THE BOOK of ESTHER This book was constantly received for a part of the canon of the Scripture by the people of the Jews, whose authority herein is the more considerable, because to them were committed the oracles of God, Rom. 3:2, to keep them safely, and transmit them carefully to posterity.

Quest. Who was this king? Answ. It is confessed and manifest that this was one of the kings of Persia; but which of them it was is not yet agreed, nor is it of any necessity for us now to know. But it is sufficiently evident that this was either, 1.

Sat on the throne of his kingdom, i.e. either was lately advanced to it, or rather was settled in the peaceable possession of it. The palace; or, the castle; or, the chief or royal city, as both, Jewish and Christian interpreters render it.

The power of Persia, i.e. the mighty men; the chief officers of state, and commanders of all his forces; whom by this splendid entertainment he endeavoured to oblige and assure to himself.

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.

All the people that were present; both such as constantly resided there, and such as were come thither upon their occasions, of whatsoever condition or quality. In the court of the garden: the Persian gardens were exceeding large and pleasant.

The beds; for in those eastern countries and ancient times they did not sit at tables, as we do, but rested or leaned upon beds; of which we have many testimonies, both in Scripture, as Est. 7:8, Amos 2:8, Amos 6:4, John 13:23, and in all other authors.

According to the law, none did compel, i.e. according to this law which the king had now made, that none should compel another to drink more than he pleased; which the Persians and other loose and heathenish nations used to do, though that practice was condemned by the wise and sober heathens, and…

Whilst the king entertained the men; for this was the common custom of the Persians, that men and women did not feast together, but in several places.

Chamberlains, or eunuchs; which were much in use and in favour in the eastern courts, and particularly with the Persian emperors, as ancient histories inform us.

Vashti refused to come; being favoured in this refusal by the laws and customs of Persia, which was to keep men’s wives, and especially queens, as much as might be from the view of other men.

Which knew the times; either, 1. The histories of former times, what princes have done in such cases as this was. Or, 2. Things done or to be done in time; what was just and fit to be done, or what was the law and judgment in these cases, as the following words explain it, and how and when things…

Which saw the king’s face; which had constant freedom of access to the king, and familiar converse with him; which is thus expressed, because the Persian kings were very seldom seen by their subjects.

Memucan, though last named, spake first, either because the king first asked him; or because he was the chief of them all, either in dignity or in reputation; or because it then was, as now it is in many places, the custom for the youngest counsellors or judges to deliver their opinion first.

Contempt in the wives, and thereupon wrath in the husbands; and consequently strife in families; which may produce great and general mischiefs.

If it please the king, which this cunning politician knew it would do. That it be not altered; which caution was necessary for his own security; for if the queen should recover her state and the king’s favour, he was most likely to fall into his displeasure.

The saying pleased the king and the princes; partly because their own authority and interest was concerned in it; and especially by the singular providence of God, who designed to bring about his own great work by this small occasion.

That all sorts of persons, not men only, (who by study or travel many times understand divers languages,) but the women also, might understand it, and therefore be inexcusable if they did not comply with it; for which end it was not only written in each language, for that writing might come but to…