Esther 1:13

The King's Decree

13 The king consulted the wise men who understood the times,^[a][b]for it was his normal procedure to confer with experts in law and justice.

Esther 1:13 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 1:13

Then the king said to the wise men that knew the times
Astrologers, as Aben Ezra, that knew the fit time for doing anything; or that had knowledge of ancient times, historians, well read in history, and knew things that had happened similar to this:

for so was the king's manner towards all that knew law and judgment;
it was customary with him in any case of difficulty to have the opinion and advice of those that were expert in the law, and well understood right and wrong. These are called by Herodotus ^F20 the king's judges.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 Thalia, sive, l. 3. c. 14, 31. so in Aelian. Var. Hist. l. 1. c. 34.

Esther 1:13 In-Context

11 to bring Queen Vashti before him with her royal crown. [He wanted] to show off her beauty to the people and the officials, because she was very beautiful.

12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command that was delivered by his eunuchs. The king became furious and his anger burned within him.

13 The king consulted the wise men who understood the times,for it was his normal procedure to confer with experts in law and justice.

14 The most trusted ones were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. They were the seven officials of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and occupied the highest positions in the kingdom.

15 [The king asked,] "According to the law, what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey King Ahasuerus' command that was delivered by the eunuchs?"

Footnotes

• [a]. Or understood propitious times
• [b]. 1 Ch 12:32