Esther 1:5

KJV

And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;

KJV (with Strong's)

And when these days {H3117} were expired {H4390}, the king {H4428} made {H6213} a feast {H4960} unto all the people {H5971} that were present {H4672} in Shushan {H7800} the palace {H1002}, both unto great {H1419} and small {H6996}, seven {H7651} days {H3117}, in the court {H2691} of the garden {H1594} of the king's {H4428} palace {H1055};

Complete Jewish Bible

At the end of that time, the king gave a seven-day banquet in the courtyard of the royal palace garden for all the people, both great and small, there in Shushan the capital.

Berean Standard Bible

At the end of this time, in the garden court of the royal palace, the king held a seven-day feast for all the people in the citadel of Susa, from the least to the greatest.

American Standard Version

And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Following a monumental 180-day exhibition of his kingdom's vast wealth and power to his nobles and officials, King Ahasuerus extended his lavish hospitality to all the residents of Shushan, the Persian capital. This verse details a subsequent, distinct seven-day public banquet, meticulously orchestrated within the opulent garden court of the royal palace, inviting both the "great and small" to participate in a grand celebration designed to emphatically underscore the king's absolute authority, immense generosity, and the flourishing prosperity of his sprawling empire.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** [Esther 1:5](/esther/1-5 "Esther 1:5 - The King's Feast for All Shushan") serves as a pivotal transition point in the opening chapter of Esther. It immediately follows the description of King Ahasuerus's initial, unprecedented six-month (180-day) private feast for his highest officials and princes, as detailed in [Esther 1:3-4](/esther/1-3-4 "Esther 1:3-4 - King Ahasuerus's Grand Display"). That initial banquet was a calculated, internal display of imperial might and riches. Verse 5 introduces a new, distinct event: a shorter, yet still extravagant, seven-day public feast. This shift signifies a broadening of the king's display, moving from an exclusive audience of elites to an inclusive gathering of the city's inhabitants, thereby setting the stage for the wider involvement of the populace in the unfolding royal drama. The detailed description of the feast's unparalleled opulence and specific regulations in [Esther 1:6-8](/esther/1-6-8 "Esther 1:6-8 - The Opulence and Rules of the Feast") further elaborates on the scene established here, emphasizing the extraordinary luxury and excess characteristic of the Persian court.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting of Esther is the Achaemenid Persian Empire, which, under King Ahasuerus (widely identified as Xerxes I, who reigned from 486-465 BC), was the largest empire the ancient world had ever witnessed, stretching from India to Ethiopia. Shushan (Susa), one of the empire's four capital cities, was a crucial administrative center and a favored winter residence for the Persian kings. Persian monarchs were renowned for their extravagant lifestyles, monumental architectural endeavors, and elaborate banquets. These feasts were far more than mere social occasions; they functioned as vital political and propaganda instruments, showcasing royal power, solidifying alliances, and demonstrating the king's capacity to provide for and control his subjects. The inclusion of "great and small" in this particular feast, even if confined to the palace grounds, reflects a strategic move to project royal benevolence and absolute authority over the entire populace, thereby reinforcing loyalty and preempting any potential unrest within the empire's heartland.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes that permeate the book of Esther. Firstly, it emphatically underscores the theme of **Royal Grandeur and Power**. The sheer scale, extended duration, and magnificent setting of the feasts described in [Esther 1](/esther/1 "Esther 1 - The Grandeur of King Ahasuerus") vividly portray Ahasuerus's absolute authority and immense wealth, establishing the formidable backdrop against which the seemingly insignificant actions of individuals like Esther and Mordecai will later play out. Secondly, it introduces and reinforces the pervasive theme of **Feasting and Celebration**, which acts as a recurring motif and crucial narrative device throughout the book. Banquets in Esther are rarely just social events; they are consistently pivotal moments for plot development, revelation, or decision-making, such as Esther's own strategically planned banquets for the king and Haman in [Esther 5](/esther/5 "Esther 5 - Esther's Courage and First Banquet") and [Esther 7](/esther/7 "Esther 7 - Haman's Downfall"). Finally, the explicit mention of "great and small" subtly hints at the theme of **Inclusivity (and its inherent limits)**, demonstrating the king's far-reaching influence over all segments of society, even as the narrative later reveals the profound vulnerability of certain groups within this vast and seemingly all-encompassing empire.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Feast (Hebrew, _mishteh'_):** This term (H4960), derived from a root meaning "to drink," denotes a drinking party or banquet. In the context of Esther, it consistently refers to a large, elaborate gathering, often characterized by abundant drinking and revelry. Far from a simple meal, a _mishteh_ in the Persian court signifies a conspicuous display of power, wealth, and status. It serves as a setting for royal decrees, political maneuvering, and the unfolding of significant events, highlighting the centrality of banquets to the narrative's progression and atmosphere.
* **Shushan (Hebrew, _Shûwshan'_):** This proper noun (H7800) refers to Susa, one of the four capital cities of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. It was particularly significant as a winter residence and administrative hub for the kings. The phrase "Shushan the palace" (שׁוּשַׁן הַבִּירָה, _Shushan ha-Birah_), where "palace" (H1002, _bîyrâh_) indicates a fortified castle or citadel, emphasizes its status as the heart of the empire's power and the primary setting for the book's dramatic events.
* **Garden (Hebrew, _ginnâh'_):** The term (H1594) "garden" in "the court of the garden of the king's palace" refers to a specific, highly cultivated outdoor space within the royal complex. Persian gardens, known as _paradeisoi_, were celebrated for their exquisite beauty, intricate design, and luxurious amenities, often symbolizing an earthly paradise. Holding a feast in such a setting underscores the king's immense wealth and the lavishness of the event, providing a visually stunning and exclusive backdrop for this public display of royal power.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when these days were expired":** This phrase directly connects the current public feast to the preceding 180-day private banquet for nobles and officials, described in [Esther 1:3-4](/esther/1-3-4 "Esther 1:3-4 - The Grandeur of King Ahasuerus's Feast"). It signals the formal conclusion of that extended, exclusive display and the commencement of a new, distinct phase of royal celebration, marking a transition in the king's agenda.
* **"the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace":** This clause highlights a significant shift from the previous exclusive gathering. King Ahasuerus now extends his hospitality to the general populace residing within the capital city of Susa. This public feast serves as a grand demonstration of royal generosity and an assertion of the king's benevolent rule and absolute authority over all his subjects, not merely the elite.
* **"both unto great and small":** This phrase emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the royal invitation, indicating that no segment of the Shushan population was excluded. From the highest-ranking citizens ("great", H1419, _gâdôwl_) to the humblest ("small", H6996, _qâṭân_), all were invited. This highlights the king's desire for a broad display of his power and an inclusive (though still controlled) celebration of his reign, reinforcing his universal reach.
* **"seven days":** Unlike the preceding six-month feast, this public banquet lasted for a week. While shorter, a duration of seven days (H7651, _shebaʻ_) still represents a significant period of continuous revelry and royal provision. This extended timeframe further underscores the king's immense resources and his boundless capacity for lavish entertainment, solidifying the impression of his wealth and power.
* **"in the court of the garden of the king's palace;":** This detailed description of the location paints a vivid and luxurious picture of the setting. The feast was not merely within the palace walls (H1055, _bîythân_), but specifically in its "court" (H2691, _châtsêr_) of the "garden" (H1594, _ginnâh'_). This choice of venue, a highly visible, exquisitely designed, and opulent outdoor space, further amplified the spectacle, showcasing the aesthetic and material splendor of the Persian monarchy to all attendees.

