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

1The following events happened in the days of Ahasuerus. (I am referring to that Ahasuerus who used to rule over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces extending all the way from India to Ethiopia.) In those days, as King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa the citadel, 3in the third year of his reign he provided a banquet for all his officials and his servants. The army of Persia and Media was present, as well as the nobles and the officials of the provinces. 4He displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his majestic greatness for a lengthy period of time – a hundred and eighty days, 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 7:1The king settled into his palace, for the Lord gave him relief from all his enemies on all sides.
• 1 Kings 1:46Furthermore, Solomon has assumed the royal throne.
• Daniel 4:4(4:1) I, Nebuchadnezzar, was relaxing in my home, living luxuriously in my palace.
• Esther 2:3And let the king appoint officers throughout all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the attractive young women to Susa the citadel, to the harem under the authority of Hegai, the king’s eunuch who oversees the women, and let him provide whatever cosmetics they desire.
• Esther 3:15The messengers scurried forth with the king’s order. The edict was issued in Susa the citadel. While the king and Haman sat down to drink, the city of Susa was in an uproar!
• Esther 4:16“Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa and fast in my behalf. Don’t eat and don’t drink for three days, night or day. My female attendants and I will also fast in the same way. Afterward I will go to the king, even though it violates the law. If I perish, I perish!”
• Esther 9:12Then the king said to Queen Esther, “In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman! What then have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? What is your request? It shall be given to you. What other petition do you have? It shall be done.”
• Nehemiah 1:1These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: It so happened that in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year, I was in Susa the citadel.
• Daniel 8:2In this vision I saw myself in Susa the citadel, which is located in the province of Elam. In the vision I saw myself at 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