Ahasuerus (II)

II. AHASUERUS. This Prince was born about the year of the Julian Period 4165. of the world 3455. before J. C. 545. before the vulgar Æra 549. After the death of Cambyses King of Persia, in the year of the world 3482. Seven Magi of the country usurped the sovereign authority¹, pretending that Smerdis, the Son of Cyrus, and Brother of Cambyses, was living, and that it was he who reigned. But Ostanes, one of the great men of Persia, having enquired of his daughter, who was one of the King’s concubines, whether he who reigned, that is, the first of the Magi, had ears or not, (for Cyrus, or, according to others, Cambyses, had cut them off) she answered he had none. Then he knew that the Magi, and not Smerdis, were in possession of the kingdom².

Ostanes communicated this to the principal Lords of the Court, who having engaged themselves by oath to kill the King, immediately departed, and went to the palace. They forthwith dispatched all those whom they met with, and being come to the apartment of the Magi, they attacked them: These defended themselves and wounded two of the Conspirators; but the Conspirators being the strongest, one of them, called Gobryas, laid hold of the principal of the Magi, and as his companions were apprehensive of wounding him instead of the Magus, because this business was acted in an obscure place, Gobryas cried out to them, and bid them pierce the enemy thro’ his own body, lest they should miss him. But Providence so ordered it that the Magus was killed, and Gobryas not so In the Year of the World 3483. before J. C. 517. before the vulg. Æra 521.much as wounded. Thus these seven conspirators delivered their Country from the oppression of these usurpers.

Six days after the seven conspirators met to deliberate upon the form of government which they should establish in Persia; Ostanes was for a Democracy, or popular Government; Megabysus for an Oligarchy, Dan. xiii. 61.that is for a Government to be lodged in the hands of some few chosen persons; and Darius the Son of Hystaspes, whom we call Ahasuerus, for Monarchy, or a regal Government. The last opinion carried it; and they agreed that the next day, before the rising of the Sun, they should all meet on horseback at the same place, and that he whose horse should first salute the Sun by neighing, should be acknowledged King of Persia, and successor to Cambyses. Darius’s Groom hearing this, in the evening carried his Master’s horse with a mare to the place where they were to meet; so that the next day as soon as Darius’s horse came thither, the smell and sense of what had passed there the evening before, set him a neighing, which was worth a kingdom to his Master; for immediately the other six conspirators dismounted, and saluted him by the title of King of Persia³.

In the Year of the World 3485. Hag. i. 115. ii. 2-9, 10. Zech. i. 1-6. Ezra iv. 16. Ezra v. 1, 4, 5, 6, 11.Darius being thus seated in the throne of Cambyses, married Atharsa, Daughter to Cyrus the founder of this Monarchy, and who had been first of all Wife to Cambyses, then to the Magus who had usurped the Crown⁴. In the second year of his reign, the Jews who had returned to Palestine, encouraged by the exhortations of the Prophets Haggai and Zachary, began to set about rebuilding of the Temple, which work had been interrupted nine years before, under the reign of Cambyses. Hereupon the Governours of the Province sent thither by the Persians, came and demanded by what authority they undertook to rebuild this Edifice? The Jews answer’d, in pursuance of an Edict published by Cyrus in their favour, who permitted them to undertake this work. In the mean while, these Governours wrote to Darius concerning this affair, and told him that Cyrus’s Edict should be at Babylon, desiring to receive his orders. Darius gave directions to enquire after the Edict, and having found it at Ecbatane, he confirmed it, and commanded his Officers to assist the Jews in the execution of this design; and to furnish them with things necessary for their Sacrifices, and for the fabrick of the Temple. These orders were obeyed, and in a little time the work of the Temple was advanced very considerably.

Esth. i. 1, 2, 3, &c.The next year Ahasuerus made a feast for the principal persons of his Empire, in the palace of Shushan, wherein he shewed the utmost magnificence. The feast was continued for an hundred and fourscore days, or six months intire. After this term the King invited all the People, great and small, that were present in Shushan the Palace, and commanded that preparations should be made to entertain them for seven days. Nothing could equal the splendor and magnificence of this Banquet. The Entertainment itself, and the manner wherein it was set out, was suitable to the grandeur of the most powerful Monarch in the World. Vashti the Queen treated likewise the Women in the King’s Palace. Upon the seventh day Ahasuerus being more gay than usual, and well warmed with wine, ordered his principal Eunuchs to bring the Queen, and produce her before the People, that they might have an opportunity to observe her beauty; for she was perfectly handsome: But Vashti refused to come, which so provok’d the King that he call’d his Council to consult what their opinion was of Vashti’s behaviour: They declared that she had not only offended the King, but that her disobedience to his Orders might engage other Women to use their Husbands in the same manner, and that their advice was for the King’s divorcing her, and taking another Wife.