#### Literary Devices
Esther 1:5 masterfully employs several literary devices to establish the opulent and powerful atmosphere of the Persian court, setting the stage for the book's dramatic events. **Hyperbole** is strikingly evident in the sheer scale and duration of the feasts; following a 180-day private display, a seven-day public banquet for "all the people" emphasizes King Ahasuerus's immense wealth and absolute authority through exaggerated grandeur. The meticulous description of the setting as "the court of the garden of the king's palace" utilizes rich **Imagery** to create a vivid and luxurious backdrop, immersing the reader in the sensory experience of the Persian court. This specific **Setting** is not merely decorative but functions symbolically as a stage for royal power and control. Furthermore, the verse subtly employs **Contrast** by shifting from the private, extended feast for nobles to a shorter, public feast for "great and small," highlighting the different facets of Ahasuerus's strategic displays of power—one for internal consolidation, the other for public affirmation and control. This initial scene also serves as powerful **Foreshadowing**, as banquets will continue to be pivotal settings for key events, revelations, and decisions throughout the book of Esther, often acting as catalysts for the plot's progression.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Esther 1:5, while seemingly a straightforward description of a royal feast, subtly introduces profound themes that resonate throughout the biblical narrative, particularly concerning the nature of human power, the overarching reality of divine sovereignty, and the transient nature of earthly glory. The king's elaborate display of wealth and might, meticulously orchestrated to solidify his reign and impress his subjects, stands in stark contrast to the quiet, often unseen, yet infinitely powerful hand of God working behind the scenes—a remarkable feature in a book where God's name is not explicitly mentioned. This verse sets the grand, human-centric stage for a narrative where even the most meticulous human plans and magnificent displays are ultimately subject to a higher, providential purpose. The lavishness of the Persian court, though undeniably impressive in its temporal splendor, ultimately serves as a backdrop against which the vulnerability of God's people is highlighted, and the unexpected, often miraculous, ways in which divine deliverance comes to fruition are revealed.

