John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. That in those days, when the King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom , etc.] Not only was placed upon it, but settled in it; after Xerxes had subdued Egypt, in the second year of his reign f29 , and enjoyed great peace and tranquillity: which was in Shushan the palace ; that is, the throne of his kingdom was in Shushan, the royal city of the kings of Persia; of which (See Gill on “ Nehemiah 1:1”) (See Gill on “ Daniel 8:2”).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - The pride of Ahasuerus's heart rising with the grandeur of his kingdom he made an extravagant feast. This was vain glory. Better is a dinne of herbs with quietness, than this banquet of wine, with all the nois and tumult that must have attended it. But except grace prevails in the heart, self-exaltation and self-indulgence, in one form or another will be the ruling principle. Yet none did compel; so that if any dran to excess, it was their own fault. This caution of a heathen prince even when he would show his generosity, may shame many calle Christians, who, under pretence of sending the health round, send sin round, and death with it. There is a woe to them that do so; let the read it, and tremble, Hab 2:15, 16.
Original Hebrew בימים3117 ההם1992 כשׁבת7675 המלך4428 אחשׁורושׁ325 על5921 כסא3678 מלכותו4438 אשׁר834 בשׁושׁן7800 הבירה׃1002
