicating their connection with the rest of the canonical books of the Bible. "Joshua, Judges, Ruth, First Samuel, Second Samuel, Ezekiel, and Jonah all begin with the word `and'."The New Layman's Bible Commentary, p. 551,

What is revealed here is a six-months interval of intense preparations by Xerxes for the invasion of Greece. It was terminated by a big banquet that lasted a week. During this period all of the mighty princes of his extensive dominion were summoned to appear, probably in successive assignments, to be entertained and to see the king's exhibition of his power and riches, and also, most likely, to receive his assignment to them regarding the troops each would supply for that immense army which he gathered together for the invasion. Our text does not elaborate this; but we learn much about it from Herodotus

"This is Ahashuerus that reigned," In the time of these events, there were no less than three great men called Ahashuerus; the prophet Daniel mentioned one of them, but he was not a king; and there was another Ahashuerus (also a king, Xerxes II) mentioned by Ezra (Ezra 4:6). "Here the author of Esther, who probably knew of the others, distinguished this Ahashuerus from the one named in Daniel as `the Ahashuerus who reigns,' and from the king mentioned in Ezra by the enormous size of his dominion."The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 7c, p. 1.

"Who reigned from India… to Ethiopia" "A foundation tablet has been recovered from Xerxes' palace at Persepolis which lists both India and Ethiopia as provinces of Xerxes' realm. Also Herodotus mentioned that both the Ethiopians and the Indians paid tribute to Xerxes."The New Layman's Bible Commentary, p. 551.

"One hundred twenty and seven provinces" We learned from Ezra and Nehemiah that there were 27 satrapies in the Perisan empire; but these divisions were different. "The satrapies were taxation districts; but these provinces were racial or national units in the vast empire."The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 415.

"In those days when Ahashuerus sat on his throne" It is strange that Persian kings almost constantly sat on their throne. "Herodotus wrote that Xerxes watched the battle of Thermopylae (480 B.C.) seated on a throne! And Plutarch wrote the same thing regarding the battle of Salamis, which came that same year."C. F. Keil, Keil and Delitzsch's Old Testament Commentaries, op. cit., p. 321.

"Upon his throne which was in Shushan the palace" There were four capitals of Persia; and the king, at times, reigned in each of them. These were, "Shushan, Babylon, Ecbatana, and Persepolis."The New Layman's Bible Commentary, p. 551.

"In the third year of his reign" As Xerxes came to his throne in the year 486 B.C., this would have been 483, B.C.The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 395.

The magnificent decorations, the luxurious surroundings and all the glory of the Persian palace are beautifully described in these verses. It is particularly interesting that drinking vessels of gold, each one of a different design, were features of that concluding banquet.

"And the drinking was according to the law" It is amusing to us that some of the scholars declare that there was not any such law regarding drinking; but the text flatly says there was, and furthermore, it relates what the law was, i.e., "They should do according to every man's desire" (Esther 1:8). This was the law, tailor-made for that occasion by the king himself! We appreciate Keil's comment that, "While this law granted permission for any one to drink as little as he desired, it also allowed every one to drink as much as he desired! Drunkenness was almost a universal sin among the Gentiles. And rulers, especially, indulged in it. Even Alexander the Great drank himself to death. This great banquet given by Xerxes was by no means a beautiful party. It was an unqualified disaster.

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Ahasuerus - . Xerxes, the son of Darius Hystaspis. His empire is rightly described as from India even unto Ethiopia. The satrapies of Darius Hystaspis reached 29 in number, and the nations under Xerxes were about 60. The 127 “provinces” include probably sub-satrapies and other smaller divisions of the great governments.

Smith's Bible Commentary

Let us turn to the book of Esther for our study.

The book of Esther is not in a chronological order in these books of history. If the book of Esther were placed in a chronological order, it would have to actually come before the book of Nehemiah.

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). About halfway between fits in the story of the book of Esther.

In the story of the book of Esther, though it doesn't mention the word God, yet God's overruling providence is seen throughout the entire book. The Jews hold this as one of the most important books in the Bible, and it is a very beautiful story of God's preservation of His people.

