Esther 1:14

14 and the next to him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and who sat first in the kingdom;)

Esther 1:14 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 1:14

And the next unto him
That sat next to the king, and was the chief in dignity and authority under him:

was Carshena;
and so everyone in their rank and order, as next mentioned:

Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan;
who, according to the latter Targum, were of different countries; the first of Africa, the second of India, the third of Idumea, the fourth of Egypt, the fifth of Resen, ( Genesis 10:12 ) which is framed out of Marsena, who is dropped, and the last of Jerusalem, said to be Daniel; though the former Targum makes him to be Haman:

the seven powers of Persia and Media;
which custom of having seven counsellors with the kings of Persia arose from the seven princes that slew Smerdis the pretender, and made Darius Hystaspis king, the father of Xerxes:

which saw the king's face;
were intimate and familiar with him, often in his presence; yea, might go into it when they pleased, without the ceremony of being introduced; which privilege the above persons reserved to themselves, when they placed Darius on the throne, as Herodotus relates ^F21:

and which sat the first in the kingdom;
next to the king, and were assisting to him in the administration of government, see ( Ezra 7:14 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 lb. (Thalia, sive, l. 3.) c. 84, 118.

Esther 1:14 In-Context

12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s word by his eunuchs; therefore, the king was very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

13 Then the king asked the wise men, who knew the times, (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew about the law and rights,

14 and the next to him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and who sat first in the kingdom;)

15 What shall we do unto Queen Vashti according to law because she has not performed the decree of King Ahasuerus by the eunuchs?

16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti, the queen, has not only committed iniquity against the king, but also against all the princes and against all the people that are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.