Esther 1 3

Esther 1:3 kjv

In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:

Esther 1:3 nkjv

that in the third year of his reign he made a feast for all his officials and servants?the powers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces being before him?

Esther 1:3 niv

and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present.

Esther 1:3 esv

in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him,

Esther 1:3 nlt

In the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. He invited all the military officers of Persia and Media as well as the princes and nobles of the provinces.

Esther 1 verses

Esther 1 3 Meaning

Esther 1:3 describes the beginning of King Ahasuerus's grand display of power and wealth, held in Susa, the capital of his vast empire. In the third year of his reign, he convened a lavish feast for all his high-ranking officials, including the powerful military commanders of Persia and Media, the kingdom's nobles, and the regional governors (princes of the provinces). This gathering served to assert and consolidate his authority, demonstrate his imperial might, and solidify loyalty across his diverse dominion. It also implicitly sets the stage for future royal decrees and the significant events that will unfold in the narrative.

Esther 1 3 Context

Esther chapter 1 sets the magnificent stage for the drama that unfolds throughout the book. After an opening verse defining the vastness of King Ahasuerus's empire, verse 3 describes the purpose of the feast mentioned previously. It was a strategic event held early in his reign (the third year), intended not merely for celebration but as a deliberate display of imperial power, wealth, and influence. This gathering of officials, military leaders, and princes from across 127 provinces would have solidified allegiances and impressed upon them the unassailable authority of the king, possibly even in preparation for a significant military campaign, such as Xerxes's campaign against Greece. The absence of God's name in the book of Esther highlights God's hidden but active providence behind the scenes, contrasting it with the overt human display of power.

Esther 1 3 Word analysis

• in the third year: (Hebrew: בִּשְׁנַת הַשָּׁלֹשׁ, bishnat hash-shalosh)

  • Significance: This specific timing is not arbitrary. The third year of a king's reign often signifies a period of consolidated power after initial establishment. For Xerxes I (commonly identified as Ahasuerus), this time frame corresponds with historical records indicating his preparations for the massive military expedition against Greece (around 483 BC). This feast could have been a strategic council, gathering his vast network of officials and military command, as much as a celebration. It suggests a time of peace and stability before embarking on such a huge undertaking.

• of his reign: (Hebrew: לְמַלְכוֹ, le'malkho)

  • Significance: Reinforces that the events are under the direct, sovereign control of Ahasuerus. It underscores his political and administrative authority over the Persian Empire, emphasizing that this was a royal decree and event, emanating from the seat of power.

• he held a feast: (Hebrew: עָשָׂה מִשְׁתֶּה, asah mishteh – literally "made a drinking feast")

  • "feast" (מִשְׁתֶּה, mishteh): Implies a banquet, typically characterized by abundant food, especially drinking, merriment, and prolonged duration.
  • Significance: Feasts in the ancient world, especially for monarchs, were not just social events. They were crucial for displaying wealth, prestige, and power; for forging loyalty among diverse officials; and sometimes for political planning or declaration. The extravagance (as revealed in later verses) would awe and bind the attendees to the king's authority. In the broader biblical narrative, feasts can be settings for both joyous communion and grave peril, or even divine judgment (e.g., Belshazzar's feast in Dan 5). This particular feast highlights worldly indulgence.

• for all his officials and ministers: (Hebrew: לְכָל שָׂרָיו וַעֲבָדָיו, lekhol sarav va'avadav)

  • "officials" (שָׂרָיו, sarav): Refers to high-ranking princes, chiefs, and noblemen.
  • "ministers" (וַעֲבָדָיו, va'avadav): While avadim generally means servants, in a royal context like this, it often refers to high-ranking administrative or court officials, who "serve" the king directly in governmental capacity.
  • Significance: The king gathered his core bureaucracy and political elite. This wasn't just local leadership; these were the top people responsible for administering the vast empire, reflecting the extensive administrative structure required to govern such a large domain. Their attendance demonstrates their subservience and allegiance to the king.

• the military leaders of Persia and Media: (Hebrew: חֵיל פָּרַס וּמָדַי, cheil Paras u'Maday – literally "military of Persia and Media" or "power/army of P. & M.")