So, the book of Esther begins with an introduction to her husband who was the ruler of the Persian Empire, ruling over 127 nations of the ancient world. He is the Xerxes of secular history, called Artaxerxes, or called Ahasuerus, or Artaxerxes. But he is the Xerxes of secular history.

And he was having a great feast for the lords, the princes and all, that lasted for almost half of a year, about 180 days of feasting. And so you can imagine in that length of time you get pretty well glutted, to where, you know, what's new after that length of time. So, he decided that he would call his wife Vashti into the feasting area. Now in that culture, of course, the women and the men were kept publicly pretty well separated, and the king had his harem and he also had his wife the queen, but along with her was quite a harem. And he decided that he would send for

Vashti that she might come in [and probably without a veil], so that the men could behold her beauty: because she was a very beautiful woman ( Esther 1:11 ).

And so, just sort of seeking, it would seem, to show off her beauty to these other men, he called for her to come on in to the feast.

But Vashti refused to come ( Esther 1:12 )

Which in that culture was just something unheard of. Women were actually considered just one step above a slave. They had very little rights, and when Vashti refused the king's commandment to come in, all of the rest of the fellows said, "Hey king, you're going to have to do something about this, because when we get home and our wives hear that your wife refused to come in at your command, we're not going to be able to handle the women. And so you've got to move dramatically and drastically in this case."

One of the astrologers suggested to him that as a punishment for her disobedience she be deposed from her position as queen, that she be placed out of that royal position and no longer be the queen. And this punishment was decided upon Vashti so that she was deposed from being the queen.

"

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

1. The king’s feast 1:1-9

Ahasuerus is the Hebrew name of the Persian king, Khshayarsha, whom we know better in ancient history by his Greek name, Xerxes. [Note: Lewis B. Paton, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Esther, p. 54. Cf. Ezra 4:5-7; Daniel 11:2.] He reigned over the Persian Empire from 486 to 464 B.C. and was the son of Darius I (521-486 B.C.). Another high-ranking Persian government officer, Artabanus, eventually assassinated him.

Xerxes is famous in secular history for two things: his defeat at the hands of the Greeks, and his building of the royal Persian palace at Persepolis. In 481 B.C. he took about 200,000 soldiers and hundreds of ships to Greece to avenge his father Darius’ loss at the battle of Marathon (490 B.C.). However, he too suffered defeat, in a three-fold manner. His soldiers lost the battle of Thermopylae to the Spartans, his army also lost at the battle of Plataea, and the Greeks destroyed his navy in the battle of Salamis.

The writer mentioned the vast area Xerxes controlled (cf. Esther 8:9; Esther 10:1). Perhaps he did this to avoid confusion with another Ahasuerus (Daniel 9:1) whose son, Darius the Mede, governed the Babylonian provinces under Cyrus the Great from 539 to about 525 B.C. "India" refers to the territory that is now western Pakistan. "Cush" was the upper (southern) Nile region including southern Egypt, the Sudan, Eritrea, and northern Ethiopia, land west of the Red Sea. The 127 "provinces" (Heb. medina) were governmental units of the empire. These were political subdivisions of the satrapies (cf. Esther 3:12). [Note: F. B. Huey Jr., "Esther," in 1 Kings-Job, vol. 4 of The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, p. 798.]

"Susa" (Esther 1:2) is the Greek name for the Hebrew "Shushan." It was a winter capital and had formerly been the capital of the kingdom of Elam. Susa was the name of both the capital city and the royal fortress that occupied a separate part of the city. [Note: Ibid., p. 298.] Other Persian capitals were Ecbatana (200 miles north of Susa, modern Hamadan, Ezra 6:2), Babylon (200 miles west, Ezra 6:1), Pasargadae, and Persepolis (both 300 miles southeast). [Note: See Edwin M. Yamauchi, "The Achaemenid Capitals," Near Esat Archaeology Society Bulletin, NS8 (1976):5-81.] Persepolis was Xerxes’ main residence. [Note: Breneman, p. 304.] Forty years after the events the writer described in the Book of Esther, Nehemiah served as cupbearer to Artaxerxes, Xerxes’ son (cf. Nehemiah 1:1 to Nehemiah 2:1).

