The Pulpit Commentary — Esther — Section 17

Vere. 1-9.-The royal/east. We have in the opening chapter of this Book of Esther the description of a royal feast; it may remind us of two other feasts to which we of this land and age, and they of every clime and century, are invited guests. I. THE FEAST OF' THE KING OF' PERSIA. "It came to pass in the days of Ahasu- erus" (ver. 1), ... "in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants" (ver. 3). A "great monarch" was this king, ruling "from India to Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces" (ver. 1). His palace at Susa (Shushan, ver. 2), surrounded with beautiful gardens, was a place where labour and art had furnished everything that could minister to bodily gratification. Here he entertained II the power of Persia and Media" (ver. 3) for 180 days (ver. 4), the guests probably coming and going, for all the satraps could hardly have been absent from their provinces at the same time. Then, after these dnys were expired (ver. 5), the king gave a banquet of a more indiscriminate kind-•t a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small" (ver. 5). Every possible preparation was made for the guests, a beautiful II awning of fine white cotton and violet" (ver. 6; 'Speaker's Com.') being spread, the couches being of gold and silver, and placed on pave- ment of variously-coloured stones (ver. 6) ; wine from the king's own cellar being served in golden goblets, with liberty for the guests to drink as they pleased (vers. 7, 8). It was a feast-1. In which regal bounty was lavishly poured forth ; no pains or expenses were spared, as these particulars show, to make the guests joyous. 2. In which there was more of selfish ostentation than genuine kindness. The spirit of it is seen in the fact that by so doing " he showed the riches of his glorious king- dom, and the honour of his excellent majesty" (ver. 4). 3. In which there was more of short-lived gratification than lasting joy. There was, no doubt, much exhilaration expressing itself in revelry; and revelry soon ended, as it always must, in satiety and suffering. We a.re reminded, partly by contrast, of- 11. THE FEAST OF THE LORD OF NATURE. God, our King, who is in deed and truth the "King of kings," and not in name only, like these Persian monarchs, spreads a regal feast for his subjects. It is one that (1) lasts all the year through: not for even "a hundred and eighty days," but "daily he loadeth us with benefits" (Ps. lxviii. 19); (2) extends to all his creatures: there is "food for man a.nd beast." In thi6 Divine provision is (3) every needful thing for the senses :_ "~ood for all flesh" (Ps. cx::xxvi. 25), beauty for the eye, odours for the smell, dehcac1es for the palate, melodies for the ear; ( 4) truth and fact for the mind: "Wisdom bath builded her house," &c. (Prov. ix.); (5) love for the heart of man: the love of kindred and of  14 THE BOOK OF ESTHER. lcn. 1. 1-9.