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Esther 10

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The King’s Authority Confirmed 1–3

1
And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea. ​
2
And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? ​
3
For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for Esther 10

Verse 1

the isles of the sea — Mas is a levy or tribute, and iy an island or coastland, the word of Gen 10:5, 'the isles of the Gentiles', in the lands of Japheth's sons. At the start of the book the reign ran 'from India even unto Ethiopia' (1:1). The last chapter opens with that rule laid on 'the land' and 'the isles' alike.

Verse 2

the book of the chronicles — The king's own record, read aloud in 6:1 and already holding Mordecai's act in 2:23. 'Advanced' is gadal, to make great, the verb used of Haman in 3:1. The 'declaration' (parashah) is found only here and at 4:7, where it is the 'sum' of Haman's money. The formula resembles 1 Kings 14:19, 'the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel'.

Verse 3

seeking the wealth of his people — 'Wealth' is tov, good; darash is to seek out. Nehemiah 2:10 speaks of a man who comes 'to seek the welfare of the children of Israel'. Mordecai is 'next unto king Ahasuerus' (mishneh, the second place, as in Joseph's 'second chariot', Gen 41:43), and the book closes with him 'speaking peace to all his seed'.