The Hebrew word translated "capital" (NASB) or "citadel" (NIV; habirah) refers to an acropolis or fortified area that stood 72 feet above the rest of the city. A wall two and one-half miles long surrounded it. [Note: Ibid.]

The third year of Ahasuerus’ (Xerxes’) reign (Esther 1:3) was evidently 482 B.C. For 180 days (six months) he entertained his guests (Esther 1:4). This was evidently the military planning session that Ahasuerus conducted to prepare for his campaign against the Greeks. The Greek historian Herodotus referred to this meeting and said it took Ahasuerus four years (484-481 B.C.) to prepare for his Greek campaign. [Note: Herodotus, The Histories, 7:8, 20.] Ahasuerus’ Persian army suffered defeat at the hands of the Greeks at Plataea in 479 B.C.

"While labourers received barely enough to live on, even though they were producing works of art that are still unsurpassed, life at court was extravagant beyond imagining. The more lavish the king’s hospitality, the greater his claim to supremacy." [Note: Baldwin, p. 55.]

White and violet (blue, Esther 1:6) were the royal colors of Persia. [Note: John C. Whitcomb, Esther: Triumph of God’s Sovereignty, p. 37.] This palace burned to the ground about 435 B.C., toward the end of Artaxerxes’ reign. [Note: A. T. Olmstead, History of the Persian Empire, p. 352.]

Banquets are a prominent feature of this story. At least nine receive mention (Esther 1:1-9; Esther 2:18; Esther 3:15; Esther 5:4; Esther 5:8; Esther 8:17; Esther 9:17-19).

Gann's Commentary on the Bible

Book Comments

Walking Thru The Bible

ESTHER

INTRODUCTION

AUTHOR: It is considered possible that Mordecai was the author of the book ("And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far," Esther 9:20). The Hebrew is similar to that of Ezra and Nehemiah.

RECIPIENTS: The book seems to be especially designed for the Jews of the dispersion in the various parts of the Persian empire (Esther 9:20). (See Purpose)

DATE: The events described in the book begin with the third year (Esther 1:3) of the reign of Ahasuerus and closes with his twelfth year (Esther 3:7). This was approximately 483-474 BC. Esther became queen in 479 BC (Esther 2:16).

    The Ahasuerus of the Book of Esther is also known in secular history as Xerxes, king of Persia (485-465 BC). He is famous for his expedition against Greece and how the Greeks defeated his tremendous fleet at the battle of Salamis in 480 BC. Historians tells us that this was one of the world’s most important battles.

    From parallel passages in the works of Herodotus we find that the feast described in the first chapter of Esther was the occasion for planning the campaign against Greece, the third year of his reign.

    Esther replaced Vashti in the seventh year of his reign (Esther 2:16) when Xerxes returned from his disastrous defeat.

PURPOSE OF THE BOOK: To show God’s providential care for His people even in the dispersion; also to show the origin of the Jewish feast of Purim (Esther 3:6-7; Esther 9:26-28).

THEME: The providential deliverance of the Jews from destruction through the agency of Esther and Mordecai. Esther is like Joseph and David. God had each one hidden away for His purpose. When the day came, He brought them to the front to work out His plan.

KEY VERSE: The key verse of the book is Esther 4:14

    "For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14)

KEY WORD: "The Jews" (43 times)

Note:    Although God’s name is not mentioned in the book of Esther, every page is full of God who hides Himself behind every word. Matthew Henry, the great commentator, says, "If the name of God is not there, His finger is." It is called "The Romance of Providence." God has a part in all the events of human life.

OUTLINE OF ESTHER

I.    ESTHER BECOMES QUEEN OF PERSIA -- Ch. 1-2

    Ch. 1    Queen Vashti displeases the king and is dethroned.

    Ch. 2    Esther is selected and made queen.

II.    HAMAN’S PLOT TO KILL THE JEWS IS DEFEATED -- Ch. 3-8

    Ch. 3    Haman plots to destroy the Jews

    Ch. 4    Esther promises to intercede for her people

    Ch. 5    Esther secures the favor of the king and his presence at her banquet for him and Haman.

    Ch. 6    Mordecai is honored and Haman humbled.

    Ch. 7    A second banquet foils Haman’s plot and he is hanged.

