esther 10:1 and the king ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land and upon the isles of the sea

Esther 10:1

New American Standard Bible (NASB ©1995) [2]
— Now King Ahasuerus laid a tribute on the land and on the coastlands of the sea.
King James Version (KJV 1769) [2]
— And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and [upon] the isles of the sea.
English Revised Version (ERV 1885)
— And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.
American Standard Version (ASV 1901) [2]
— And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.
Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB 1833)
— And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and [upon] the isles of the sea.
Darby's Translation (DBY 1890)
— And king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land and the isles of the sea.
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (EBR 1902)
— And King Ahasuerus laid tribute upon the land, and upon the shores of the sea.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT 1898)
— And the king Ahasuerus setteth a tribute on the land and the isles of the sea;
Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (DR 1750)
— And king Assuerus made all the land, and all the islands of the sea tributary.
Geneva Bible (GNV 1560)
— And the King Ahashuerosh layd a tribute vpon the land, and vpon the yles of the sea.
Original King James Bible (AV 1611) [2]
— And the king Ahasuerus layde a tribute vpon the land, and vpon the Isles of the sea.
Lamsa Bible (1957)
— AND King Akhshirash laid a tribute upon the whole land and upon the Islands of the sea.
Brenton Greek Septuagint (LXX, Restored Names)
— And the king levied [a tax] upon [his] kingdom both by land and sea.
Full Hebrew Names / Holy Name KJV (2008) [2] [3]
— And the king Achashwerosh laid a tribute upon the land, and [upon] the isles of the sea.

And the king 4428

{4428} Prime
מֶּלֶךְ
melek
{meh'-lek}

From H4427; a king.

´Áçašwërôš אֲחַשׁוֵרוֹשׁ 325

{0325} Prime
אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ
'Achashverowsh
{akh-ash-vay-rosh'}

Of Persian origin; Achashverosh (that is, Ahasuerus or Artaxerxes, but in this case Xerxes), the title (rather than name) of a Persian king.

laid 7760

{7760} Prime
שׂוּם
suwm
{soom}

A primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literally, figuratively, inferentially and elliptically).

z8799

<8799> Grammar

Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Imperfect (See H8811)
Count - 19885

a tribute 4522

{4522} Prime
מַס
mac
{mas}

From H4549; properly a burden (as causing to faint), that is, a tax in the form of forced labor.

upon x5921

(5921) Complement
עַל
`al
{al}

Properly the same as H5920 used as a preposition (in the singular or plural, often with prefix, or as conjugation with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications.

the land, 776

{0776} Prime
אֶרֶץ
'erets
{eh'-rets}

From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land).

and [upon] the isles 339

{0339} Prime
אִי
'iy
{ee}

From H0183; properly a habitable spot (as desirable); dry land, a coast, an island.

of the sea. 3220

{3220} Prime
יָם
yam
{yawm}

From an unused root meaning to roar; a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article) the Mediterranean; sometimes a large river, or an artificial basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the south.

Esther 10:1

_ _ Esther 10:1-3. Ahasuerus’ greatness, Mordecai’s advancement.

_ _ Ahasuerus laid a tribute — This passage being an appendix to the history, and improperly separated from the preceding chapter, it might be that the occasion of levying this new impost arose out of the commotions raised by Haman’s conspiracy. Neither the nature nor the amount of the tax has been recorded; only it was not a local tribute, but one exacted from all parts of his vast empire.

Esther 10:1-3

_ _ We are here told,

_ _ I. How great and powerful king Ahasuerus was. He had a vast dominion, both in the continent and among the islands, from which he raised a vast revenue. Besides the usual customs which the kings of Persia exacted (Ezra 4:13), he laid an additional tribute upon his subjects, to serve for some great occasion he had for money (Esther 10:1): The king laid a tribute. Happy is our island, that pays no tribute but what is laid upon it by its representatives, and those of its own choosing, and is not squeezed or oppressed by an arbitrary power, as some of the neighbouring nations are. Besides this instance of the grandeur of Ahasuerus, many more might be given, that were acts of his power and of his might. These however are not thought fit to be recorded here in the sacred story, which is confined to the Jews, and relates the affairs of other nations only as they fell in with their affairs; but they are written in the Persian chronicles (Esther 10:2), which are long since lost and buried in oblivion, while the sacred writings live, live in honour, and will live till time shall be no more. When the kingdoms of men, monarchs and monarchies, are destroyed, and their memorial has perished with them (Psalms 9:6), the kingdom of God among men, and the records of that kingdom, shall remain and be as the days of heaven, Daniel 2:44.

_ _ II. How great and good Mordecai was.

_ _ 1. He was great; and it does one good to see virtue and piety thus in honour. (1.) He was great with the king, next to him, as one he most delighted and confided in. Long had Mordecai sat contentedly in the king's gate, and now at length he is advanced to the head of his council-board. Men of merit may for a time seem buried alive; but often, by some means or other, they are discovered and preferred at last. The declaration of the greatness to which the king advanced Mordecai was written in the chronicles of the kingdom, as very memorable, and contributing to the great achievements of the king. He never did such acts of power as he did when Mordecai was his right hand. (2.) He was great among the Jews (Esther 10:3), not only great above them, more honourable than any of them, but great with them, dear to them, familiar with them, and much respected by them. So far were they from envying his preferment that they rejoiced in it, and added to it by giving him a commanding interest among them and submitting all their affairs to his direction.

_ _ 2. He was good, very good, for he did good. This goodness made him truly great, and then his greatness gave him an opportunity of doing so much the more good. When the king advanced him, (1.) He did not disown his people the Jews, nor was he ashamed of his relation to them, though they were strangers and captives, dispersed and despised. Still he wrote himself Mordecai the Jew, and therefore no doubt adhered to the Jews' religion, by the observances of which he distinguished himself, and yet it was no hindrance to his preferment, nor looked upon as a blemish to him. (2.) He did not seek his own wealth, or the raising of an estate for himself and his family, which is the chief thing most aim at when they get into great places at court; but he consulted the welfare of his people, and made it his business to advance that. His power, his wealth, and all his interest in the king and queen, he improved for the public good. (3.) He not only did good, but he did it in a humble condescending way, was easy of access, courteous and affable in his behaviour, and spoke peace to all that made their application to him. Doing good works is the best and chief thing expected from those that have wealth and power; but giving good words is also commendable, and makes the good deed the more acceptable. (4.) He did not side with any one party of his people against another, nor make some his favourites, while the rest were neglected and crushed; but, whatever differences there were among them, he was a common father to them all, recommended himself to the multitude of his brethren, not despising the crowd, and spoke peace to all their seed, without distinction. Thus making himself acceptable by humility and beneficence, he was universally accepted, and gained the good word of all his brethren. Thanks be to God, such a government as this we are blessed with, which seeks the welfare of our people, speaking peace to all their seed. God continue it long, very long, and grant us, under the happy protection and influence of it, to live quiet and peaceable lives, in godliness, honesty, and charity!

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laid a tribute:
Esther 1:1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this [is] Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, [over] an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)
Esther 8:9 Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that [is], the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth [day] thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which [are] from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

the isles:
Genesis 10:5 By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.
Psalms 72:10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
Isaiah 24:15 Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, [even] the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea.
Daniel 11:18 After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause [it] to turn upon him.

Gn 10:5. Es 1:1; 8:9. Ps 72:10. Is 24:15. Dn 11:18. Lk 2:1.