Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary

on the Whole Bible

Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page

---

[Table of Contents] [Previous] [Next]

Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708)

---

E S T H E R

CHAP. I.

---

     

Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great

use; but the design of recording the story of it is to show how way was

made for Esther to the crown, in order to her being instrumental to

defeat Haman’s plot, and this long before the plot was laid, that we

may observe and admire the foresight and vast reaches of Providence.

“Known unto God are all his works” before-hand. Ahasuerus the king,

I. In his height feasts all his great men,

ver. 1-9.

II. In his heat he divorces his queen, because she would not come to

him when he sent for her,

ver. 10-22.

This shows how God serves his own purposes even by the sins and follies

of men, which he would not permit if he know not how to bring good out

of them.

The Feast of Ahasuerus.	B. C. 519.

     

1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is

Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an

hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)

  2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the

throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,

  3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his

princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the

nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:

  4 When he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the

honour of his excellent majesty many days, even a hundred and

fourscore days.

  5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto

all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto

great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the

king’s palace;

  6 Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened

with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars

of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of

red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.

  7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels

being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance,

according to the state of the king.

  8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel:

for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house,

that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.

  9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the

royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.

     

Which of the kings of Persia this Ahasuerus was the learned are not

agreed. Mordecai is said to have been one of those that were

carried captive from Jerusalem

(ch. ii. 5, 6),

whence it should seem that this Ahasuerus was one of the first kings of

that empire. Dr. Lightfoot thinks that he was that Artaxerxes who

hindered the building of the temple, who is called also

Ahasuerus

(Ezra iv. 6, 7),

after his great-grandfather of the Medes,

Dan. ix. 1.

We have here an account,

     

I. Of the vast extent of his dominion. In the time of Darius and Cyrus

there were but 120 princes

(

Dan. vi. 1);

now there were 127, from India to Ethiopia,
v. 1.

It had become an over-grown kingdom, which in time would sink with its

own weight, and, as usual, would lose its provinces as fast as it got

them. If such vast power be put into a bad hand, it is able to do so

much the more mischief; but, if into a good hand, it is able to do so

much the more good. Christ’s kingdom is, or shall be, far larger than

this, when the kingdoms of the world shall all become his; and it shall

be everlasting.

     

II. Of the great pomp and magnificence of his court. When he found

himself fixed in his throne, the pride of his heart rising with the

grandeur of his kingdom, he made a most extravagant feast, wherein he

put himself to vast expense and trouble only to show the riches of

his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty,
v. 4.

This was vain glory, an affection of pomp to no purpose at all; for

none questioned the riches of his kingdom, nor offered to vie with him

for honour. If he had shown the riches of his kingdom and the honour of

his majesty, as some of his successors did, in contributing largely

towards the building of the temple and the maintaining of the temple

service

(Ezra vi. 8, vii. 22),

it would have turned to a much better account. Two feasts Ahasuerus

made:–

1. One for his nobles and princes, which lasted a hundred and eighty

days,
v. 3, 4.

Not that he feasted the same persons every day for all that time, but

perhaps the nobles and princes of one province one day, of another

province another day, while thus he and his constant attendants fared

sumptuously every day. The Chaldee paraphrast (who is very bold in his

additions to the story of this book) says that there had been a

rebellion among his subjects and that this feast was kept for joy of

the quashing of it.

2. Another was made for all the people, both great and small,

which lasted seven days, some one day and some another; and,

because no house would hold them, they were entertained in the court

of the garden,
v. 5.

The hangings with which the several apartments were divided or the

tents which were there pitched for the company, were very fine and

rich; so were the beds or benches on which they sat, and the pavement

under their feet,

v. 6.

Better is a dinner of herbs with quietness, and the enjoyment of one’s

self and a friend, than this banquet of wine with all the noise and

tumult that must needs attend it.

     

III. Of the good order which in some respects was kept there

notwithstanding. We do not find this like Belshazzar’s feast, in which

dunghill-gods were praised and the vessels of the sanctuary profaned,

Dan. v. 3, 4.

Yet the Chaldee paraphrase says that the vessels of the sanctuary were

used in this feast, to the great grief of the pious Jews. It was not

like Herod’s feast, which reserved a prophet’s head for the last dish.

