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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Esther 1:1 This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/esther/1-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/17_Est_01_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Esther 1:1 - Xerxes' Royal Feast" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush." /><script type="application/javascript" 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id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/nehemiah/13-31.htm" title="Nehemiah 13:31">◄</a> Esther 1:1 <a href="/esther/1-2.htm" title="Esther 1:2">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/esther/1.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/esther/1.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/esther/1.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />These events happened in the days of King Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/esther/1.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/esther/1.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/esther/1.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this <i>is</i> Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, <i>over</i> an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/esther/1.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this <i>was</i> the Ahasuerus who reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India to Ethiopia),<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/esther/1.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now it happened in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Cush over 127 provinces,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/esther/1.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Now it took place in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/esther/1.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Now it took place in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/esther/1.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now it happened in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/esther/1.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />It was in the days of Ahasuerus (Xerxes) who reigned from India to Ethiopia (Cush) over 127 provinces,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/esther/1.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />These events took place during the days of Ahasuerus, who ruled 127 provinces from India to Cush.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/esther/1.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />These events took place during the days of Ahasuerus, who ruled 127 provinces from India to Cush. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/esther/1.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces),<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/esther/1.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/esther/1.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />In the days of Xerxes the following events took place. This was the same Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces from India to Sudan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/esther/1.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />This is a record of what happened during the reign of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who ruled over 127 provinces from India to Cush.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/esther/1.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/esther/1.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The 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.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/esther/1.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Now it happened in the days of Achshayarsh (this is Achshayarsh who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces),<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/esther/1.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Cush, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/esther/1.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Now in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces), <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/esther/1.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And it comes to pass, in the days of Ahasuerus—he [is] Ahasuerus who is reigning from Hodu even to Cush, one hundred twenty-seven provinces—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/esther/1.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And it cometh to pass, in the days of Ahasuerus -- he is Ahasuerus who is reigning from Hodu even unto Cush, seven and twenty and a hundred provinces -- <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/esther/1.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And it will be in the days of Ahasuerus, (this Ahasuerus reigned from India and even to Cush; seven and twenty and one hundred provinces:)<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/esther/1.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />In the days of Assuerus, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/esther/1.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 3:1>In the days of Artaxerxes, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over one hundred twenty-seven provinces,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/esther/1.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />During the reign of Ahasuerus—the same Ahasuerus who ruled over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/esther/1.