Esther 1:2

Esther 1:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
• New International Version (NIV)At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa,
• English Standard Version (ESV)in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel,
• New King James Version (NKJV)in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the citadel,

Context of Esther 1:2

1This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush. In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa. 3In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces. 4And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.

Esther 1:2 word by word

בַּיָּמִ֖ים הָהֵ֑ם כְּשֶׁ֣בֶת׀ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ עַ֚ל כִּסֵּ֣א מַלְכוּת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ן הַבִּירָֽה׃Read the interlinear

• In thoseהֵ֫מָּהhêm hêmmâh · they(masc.)H1992
• daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• Kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• Xerxesאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ'ăchashvêrôsh 'achashrôsh · AhasuerusH325
• satיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• onעַל‛al · uponH5921
• his royalמַלְכוּתmalkûth malkûth malkûyâh · royaltyH4438
• ·אֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• throneכִּסֵּאkissê' kissêh · throneH3678
• in the citadelבִּירָהbîyrâh · palaceH1002
• of Susaשׁוּשַׁןshûshan · SusaH7800

Cross-references for Esther 1:2

• 2 Samuel 7:1After the king had settled into his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him,
• 1 Kings 1:46Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne.
• Daniel 4:4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.
• Esther 2:3and let the king appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom to assemble all the beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the women, and let them be given beauty treatments.
• Esther 3:15The couriers left, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was in confusion.
• Esther 4:16“Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”
• Esther 9:12who said to Queen Esther, “In the citadel of Susa the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men, including Haman’s ten sons. What have they done in the rest of the royal provinces? Now what is your petition? It will be given to you. And what further do you request? It will be fulfilled.”
• 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,
• 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.

Commentaries on Esther 1:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Sat 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, ͅ , as in the Septuagint.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2The fortress of Susa served as the king's winter capital during the colder months.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-22Commentary by Robert Jamieson 1. Ahasuerus--It is now generally agreed among learned men that the Ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the Xerxes who figures in Grecian history.Read the comment

Topics related to Esther 1:2

• Palace
• Shushan (Susa)

In the dictionaries

• Ahasuerus
• Ahasuerus; Asseurus
• Shushan
• Agagite
• Esther, Book of

Commentaries on Esther 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings