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the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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New Living Translation

Esther 1:3

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.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Feasts;   Food;   Persia;   Shushan (Susa);   Thompson Chain Reference - Persia;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Diet of the Jews, the;   Medo-Persian Kingdom;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Chamberlain;   Feasts;   Shushan;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Media;   Persia;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Power;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Media;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ahasuerus;   Esther;   Shethar;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Esther;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Joakim;   Nethinim;   Zaraias;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Medes, Media ;   Prince, Princess;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Ahasuerus;   Medes;   Vashti;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ahasue'rus;   Meals;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Esther, Book of;   Medes;   Noble;   Persia;   Prince;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Ahasuerus;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Banquets;   Esdras, Books of;   Lilith;   Media;   Persia;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for June 6;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He held a feast in the third year of his reign for all his officials and staff, the army of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the officials from the provinces.
Hebrew Names Version
in the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his princes and his servants; the power of Paras and Madai, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him;
King James Version
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:
English Standard Version
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,
New Century Version
In the third year of his rule, he gave a banquet for all his important men and royal officers. The army leaders from the countries of Persia and Media and the important men from all Xerxes' empire were there.
New English Translation
in the third year of his reign he provided a banquet for all his officials and his servants. The army of Persia and Media was present, as well as the nobles and the officials of the provinces.
Amplified Bible
in the third year of his reign he held a banquet for all his officials and his attendants. The army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the officials of the provinces were there in his presence.
New American Standard Bible
in the third year of his reign he held a banquet for all his officials and attendants, the army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the officials of his provinces, in his presence.
World English Bible
in the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him;
Geneva Bible (1587)
In the third yeere of his reigne, he made a feast vnto all his princes and his seruants, euen the power of Persia and Media, and to the captaines and gouernours of the prouinces which were before him,
Legacy Standard Bible
in the third year of his reign, he held a feast for all his princes and servants, the military officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of his provinces being in his presence,
Berean Standard Bible
In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces.
Contemporary English Version
During the third year of his rule, Xerxes gave a big dinner for all his officials and officers. The governors and leaders of the provinces were also invited, and even the commanders of the Persian and Median armies came.
Complete Jewish Bible
in the third year of his reign, that he gave a banquet for all his officials and courtiers. The army of Persia and Media, the nobles and the provincial officials were in attendance.
Darby Translation
in the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of the provinces being before him;
Easy-to-Read Version
In the third year of Xerxes' rule, he gave a party for his officers and leaders. The army leaders and important leaders from all of Persia and Media were there.
George Lamsa Translation
In the third year of his reign, he made a great feast for all his princes and his servants, the mighty men of Persia and Media and the kings nobles and the governors of the provinces being before him.
Good News Translation
In the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his officials and administrators. The armies of Persia and Media were present, as well as the governors and noblemen of the provinces.
Lexham English Bible
he gave a banquet in the third year of his reign for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and officials of the provinces were in his presence
Literal Translation
in the third year of his reign, he made a banquet for all his rulers and his servants. The power of Persia and Media, the nobles and the rulers of the provinces, were before him,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
in the thirde yeare of his reigne, he made a feast vnto all his prynces and seruauntes, namely vnto the mightie men of Persia and Media, to the Debities and rulers of his countrees,
American Standard Version
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;
Bible in Basic English
In the third year of his rule he gave a feast to all his captains and his servants; and the captains of the army of Persia and Media, the great men and the rulers of the divisions of his kingdom, were present before him;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
In the third yere of his raigne, he made a feast vnto all his princes & seruauntes: and the mightie men of Persia and Media, the captaynes also and rulers of his countreys were before hym.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the army of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him;
King James Version (1611)
In the third yeere of his reigne, he made a feast vnto all his Princes, and his seruants, the power of Persia and Media, the Nobles and Princes of the prouinces being before him.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
in the third year of his reign, he made a feast to his friends, and the other nations, and to the nobles of the Persians and Medes, and the chief of the satraps.
English Revised Version
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:
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor in the thridde yeer of his empire he made a greet feeste to alle hise princes and children, the strongeste men of Persis, and to the noble men of Medeis, and to the prefectis of prouynces, bifor him silf,
Update Bible Version
in the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his princes and his slaves; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him;
Webster's Bible Translation
In the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, [being] before him:
New King James Version
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--
New Life Bible
In the third year of his rule, he gave a special supper for all his princes and leaders. The army captains of Persia and Media, the important men and princes of the many parts of the country were there with him.
New Revised Standard
in the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his officials and ministers. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were present,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
in the third year of his reign, he made a banquet unto all his rulers, and his servants, - the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and the rulers being before him;
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now in the third year of his reign he made a great feast for all the princes, and for his servants, for the most mighty of the Persians, and the nobles of the Medes, and the governors of the provinces in his sight,
Revised Standard Version
in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his princes and servants, the army chiefs of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces being before him,
Young's Literal Translation
in the third year of his reign, he hath made a banquet to all his heads and his servants; of the force of Persia and Media, the chiefs and heads of the provinces [are] before him,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his princes and attendants, the army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of his provinces being in his presence.