* [Psalm 33:10](/psalm/33-10 "Psalm 33:10 - The Lord Frustrates the Plans of Nations")
* [Proverbs 21:1](/proverbs/21-1 "Proverbs 21:1 - The King's Heart in the Hand of the Lord")
* [Daniel 5:1-4](/daniel/5-1-4 "Daniel 5:1-4 - Belshazzar's Feast and the Handwriting on the Wall")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Esther 1:5 invites us to deeply ponder the nature of power, public display, and human ambition. King Ahasuerus's magnificent feasts were not merely social gatherings; they were meticulously planned strategic demonstrations of his absolute authority and immense wealth, designed to impress, control, and secure loyalty. In our own lives, we often find ourselves seeking to display our status, achievements, or resources, whether subtly through social media or overtly through material possessions. This verse prompts us to reflect critically on the motivations behind our own "displays"—are they driven by a desire for self-aggrandizement, or are they genuinely used to serve, bless, and uplift others? It also profoundly highlights how seemingly mundane or grand events in our lives can be intricately woven into a larger, unseen divine plan. Just as this lavish Persian feast sets the stage for God's providential work through Esther, our daily circumstances, whether ordinary or extraordinary, are part of God's overarching narrative for our lives and for the world. We are powerfully reminded that true security, lasting influence, and ultimate fulfillment do not come from fleeting worldly power or transient displays, but from a humble walk with God, trusting implicitly in His sovereign hand, even when His presence or purpose is not overtly visible.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I, consciously or unconsciously, seek to display my own "power," "status," or "achievements" in my daily life or interactions?**
* **What are the underlying motivations behind my desire for recognition, influence, or the accumulation of resources?**
* **How does the transient nature of King Ahasuerus's power, despite its immense grandeur and display, encourage me to prioritize eternal rather than temporal things?**
* **In what specific ways can I cultivate a greater awareness of God's providential hand at work, even in seemingly ordinary or secular circumstances, drawing inspiration from the unfolding narrative of the book of Esther?**

### FAQ
**What was the primary purpose of King Ahasuerus's seven-day feast for "all the people" in Shushan?**

Answer: The feast described in [Esther 1:5](/esther/1-5 "Esther 1:5 - The King's Feast for All Shushan") served multiple strategic purposes for King Ahasuerus. Following a lengthy, exclusive display of his kingdom's wealth and power to his nobles and officials, this seven-day public banquet was a calculated move to extend his show of authority and generosity to the general populace of his capital city, Shushan. It was meticulously designed to impress "great and small" alike, reinforcing his absolute authority, demonstrating the immense prosperity of his vast empire, and likely fostering a sense of loyalty, contentment, and awe among the citizens. Such grand, public events were common propaganda tools for ancient kings, serving to assert their pervasive control and deter any potential dissent or unrest within their domain.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While [Esther 1:5](/esther/1-5 "Esther 1:5 - The King's Feast for All Shushan") vividly portrays the extravagant display of an earthly king's temporal power and wealth, it ultimately points to the infinitely greater King and His eternal, immutable reign. Ahasuerus's feast, though grand and impressive in its scale, was ultimately temporary, confined to a specific time and place, and a demonstration of human pride and ambition. In profound contrast, Christ is the true King, whose kingdom is not of this world ([John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom Not of This World")), and whose reign is eternal, righteous, and universal, as powerfully foretold in [Daniel 7:14](/daniel/7-14 "Daniel 7:14 - The Everlasting Dominion of the Son of Man"). The lavishness of the Persian court, with its fleeting glory and human-centered purpose, serves as a stark foil to the humble yet infinitely powerful reign of Jesus, who did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many ([Mark 10:45](/mark/10-45 "Mark 10:45 - The Son of Man Came to Serve")). The "feast" that Christ prepares for His people is not one of earthly opulence but of spiritual communion, abundant grace, and eternal joy, culminating in the glorious Wedding Feast of the Lamb ([Revelation 19:7-9](/revelation/19-7-9 "Revelation 19:7-9 - The Wedding Feast of the Lamb")), where all "great and small" who believe will partake in a celebration of salvation, perfect fellowship, and everlasting communion with their King. Thus, the earthly feast of Ahasuerus, with its temporal grandeur, ultimately foreshadows the divine and eternal banquet provided by the King of kings, Jesus Christ.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Esther 7:7

¶ And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath [went] into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.

Esther 7:8

Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther [was]. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.

2 Chronicles 30:21

¶ And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, [singing] with loud instruments unto the LORD.

2 Chronicles 30:25

And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced.

2 Chronicles 7:8

Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.

2 Chronicles 7:9

And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.