Esther 1:2
in Esther 1In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
that in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
KJV
That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
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This verse in Esther 1
Commentary
7 notes on this verseThat 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 (e), 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 Neh 1:1, Dan 8:2. (e) Herodot. ib. (Thalia, sive, l. 3.) c. 7.
This site's exposition
who reigned over 127 provinces
on Esther 1:1-4
Xerxes reigned over "127 provinces from India to Cush," and his display of wealth ran "for a full 180 days". Keil set the gathering beside Herodotus, who records a council Xerxes held before his war on Greece, a match the evidence supports without settling.
This site's exposition
In those days King Xerxes
Gill reads the king sitting on his royal throne as a king settled in it, after Xerxes had subdued Egypt in the second year. Clarke names Susa, with Ecbatana and Babylon, as a royal residence of the kings of Persia. He adds that the Septuagint calls the citadel the city.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church3 voices
Susa is the capital of Persia, which according to the chroniclers was founded by the brother of Memnon; and it is called Susa because it borders on the river Susa, which is the location of the royal palace of Cyrus. This was known for its …
The story of Esther is found not only in the holy books but also in the Antiquities of Josephus, though their accounts of these events differ in certain respects. But the latter also raises the question of just who was this Ahasuerus who ruled from …
Susa is the metropolis of Persia which the historians say was founded by the brother of Memnon. It is called Susa because it lies along the river Susis where the royal palace of Cyrus was constructed with glittering white stone as well as other varieties. …
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Sat on the throne of his kingdom - Having subdued all his enemies, and brought universal peace to his empire. See the commencement of the introduction. Shushan the palace - The ancient city of Susa, now called Shuster by the Persians. This, with Ecbatana and Babylon, was a residence of the Persian kings. The word הבירה habbirah, which we render the palace, should be rendered the city, εν Σουσοις τῃ πολει, as in the Septuagint.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
It was in the days of Achashveirosh. He was the king of Persia. The Persians conquered the Babylonians, and Achashveirosh succeeded Koresh to the Persian throne in the year. who reigned in place of Koresh.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 1 further source is cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בַּיָּמִ֖ים | baiyamim | in the days | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| הָהֵ֑ם | hahem | <the> those | H1992 → | 553 times |
| כְּשֶׁ֣בֶת׀ | keshevet | when sat | H3427 → | 1079 times |
| הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ | hamelekh | the king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ | ʾachashveroosh | Ahasuerus | H325 → | 31 times |
| עַ֚ל | ʾal | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| כִּסֵּ֣א | kise' | [the] throne of | H3678 → | 135 times |
| מַלְכוּת֔וֹ | malkhuto | royalty his | H4438 → | 91 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֖ר | ʾasher | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| בְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ן | beshushan | [was] in Susa | H7800 → | 21 times |
| הַבִּירָֽה׃ | habirah | the citadel | H1002 → | 16 times |
בַּיָּמִ֖יםin the days
baiyamimH3117 →2304 times
הָהֵ֑ם<the> those
hahemH1992 →553 times
כְּשֶׁ֣בֶת׀when sat
keshevetH3427 →1079 times
הַמֶּ֣לֶךְthe king
hamelekhH4428 →2525 times
אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁAhasuerus
ʾachashverooshH325 →31 times
עַ֚לon
ʾalH5921 →5755 times
כִּסֵּ֣א[the] throne of
kise'H3678 →135 times
מַלְכוּת֔וֹroyalty his
malkhutoH4438 →91 times
אֲשֶׁ֖רwhich
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
בְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ן[was] in Susa
beshushanH7800 →21 times
הַבִּירָֽה׃the citadel
habirahH1002 →16 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Nehemiah 1:1These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,
it leads to
- Nehemiah 10:1
Now these were the ones who sealed the document: Nehemiah the governor, son of Hacaliah, and also Zedekiah,
- Zechariah 7:1
In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Chislev.
- Daniel 8:2
And in the vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa, in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision that I was beside the Ulai Canal.
- Nehemiah 10:1
Through
2 Samuel 7:1After the king had settled into his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him,
it leads to
- Proverbs 16:7
When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
- Luke 1:74–75
deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
- 2 Chronicles 14:6
Because the land was at peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. In those days no one made war with him, because the LORD had given him rest.
- 1 Kings 5:4
But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or crisis.
- Proverbs 16:7
Through
Daniel 8:2And in the vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa, in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision that I was beside the Ulai Canal.
it leads to
- Nehemiah 1:1
These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,
- Nehemiah 1:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
On this verse
About Esther
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil, The Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther; Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Esther and Rabanus Maurus, EXPLANATION ON THE BOOK OF ESTHER 1.