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />This happened in the days of Ahasuerus, the same Ahasuerus who ruled over one hundred twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/esther/1.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />NOW it came to pass in the days of Akhshirash, who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/esther/1.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And it was in the days of Akhshiresh, he was the son of Akhshiresh who was made king of India and unto Cush, over a hundred and twenty provinces.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/esther/1.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />NOW IT came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus--this is Ahasuerus who reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces--<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/esther/1.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And it came to pass after these things in the days of Artaxerxes, - (this Artaxerxes ruled over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India) -<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/esther/1-1.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TRosJDhNG-8?start=0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/esther/1.htm">Xerxes' Royal Feast</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">This is what happened</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: bî·mê (Prep-b:: N-mpc) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">in the days</a> <a href="/hebrew/325.htm" title="325: ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš (N-proper-ms) -- King of Persia. Or pachashrosh; of Persian origin; Achashverosh, the title of a Persian king.">of Xerxes,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: hū (Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/325.htm" title="325: ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš (N-proper-ms) -- King of Persia. Or pachashrosh; of Persian origin; Achashverosh, the title of a Persian king."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4427.htm" title="4427: ham·mō·lêḵ (Art:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- A primitive root; to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence to take counsel.">who reigned over</a> <a href="/hebrew/7651.htm" title="7651: še·ḇa‘ (Number-fs) -- Or shibrah; from shaba'; a primitive cardinal number; seven; also seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number.">127</a> <a href="/hebrew/6242.htm" title="6242: wə·‘eś·rîm (Conj-w:: Number-cp) -- Twenty. From eser; twenty; also twentieth."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3967.htm" title="3967: ū·mê·’āh (Conj-w:: Number-fs) -- Hundred. Or metyah; properly, a primitive numeral; a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4082.htm" title="4082: mə·ḏî·nāh (N-fs) -- A province. From diyn; properly, a judgeship, i.e. Jurisdiction; by implication, a district; generally, a region.">provinces</a> <a href="/hebrew/1912.htm" title="1912: mê·hōd·dū (Prep-m:: N-proper-fs) -- India. Of foreign origin; Hodu.">from India</a> <a href="/hebrew/5704.htm" title="5704: wə·‘aḏ- (Conj-w:: Prep) -- As far as, even to, up to, until, while. Properly, the same as ad; as far as, whether of space or time or degree.">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/3568.htm" title="3568: kūš (N-proper-fs) -- Probably of foreign origin; Cush, the name of a son of Ham, and of his territory; also of an Israelite.">Cush.</a> </span><span class="reftext">2</span>In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/6-1.htm">Daniel 6:1-3</a></span><br />Now it pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, / and over them three administrators, including Daniel, to whom these satraps were accountable so that the king would not suffer loss. / Soon, by his extraordinary spirit, Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps. So the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezra/4-6.htm">Ezra 4:6</a></span><br />At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, an accusation was lodged against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/1-1.htm">Nehemiah 1:1</a></span><br />These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/9-1.htm">Daniel 9:1-2</a></span><br />In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes, a Mede by descent, who was made ruler over the kingdom of the Chaldeans— / in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the sacred books, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/4-21.htm">1 Kings 4:21</a></span><br />And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/36-20.htm">2 Chronicles 36:20-23</a></span><br />Those who escaped the sword were carried by Nebuchadnezzar into exile in Babylon, and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power. / So the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation, until seventy years were completed, in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah. / In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows: ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/44-28.htm">Isaiah 44:28</a></span><br />who says of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd will fulfill all that I desire,’ who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundation be laid.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/25-12.htm">Jeremiah 25:12-14</a></span><br />But when seventy years are complete, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their guilt, declares the LORD, and I will make it an everlasting desolation. / I will bring upon that land all the words I have pronounced against it, all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations. / For many nations and great kings will enslave them, and I will repay them according to their deeds and according to the work of their hands.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/29-10.htm">Jeremiah 29:10</a></span><br />For this is what the LORD says: “When Babylon’s seventy years are complete, I will attend to you and confirm My promise to restore you to this place.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/1-1.htm">Daniel 1:1-2</a></span><br />In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. / And the Lord delivered into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, along with some of the articles from the house of God. He carried these off to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, where he put them in the treasury of his god.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/2-37.htm">Daniel 2:37-38</a></span><br />You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength, and glory. / Wherever the sons of men or beasts of the field or birds of the air dwell, He has given them into your hand and has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/5-28.htm">Daniel 5:28-31</a></span><br />PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.” / Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom. / That very night Belshazzar king of the Chaldeans was slain, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/2-1.htm">Matthew 2:1</a></span><br />After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/2-1.htm">Luke 2:1</a></span><br />Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/2-9.htm">Acts 2:9</a></span><br />Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even to Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)</p><p class="hdg">Ahasuerus.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezra/6-14.htm">Ezra 6:14</a></b></br> And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished <i>it</i>, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezra/4-6.htm">Ezra 4:6</a></b></br> And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they <i>unto him</i> an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/daniel/9-1.htm">Daniel 9:1</a></b></br> In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;</p><p class="hdg">from India.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/esther/8-9.htm">Esther 8:9</a></b></br> Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that <i>is</i>, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth <i>day</i> thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which <i>are</i> from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/18-1.htm">Isaiah 18:1</a></b></br> Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which <i>is</i> beyond the rivers of Ethiopia:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/37-9.htm">Isaiah 37:9</a></b></br> And he heard say concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, He is come forth to make war with thee. And when he heard <i>it</i>, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,</p><p class="hdg">an hundred.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/daniel/6-1.htm">Daniel 6:1</a></b></br> It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ezra/4-6.htm">Ahasuerus</a> <a href="/ezra/4-6.htm">Ahasu-E'rus</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/1-10.htm">Cush</a> <a href="/nehemiah/12-9.htm">Divisions</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/21-16.htm">Ethiopia</a> <a href="/nehemiah/12-39.htm">Hundred</a> <a href="/esther/8-9.htm">India</a> <a href="/nehemiah/12-22.htm">Kingdom</a> <a href="/nehemiah/11-3.htm">Provinces</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/36-11.htm">Reigned</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/36-20.htm">Reigning</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-15.htm">Ruled</a> <a href="/nehemiah/12-26.htm">Ruler</a> <a href="/nehemiah/8-18.htm">Seven</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-21.htm">Time</a> <a href="/nehemiah/11-14.htm">Twenty</a> <a href="/2_kings/25-17.htm">Twenty-Seven</a> <a href="/ezra/4-6.htm">Xerxes</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/esther/1-2.htm">Ahasuerus</a> <a href="/esther/1-2.htm">Ahasu-E'rus</a> <a href="/job/28-19.htm">Cush</a> <a href="/esther/1-3.htm">Divisions</a> <a href="/esther/8-9.htm">Ethiopia</a> <a href="/esther/1-4.htm">Hundred</a> <a href="/esther/8-9.htm">India</a> <a href="/esther/1-2.htm">Kingdom</a> <a href="/esther/1-3.htm">Provinces</a> <a href="/esther/1-2.htm">Reigned</a> <a href="/job/34-30.htm">Reigning</a> <a href="/psalms/2-9.htm">Ruled</a> <a href="/job/5-17.htm">Ruler</a> <a href="/esther/1-5.htm">Seven</a> <a href="/esther/1-2.htm">Time</a> <a href="/esther/8-9.htm">Twenty</a> <a href="/esther/8-9.htm">Twenty-Seven</a> <a href="/esther/1-2.htm">Xerxes</a><div class="vheading2">Esther 1</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/esther/1-1.htm">Xerxes makes royal feasts.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/esther/1-10.htm">Vashti, sent for, refuses to come.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/esther/1-13.htm">Xerxes, by the counsel of Memucan, puts away Vashti, and decrees men's sovereignty.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/esther/1.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>This is what happened</b><br />The phrase introduces the narrative with a sense of historical recounting, suggesting that the events are not merely accounts but are grounded in real occurrences. The Hebrew word "וַיְהִי" (vayehi) often marks the beginning of a narrative, indicating a transition into a significant historical account. This sets the stage for the unfolding of divine providence throughout the book of Esther, emphasizing that God is at work in the events of history, even when His name is not explicitly mentioned.