Esther 2:18

18 And the king made a banquet for all his friends and great men for seven days, and he highly celebrated the marriage of Esther; and he made a release to those who were under his dominion.

Esther 2:18 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 2:18

Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and
servants, even Esther's feast
A feast to all his nobles, courtiers, and ministers of state, on account of his marriage with Esther; which, according to the Greek version, was held seven days; but, according to Josephus, it lasted a whole month ^F20:

and he made a release to the provinces;
of taxes and tribute due to him, as was the custom of the kings of Persia when they came to the throne, as Herodotus ^F21 relates; so Smerdis the magus, that mounted the throne after Cambyses, pretending to be his brother, released them for three years to come ^F23; and Grotius says kings used to do it at their marriage, but gives no instance of it:

and gave gifts:
according to the latter Targum, to the provinces, all of them, that he might be sure that the people of Esther shared his favours, who were as yet unknown; but rather these gifts were given to his nobles, or it may be to Esther; so the former Targum,

``he gave to her a gift and portion:''

according to the state of the king;
his royal ability and munificence, and suitable to his grandeur; and it was usual with the Persian kings to give to their wives whole cities for one thing or another, as for necklaces, hair laces, shoes ^F24; Socrates ^F25 speaks of a whole country in Persia called the "Queen's girdle", and another her "Headdress".

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 11. c. 6. sect. 2.)
F21 Erato, sive, l. 6. c. 59.
F23 Thalia, sive, l. 3. c. 67.
F24 Herodot. Euterpe, sive, l. 2. c. 98. Cicero in Verrem, l. 3. Orat. 8.
F25 In Plat. Alcibiad.

Esther 2:18 In-Context

16 So Esther went in to king Artaxerxes in the twelfth month, which is Adar, in the seventh year of his reign.

17 And the king loved Esther, and she found favour beyond all the virgins: and he put on her the queen's crown.

18 And the king made a banquet for all his friends and great men for seven days, and he highly celebrated the marriage of Esther; and he made a release to those who were under his dominion.

19 But Mardochaeus served in the palace.

20 Now Esther had not discovered her kindred; for so Mardochaeus commanded her, to fear God, and perform his commandments, as when she was with him: and Esther changed not her manner of life.