Esther 1:8

In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had instructed all the officials of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.

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Other translations

WEBBE

In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had instructed all the officials of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.

BSB

By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired.

KJV

And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.

ASV

And the drinking was according to the law; none could compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.

BBE

And the drinking was in keeping with the law; no one was forced: for the king had given orders to all the chief servants of his house to do as was pleasing to every man.

Original Hebrew

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וְהַשְּׁתִיָּה ve·ha·she·ti·yah and the drinking H8360 כַדָּת kha·dat [was] according to the law H1881 אֵין 'ein there not H369 אֹנֵס 'o·nes [was one who] compelled H597 כִּי־ ki- for H3588 כֵן khen thus H3651 יִסַּד yi·sad he had appointed H3245 הַמֶּלֶךְ ha·me·lekh the king H4428 עַל 'al on H5921 כָּל־ kol- every H3605 רַב rav (the) chief of H7227 בֵּיתוֹ bei·to house his H1004 לַעֲשׂוֹת la·'a·sot to do H6213 כִּרְצוֹן kir·tzon according to [the] pleasure of H7522 אִישׁ־ 'ish- man H376 וָאִישׁ va·'ish and man H376

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 1–9

The pride of Ahasuerus's heart rising with the grandeur of his kingdom, he made an extravagant feast. This was vain glory. Better is a dinner of herbs with quietness, than this banquet of wine, with all the noise and tumult that must have attended it. But except grace prevails in the heart, self-exaltation and self-indulgence, in one form or another, will be the ruling principle. Yet none did compel; so that if any drank to excess, it was their own fault. This caution of a heathen prince, even when he would show his generosity, may shame many called Christians, who, under pretence of sending the health round, send sin round, and death with it. There is a woe to them that do so; let them read it, and tremble, Ha 2:15, 16.

Read Matthew Henry on Esther 1 →

Cross-references

4

Topics

WineFeastsAbstinence, TotalTemperance

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.