<p><b>in the days of Xerxes</b><br />The mention of "Xerxes" refers to the Persian king known historically as Xerxes I, who reigned from 486 to 465 BC. In Hebrew, he is referred to as "אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ" (Ahasuerus). This historical anchoring provides a backdrop of the Persian Empire's vastness and power, highlighting the geopolitical context in which the Jewish people found themselves. Xerxes' reign is characterized by opulence and absolute authority, setting the stage for the dramatic events that follow.<p><b>who reigned over 127 provinces</b><br />The extent of Xerxes' rule, "127 provinces," underscores the vastness of the Persian Empire, which stretched from modern-day India to Ethiopia (Cush). This detail emphasizes the king's immense power and the diversity of his subjects, including the Jewish diaspora. The number 127 may also symbolize completeness and totality, reflecting the comprehensive nature of Xerxes' dominion and the widespread influence of the empire.<p><b>from India to Cush</b><br />The geographical span "from India to Cush" illustrates the vast reach of the Persian Empire. "India" likely refers to the region near the Indus River, while "Cush" is generally understood to be the area south of Egypt, known today as Sudan. This phrase highlights the empire's diversity and the strategic importance of its territories. It also sets the stage for understanding the dispersion of the Jewish people and the potential for God's providence to work across vast distances and diverse cultures. The mention of these regions serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty over all nations and His ability to orchestrate events for His purposes, regardless of human power or geography.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/esther/1.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(1) <span class= "bld">Ahasuerus.</span>--Three persons are called by this name in the Old Testament--(1) the Ahasuerus of <a href="/daniel/9-1.htm" title="In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;">Daniel 9:1</a>, the father of "Darius the Mede;" if, as is probable, this latter is the same with Astyages, Ahasuerus must be identified with Cyaxares: (2) the Ahasuerus of <a href="/ezra/4-6.htm" title="And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they to him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.">Ezra 4:6</a>, who is doubtless the same with Cambyses, the son of Cyrus; and (3) the one now before us, whom we have shown in the Introduction to be almost certainly Xerxes. For the history and character of this sovereign reference must be especially made to the contemporaneous writers, Herodotus (vii., viii. 1-90), and 'schylus in his play of <span class= "ital">The Persians.</span> The spirited lines of Juvenal should also be read (<span class= "ital">Sat.</span> x. 173-187). We find that Xerxes succeeded his father, Darius Hystaspes, in the year 485 B.C. , five years after the momentous battle of Marathon. Undeterred by his father's failure, he resolves upon a fresh attack on Greece, and sets out in 481 B.C. from Susa for the West. He winters at Sardis, leaving it in the spring of the following year. The summer sees the fight of the pass of Thermopylae, which has covered the name of Leonidas and his three hundred, though vanquished and slain, with undying glory; in the autumn Themistocles, by his victory over the Persians at Salamis, changes the history of the world, and the beginning thus made is carried on by the victories at Plataea and Mycale in 479 B.C. From the rout at Salamis, Xerxes had fled to Sardis, which he did not leave till the spring of 478 B.C. All that we know of the further course of the reign of Xerxes is but one unbroken tale of debauchery and bloodshed, which came to an end in 464 B.C, when he was murdered by two of his officers, Mithridates and Artabanus, and Artaxerxes Longimanus, his son (see Ezra 7; Nehemiah 2), reigned in his stead.<p><span class= "bld">This is Ahasuerus.</span>--This is added to make clear which particular sovereign we are here dealing with. We have seen that three of the name are mentioned in the Old Testament.<p><span class= "bld">Ethiopia.</span>--Herodotus tells us that Ethiopia paid tribute to Xerxes (iii. 97).<p><span class= "bld">An hundred and seven and twenty.</span>--In <a href="/daniel/6-1.htm" title="It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;">Daniel 6:1</a>. we find that Darius the Mede appointed a hundred and twenty satraps, but probably the similarity in numbers is quite accidental. There seem to have been a gradually increasing number of satrapies in the kingdom of Darius--20, 21, 23, 29 (Herod, iii. 89-94), and the nations in the empire of Xerxes are said to be sixty (<span class= "ital">ib.</span> vii. 61-95). Thus the provinces here mentioned must include subdivisions of these.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/esther/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 1.