Esther 1:2

2 in those days, when king Artaxerxes was on the throne in the city of Susa,

Esther 1:2 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 1:2

That in those days, when the King Ahasuerus sat on the throne
of his kingdom
Not only was placed upon it, but settled in it; after Xerxes had subdued Egypt, in the second year of his reign F5, and enjoyed great peace and tranquillity:

which was in Shushan the palace;
that is, the throne of his kingdom was in Shushan, the royal city of the kings of Persia; of which (See Gill on Nehemiah 1:1) (See Gill on Daniel 8:2).


FOOTNOTES:

F5 Herodot. ib. (Thalia, sive, l. 3.) c. 7.

Esther 1:2 In-Context

1 [In the second year of the reign of Artaxerxes the great king, on the first of Nisan, Mardochaeus the of Jarius, the of Semeias, the of Cisaus, of the tribe of Benjamine, a Jew dwelling in the city Susa, a great man, serving in the king's palace, saw a vision. Now he was of the captivity which Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried captive from Jerusalem, with Jachonias the king of Judea. And this was his dream: Behold, voices and a noise, thunders and earthquake, tumult upon the earth. And, behold, two great serpents came forth, both ready for conflict, and there came from them a great voice, and by their voice every nation was prepared for battle, even to fight against the nation of the just. And, behold, a day of darkness and blackness, tribulation and anguish, affection and tumult upon the earth. And all the righteous nation was troubled, fearing their own afflictions; and they prepared to die, and cried to God: and from their cry there came as it were a great river from a little fountain, much water. And light and the sun arose, and the lowly were exalted, and devoured the honorable. And Mardochaeus who had seen this vision and what God desired to do, having awoke, kept it in his heart, and desired by all means to interpret it, even till night. And Mardochaeus rested quiet in the palace with Gabatha and Tharrha the king's two chamberlains, eunuchs who guarded the palace. And he heard their reasoning and searched out their plans, and learnt that they were preparing to lay hands on king Artaxerxes: and he informed the king concerning them. And the king examined the two chamberlains, and they confessed, and were executed. And the king wrote these things for a memorial: also Mardochaeus wrote concerning these matters. And the king commanded Mardochaeus to attend in the palace, and gave gifts for this service. And Aman the son of Amadathes the Bugean was honourable in the sight of the king, and he endeavored to hurt Mardochaeus and his people, beca
2 in those days, when king Artaxerxes was on the throne in the city of Susa,
3 in the third year of his reign, he made a feast to his friends, and the other nations, and to the nobles of the Persians and Medes, and the chief of the satraps.
4 And after this, after he had shewn to them the wealth of his kingdom, and the abundant glory of his wealth during a hundred and eighty days,
5 when, , the days of the marriage feast were completed, the king made a banquet to the nations who were present in the city six days, in the court of the king's house,

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.