  • "military leaders" (חֵיל, cheil): This word encompasses the army, force, or military strength. Here, it likely refers to the highest-ranking commanders and generals.
  • "Persia and Media" (פָּרַס וּמָדַי, Paras u'Maday): Signifies the dualistic nature of the empire, originating from a Medo-Persian alliance, though Persia had become dominant.
  • Significance: Highlighting the military component underscores the foundation of Ahasuerus's power—his immense army. The explicit mention of Persia and Media's military leadership emphasizes the unified military might, serving as a reminder of the empire's power and its origins. It sets the scene for potential military actions (like the Greek campaign).

• the nobles, and the princes of the provinces: (Hebrew: הַפַּרְתְּמִים וְשָׂרֵי הַמְּדִינוֹת, hapartemim v'sarei ha'medinot)

  • "nobles" (הַפַּרְתְּמִים, hapartemim): Likely refers to the very highest echelon of hereditary Persian aristocracy, often with considerable influence.
  • "princes of the provinces" (וְשָׂרֵי הַמְּדִינוֹת, v'sarei ha'medinot): Refers to the satraps or governors of the 127 provinces mentioned in Esther 1:1.
  • Significance: This covers the territorial administration and the social elite. Their presence indicates that the entire ruling apparatus, from the core to the distant regions, was assembled, confirming the king's absolute authority and reach throughout his vast empire. It portrays a unified and obedient government under his absolute command.

• were in his presence: (Hebrew: לְפָנָיו, lefanav – literally "before him")

  • Significance: Emphasizes that these powerful figures, each a significant leader in their own right, came before the king. This denotes deference, homage, and submission to the supreme royal authority. It reinforces the hierarchy and the king's ultimate status as sovereign ruler. This direct attendance ensures they witness his power first-hand and pledge their allegiance.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "in the third year of his reign he held a feast": This opening phrase anchors the event historically and culturally. It implies the King's established rule, sufficient peace for such a large undertaking, and possibly preparation for future grand projects, setting a tone of stability and power for the reader. The lavish nature of the event highlights the king's grandeur, indirectly contrasting it with the quiet working of God.

• "for all his officials and ministers—the military leaders of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces": This extended list precisely delineates the diverse and numerous components of Ahasuerus's imperial governance. It demonstrates the incredible breadth and depth of his control, covering the administrative, military, and aristocratic pillars from across the empire's vast territories. The king's ability to assemble such a diverse and powerful group underscores his supreme authority and calls attention to the structure of the Medo-Persian empire.

Esther 1 3 Bonus section

The mention of "the third year of his reign" may imply that Ahasuerus was now fully focused on his own agenda after initial consolidations, potentially signaling a strategic turning point in his reign leading to major imperial initiatives. Such grand royal banquets also served as intelligence gatherings and a means for the king to assess the loyalty and capabilities of his subordinates in person. The diverse roles of those invited underscore the highly stratified and specialized nature of Persian administration, one of the most sophisticated in the ancient world, allowing the king to maintain control over a truly global empire. The book of Esther, by meticulously detailing such worldly grandeur, effectively presents a 'stage' on which God's unseen hand guides events, subtly subverting the grand displays of human power for His divine purposes, without ever explicitly naming Him.

Esther 1 3 Commentary

Esther 1:3 paints a vivid picture of absolute monarchical power and ostentatious display. King Ahasuerus, in the third year of his secure reign, deliberately summoned his empire's elite – top officials, military commanders, nobles, and provincial governors – to his capital, Susa, for an extended, elaborate feast. This was not a mere party but a calculated strategic maneuver. It served multiple purposes: to publicly flaunt the immense wealth and glory of his vast kingdom (foreshadowed in verse 4), to solidify loyalty among his diverse ruling class, and to gather counsel or secure allegiance for potential grand imperial undertakings, such as his historical military campaign against Greece. The assembly of such high-ranking and geographically widespread individuals highlights the unparalleled reach and organized structure of the Persian Empire. This verse effectively establishes the formidable worldly authority of Ahasuerus, creating a stark contrast against which the subtle, yet ultimately supreme, providence of God, operating invisibly throughout the book, will be highlighted. The detailed description of earthly power also sets the scene for future human actions and decrees that will challenge God's people, ultimately to be overturned by His divine plan.