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,
• 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,
• New Living Translation (NLT)At that time Xerxes ruled his empire from his royal throne at the fortress of Susa.

Context of Esther 1:2

1This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush: At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, 3and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present. 4For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty.

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 7:1After the king was settled in 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 home in my palace, contented and prosperous.
• Esther 2:3Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them.
• Esther 3:15The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered.
• Esther 4:16“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
• Esther 9:12The king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman in the citadel of Susa. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? It will also be granted.”
• Nehemiah 1:1The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,
• Daniel 8:2In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa in the province of Elam; in the vision 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
• 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