Esther 1:13

Verse

Then the king consulted the wise men who knew the times, for it was customary for him to confer with the experts in law and justice.

American Standard Version (1901)

Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment;

Bible in Basic English

And the king said to the wise men, who had knowledge of the times, (for this was the king's way with all who were expert in law and in the giving of decisions:

Free Bible Version

Then the king spoke with the wise men who would know what to do, for it was the custom for him to ask the opinion of experts in procedures and legal matters.

Geneva Bible 1599

Then the King said to the wise men, that knew the times (for so was the Kings maner towards all that knew the law and the iudgement:

King James (Authorized) Version

¶ Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment:

Translation for Translators

Immediately he had a meeting with the seven men who were the most important officials in Persia and Media. They were the men whom he often asked ◄for their advice/what he should do►. And they were men who knew all the customs and laws of Persia. Their names were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan.

Unlocked Literal Bible

So the king conferred with the men who were known to be wise, who understood the times (for this was the king's procedure toward all who were expert in law and judgment).

Noah Webster Bible

Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for so was the king's manner towards all that knew law and judgment:

World English Bible

Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times (for it was the king’s custom to consult those who knew law and judgment;

Young's Literal Translation

And the king saith to wise men, knowing the times — for so [is] the word of the king before all knowing law and judgment,

Context

Queen Vashti Deposed

¹²Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became furious, and his anger burned within him.¹³Then the king consulted the wise men who knew the times, for it was customary for him to confer with the experts in law and justice.¹⁴His closest advisors were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and ranked highest in the kingdom.

Summary

This verse reveals King Xerxes' frustration and anger at Queen Vashti's refusal to appear before him and his guests. It highlights the cultural expectations of obedience and submission to authority during that time. The king's reaction sets the stage for the events that lead to Esther becoming queen and ultimately saving her people. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of defying those in power and the importance of wisdom and discernment in navigating difficult situations.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Keil-Delitzsch
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

To the wise men - Probably the lawyers.

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

The king, greatly incensed at this disobedience to his behest, inquired of his wise men what was to be done to Queen Vashti according to law. These wise men are Est 1:13 designated as those "who knew the times," i.e., astrologers and magi, who give counsel according to celestial phenomena; comp. the wise men of Babylon, Dan 2:27; Dan 5:15; Isa 44:25; Isa 47:13; Jer 50:35. Of these he inquires, "for thus was the business of the king conducted before all that knew law and judgment." דּבר here does not signify word or speech, but matter, business; and the meaning of this parenthetical sentence is, that in every matter, the king, before deciding, applied to those who were skilled in law and judgment to hear their opinions concerning it. With this is joined a second explanatory parenthetical sentence, Est 1:14 : "And those next him were Carshena, etc., the seven princes of the Persians and Medes, who behold the king's countenance, who hold the first seat in his kingdom." אליו הקּרב is indefinite, and may be understood as expressing the plural. It is perhaps questionable how this clause should be combined with what precedes, whether with ודין דּת כּל־ידעי, before all that knew law and judgment and those next him, or with לחכמים, Est 1:13 : he spoke to the wise men ... and those next him. In any case the sense is, that the seven princes of the Persians and Medes were also numbered either among the wise men who knew the times, or those who were skilled in the law. These seven princes are the seven king's counsellors of Ezr 7:14, and by their number of seven form a counterpart to the seven Amshaspands. They who see the face of the king, i.e., are allowed direct intercourse with him. Herod. iii. 84 relates of the seven princes who conspired the overthrow of the pretended Smerdis, that they resolved, that it should be permitted them to present themselves unannounced before the future king. Hence many expositors identify these seven princes with the authorities called the seven counsellors, but without sufficient grounds. The number seven frequently recurs, - comp. the seven eunuchs, Est 1:5, the seven maidens who waited on Est 2:9, - and refers in the present case to the seven Amshaspands, in others to the days of the week, or the seven planets. ראשׁנה היּשׁבים, who sit first, i.e., in the highest place, i.e., constitute the highest authority in the realm. What the king said (Est 1:13) does not follow till Est 1:15 : "According to law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not done the word of the king," i.e., not obeyed his command by the eunuchs? כּדת, according to law, legally, is placed first because it is intended emphatically to assert that the proceeding is to be in conformity with the law. עשׂה with בּ, to inflict something on any one.

Esther 1:13

Queen Vashti Deposed

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Then the king consulted the wise men who knew the times, for it was customary for him to confer with the experts in law and justice.

American Standard Version (1901)

Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment;

Bible in Basic English

And the king said to the wise men, who had knowledge of the times, (for this was the king's way with all who were expert in law and in the giving of decisions:

Free Bible Version

Then the king spoke with the wise men who would know what to do, for it was the custom for him to ask the opinion of experts in procedures and legal matters.

Geneva Bible 1599

Then the King said to the wise men, that knew the times (for so was the Kings maner towards all that knew the law and the iudgement:

King James (Authorized) Version

¶ Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment:

Translation for Translators

Unlocked Literal Bible

So the king conferred with the men who were known to be wise, who understood the times (for this was the king's procedure toward all who were expert in law and judgment).

Noah Webster Bible

Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for so was the king's manner towards all that knew law and judgment:

World English Bible

Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times (for it was the king’s custom to consult those who knew law and judgment;

Young's Literal Translation

And the king saith to wise men, knowing the times — for so [is] the word of the king before all knowing law and judgment,

Adam Clarke
Keil-Delitzsch
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

To the wise men - Probably the lawyers.

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

Esther 1:13

Verse

Context

Queen Vashti Deposed

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Esther 1:13

Queen Vashti Deposed

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes