Esther 1:5

“And when these days were ended, etc.] The one hundred and eighty, in which the nobles, princes, and great men of the kingdom were feasted: the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small; of every age, rank, state and condition of life; these were the common people, whether inhabitants of the city or country people there on business, whether natives or foreigners; according to the Targum, there were Israelites there, but not Mordecai and his family; yea, it is said in the Midrash f37, that they were all Jews, and that their number was 18,500; but this is not probable; it is very likely there were some Jews among them, as there were…”

“Feasts on this extensive scale were not unusual in the East. Cyrus is said on one occasion to have feasted “all the Persians.” Even ordinarily, the later Persian monarchs entertained 15,000 persons at their table. return to 'Top of Page'”

“1:5 A second, briefer banquet allowed members of every level of society (from the greatest to the least) to experience the king’s majestic wealth. Because of the large numbers of people who could attend, this continuous open-house reception was held outdoors in the paved courtyard of the palace garden.”

“present: Heb. found seven days: Ch2 7:8, Ch2 7:9, Ch2 30:21-25 Esther 1:6”