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Esther 2:18

Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.

Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and servants, even Esther's feast,.... A feast to all his nobles, courtiers, and ministers of state, on account of his marriage with Esther; which, according to the Greek version, was held seven days; but, according to Josephus, it lasted a whole month {t}:

and he made a release to the provinces; of taxes and tribute due to him, as was the custom of the kings of Persia when they came to the throne, as Herodotus {u} relates; so Smerdis the magus, that mounted the throne after Cambyses, pretending to be his brother, released them for three years to come {w}; and Grotius says kings used to do it at their marriage, but gives no instance of it:

and gave gifts: according to the latter Targum, to the provinces, all of them, that he might be sure that the people of Esther shared his favours, who were as yet unknown; but rather these gifts were given to his nobles, or it may be to Esther; so the former Targum,

"he gave to her a gift and portion:''

according to the state of the king; his royal ability and munificence, and suitable to his grandeur; and it was usual with the Persian kings to give to their wives whole cities for one thing or another, as for necklaces, hair laces, shoes, &c. {x}; Socrates {y} speaks of a whole country in Persia called the "Queen's girdle", and another her "Headdress".


{t} Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 11. c. 6. sect. 2.)
{u} Erato, sive, l. 6. c. 59.
{w} Thalia, sive, l. 3. c. 67.
{x} Herodot. Euterpe, sive, l. 2. c. 98. Cicero in Verrem, l. 3. Orat. 8.
{y} In Plat. Alcibiad.

 

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