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Selected Verse: Esther 10:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Es 10:1	Strong Concordance	And the king [04428] Ahasuerus [0325] laid [07760] a tribute [04522] upon the land [0776], and upon the isles [0339] of the sea [03220].
	King James	And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
AHASUERUS' GREATNESS. MORDECAI'S ADVANCEMENT. (Est 10:1-3) Ahasuerus laid a tribute--This passage being an appendix to the history, and improperly separated from the preceding chapter, it might be that the occasion of levying this new impost arose out of the commotions raised by Haman's conspiracy. Neither the nature nor the amount of the tax has been recorded; only it was not a local tribute, but one exacted from all parts of his vast empire.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

AHASUERUS' GREATNESS. MORDECAI'S ADVANCEMENT. (Est 10:1-3)

Ahasuerus laid a tribute--This passage being an appendix to the history, and improperly separated from the preceding chapter, it might be that the occasion of levying this new impost arose out of the commotions raised by Haman's conspiracy. Neither the nature nor the amount of the tax has been recorded; only it was not a local tribute, but one exacted from all parts of his vast empire.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
A tribute - Perhaps an allusion to some fresh arrangement of the tribute likely to have followed on the return of Xerxes from Greece. Upon the isles of the sea - Cyprus, Aradus, the island of Tyre, Platea, etc., remained in the hands of the Persians after the victories of the Greeks, and may be the "isles" here intended.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
isles That is, coasts.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
And King Ahashverosh laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea. Est 10:2. And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the statement of the greatness of Mordochai to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? The Chethiv אחשׁרשׁ is a clerical error for אהשׁורשׁ. The word מס, service, here stands for tribute. As the provinces of the kingdom paid the imposts for the most part in natural produce, which they had reared or obtained by the labour of their hands, their labour (agriculture, cattle-keeping, etc.) was to a certain extent service rendered to the king. The matter of Est 10:1 seems extraneous to the contents of our book, which has hitherto communicated only such information concerning Ahashverosh as was necessary for the complete understanding of the feast of Purim. "It seems" - remarks Bertheau - "as thou the historian had intended to tell in some further particulars concerning the greatness of King Ahashverosh, for the sake of giving his readers a more accurate notion of the influential position and the agency of Mordochai, the hero of his book, who, according to Est 9:4, waxed greater and greater; but then gave up his intention, and contented himself with referring to the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia, which contained information of both the power and might of Ahashverosh and the greatness of Mordochai." There is not, however, the slightest probability in such a conjecture. This matter may be simply explained by the circumstance, that the author of this book was using as an authority the book of the chronicles alluded to in Est 10:2, and is quite analogous with the mode observed in the books of Kings and Chronicles by historians both of Babylonian and post-Babylonian days, who quote from the documents they make use of such events only as seem to them important with regard to the plan of their own work, and then at the close of each reign refer to the documents themselves, in which more may be found concerning the acts of the kings, at the same time frequently adding supplementary information from these sources, - comp. e.g., Kg1 14:30; Kg1 15:7, Kg1 15:23, Kg1 15:32; Kg1 22:47-50; Kg2 15:37; Ch2 12:15, - with this difference only, that in these instances the supplementary notices follow the mention of the documents, while in the present book the notice precedes the citation. As, however, this book opened with a description of the power and glory of King Ahashverosh, but yet only mentioned so much concerning this ruler of 127 provinces as was connected with the history of the Jews, its author, before referring to his authorities, gives at its close the information contained in Est 10:1, from the book of the chronicles of the kingdom, in which probably it was connected with a particular description of the power and greatness of Ahashverosh, and probably of the wars in which he engaged, for the sake of briefly intimating at the conclusion whence the king derived the means for keeping up the splendour described at the commencement of the book. This book of the chronicles contained accounts not only of the power and might of Ahashverosh, but also a פּרשׁה, a plain statement or accurate representation of the greatness of Mordochai wherewith the king had made him great, i.e., to which he had advanced him, and therefore of the honours of the individual to whom the Jews were indebted for their preservation. On this account is it referred to. For Mordochai was next to the king, i.e., prime minister of the king (משׁנה, comp. Ch2 28:7), and great among the Jews and acceptable to the multitude of his brethren, i.e., he was also a great man among the Jews and was beloved and esteemed by all his fellow-countrymen (on רצוּי, comp. Deu 23:24), seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his race. This description of Mordochai's position with respect both to the king and his own people has, as expressive of an exalted frame of mind, a rhetorical and poetic tinge. Hence it contains such expressions as אחיו רב, the fulness of his brethren, טּוב דּרשׁ; comp. Psa 122:9; Jer 38:4. On שׁלום דּבּר, comp. Psa 85:9; Psa 35:20; Psa 27:3. זרעו in parallelism with עמּו is not the descendants of Mordochai, or his people, but his race. Comp. on this signification of זרע, Kg2 11:1; Isa 61:9. The meaning of the two last phrases is: Mordochai procured both by word and deed the good and prosperity of his people. And this is the way in which honour and fortune are attained, the way inculcated by the author of the 34th Psalm in Psa 34:13, when teaching the fear of the Lord.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