    Ch. 8    Mordecai is promoted to Haman’s position and the Jews are authorized by the king to defend themselves against their enemies.

III. THE DELIVERANCE AND THE FEAST OF PURIM -- Ch. 9-10

    Ch. 9    The Jews are victorious over their enemies and the Feast of Purim is established.

    Ch. 10    The greatness of Mordecai during the remainder of Ahasuerus’ reign.

    Note:    This is the true story of a little Jewish orphan girl becoming Queen of Persia. At this time the Persian throne controlled over half the then-known world.

    Esther was the Queen of the famous Xerxes for thirteen years. No doubt she lived for many years into the reign of her stepson, Artaxerxes. Under this king, Nehemiah rebuilt Jerusalem. It was Esther’s marriage to this famous Persian monarch that gave the Jews enough prestige at this court that made it possible for Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem with official help (Nehemiah 2:1-8).

"FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS"

Esther

Introduction:

1.    Esther 4:13-16. The background story of the events in Susa.

        a.    Ahasuerus (481 BC) was king of Persia.

        b.    God’s people Israel were in the provinces of Persia.

        c.    The King had the leaders of 127 provinces to come to a celebration that lasted 187 days-- more than six months.

            (1    It was a feast of drinking and sin.

            (2    The King sends for Vashti to come and display her beauty. She refuses because of her modesty.

        d.    The King accepts the suggestion to reject her and choose another to be queen in her stead.

            (1    Esther, a young Jewess, is eventually chosen.

2.    Her cousin (uncle?) Mordecai had offended Haman a high official in the King’s court. By trickery Haman gets the King to sign a decree that all the Jews should be put to death.

        a.    A decree issued by a Persian monarch was unalterable.

        b.    God stepped in and in a providential way delivered His people from the decree that Christ might come of their seed as promised (Genesis 12:1-3).

3.    This story is written for our benefit (Romans 15:4) and shows God’s providential care for his people.

SERMON OUTLINE

"FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS" Esther 4:14

Mordecai thought Esther had come to the throne "for such a time as this." What sort of a time was it?

1.    It was a time when the King and the leaders of the nation were selfish, wicked, and immoral.

        a.    Sin was in the saddle so to speak.

        b.    "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." (Proverbs 29:2)

            *    What about the "leaders" (?) of today? What kind of a role-model are the politicians, sports and entertainment figures today?

            *    What about the morals and philosophies of those molding and shaping the minds of our youth? (The media, the educators, etc.)

2.    It was a time of worldly pomp and show (Esther 4:13-16 and especially Esther 1:3-8).

        a.    It was a time when the leaders of 127 provinces recklessly took 6 months vacation for wickedness and sin.

        b.    They neglected the nation, its welfare, and their homes.

        *    Today our nation is neglecting to preserve the fountains of righteousness in our nation: "Prayer" outlawed from schools; "homosexuality" paraded as a civil rights issue instead of sin; the murder of innocent babies legalized!

        2 Timothy 3:1-5; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

3.    It was a time of strong drink in the nation-- Esther 1:7-8.

        *    We are slowly becoming a nation of drunkards and alcoholics. We keep seeing the danger but doing nothing about it. Proverbs 20:1; Proverbs 23:21; Proverbs 23:29-35

4.    It was a time of immodesty and debauchery-- Esther 1-2

        a.    It was a time when the King demanded Vashti the Queen to come before the leaders of 127 provinces and display her body before their drunken lustful eyes (Esther 1:10-11).

        b.    The Queen had the moral courage to dare to do right!

        1 Timothy 2:6-10;

5.    It was a time when the sanctify of marriage was at a low ebb.

        a.    The King was willing to get rid of the Queen for no fault of hers. (Esther 1:19)

        b.    Now one of every two marriages end in divorce. (Matthew 1:1-9)

6.    It was a time when human life was cheap.

        a.    The leaders were willing to sign a decree to have 2,000,000 Jews killed, because one of them would not bow and tip his hat to Haman, a wicked scoundrel (Esther 3:9, Esther 3:13).

        b.    Life today is cheap. Murders escalating wildly. Theft and hate escalating. ’Aborting on demand’ supported by the news and entertainment media.

