Annotations upon the Holy Bible. Vol. I wherein the sacred text is inserted, and various readings annex'd, together with parallel scriptures, the more difficult terms in each verse are explained, seeming contradictions reconciled, questions and doubts resolved, and the whole text opened / by the late reverend and learned divine Mr. Matthew Poole.

CHAP. I.

1 NOw it came to pass in the days of Aha∣suerus a 1.1, (this is Ahasuerus, which reigned from India even unto Ethio∣pia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces b 1.2.)

2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sate on the Throne of his kingdom c 1.3, which was in Shu∣shan the ‖ 1.4 palace d 1.5,

3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast un∣to all his Princes, and his servants, the power e 1.6 of Per∣sia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces being before him.

4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious King∣dom, and the honour of his excellent majesty, many days, even an hundred and fourscore days f 1.7.

5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were † 1.8 present g 1.9 in Shu∣shan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden h 1.10 of the kings palace.

6 Where were white, green, and ‖ 1.11 blue hangings fastened with cords of fine linnen and purple, to silver rings, and pillars of marble: the beds i 1.12 were of gold, and silver, upon a pavement ‖ 1.13 of red, and blue, and white, and black marble.

7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being divers one from another) and † 1.14 royal wine in abundance, † 1.15 according to the state of the king.

8 And the drinking was according to the law, none did compel k 1.16: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every mans pleasure.

9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the wo∣men l 1.17, in the royal house which belonged to king Aha∣suerus.

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 ‖ 1.18 chamberlains m 1.19, 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 † 1.20 fair to look on.

12 But the queen Vashti refused to come n 1.21 at the kings commandment † 1.22 by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

13 Then the King said to the wise-men, which knew the times o 1.23, (for so was the kings manner to∣wards all that knew law and judgment p 1.24.

14 And next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Ad∣matha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the * 1.25 seven princes of Persia and Media, * 1.26 which saw the kings face q 1.27, and which sate the first in the king∣dom r 1.28.)

15 † 1.29 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti, ac∣cording to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus, by the cham∣berlains?

16 And Memucan answered r 1.30 before the king, and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king onely, but also to all the princes, and to all the people s 1.31 that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad un∣to all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Aha∣suerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.

18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the kings princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath t 1.32.

19 † 1.33 If it please the king u 1.34, let there go a royal commandment † 1.35 from him, and let it be written a∣mong the laws of the Persians, and the Medes, † 1.36 that it be not altered x 1.37, that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal estate † 1.38 un∣to another that is better than she.

20 And when the kings 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.

21 And the saying † 1.39 pleased the king and the prin∣ces y 1.40, and the king did according to the word of Me∣mucan:

22 For he sent letters into all the kings 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 † 1.41 that it should be published according to the language of eve∣ry people z 1.42.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Qu. Who was this King? Ans. 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. Darius Hystas∣pis, as divers both Jewish and Christian Writers affirm: for his Kingdom was thus vast, and he subdued India, as Herodotus reports: and one of his Wives was called Atossa, which differs little from Ha∣dassah, which is Esthers other name, Esth. 2. 7. Or 2. Xerxes, whose Wife, as Herodotus notes, was called Amestris, which is not much differing from Esther: by whom all these things were trans∣acted whilst he was potent and prosperous, before his unhappy ex∣pedition against the Grecians. Or 3. Artaxerxes Longimanus; to whom the characters of Ahasuerus represented in this Book do not disagree. And whereas it is objected that by this account Mordecai must be a man of about 140 Years, and consequently Esther, who is called his Uncles daughter, ch. 2. 7. must be too old to make a Wife for the King; as for Mordecai it may be granted, there being divers instances of persons of greater Age than that in sacred and prophane Historians; and for Esther it may be said that she was his Uncles Grand-Daughter, nothing being more frequent than for the names of sons or daughters to be given to more remote posterity.
• b 1.2

  So seven new Provinces were added to those 120 mentioned, Dan. 6. 1.
• c 1.3

  i. e. Either was lately advanced to it: or rather was settled in the peaceable possession of it.
• ‖ 1.4