Two things which are laudable we may gather from the account here given

of this feast:–

1. That there was no forcing of healths, nor urging of them: The

drinking was according to the law, probably some law lately made;

none did compel, no, not by continual proposing of it (as

Josephus explains it); they did not send the glass about, but every man

drank as he pleased

(v. 8),

so that if there were any that drank to excess it was their own fault,

a fault which few would commit when the king’s order put an honour upon

sobriety. This caution of a heathen prince, even when he would show his

generosity, may shame many who are called Christians, who think they do

not sufficiently show their good housekeeping, nor bid their friends

welcome, unless they make them drunk, and, under pretence of sending

the health round, send the sin round, and death with it. There is a woe

to those that do so; let them read it and tremble,

Hab. ii. 15, 16.

It is robbing men of their reason, their richest jewel, and making them

fools, the greatest wrong that can be.

2. That there was no mixed dancing; for the gentlemen and ladies were

entertained asunder, not as in the feast of Belshazzar, whose wives and

concubines drank with him

(Dan. v. 2),

or that of Herod, whose daughter danced before him. Vashti

feasted the women in her own apartment; not openly in the court of the

garden, but in the royal house,
v. 9.

Thus, while the king showed the honour of his majesty, she and her

ladies showed the honour of their modesty, which is truly the majesty

of the fair sex.

Vashti’s Refusal to Appear; Vashti Divorced.	B. C. 519.

     

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 chamberlains that served

in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

  11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown

royal, to show the people and the princes her beauty: for she

was fair to look on.

  12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s

commandment 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,

(for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and

judgment:

  14 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha,

Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of

Persia and Media, which saw the king’s face, and which sat the

first in the kingdom;)

  15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law,

because she hath not performed the commandment of the king

Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?

  16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti

the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all

the princes, and to all the people that are in all the

provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

  17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all

women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes,

when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus 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 king’s princes, which have heard of the deed of the

queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.

  19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from

him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the

Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before

king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto

another that is better than she.

  20 And when the king’s 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 pleased the king and the princes; and the

king did according to the word of Memucan:

  22 For he sent letters into all the king’s 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 that it should be published according to the

language of every people.

     

We have here a damp to all the mirth of Ahasuerus’s feast; it ended in

heaviness, not as Job’s children’s feast by a wind from the wilderness,

not as Belshazzar’s by a hand-writing on the wall, but by is own folly.

An unhappy falling out there was, at the end of the feast, between the

king and queen, which broke of the feast abruptly, and sent the guests

away silent and ashamed.

     

I. It was certainly the king’s weakness to send for Vashti into his

presence when he was drunk, and in company with abundance of gentlemen,

many of whom, it is likely, were in the same condition. When his

heart was merry with wine nothing would serve him but Vashti must

come, well dressed as she was, with the crown on her head, that

the princes and people might see what a handsome woman she was,

v. 10, 11.

Hereby,

1. He dishonoured himself as a husband, who ought to protect, but by no

means expose, the modesty of his wife, who ought to be to her a

covering of the eyes

(Gen. xx. 16),

not to uncover them.

2. He diminished himself as a king, in commanding that from his wife

which she might refuse, much to the honour of her virtue. It was

against the custom of the Persians for the women to appear in public,

and he put a great hardship upon her when he did not court, but command

her to do so uncouth a thing, and make her a show. If he had not been

put out of the possession of himself by drinking to excess, he would

not have done such a thing, but would have been angry at any one that

should have mentioned it. When the wine is in the wit is out, and men’s

reason departs from them.

     

II. However, perhaps it was not her wisdom to deny him. She refused

to come

(v. 12);

though he sent his command by seven honourable messengers, and

publicly, and Josephus says sent again and again, yet she persisted in

her denial. Had she come, while it was evident that she did it in pure

obedience, it would have been no reflection upon her modesty, nor a bad

example. The thing was not in itself sinful, and therefore to obey

would have been more her honour than to be so precise. Perhaps she

refused in a haughty manner, and then it was certainly evil; she

scorned to come at the king’s commandment. What a mortification

was this to him! While he was showing the glory of his kingdom he

showed the reproach of his family, that he had a wife that would do as

she pleased. Strifes between yoke-fellows are bad enough at any time,

but before company they are very scandalous, and occasion blushing and

uneasiness.

