pdma), who was his unclo (Horod., vii. Ver. 18. - The ladies. Rather "the 6-17). It is possible that Mardonius may princesses." Translate the whole pa;sage a,.~ be here represented by Marsena, nnd Arta- follows:-" Likewise shall the princesses of banus by Admatha ; but the nnmes could Persia and Media, which have hearrl of the only have ta.ken these shapes by e. large deed of the queen, say this day to all the amount of corruption. The other form king's princes." Not only will the wives of have a general Persian air, but do not admit the common people get hold of the story, of oven conjectural identification. The seven and quote Vashti's example as often as they princes of Persia and Media. Ezra assigns wish to disobey their husbands, but mr own to the Persian monarch seven special coun- wives too will disobey v,s on the same pre- sellors (eh. vii. 14), and Herodotus says that text, and will begin forthwith "this day." there were swen leading families in Persia Too much contempt and wrath. Literally, whose heads were specially privileged (iii. 84). "sufficient;" but the meaning is that given The title, however, "princes of Persia and by our transla.tors-" quite enough," "more Media," is not found anywhere but here. than enough." Contempt on the part of Which saw the king's face. Among the the wives ; wrath on the part of the h"JS- privileges said by Herodotus to have been bands. reserved to the heads of the great families, Ver. 19.-A royal commandment. Liter- one of the most valued was that of free ally, " a command of the kingdom "--i. e. access to the monarch at all times, unless he a public, not a domestic, order. Under were in the seraglio. ordinary circumstances such a matter as ths Ver. 15.-What shall we do to queen disgrace of a favourite wife would have been Vashti according to law l Literally, "Ac- settled in the secrecy of the seraglio, without cording to law, what is there to do to queen calling general attention to it. In Memu- Vashti 1" Law is given the prominent can's opinion, the publicity of Vashti's dis- place, as though the king would say, Let us obedience had made it expedient that she put aside feeling, and simply consider what should be disgraced publicly. Let it be the law is. If a queen disobeys the king written among the laws of the Persians and openly in the face of his court, what, accord- the Medes. A sentence upon an individual ing to law, is to be done to her Y was not a very suitable thing to add to a Ver. 16.-And Jlrlemucan answered. We national code of laws ; but we see from gather from Memucan's reply that the Per- Daniel (vi 8, 9) that decrees of quite a tem- sian law had provided no penalty for the porary character were sometimes attached to case in hand-had, in fact, not contemplated the code for the express purpose of rendering it. He first argues the matter on general them unalterable; and so it seems to have grounds of morality (ver. 16) and expediency been in this instance. Unto another. Liter- (vers. 17, 18), and then proposes the enact- ally, asin the margin, "unto her companion." ment of a new law-a privilegium-assign- Memucan assumes that one of the existing ing Vashti a special punishment for her inmates of the seraglio will be elevated into contempt of the king's order. The "decree" the place vacated by Vashti. This was the (ver. 20) would not have been necessary had ordinary course, but on the present occasion there already existed a law on the point. was not followed. Vashti, the queen, hath not done wrong to Ver. 20.-The king's decree. The" com- the king only. With the servility to be ex- mandment" of the preceding verse is here pected in an Oriental 0.nd a courtier, Memucan given the formal name of pithqam, "decree," throws himself wholly on the king's side- which is a Persian word, used also in Ezra insinuates no word of blame against his royal (eh. iv. 17; v. 7, 11). For it is great. master, on whom in justice the whole blame These words seem at first sight superfluous. rested ; but sets himself to make the worst he Perhaps their force is this-Let a decree be can of Vashti's conduct, which (he says) was made, and then, great as the empire is, the a. wrong not to Ahasuerus only, but to the lesson will be taught to all: otherwise there whole ma.le population of the empire, the will be many to whom it will never penetrate. princes included, who must expect their Ver. 21.-The king did according to the wives to throw off a.11 subjection, in imitation word of Jlrlemucan. This expression must of the queen's example, if her conduct were not be pressed too closely. It does not allowed to go unpunished. As such o. con- imply more than tho.t Memucan's advice W'B8 dition of things would be intolerable, the followed in a general way-Vashti disgraced, king is urged to disgrace her publicly. and the grounds of her disgrace published Ver, 17.-They shall despise their hus- throughout the provinces. We cannot be bands. Literally, "thoir lords," but the sure that the decree was "written among word is the one ordinarily used for " h us- the laws of the Persians and the Mades." band." When it shall be reported. Rather, Even if it was, it was always possible for a "while they say," or "and shall say." (So Persian king to give himself a dispensation the Vulgate-" ut contemnant et dicant. ") from the law (see Herod., iii. 58) . .ICSTIIEB. 0 18 THE BOOK OF ESTHER. [CH, I. 10-22.
Ver. 22.-For he sent. Rather, "and family,' and not that of his wifo, if it were he sent." Besides publishing the decree, differe~t.. This is t~e pl&i.n meaning of Ahe.suerus sent letters prescribing certain the existing text, which cannot bear either things, viz. :-1. That every man should bee.r of the senses suggested in the Authorised rule in hill own house ; &ndi 2. That every Version. man should speak his own anguage in his