7.    It was a time that needed the good woman Esther (Esther 4:13-16)

        a.    Her silence would have been sin. She found herself in a responsible position and she had to do what she could.

        *    A TIME that needs good people--

            good people in leadership in the nations-- in business-- in education-- in communications-- and in the home.

CONCLUSION:

    "For such a time as this" what kind of disciples do you think the Lord needs? Are you one of that kind? Are you one the Lord can count on and depend on?

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Verse Comments

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus,.... Who he was is not easy to say; almost all the kings of Persia are so named by one or another writer. He cannot be the Ahasuerus in Daniel 9:1, he was Astyages, the father of Cyaxares or Darius the Mede; but this must be one who had his royal palace in Shushan, which was never the royal city of the Medes, but of the Persians only; nor does he seem to be the Ahasuerus in Ezra 4:6, who is thought to be Cambyses, the son and successor of Cyrus; since, according to the canon of Ptolemy, he reigned but eight years, whereas this Ahasuerus at least reigned twelve, Esther 3:7, though indeed some account for it by his reigning in his father's lifetime; besides, Cambyses was always an enemy to the Jews, as this was not; and yet this way go many of the Jewish writers n and so a very learned man, Nicolaus Abram o; according to Bishop Usher p, this was Darius Hystaspis, who certainly was a friend to the Jewish nation; but he is rather the Artaxerxes of Ezra and Nehemiah; and so says the Midrash q. Dr. Prideaux r thinks Ahasuerus was Artaxerxes Longimanus, which is the sense of Josephus s, and who is thought by many to be the Artaxerxes in the foresaid books. Capellus t is of opinion, that Darius Ochus is meant, to which Bishop Patrick inclines; but I rather think, with Vitringa u and others w, that Xerxes is the Ahasuerus that was the husband of Esther here spoken of; so the Arabic writers x; and as he was the son and successor of Darius Hystaspis, if he is meant by Artaxerxes in the preceding books, the history of which is carried to the thirty second year of his reign, Nehemiah 13:6 and who reigned but four years more; this book of Esther stands in right order of time to carry on the history of the Jewish affairs in the Persian monarchy; and Mr. Broughton y owns, that the name of Xerxes, in Greek, agrees with Achasuerus in Hebrew; and in Esther 10:1 his name is Achashresh, which, with the Greeks, is Axeres or Xerxes z:

this is Ahasuerus, which reigned from India even unto Ethiopia; properly so called; the Ethiopians had been subdued by Cambyses the son and successor of Cyrus a, and the Indians by Darius Hystaspis the father of Xerxes b; and both, with other great nations, were retained in subjection to him c; and many of both, as well as of other nations, were with him in his expedition into Greece d:

over an hundred and twenty and seven provinces; there were now seven provinces more under his jurisdiction than were in the times of Darius the Mede, Daniel 6:1.

n Targum & Jarchi in loc. Seder Olam Rabba, c. 29. Zuta, p. 108. o Pharus Vet. Test. l. 11. c. 12. p. 305. p Annal. Vet. Test. p. 160. so Broughton, Works, p. 38, 259, 581. q Midrash Esther, fol. 86. 2. r Connection, &c. par. 1. B. 4. p. 252, &c. s Antiqu. l. 11. c. 6. sect. 1. and so Suidas in voce εσθηρ. t Chronolog. Sacr. p. 294. u Hypotypos. Hist. Sacr. p. 110. w Schichart. de Festo Purim. Rainold. Praelect. 144. p. 231. Alsted. Chronolog. p. 126, 181. x In Abulpharag. Hist. Dynast. p. 87. y Ut supra. (Broughton, Works, p. 38, 259, 581.) z Vid. Hiller. Arcan. Keri & Ketib, p. 87. & Onomastic. Sacr. p. 639. a Herodot. Thalia, sive, l. 3. c. 97. b lb. Melpomene, sive, l. 4. c. 44. c lb. Polymnia, sive, l. 7. c. 9. d lb. c. 65, 69, 70.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      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 showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even a 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.

