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

1These events happened in the days of King Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. At that time Xerxes ruled his empire from his royal throne at the fortress of Susa. 3In the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. He invited all the military officers of Persia and Media as well as the princes and nobles of the provinces. 4The celebration lasted 180 days—a tremendous display of the opulent wealth of his empire and the pomp and splendor 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 7:1When King David was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies,
• 1 Kings 1:46What’s more, Solomon is now sitting on the royal throne as king.
• Daniel 4:4“I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in my palace in comfort and prosperity.
• Esther 2:3Let the king appoint agents in each province to bring these beautiful young women into the royal harem at the fortress of Susa. Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the harem, will see that they are all given beauty treatments.
• Esther 3:15At the king’s command, the decree went out by swift messengers, and it was also proclaimed in the fortress of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa fell into confusion.
• Esther 4:16“Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”
• Esther 9:12he called for Queen Esther. He said, “The Jews have killed 500 men in the fortress of Susa alone, as well as Haman’s ten sons. If they have done that here, what has happened in the rest of the provinces? But now, what more do you want? It will be granted to you; tell me and I will do it.”
• Nehemiah 1:1These are the memoirs of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was at the fortress of Susa.
• Daniel 8:2In this vision I was at the fortress of Susa, in the province of Elam, standing beside the Ulai River.

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