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">In the days of Ahasuerus</span>. Ahasuerus, in the original <span class="accented">Akhashverosh</span>, corresponds to <span class="accented">Khshayarsha</span> (the Persian name from which the Greeks formed their Xerxes) almost as closely as possible. The prosthelic a was a necessity of Hebrew articulation. The only unnecessary change was the substitution of <span class="accented">v</span> for <span class="accented">y</span> (<span class="accented">vau</span> for <span class="accented">yod</span>) in the penultimate syllable. But this interchange is very common in Hebrew. <span class="cmt_word">This is Ahasuerus which reigned, etc</span>. The writer is evidently acquainted with more than a single Ahasuerus. Ezra had mentioned one (<a href="/ezra/4-6.htm">Ezra 4:6</a>), and Daniel another (<a href="/daniel/9-1.htm">Daniel 9:1</a>). If he knew their works, he would necessarily know of these two. Or he may have known of them independently. The Ahasuerus of his narrative being different from either, he proceeds to distinguish him <p><span class="note_emph">(1)</span> from the Ahasuerus of Daniel, as a "king," and <p><span class="note_emph">(2)</span> from the Ahasuerus of Ezra by the extent of his dominion. <p>Cambyses (see comment on Ezra 4:6) had not ruled over India. India is expressed by <span class="accented">Hoddu</span>, which seems formed from the Persian <span class="accented">Hidush</span> ('Nakhsh-i-Rus-tam Inser.,' par. 3, 1. 25), by the omission of the nominatival ending, and a slight modification of the vocalisation. The Sanscrit and the Zend, like the Greek, retained the <span class="accented">n</span>, which is really an essential part of the native word. <span class="cmt_word">Ethiopia</span> is expressed, as usual, by <span class="accented">Cush</span>. The two countries are well chosen as the extreme <span class="accented">terminal</span> of the Persian empire. <span class="cmt_word">An hundred and twenty-seven provinces</span>. The Hebrew <span class="accented">medinah</span>, "province," does not correspond to the Persian satrapy, but is applied to every tract which had its own governor. There were originally no more than twenty satrapies (Herod., 3:89-94), but there was certainly a very much larger number of governments. Judaea was a <span class="accented">medinah</span> (<a href="/ezra/2-1.htm">Ezra 2:1</a>; <a href="/nehemiah/11-3.htm">Nehemiah 11:3</a>), though only a small part of the satrapy of Syria. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/esther/1-1.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">This is what happened</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְהִ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(way·hî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in the days</span><br /><span class="heb">בִּימֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(bî·mê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> </span><span class="str2">A day</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Xerxes,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_325.htm">Strong's 325: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ahasuerus -- king of Persia</span><br /><br /><span class="word">who reigned over</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמֹּלֵךְ֙</span> <span class="translit">(ham·mō·lêḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4427.htm">Strong's 4427: </a> </span><span class="str2">To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">127</span><br /><span class="heb">שֶׁ֛בַע</span> <span class="translit">(še·ḇa‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7651.htm">Strong's 7651: </a> </span><span class="str2">Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number</span><br /><br /><span class="word">provinces</span><br /><span class="heb">מְדִינָֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(mə·ḏî·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4082.htm">Strong's 4082: </a> </span><span class="str2">A judgeship, jurisdiction, a district, a region</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from India</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵהֹ֣דּוּ</span> <span class="translit">(mê·hōd·dū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1912.htm">Strong's 1912: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hodu</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">וְעַד־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·‘aḏ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5704.htm">Strong's 5704: </a> </span><span class="str2">As far as, even to, up to, until, while</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Cush.</span><br /><span class="heb">כּ֔וּשׁ</span> <span class="translit">(kūš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3568.htm">Strong's 3568: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son of Ham, also his descendants, also a land in the southern Nile Valley</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/esther/1-1.htm">Esther 1:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/esther/1-1.htm">Esther 1:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/esther/1-1.htm">Esther 1:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/esther/1-1.htm">Esther 1:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/esther/1-1.htm">Esther 1:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/esther/1-1.htm">Esther 1:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/esther/1-1.htm">Esther 1:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/esther/1-1.htm">Esther 1:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/esther/1-1.htm">Esther 1:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/esther/1-1.htm">Esther 1:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/esther/1-1.htm">OT History: Esther 1:1 Now it happened in the days (Est Esth. Es) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/nehemiah/13-31.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Nehemiah 13:31"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 13:31" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/esther/1-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Esther 1:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Esther 1:2" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>