This verse (Esther Greek 1:10) describes a scene of drunken revelry in the court of King Ahasuerus (also known as Xerxes I in historical accounts). Let's break it down:
"Now on the seventh day, the king, being merry...": This sets the scene. The banquet has been going on for seven days. The king is "merry," meaning drunk or intoxicated. This lowered inhibitions are crucial to what happens next.
"...told Haman, Bazan, Tharrha, Baraze, Zatholtha, Abataza, and Tharaba...": This lists names. Note that Haman is among these men. This is a different Haman than the infamous villain of the standard Book of Esther. This earlier Haman doesn't have the same significance as the Haman in the canonical Hebrew version of Esther. These are likely royal officials or chamberlains.
"...the seven chamberlains, servants of king Ahasuerus...": This clarifies who these men are: they are chamberlains, meaning attendants or officials in the king's court. They are servants, obligated to obey the king's commands.
Therefore, the meaning of the verse is:
On the seventh day of a large and extravagant feast, King Ahasuerus, in a state of intoxication, instructed his seven chamberlains, including a man named Haman, to do something (which the following verses will reveal - notably, it's the command for Queen Vashti to appear before the guests). The verse serves to:
1. Highlight the King's Intoxication and Imprudence: His drunken state explains the foolishness of his subsequent command.
2. Introduce Key Figures: These chamberlains are involved in carrying out the king's orders.
3. Set the Stage for the Crisis: The king's command, delivered to these men, initiates the chain of events that will lead to Vashti's dethronement and Esther's eventual rise to power.
Important Note about the Greek Esther vs. Hebrew Esther:
It's important to remember that the Greek versions of Esther (including the Septuagint) contain additions and variations compared to the Hebrew version that is typically canonized in the Hebrew Bible and most Protestant Christian Bibles.
In the canonical Book of Esther, Haman is the main antagonist, a high-ranking official who plots the extermination of the Jewish people. The Greek version's inclusion of a different Haman in this earlier scene can be confusing and is one of the reasons scholars consider the Greek version to be later and potentially embellished compared to the Hebrew text.
This verse (Esther Greek 1:10) describes a scene of drunken revelry in the court of King Ahasuerus (also known as Xerxes I in historical accounts). Let's break it down:
"Now on the seventh day, the king, being merry...": This sets the scene. The banquet has been going on for seven days. The king is "merry," meaning drunk or intoxicated. This lowered inhibitions are crucial to what happens next.
"...told Haman, Bazan, Tharrha, Baraze, Zatholtha, Abataza, and Tharaba...": This lists names. Note that Haman is among these men. This is a different Haman than the infamous villain of the standard Book of Esther. This earlier Haman doesn't have the same significance as the Haman in the canonical Hebrew version of Esther. These are likely royal officials or chamberlains.
"...the seven chamberlains, servants of king Ahasuerus...": This clarifies who these men are: they are chamberlains, meaning attendants or officials in the king's court. They are servants, obligated to obey the king's commands.
Therefore, the meaning of the verse is:
On the seventh day of a large and extravagant feast, King Ahasuerus, in a state of intoxication, instructed his seven chamberlains, including a man named Haman, to do something (which the following verses will reveal - notably, it's the command for Queen Vashti to appear before the guests). The verse serves to:
1. Highlight the King's Intoxication and Imprudence: His drunken state explains the foolishness of his subsequent command.
2. Introduce Key Figures: These chamberlains are involved in carrying out the king's orders.
3. Set the Stage for the Crisis: The king's command, delivered to these men, initiates the chain of events that will lead to Vashti's dethronement and Esther's eventual rise to power.
Important Note about the Greek Esther vs. Hebrew Esther:
It's important to remember that the Greek versions of Esther (including the Septuagint) contain additions and variations compared to the Hebrew version that is typically canonized in the Hebrew Bible and most Protestant Christian Bibles.
In the canonical Book of Esther, Haman is the main antagonist, a high-ranking official who plots the extermination of the Jewish people. The Greek version's inclusion of a different Haman in this earlier scene can be confusing and is one of the reasons scholars consider the Greek version to be later and potentially embellished compared to the Hebrew text.