Contextual Overview

1 These events happened in the days of King Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. 2 At that time Xerxes ruled his empire from his royal throne at the fortress of Susa. 3 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. 4 The celebration lasted 180 days—a tremendous display of the opulent wealth of his empire and the pomp and splendor of his majesty. 5 When it was all over, the king gave a banquet for all the people, from the greatest to the least, who were in the fortress of Susa. It lasted for seven days and was held in the courtyard of the palace garden. 6 The courtyard was beautifully decorated with white cotton curtains and blue hangings, which were fastened with white linen cords and purple ribbons to silver rings embedded in marble pillars. Gold and silver couches stood on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones. 7 Drinks were served in gold goblets of many designs, and there was an abundance of royal wine, reflecting the king's generosity. 8 By edict of the king, no limits were placed on the drinking, for the king had instructed all his palace officials to serve each man as much as he wanted. 9 At the same time, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

am 3542, bc 462

he made: Esther 2:18, Genesis 40:20, 1 Kings 3:15, Daniel 5:1, Mark 6:21

of Persia: Esther 1:14, Ezra 1:2, Isaiah 21:2, Jeremiah 51:11, Daniel 5:28, Daniel 8:20

the nobles: Daniel 3:2, Daniel 3:3, Daniel 6:1, Daniel 6:6, Daniel 6:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 21:8 - feast 1 Samuel 25:36 - a feast 2 Samuel 3:20 - David Ezra 2:1 - the children Esther 3:7 - in the twelfth Jeremiah 51:28 - the kings Daniel 8:3 - one Luke 7:25 - are in 1 John 2:16 - and the pride

Cross-References

Job 36:30
See how he spreads the lightning around him and how it lights up the depths of the sea.
Job 38:19
"Where does light come from, and where does darkness go?
Psalms 33:6
The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.
Psalms 33:9
For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command.
Psalms 97:11
Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right.
Psalms 104:2
You are dressed in a robe of light. You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;
Psalms 118:27
The Lord is God, shining upon us. Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.
Psalms 148:5
Let every created thing give praise to the Lord , for he issued his command, and they came into being.
Isaiah 45:7
I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the Lord , am the one who does these things.
Isaiah 60:19
"No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

In the third year of his reign he made a feast unto all his princes, and his servants,.... The nobles and officers in his court; on what account this was cannot be said with certainty, whether the first day of it was his birthday, or the day of his coming to the throne, on which day Xerxes used to make a feast annually, as Herodotus relates f:

the power of Persia and Media; the mighty men therein, the potentates thereof; or the "army", the principal officers of it:

the nobles and princes of the provinces being with him. The first word Aben Ezra declares his ignorance of, whether it is Hebrew or Persian; Jarchi interprets it governors; and the persons intended by both seem to be the deputy governors of the one hundred and twenty seven provinces who were present at this feast. Xerxes, having reduced Egypt, meditated a war with Greece, to which he was pressed by Mardonius, a relation of his; upon which he summoned the chief men of his kingdom, to have their advice about it g, which perhaps was taken at this time; for it was in the third year of his reign he resolved upon the war, and began to make preparations for it; and it was usual, at banquets and feasts, that the Persians debated their most important affairs h.

f lb. (Herodot.) Calliope, sive, l. 9. c. 109. g Ib. l. 7. c. 8. h lb. Clio, sive, l. 1. c. 133.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

In the third year - In this year, 483 B.C., Xerxes assembled the governors of provinces at Susa, in connection with his contemplated expedition against Greece.

The nobles - literally, “the first men.” The Hebrew word used is one adopted from the Persian.


 
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