  Or, chief city.
• d 1.5

  Or, the castle: or the chief or roy∣al city, as both Jewish and Christian Interpreters render it. 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 chiefly in Winter, as ordinarily they were in Ecbatana in Summer.
• e 1.6

  i. e. The mighty men; the chief Officers of State, and Com∣manders of all his Forces: whom by this splendid entertainment he endeavoured to oblige and assure to himself.
• f 1.7

  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 cele∣brated in Authors for their length and Luxury.
• † 1.8

  Heb. found.
• g 1.9

  Both such as constantly resided there, and such as were come thither upon their occasions, of whatsoever condition or quality.
• h 1.10

  The Persian Gardens were exceeding large and pleasant.
• ‖ 1.11

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• i 1.12

  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 Esth. 7. 8. Amos 2. 8. & 6. 4. Ioh. 13. 23. and in all other Authors.
• ‖ 1.13

  Or, of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• † 1.14

  •…•…eb. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• † 1.15

  Heb. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 king.
• k 1.16

  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 connemned by the wise and sober Heathens, and among others by this great Prince. Or, no man did compel another to drink according to the Law, i. e. as by the Laws or Orders of the Persians prescribed and used in their Feasts they might have done, if not restrained by this Law.
• l 1.17

  Whilest the King entertained the men. For this was the com∣mon custom of the Persians, that Men and Women did not feast together, but in several places.
• ‖ 1.18

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• m 1.19

  Or, Eunuchs, which were much in use, and in favour in the Eastern Courts, and particularly with the Persian Emperours, as ancient Histories inform us.
• † 1.20

  Heb. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 countinance.
• n 1.21

  Being favoured in this refusal by the Laws and customs of Persia, which was to keep Mens Wives, and especially Queens, as much as might be, from the view of other men.
• † 1.22

  Heb. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was b•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• o 1.23

  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 Iudgment in these cases, as the following words explain it, and how and when things were to be done. See my Notes on 1 Chr. 12. 32. Times are oft put in Scripture, and other Authors, for the things done in them, by a common Figure called a Meto∣nymy of the Adjunct.
• p 1.24

  To wit, to consult with them in all mat∣ters of moment.
• * 1.25

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 14.
• * 1.26

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1•…•….
• q 1.27

  Which had constant freedom of access to the King, and fa∣miliar converse with him: which is thus expressed, because the Persian Kings were very seldom seen by their Subjects.
• r 1.28

  Which were his chief Counsellors and Officers, and had the precedency from all others.
• † 1.29

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 to do.
• r 1.30

  Who, 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.
• s 1.31

  By giving them an Example and En∣couragement to contemn and disobey their Husbands. It is a crime of an high nature, and therefore deserves an exemplary punish∣ment.
• t 1.32

  Contempt in the Wives, and thereupon wrath in the Husbands; and consequently Strife in Families; which may produce great and general mischiefs.
• † 1.33

  Heb. if it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with the King.
• u 1.34

  Which this cunning Politician knew it would do.
• † 1.35

  Heb. from 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• † 1.36

  Heb. that it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 away. Ch. 8. 8.
• x 1.37

  Which caution was necessary for his own security; for if the Queen should recover her State, and the kings Favour, he was most likely to fall into his displeasure.
• † 1.38

  Heb. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 c•…•…panion.
• † 1.39

  Heb. was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the eyes of the king.
• y 1.40

  Partly because their own Authority and Interest was concern∣ed in it: and especially by the singular Providence of God who designed to bring about his own great work by this small occa∣sion.
• † 1.41

  Heb. that one 〈◊〉〈◊〉 publish •…•… according to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…guage of •…•… people.
• z 1.42

  That all sorts of persons, not Men only (who by study or tra∣vel 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 few hands, but more∣over it was published in the several Cities and Towns by such per∣sons as used to publish the Kings Edicts. Others, That he should speak in the language of his own People; i. e. that Men should not in compliance with their Wives, who were oft of other Nations and Languages, inure themselves to it, and bring their Wives Lan∣guage into the Family; but that men should use their own proper Language, and cause their Wives and Children to use it; this be∣ing one sign of Dominion, and therefore frequent after this time among the Greeks and Romans, who, together with their victorious Arms, brought in their Language into other Countries, and in a great measure imposed it upon them.