And King Ahashverosh laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea. Est 10:2. And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the statement of the greatness of Mordochai to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? The Chethiv אחשׁרשׁ is a clerical error for אהשׁורשׁ. The word מס, service, here stands for tribute. As the provinces of the kingdom paid the imposts for the most part in natural produce, which they had reared or obtained by the labour of their hands, their labour (agriculture, cattle-keeping, etc.) was to a certain extent service rendered to the king. The matter of Est 10:1 seems extraneous to the contents of our book, which has hitherto communicated only such information concerning Ahashverosh as was necessary for the complete understanding of the feast of Purim. "It seems" - remarks Bertheau - "as thou the historian had intended to tell in some further particulars concerning the greatness of King Ahashverosh, for the sake of giving his readers a more accurate notion of the influential position and the agency of Mordochai, the hero of his book, who, according to Est 9:4, waxed greater and greater; but then gave up his intention, and contented himself with referring to the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia, which contained information of both the power and might of Ahashverosh and the greatness of Mordochai." There is not, however, the slightest probability in such a conjecture. This matter may be simply explained by the circumstance, that the author of this book was using as an authority the book of the chronicles alluded to in Est 10:2, and is quite analogous with the mode observed in the books of Kings and Chronicles by historians both of Babylonian and post-Babylonian days, who quote from the documents they make use of such events only as seem to them important with regard to the plan of their own work, and then at the close of each reign refer to the documents themselves, in which more may be found concerning the acts of the kings, at the same time frequently adding supplementary information from these sources, - comp. e.g., Kg1 14:30; Kg1 15:7, Kg1 15:23, Kg1 15:32; Kg1 22:47-50; Kg2 15:37; Ch2 12:15, - with this difference only, that in these instances the supplementary notices follow the mention of the documents, while in the present book the notice precedes the citation. As, however, this book opened with a description of the power and glory of King Ahashverosh, but yet only mentioned so much concerning this ruler of 127 provinces as was connected with the history of the Jews, its author, before referring to his authorities, gives at its close the information contained in Est 10:1, from the book of the chronicles of the kingdom, in which probably it was connected with a particular description of the power and greatness of Ahashverosh, and probably of the wars in which he engaged, for the sake of briefly intimating at the conclusion whence the king derived the means for keeping up the splendour described at the commencement of the book. This book of the chronicles contained accounts not only of the power and might of Ahashverosh, but also a פּרשׁה, a plain statement or accurate representation of the greatness of Mordochai wherewith the king had made him great, i.e., to which he had advanced him, and therefore of the honours of the individual to whom the Jews were indebted for their preservation. On this account is it referred to. For Mordochai was next to the king, i.e., prime minister of the king (משׁנה, comp. Ch2 28:7), and great among the Jews and acceptable to the multitude of his brethren, i.e., he was also a great man among the Jews and was beloved and esteemed by all his fellow-countrymen (on רצוּי, comp. Deu 23:24), seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his race. This description of Mordochai's position with respect both to the king and his own people has, as expressive of an exalted frame of mind, a rhetorical and poetic tinge. Hence it contains such expressions as אחיו רב, the fulness of his brethren, טּוב דּרשׁ; comp. Psa 122:9; Jer 38:4. On שׁלום דּבּר, comp. Psa 85:9; Psa 35:20; Psa 27:3. זרעו in parallelism with עמּו is not the descendants of Mordochai, or his people, but his race. Comp. on this signification of זרע, Kg2 11:1; Isa 61:9. The meaning of the two last phrases is: Mordochai procured both by word and deed the good and prosperity of his people. And this is the way in which honour and fortune are attained, the way inculcated by the author of the 34th Psalm in Psa 34:13, when teaching the fear of the Lord.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Laid a tribute upon the land - On the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces of which we have already heard. The isles of the sea - Probably the isles of the Aegean sea, which were conquered by Darius Hystaspes. Calmet supposes that this Hystaspes is the Ahasuerus of Esther.

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¹ And the king [04428] Ahasuerus [0325] laid [07760] a tribute [04522] upon the land [0776], and upon the isles [0339] of the sea [03220].
² And all the acts [04639] of his power [08633] and of his might [01369], and the declaration [06575] of the greatness [01420] of Mordecai [04782], whereunto the king [04428] advanced [01431] him, are they not written [03789] in the book [05612] of the chronicles [01697] [03117] of the kings [04428] of Media [04074] and Persia [06539]?
³ For Mordecai [04782] the Jew [03064] was next [04932] unto king [04428] Ahasuerus [0325], and great [01419] among the Jews [03064], and accepted [07521] of the multitude [07230] of his brethren [0251], seeking [01875] the wealth [02896] of his people [05971], and speaking [01696] peace [07965] to all his seed [02233].

¹³ Keep [05341] thy tongue [03956] from evil [07451], and thy lips [08193] from speaking [01696] guile [04820].