      Which of the kings of Persia this Ahasuerus was the learned are not agreed. Mordecai is said to have been one of those that were carried captive from Jerusalem (Esther 2:5; Esther 2:6), whence it should seem that this Ahasuerus was one of the first kings of that empire. Dr. Lightfoot thinks that he was that Artaxerxes who hindered the building of the temple, who is called also Ahasuerus (Ezra 4:6; Ezra 4:7), after his great-grandfather of the Medes, Daniel 9:1. We have here an account,

      I. Of the vast extent of his dominion. In the time of Darius and Cyrus there were but 120 princes ( Daniel 6:1); now there were 127, from India to Ethiopia,Esther 1:1; Esther 1:1. It had become an over-grown kingdom, which in time would sink with its own weight, and, as usual, would lose its provinces as fast as it got them. If such vast power be put into a bad hand, it is able to do so much the more mischief; but, if into a good hand, it is able to do so much the more good. Christ's kingdom is, or shall be, far larger than this, when the kingdoms of the world shall all become his; and it shall be everlasting.

      II. Of the great pomp and magnificence of his court. When he found himself fixed in his throne, the pride of his heart rising with the grandeur of his kingdom, he made a most extravagant feast, wherein he put himself to vast expense and trouble only to show the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty,Esther 1:4; Esther 1:4. This was vain glory, an affection of pomp to no purpose at all; for none questioned the riches of his kingdom, nor offered to vie with him for honour. If he had shown the riches of his kingdom and the honour of his majesty, as some of his successors did, in contributing largely towards the building of the temple and the maintaining of the temple service (Ezra 6:8; Ezra 7:22), it would have turned to a much better account. Two feasts Ahasuerus made:-- 1. One for his nobles and princes, which lasted a hundred and eighty days,Esther 1:3; Esther 1:4. Not that he feasted the same persons every day for all that time, but perhaps the nobles and princes of one province one day, of another province another day, while thus he and his constant attendants fared sumptuously every day. The Chaldee paraphrast (who is very bold in his additions to the story of this book) says that there had been a rebellion among his subjects and that this feast was kept for joy of the quashing of it. 2. Another was made for all the people, both great and small, which lasted seven days, some one day and some another; and, because no house would hold them, they were entertained in the court of the garden,Esther 1:5; Esther 1:5. The hangings with which the several apartments were divided or the tents which were there pitched for the company, were very fine and rich; so were the beds or benches on which they sat, and the pavement under their feet, Esther 1:6; Esther 1:6. Better is a dinner of herbs with quietness, and the enjoyment of one's self and a friend, than this banquet of wine with all the noise and tumult that must needs attend it.

      III. Of the good order which in some respects was kept there notwithstanding. We do not find this like Belshazzar's feast, in which dunghill-gods were praised and the vessels of the sanctuary profaned, Daniel 5:3; Daniel 5:4. Yet the Chaldee paraphrase says that the vessels of the sanctuary were used in this feast, to the great grief of the pious Jews. It was not like Herod's feast, which reserved a prophet's head for the last dish. Two things which are laudable we may gather from the account here given of this feast:-- 1. That there was no forcing of healths, nor urging of them: The drinking was according to the law, probably some law lately made; none did compel, no, not by continual proposing of it (as Josephus explains it); they did not send the glass about, but every man drank as he pleased (Esther 1:8; Esther 1:8), so that if there were any that drank to excess it was their own fault, a fault which few would commit when the king's order put an honour upon sobriety. This caution of a heathen prince, even when he would show his generosity, may shame many who are called Christians, who think they do not sufficiently show their good housekeeping, nor bid their friends welcome, unless they make them drunk, and, under pretence of sending the health round, send the sin round, and death with it. There is a woe to those that do so; let them read it and tremble, Habakkuk 2:15; Habakkuk 2:16. It is robbing men of their reason, their richest jewel, and making them fools, the greatest wrong that can be. 2. That there was no mixed dancing; for the gentlemen and ladies were entertained asunder, not as in the feast of Belshazzar, whose wives and concubines drank with him (Daniel 5:2), or that of Herod, whose daughter danced before him. Vashti feasted the women in her own apartment; not openly in the court of the garden, but in the royal house,Esther 1:9; Esther 1:9. Thus, while the king showed the honour of his majesty, she and her ladies showed the honour of their modesty, which is truly the majesty of the fair sex.