“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:)”
Called also Darius, who was now the sovereign Monarch and had the government of the Medes, Persians, and Chaldeans, some think he was Darius Hystaspis’ son called also Artaxerxes. Dan. 6:1 , maketh mention but of sixscore, leaving out the number that is unprecise as the Scripture in divers places useth.
“That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,”
That is, had rest and quietness. Cross references: : Neh. 1:1
“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. blue, hangings: or, violet, etc of red: or, of porphyre, and marble and alabaster, and stone of blue colour”
Which they used in those countries instead of tables.
“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. royal: Heb. wine of the kingdom state: Heb. hand”
As was beseeming for so magnificent a king.
“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.”
None might be compelled to drink more than it pleased him.
“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, chamberlains: or, eunuchs”
Which was the last day of the feast that the king made for the people, as verse 5 .
“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. by his: Heb. which was by the hand of his eunuchs”
Hebrew, which was in the hand of the eunuchs .
“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:”
That had experience of things as they had learned by diligent marking in continuance of time.
“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;)”
Which were his chief counselors, that might have always access to him.
“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.”
By her disobedience she hath given an example to all women to do the like to their husbands.
“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.”
Meaning, that they would take first occasion thereof to do the like, and that the rest of women would by continuance do the same.
“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. If it: Heb. If it be good with the king unto: Heb. unto her companion from him: Heb. from before him be not: Heb. pass not away”
Let her be divorced, and another made Queen.
“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.”
For he had under him an hundred twenty and seven countries.
“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. that it: Heb. that one should publish it according to the language of his people”
That is, that the wife should be subject to the husband and at his commandment.