This counsel was followed, and Esther, the Niece of Mordecai, a Jew by Nation, was made choice of to be wedded to Ahasuerus, as we shall see in another place. Mordecai did not declare who he was, but was contented to stay at the Palace-gate, to enquire after his Niece Esther’s health. Nevertheless, when Haman had obtain’d an Edict from the King, condemning all the Jews to death and confiscation of their Estates, he engaged Esther to wait on the King, and petition for a revocation of this Edict. Now Ahasuerus had forbidden all Persons whatever, upon pain of death, to come before him, unless sent for, or unless he held out his sceptber towards them when Esth. v. 1, 2, 3, &c. seq.they came near his Throne. Esther run the hazard of appearing without being called: The King extended his sceptber towards her, and desired her to let him know what it was that she requested of him. Esther humbly entreated him to come that very day to an Entertainment which she had provided for him, and to bring Haman with him. Ahasuerus came, and the repast being ended, he commanded Esther to ask what she pleased of him, and it should be granted. Esther said, that the only favour she had to beg of him was, that he would come again with Haman the next day to an Entertainment which she would prepare for him; to which Ahasuerus consented; and Haman, who thought himself at the height of all his good fortune, had no other uneasiness than that of observing that Mordecai did not prostrate himself before him as he pass’d by.In the mean time something happened

Ch. vi. 1, 2, 3, &c.which extremely humbled him. The King the night following could not sleep, and ordered the several Journals and Annals of the years preceding to be read to him. They fell upon that particular part wherein it was related how two Eunuchs having conspired to take away the King’s life, one Mordecai discover’d the Conspiracy, and preserved him. Ahasuerus interrupted the Reader, and asked if Mordecai had been rewarded. He was answer’d no, that Mordecai had received no recompence at all. The next morning early Haman came to the King’s Levée, to desire that Mordecai might be hanged upon a gibbet which he had provided for this purpose: Ahasuerus gave orders for his admission, and before he spoke, said to him, What shall be done unto the Man whom the King delighteth to honour? Haman, who believed that all this favour was intended for himself, replied, Let this Man be dressed in the royal robes, let him be mounted on the same horse which the King himself generally rides, and let a royal Diadem be placed upon his Head; let the principal Person of all the great Men belonging to the Court hold the reins of his horse, and walk before him to the most publick part of the City, proclaiming all the way, Thus shall it be done to the Man whom the King delighteth to honour. The King answer’d, Make haste and serve Mordecai the Jew in the manner you have mentioned. Haman did not dare to disobey the King, and Mordecai received an unexpected honour, which was not at all agreeable to him, by reason of the danger to which he saw all his Brethren expos’d.

In the mean while, Dinner-time being come, enquiry was made for Haman, who was to bear the King company at the Entertainment which Esther had prepar’d for them. Ahasuerus in the heat of his Wine, said again as he had done before to Esther, Ch. vii. 1, 2, 3, &c.What is it that you would ask or desire of me? She replied, If I have found favour in thy sight, O King, let my life and my People’s be given me at my petition, for we have all been given up to be destroyed, and utterly extirpated. The King answer’d, And who is it that dare undertake what you mention? Esther said, This Haman whom you see is our mortal Enemy. Haman hearing this, was quite confounded, and the King at the same time rose up in passion, left the place where they were entertain’d, and went into the Garden, which was near. Then Haman threw himself at the Queen’s feet, who was lying upon the bed, on which, after the manner of the Persians, she had been eating. Ahasuerus at that instant returning, and seeing Haman on the Queen’s bed, What, said he, will he force the Queen also before me in my own house? As the word went out of the King’s mouth, they cover’d Haman’s face, looking on him as one condemned to die. Then one of the King’s Eunuchs said before the King, Behold also the Gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai. Then the King said, Hang him thereon.

Esth. viii. 1, 2, &c.After this he gave Haman’s Employments to Mordecai, and his forfeited estate to Esther. He cancell’d the Edict which appointed a general massacre of the Jews to be upon the thirteenth day of the month Adar, gave Letters to the contrary, and permitted them to take vengeance on their Enemies on the very day which had been appointed for their destruction. All this was transacted in the years of the World 3494, 3495, 3496. As the rest of Darius’s life has no relation to any part of sacred History, we shall not enlarge upon his Wars and Conquests. This Prince died in the year of the World 3519, before J.C. 481, before the vulgar Æra 485, after a Reign of six and thirty years. He was succeeded by Xerxes, whom he had by Atharsa or Vashti, of whom there has been mention made in the beginning of this Article.

We have adhered to that opinion which explains what the Scripture tells us of Ahasuerus, Esther’s Husband, as relating to Darius, the Son of Hystaspes: Notwithstanding, as the matter is not without difficulty, we shall here propose what Dr. Prideaux has written against this opinion, and in favour of his own, which is, that Artaxerxes Longimanus was he whom the Scripture calls Ahasuerus, Esther’s Spouse. Herein he differs, as he himself acknowledges, from two great Men, Usher and Joseph Scaliger. Usher believes that Ahasuerus was Darius, the Son of Hystaspes; and Scaliger that he was Xerxes. I shall here set down what he says against Usher’s opinion, and consequently against our system, since we have adopted that of Usher, tho’ not in every thing, as may be seen by our Comment.

Usher believes that Darius, the Son of Hystaspes, married Atossa, who is the same as Vashti, afterwards divorced by him, and that he took to Wife likewise Aristone, the Daughter of Cyrus, and Widow of Cambyses, who is the same as Esther. But this opinion is contradicted by Herodotus⁵, who informs us that Aristone was the Daughter of Cyrus, and consequently could not be Esther, who was young. He says farther⁶, that Atossa had four Sons by Darius, without reckoning Daughters, and that she had all along so great an ascendant over him, as to prevail with him to declare her Son Xerxes his Successor, to the exclusion of his own Sons.

We foresaw this objection in our Comment upon Esther⁷; and without venturing to say who Vashti was that was divorced by Ahasuerus, we have shewn that neither Atossa, whom we take to be the Daughter of Cyrus, nor Aristone, who was a virgin when he married her, and might well be Esther, that neither of them were dismiss’d by Ahasuerus. Herodotus says expressly in his third book that the Daughter of Cyrus, and Wife of Darius, was Atossa⁸.

Ch. x. 1.Dr. Prideaux adds⁹, that the principal reason which engaged Usher in the opinion by him maintain’d, is the Saying in the book of Esther, that Darius, the Son of Hystaspes, laid a tribute upon the Land, and upon the isles of the Sea, which we read likewise in Herodotus¹⁰. But Strabo¹¹ attributes this to Darius Longimanus, which our Author would have us explain of Artaxerxes Longimanus.

As for Scaliger¹², he thinks Xerxes is the Ahasuerus of the Scripture, and his Wife Amestris Queen Esther. He grounds his belief only upon the resemblance of Names: But the several marks wherewith History describes Amestris, prove invincibly that she is by no means the Esther of the Scripture. Amestris, the Wife of Xerxes, had a Son by this Prince, who was of age to marry in the seventh year of his Father’s Reign¹³. She could not therefore be Esther, who was not married till the seventh year of his Reign. There is nothing more necessary to destroy Scaliger’s opinion.

Let us now enquire into the reasons brought by Dr. Prideaux for Artaxerxes Longimanus. In the first place he shews that Josephus¹⁴ in express terms assures us that Artaxerxes Longimanus was Esther’s Husband. The version of the Septuagint, and the Greek additions to the book of Esther, call Ahasuerus Artaxerxes. There are several circumstances in these additions which cannot be applied to Artaxerxes Mnemon: The extraordinary favour wherewith Artaxerxes Longimanus honour’d the Jews, proves farther, that in all probability he had married a Jewess. This opinion is maintained by Sulpitius Severus, and many both of the Antients and Moderns. This is what is urged in behalf of this opinion. See likewise our Preface to Esther.

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