Click
here to show/hide instructions.
Instructions on how to use the page:
The commentary for the selected verse is is displayed below.
All commentary was produced against the King James, so the same verse from that translation may appear as well. Hovering your mouse over a commentary's scripture reference attempts to show those verses.
Use the browser's back button to return to the previous page.
Or you can also select a feature from the Just Verses menu appearing at the top of the page.
Selected Verse: Esther 1:13 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Es 1:13 |
Strong Concordance |
Then the king [04428] said [0559] to the wise men [02450], which knew [03045] the times [06256], (for so was the king's [04428] manner [01697] toward [06440] all that knew [03045] law [01881] and judgment [01779]: |
|
King James |
Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment: |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Then the king said to the wise men--These were probably the magi, without whose advice as to the proper time of doing a thing the Persian kings never did take any step whatever; and the persons named in Est 1:14 were the "seven counsellors" (compare Ezr 7:14) who formed the state ministry. The combined wisdom of all, it seems, was enlisted to consult with the king what course should be taken after so unprecedented an occurrence as Vashti's disobedience of the royal summons. It is scarcely possible for us to imagine the astonishment produced by such a refusal in a country and a court where the will of the sovereign was absolute. The assembled grandees were petrified with horror at the daring affront. Alarm for the consequences that might ensue to each of them in his own household next seized on their minds; and the sounds of bacchanalian revelry were hushed into deep and anxious consultation what punishment to inflict on the refractory queen. But a purpose was to be served by the flattery of the king and the enslavement of all women. The counsellors were too intoxicated or obsequious to oppose the courtly advice of Memucan was unanimously resolved, with a wise regard to the public interests of the nation, that the punishment of Vashti could be nothing short of degradation from her royal dignity. The doom was accordingly pronounced and made known in all parts of the empire. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Wise men ... - Not "astrologers," who were unknown in Persia; but rather men of practical wisdom, who knew the facts and customs of former times.
For so was the king's manner - Some render it: "for so was the king's business laid before all that knew law ..." |
Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
The king, greatly incensed at this disobedience to his behest, inquired of his wise men what was to be done to Queen Vashti according to law. These wise men are Est 1:13 designated as those "who knew the times," i.e., astrologers and magi, who give counsel according to celestial phenomena; comp. the wise men of Babylon, Dan 2:27; Dan 5:15; Isa 44:25; Isa 47:13; Jer 50:35. Of these he inquires, "for thus was the business of the king conducted before all that knew law and judgment." דּבר here does not signify word or speech, but matter, business; and the meaning of this parenthetical sentence is, that in every matter, the king, before deciding, applied to those who were skilled in law and judgment to hear their opinions concerning it. With this is joined a second explanatory parenthetical sentence, Est 1:14 : "And those next him were Carshena, etc., the seven princes of the Persians and Medes, who behold the king's countenance, who hold the first seat in his kingdom." אליו הקּרב is indefinite, and may be understood as expressing the plural. It is perhaps questionable how this clause should be combined with what precedes, whether with ודין דּת כּל־ידעי, before all that knew law and judgment and those next him, or with לחכמים, Est 1:13 : he spoke to the wise men ... and those next him. In any case the sense is, that the seven princes of the Persians and Medes were also numbered either among the wise men who knew the times, or those who were skilled in the law. These seven princes are the seven king's counsellors of Ezr 7:14, and by their number of seven form a counterpart to the seven Amshaspands. They who see the face of the king, i.e., are allowed direct intercourse with him. Herod. iii. 84 relates of the seven princes who conspired the overthrow of the pretended Smerdis, that they resolved, that it should be permitted them to present themselves unannounced before the future king. Hence many expositors identify these seven princes with the authorities called the seven counsellors, but without sufficient grounds. The number seven frequently recurs, - comp. the seven eunuchs, Est 1:5, the seven maidens who waited on Est 2:9, - and refers in the present case to the seven Amshaspands, in others to the days of the week, or the seven planets. ראשׁנה היּשׁבים, who sit first, i.e., in the highest place, i.e., constitute the highest authority in the realm. What the king said (Est 1:13) does not follow till Est 1:15 : "According to law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not done the word of the king," i.e., not obeyed his command by the eunuchs? כּדת, according to law, legally, is placed first because it is intended emphatically to assert that the proceeding is to be in conformity with the law. עשׂה with בּ, to inflict something on any one. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
The times - The histories of former times, what princes have done in such cases as this was. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
To the wise men - Probably the lawyers. |
14 Forasmuch [01768] [06903] as [03606] thou art sent [07972] of [04481] [06925] the king [04430], and of his seven [07655] counsellors [03272], to enquire [01240] concerning [05922] Judah [03061] and Jerusalem [03390], according to the law [01882] of thy God [0426] which is in thine hand [03028];
14 And the next [07138] unto him was Carshena [03771], Shethar [08369], Admatha [0133], Tarshish [08659], Meres [04825], Marsena [04826], and Memucan [04462], the seven [07651] princes [08269] of Persia [06539] and Media [04074], which saw [07200] the king's [04428] face [06440], and which sat [03427] the first [07223] in the kingdom [04438];)
15 What shall we do [06213] unto the queen [04436] Vashti [02060] according to law [01881], because she hath not performed [06213] the commandment [03982] of the king [04428] Ahasuerus [0325] by [03027] the chamberlains [05631]?
13 Then the king [04428] said [0559] to the wise men [02450], which knew [03045] the times [06256], (for so was the king's [04428] manner [01697] toward [06440] all that knew [03045] law [01881] and judgment [01779]:
9 And the maiden [05291] pleased [03190] [05869] him, and she obtained [05375] kindness [02617] of him [06440]; and he speedily [0926] gave [05414] her her things for purification [08562], with such things as belonged [04490] to her, and seven [07651] maidens [05291], which were meet [07200] to be given [05414] her, out of the king's [04428] house [01004]: and he preferred [08138] her and her maids [05291] unto the best [02896] place of the house [01004] of the women [0802].
5 And when these days [03117] were expired [04390], the king [04428] made [06213] a feast [04960] unto all the people [05971] that were present [04672] in Shushan [07800] the palace [01002], both unto great [01419] and small [06996], seven [07651] days [03117], in the court [02691] of the garden [01594] of the king's [04428] palace [01055];
14 Forasmuch [01768] [06903] as [03606] thou art sent [07972] of [04481] [06925] the king [04430], and of his seven [07655] counsellors [03272], to enquire [01240] concerning [05922] Judah [03061] and Jerusalem [03390], according to the law [01882] of thy God [0426] which is in thine hand [03028];
13 Then the king [04428] said [0559] to the wise men [02450], which knew [03045] the times [06256], (for so was the king's [04428] manner [01697] toward [06440] all that knew [03045] law [01881] and judgment [01779]:
14 And the next [07138] unto him was Carshena [03771], Shethar [08369], Admatha [0133], Tarshish [08659], Meres [04825], Marsena [04826], and Memucan [04462], the seven [07651] princes [08269] of Persia [06539] and Media [04074], which saw [07200] the king's [04428] face [06440], and which sat [03427] the first [07223] in the kingdom [04438];)
35 A sword [02719] is upon the Chaldeans [03778], saith [05002] the LORD [03068], and upon the inhabitants [03427] of Babylon [0894], and upon her princes [08269], and upon her wise [02450] men.
13 Thou art wearied [03811] in the multitude [07230] of thy counsels [06098]. Let now the astrologers [01895] [08064], the stargazers [02374] [03556], the monthly [02320] prognosticators [03045], stand up [05975], and save [03467] thee from these things that shall come [0935] upon thee.
25 That frustrateth [06565] the tokens [0226] of the liars [0907], and maketh diviners [07080] mad [01984]; that turneth [07725] wise [02450] men backward [0268], and maketh their knowledge [01847] foolish [05528];
15 And now [03705] the wise [02445] men, the astrologers [0826], have been brought [05954] in before [06925] me, that they should read [07123] this [01836] writing [03792], and make known [03046] unto me the interpretation [06591] thereof: but they could [03546] not [03809] shew [02324] the interpretation [06591] of the thing [04406]:
27 Daniel [01841] answered [06032] in the presence [06925] of the king [04430], and said [0560], The secret [07328] which the king [04430] hath demanded [07593] cannot [03202] [03809] the wise [02445] men, the astrologers [0826], the magicians [02749], the soothsayers [01505], shew [02324] unto the king [04430];
13 Then the king [04428] said [0559] to the wise men [02450], which knew [03045] the times [06256], (for so was the king's [04428] manner [01697] toward [06440] all that knew [03045] law [01881] and judgment [01779]: