Esther 1:2

Ahasuerus was a name given to the chief king of Persia. History knows the Ahasuerus of verse 1 as Xerxes I. His empire extended over a very large area, including 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia. The capital of his empire was Shushan, a beautiful city surrounded by mountains and rich in vegetation. It is here called a citadel, for it was a fortress, a castle built not only for residence, but for military defence (v. 2).

The title of Ahasuerus was a general one, just as Pharaoh was the general one in Egypt, and Abimelech among the Philistines. There were many Pharaohs and many Abimelechs, and among the Persians several kings bore the name Ahasuerus. Which Ahasuerus is meant is a question, but it is a matter of no importance; if it were, God would have told us. I presume, however, that it was really Xerxes. One reason is the character of the man — a man of enormous resources, unbounded wealth, immense luxury and vanity, and of the most arbitrary and unpredictable character.

What could you expect from people who seemed happy to stay on among the nations? The highest earthly authority had given them leave, and even encouragement, to return to the land of promise. A remnant of the scattered Jews had gone back with the heir to David's throne, and with the high priest, to rebuild the temple and the city.

For a Jew the circumstances under the great king were most unusual. The opening scene is as if Israel were, like the name of God Himself, not even whispered.

The prophet Daniel had predicted this display, saying: "Behold… the fourth (king of Persia) shall enrich himself with great riches more than all; and when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all the realm of Greece." (Dan. 11:2) "The third year of his reign" corresponds, according to history, to the year in which his formidable expedition against Greece... was decreed. We have no doubt that all this show of luxury and power was intended to prepare this expedition.

It is a vivid picture of earthly splendour, without a thought of God, true or false. Nebuchadnezzar brought in religion of a base sort, and sought to force it on all. Xerxes... showed himself "far richer than all before him," as Daniel had said long before. He thought of no one higher. He gave himself up to showy indulgence, all the more after his invasion of Greece failed completely.

Perhaps no book in the Bible shows the great truth of God's providence more remarkably. Notice one striking feature: the name of God never appears in it. Ignorant men have supposed this to be a defect. In truth, naming God openly all through it would badly spoil the book. The prime object is to show His hand secretly working where His name could not rightly be proclaimed. Far from being a fault, this is one of the most strengthening thoughts we can have. We deal with a similar secret providence every day.

Ahasuerus represents power, royal authority, in the earth. He then filled the throne that was supreme among the nations... Still, he represents power, royal authority in the earth. Just like Solomon in Jerusalem, he himself did evil... Still, as a general picture he stood for power. He was a shadow of Christ on the throne of glory — the throne that will rule the world in righteousness.