King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
[That] in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which [was] in Shushan the palace,
Complete Jewish Bible:
It was in those days, when King Achashverosh sat on his royal throne in Shushan the capital,
Berean Standard Bible:
In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.
American Standard Version:
that in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
That in those days{H3117}, when the king{H4428} Ahasuerus{H325} sat{H3427} on the throne{H3678} of his kingdom{H4438}, which was in Shushan{H7800} the palace{H1002},
Cross-References (KJV):
Nehemiah 1:1
- ¶ The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
2 Samuel 7:1
- ¶ And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;
Daniel 8:2
- And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I [was] at Shushan [in] the palace, which [is] in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.
1 Kings 1:46
- And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.
Esther 2:3
- And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given [them]:
Esther 9:12
- And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? now what [is] thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what [is] thy request further? and it shall be done.
Esther 9:15
- For the Jews that [were] in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Esther 1:2
Esther 1:2 sets the stage for the events of the Book of Esther by introducing the reader to the historical setting and the principal character, King Ahasuerus. The verse specifically mentions that these events take place in the period when Ahasuerus, identified by most scholars as Xerxes I, is on the throne of his kingdom in the fortified city of Shushan (Susa), which was one of the four capitals of the Achaemenid Empire, modern-day Iran.
The historical context of this verse is the Persian Empire at the height of its power, around the 5th century BCE. King Ahasuerus, or Xerxes I, reigned from 486 to 465 BCE, and his rule was characterized by grandeur and opulence, as well as military campaigns, most notably against Greece. The mention of Shushan the palace points to the administrative and ceremonial importance of Susa within the empire.
The themes introduced in this verse include the might and splendor of the Persian Empire, the central role of the king within the societal structure, and the backdrop against which the story of Esther—a Jewish woman who becomes queen and thwarts a plot to destroy her people—will unfold. The verse begins to weave the narrative thread that will explore concepts of power, providence, identity, and the influence of individuals within a vast imperial context. The Book of Esther, with its opening in Esther 1:2, thus sets the scene for a dramatic tale of courage and divine providence amidst the complexities of life in the Persian royal court.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - Strong's Number: H4428
There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
Transliteration: melek
Pronunciation: meh'-lek
Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal. - Strong's Number: H325
There are 316 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ
Transliteration: ʼĂchashvêrôwsh
Pronunciation: akh-ash-vay-rosh'
Description: or (shortened) אַחַשְׁרֹשׁ (Esther 10:1); of Persian origin; Achashverosh (i.e. Ahasuerus or Artaxerxes, but in this case Xerxes), the title (rather than name) of a Persian king; Ahasuerus. - Strong's Number: H3427
There are 980 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָשַׁב
Transliteration: yâshab
Pronunciation: yaw-shab'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry; (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry. - Strong's Number: H3678
There are 124 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כִּסֵּא
Transliteration: kiççêʼ
Pronunciation: kis-say'
Description: or כִּסֵּה; from כָּסָה; properly, covered, i.e. a throne (as canopied); seat, stool, throne. - Strong's Number: H4438
There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַלְכוּת
Transliteration: malkûwth
Pronunciation: mal-kooth'
Description: or מַלְכֻת; or (in plural) מַלְכֻיָּה; from מָלַךְ; a rule; concretely, a dominion; empire, kingdom, realm, reign, royal. - Strong's Number: H7800
There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׁוּשַׁן
Transliteration: Shûwshan
Pronunciation: shoo-shan'
Description: the same as שׁוּשַׁן; Shushan, a place in Persia; Shushan. - Strong's Number: H1002
There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בִּירָה
Transliteration: bîyrâh
Pronunciation: bee-raw'
Description: of foreign origin; a castle or palace; palace.