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

1In the days of Xerxes the following events took place. This was the same Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces from India to Sudan. At the time when King Xerxes sat on the royal throne in the fortress of Susa, 3he held a banquet in the third year of his reign. The banquet was for all his officials and advisers, that is, the military officers of the Persians and Medes, the nobles and officials of the provinces who had access to him. 4He showed them the enormous wealth of his kingdom and the costly splendor of his greatness for many days, 180 to be exact.

Esther 1:2 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• in those daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• when the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ'ăchashvêrôsh 'achashrôsh · AhasuerusH325
• satיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• on the throneכִּסֵּאkissê' kissêh · throneH3678
• of his kingdomמַלְכוּתmalkûth malkûth malkûyâh · royaltyH4438
• in Shushanשׁוּשַׁןshûshan · SusaH7800
• the palaceבִּירָהbîyrâh · palaceH1002

Cross-references for Esther 1:2

• 2 Samuel 7:1While King David was living in his house, the Lord gave him peace with all his enemies around him.
• 1 Kings 1:46Solomon is now seated on the royal throne.
• Daniel 4:4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living comfortably at home. I was prosperous while living in my palace.
• Esther 2:3And appoint scouts in all the provinces of your kingdom to gather all the attractive young virgins and bring them to the fortress of Susa, to the women’s quarters. There, in the care of the king’s eunuch Hegai, the guardian of the women, they will have their beauty treatment.
• Esther 3:15The messengers hurried out as the king told them. The decree was also issued at the fortress of Susa. So the king and Haman sat down to drink a toast, but the city of Susa was in turmoil.
• Esther 4:16“Assemble all the Jews in Susa. Fast for me: Do not eat or drink at all for three entire days. My servants and I will also fast. After that, I will go to the king, even if it is against a royal decree. If I die, I die.”
• Esther 9:12So the king said to Queen Esther, “In the fortress of Susa the Jews have killed and wiped out 500 men and Haman’s 10 sons. What must they have done in the rest of the king’s provinces! Now, what is your request? It will be granted to you. And what else would you like? It, too, will be granted.”
• Nehemiah 1:1These are the words of Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah: During the month of Chislev, in Artaxerxes’ twentieth year as king, while I was in the fortress at Susa,
• Daniel 8:2In my vision I saw myself in the fortress of Susa in the province of Elam. In my vision I saw myself at Ulai Gate.

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