     

III. The king thereupon grew outrageous. He that had rule over 127

provinces had no rule over his own spirit, but his anger burned in

him,
v. 12.

He would have consulted his own comfort and credit more if he had

stifled his resentment, had passed by the affront his wife gave him,

and turned it off with a jest.

     

IV. Though he was very angry, he would not do any thing in this matter

till he advised with his privy-counsellors; as he had seven

chamberlains to execute his orders, who are named

(v. 10),

so he had seven counsellors to direct his orders. The greater power a

man has the greater need he has of advice, that he may not abuse his

power. Of these counsellors it is said that they were learned men, for

they knew law and judgment,that they were wise men, for

they knew the times,and that the king put great confidence in

them and honour upon them, for they saw the king’s face and sat

first in the kingdom,
v. 13, 14.

In the multitude of such counsellors there is safety. Now here is,

     

1. The question proposed to this cabinet-council

(v. 15):

What shall we do to the queen Vashti according to the law?

Observe,

(1.) Though it was the queen that was guilty, the law must have its

course.

(2.) Though the king was very angry, yet he would do nothing but what

he was advised was according to law.

     

2. The proposal which Memucan made, that Vashti should be divorced for

her disobedience. Some suggest that he gave this severe advice, and the

rest agreed to it, because they knew it would please the king, would

gratify both his passion now and his appetite afterwards. But Josephus

says that, on the contrary, he had a strong affection for Vashti, and

would not have put her away for this offence if he could legally have

passed it by; and then we must suppose Memucan, in his advice, to have

had a sincere regard to justice and the public good.

(1.) He shows what would be the bad consequences of the queen’s

disobedience to her husband, if it were passed by and not animadverted

upon, that it would embolden other wives both to disobey their husbands

and to domineer over them. Had this unhappy falling out between the

king and his wife, wherein she was conqueror, been private, the error

would have remained with themselves and the quarrel might have been

settled privately between themselves; but it happening to be public,

and perhaps the ladies that were now feasting with the queen having

shown themselves pleased with her refusal, her bad example would be

likely to have a bad influence upon all the families of the kingdom. If

the queen must have her humour, and the king must submit to it (since

the houses of private persons commonly take their measures from the

courts of princes), the wives would be haughty and imperious and would

scorn to obey their husbands, and the poor despised husbands might fret

at it, but could not help themselves; for the contentions of a wife

are a continual dropping,
Prov. xix. 13; xxvii. 15;

and see

Prov. xxi. 9; xxv. 24.

When wives despise their husbands, whom they ought to

reverence

(Eph. v. 33),

and contend for dominion over those to whom they ought to be in

subjection

(1 Pet. iii. 1),

there cannot but be continual guilt and grief, confusion and every evil

work. And great ones must take heed of setting copies of this kind,

v. 16-18.

(2.) He shows what would be the good consequence of a decree against

Vashti that she should be divorced. We may suppose that before they

proceeded to this extremity they sent to Vashti to know if she would

yet submit, cry Peccavi–I have done wrong, and ask the king’s

pardon, and that, if she had done so, the mischief of her example would

have been effectually prevented, and process would have been stayed;

but it is likely she continued obstinate, and insisted upon it as her

prerogative to do as she pleased, whether it pleased the king or no,

and therefore they gave this judgment against her, that she come no

more before the king, and this judgment so ratified as never to be

reversed,

v. 19.

The consequence of this, it was hoped, would be that the wives would

give to their husbands honour, even the wives of the great,

notwithstanding their own greatness, and the wives of the small,

notwithstanding the husband’s meanness

(v. 20);

and thus every man would bear rule in his own house, as he ought to do,

and, the wives being subject, the children and servants would be so

too. It is the interest of states and kingdoms to provide that good

order be kept in private families.

     

3. The edict that passed according to this proposal, signifying that

the queen was divorced for contumacy, according to the law, and that,

if other wives were in like manner undutiful to their husbands, they

must expect to be in like manner disgraced

(v. 21, 22):

were they better than the queen? Whether it was the passion or the

policy of the king that was served by this edict, God’s providence

served its own purpose by it, which was to make way for Esther to the

crown.

---

[Table of Contents] [Previous] [Next]

Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708)

---

Back to Bibles Net . Com – Online Christian Library Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary – Free Download Contact Us

---