Esther 1:3

“In the third year of his reign he made a feast unto all his princes, and his servants, etc.] The nobles and officers in his court; on what account this was cannot be said with certainty, whether the first day of it was his birthday, or the day of his coming to the throne, on which day Xerxes used to make a feast annually, as Herodotus relates f30: the power of Persia and Media; the mighty men therein, the potentates thereof; or the “army”, the principal officers of it: the nobles and princes of the provinces being with him. The first word Aben Ezra declares his ignorance of, whether it is Hebrew or Persian; Jarchi interprets it governors; and the persons intended by both seem to be the…”

“made a feast unto all his princes and his servants--Banquets on so grand a scale, and extending over so great a period, have been frequently provided by the luxurious monarchs of Eastern countries, both in ancient and modern times. The early portion of this festive season, however, seems to have been dedicated to amusement, particularly an exhibition of the magnificence and treasures of the court, and it was closed by a special feast of seven days' continuance, given within the gardens of the royal palace. The ancient palace of Susa has been recently disinterred from an incumbent mass of earth and ruins; and in that palace, which is, beyond all doubt, the actual edifice referred to in this…”

“In the third year - In this year, 483 B.C., Xerxes assembled the governors of provinces at Susa, in connection with his contemplated expedition against Greece. The nobles - literally, “the first men.” The Hebrew word used is one adopted from the Persian. return to 'Top of Page'”

“am 3542, bc 462 he made: Est 2:18; Gen 40:20; Kg1 3:15; Dan 5:1; Mar 6:21 of Persia: Est 1:14; Ezr 1:2; Isa 21:2; Jer 51:11; Dan 5:28, Dan 8:20 the nobles: Dan 3:2, Dan 3:3, Dan 6:1, Dan 6:6, Dan 6:7 Esther 1:4”