⁹ And their seed [02233] shall be known [03045] among the Gentiles [01471], and their offspring [06631] among [08432] the people [05971]: all that see [07200] them shall acknowledge [05234] them, that they are the seed [02233] which the LORD [03068] hath blessed [01288].

¹ And when Athaliah [06271] the mother [0517] of Ahaziah [0274] saw [07200] that her son [01121] was dead [04191], she arose [06965] and destroyed [06] all the seed [02233] royal [04467].

³ Though an host [04264] should encamp [02583] against me, my heart [03820] shall not fear [03372]: though war [04421] should rise [06965] against me, in this will I be confident [0982].

²⁰ For they speak [01696] not peace [07965]: but they devise [02803] deceitful [04820] matters [01697] against them that are quiet [07282] in the land [0776].

⁹ Surely his salvation [03468] is nigh [07138] them that fear [03373] him; that glory [03519] may dwell [07931] in our land [0776].

⁴ Therefore the princes [08269] said [0559] unto the king [04428], We beseech thee, let this man [0376] be put to death [04191]: for thus [03651] he weakeneth [07503] the hands [03027] of the men [0582] of war [04421] that remain [07604] in this city [05892], and the hands [03027] of all the people [05971], in speaking [01696] such words [01697] unto them: for this man [0376] seeketh [01875] not the welfare [07965] of this people [05971], but the hurt [07451].

⁹ Because of the house [01004] of the LORD [03068] our God [0430] I will seek [01245] thy good [02896].

²⁴ When thou comest [0935] into thy neighbour's [07453] vineyard [03754], then thou mayest eat [0398] grapes [06025] thy fill [07648] at thine own pleasure [05315]; but thou shalt not put [05414] any in thy vessel [03627].

⁷ And Zichri [02147], a mighty man [01368] of Ephraim [0669], slew [02026] Maaseiah [04641] the king's [04428] son [01121], and Azrikam [05840] the governor [05057] of the house [01004], and Elkanah [0511] that was next [04932] to the king [04428].

¹ And the king [04428] Ahasuerus [0325] laid [07760] a tribute [04522] upon the land [0776], and upon the isles [0339] of the sea [03220].

¹⁵ Now the acts [01697] of Rehoboam [07346], first [07223] and last [0314], are they not written [03789] in the book [01697] of Shemaiah [08098] the prophet [05030], and of Iddo [05714] the seer [02374] concerning genealogies [03187]? And there were wars [04421] between Rehoboam [07346] and Jeroboam [03379] continually [03117].

³⁷ In those days [03117] the LORD [03068] began [02490] to send [07971] against Judah [03063] Rezin [07526] the king [04428] of Syria [0758], and Pekah [06492] the son [01121] of Remaliah [07425].

⁴⁷ There was then no king [04428] in Edom [0123]: a deputy [05324] was king [04428].
⁴⁸ Jehoshaphat [03092] made [06213] [06240] ships [0591] of Tharshish [08659] to go [03212] to Ophir [0211] for gold [02091]: but they went [01980] not; for the ships [0591] were broken [07665] at Eziongeber [06100].
⁴⁹ Then said [0559] Ahaziah [0274] the son [01121] of Ahab [0256] unto Jehoshaphat [03092], Let my servants [05650] go [03212] with thy servants [05650] in the ships [0591]. But Jehoshaphat [03092] would [014] not.
⁵⁰ And Jehoshaphat [03092] slept [07901] with his fathers [01], and was buried [06912] with his fathers [01] in the city [05892] of David [01732] his father [01]: and Jehoram [03088] his son [01121] reigned [04427] in his stead.

³² And there was war [04421] between Asa [0609] and Baasha [01201] king [04428] of Israel [03478] all their days [03117].

²³ The rest [03499] of all the acts [01697] of Asa [0609], and all his might [01369], and all that he did [06213], and the cities [05892] which he built [01129], are they not written [03789] in the book [05612] of the chronicles [01697] [03117] of the kings [04428] of Judah [03063]? Nevertheless in the time [06256] of his old age [02209] he was diseased [02470] in his feet [07272].

⁷ Now the rest [03499] of the acts [01697] of Abijam [038], and all that he did [06213], are they not written [03789] in the book [05612] of the chronicles [01697] [03117] of the kings [04428] of Judah [03063]? And there was war [04421] between Abijam [038] and Jeroboam [03379].

³⁰ And there was war [04421] between Rehoboam [07346] and Jeroboam [03379] all their days [03117].

² And all the acts [04639] of his power [08633] and of his might [01369], and the declaration [06575] of the greatness [01420] of Mordecai [04782], whereunto the king [04428] advanced [01431] him, are they not written [03789] in the book [05612] of the chronicles [01697] [03117] of the kings [04428] of Media [04074] and Persia [06539]?

⁴ For Mordecai [04782] was great [01419] in the king's [04428] house [01004], and his fame [08089] went out [01980] throughout all the provinces [04082]: for this man [0376] Mordecai [04782] waxed [01980] greater and greater [01419].

¹ And the king [04428] Ahasuerus [0325] laid [07760] a tribute [04522] upon the land [0776], and upon the isles [0339] of the sea [03220].