Est 1:7 | KingComments | STEP | When the feast for the commanders of his army and the rulers of his provinces is over, the king arranges a new banquet ( ). This time the guests are “all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa, from the greatest to the least”. The feast lasts seven days and is held “in the court of the garden of the king’s palace”. It is believed that Ahasuerus gives this feast to all the people of Susa as an expression of his joy over the permission to go to war. The feast is decorated with the most precious rugs and fabrics “linen held by cords of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble columns” ( ). Furthermore, there are “couches” which reminds one of coming to rest in the presence of the great ruler. The floor on which the resting beds stand consists of the most precious stones. It indicates that the rest enjoyed is attractive and steady or stable. There is also plentiful “royal wine according to the king’s bounty”. The fact that it is “royal wine” perhaps means, apart from the fact that the king gives it, that it is wine that the king himself drinks and that he now also gives his subjects to drink. That it is wine “according to the king’s bounty” indicates the rich supply of wine. There need be no fear of lack. The wine to be drunk is given “in golden vessels” which are all different from each other ( ). This is reminiscent of another aspect of a feast organized by the king. Wine is a picture of joy ( ; ) that is experienced by each person in a different, unique way, which is represented by ‘vessels of various kinds’. We can see Ahasuerus in this scene as a picture of God on His throne, surrounded by all the glory of the first creation. He gives His blessings generously to all, such as sun and rain and fruitful times, food and joy ( ; ). Whoever acknowledges Him as the source of that blessing will find complete rest and true joy. Nor has God ever forced people to make use of these blessings, for it is all according to the law “no compulsion” ( ). However, God, Who can be known from creation, is not honored as God or given thanks by man ( ). All the goodness that God grants man puts man to the test. Then it turns out that man abuses everything God has given.

‏ Esther 1:7

A Banquet for the People

When the feast for the commanders of his army and the rulers of his provinces is over, the king arranges a new banquet (Est 1:5). This time the guests are “all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa, from the greatest to the least”. The feast lasts seven days and is held “in the court of the garden of the king’s palace”. It is believed that Ahasuerus gives this feast to all the people of Susa as an expression of his joy over the permission to go to war.

The feast is decorated with the most precious rugs and fabrics “linen held by cords of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble columns” (Est 1:6). Furthermore, there are “couches” which reminds one of coming to rest in the presence of the great ruler. The floor on which the resting beds stand consists of the most precious stones. It indicates that the rest enjoyed is attractive and steady or stable.

There is also plentiful “royal wine according to the king’s bounty”. The fact that it is “royal wine” perhaps means, apart from the fact that the king gives it, that it is wine that the king himself drinks and that he now also gives his subjects to drink. That it is wine “according to the king’s bounty” indicates the rich supply of wine. There need be no fear of lack.

The wine to be drunk is given “in golden vessels” which are all different from each other (Est 1:7). This is reminiscent of another aspect of a feast organized by the king. Wine is a picture of joy (Psa 104:15; Jdg 9:13) that is experienced by each person in a different, unique way, which is represented by ‘vessels of various kinds’.

We can see Ahasuerus in this scene as a picture of God on His throne, surrounded by all the glory of the first creation. He gives His blessings generously to all, such as sun and rain and fruitful times, food and joy (Mt 5:45b; Acts 14:17). Whoever acknowledges Him as the source of that blessing will find complete rest and true joy.

Nor has God ever forced people to make use of these blessings, for it is all according to the law “no compulsion” (Est 1:8). However, God, Who can be known from creation, is not honored as God or given thanks by man (Rom 1:20-21). All the goodness that God grants man puts man to the test. Then it turns out that man abuses everything God has given.