In the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, I picked up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad before in his presence.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 1. Year. It seems the Persians began the year with Tizri, since both Casleu (the third) and Nisan (the seventh month of the civil year) fall on the twentieth of the king.—Wine. These kings drunk only that of Syria. Strabo xv.—People of distinction were appointed cup-bearers; and even the children of kings did not esteem the office beneath them. Herod. iii. 34. Athen. x. 6. Homer, and so forth Calmet.—I was. Prot. “I had not been before-time sad in his presence.” Bible.—Hebrew lit. “I was not evil.” Septuagint “an enemy, or stranger.” Arab. “disagreeable.” Syr. “sorrowful.” Septuagint also, “there was not another (ουκ ην ετερος) present,” Calmet. 5:6. S. Jerom seems not to have read the negation. Bible.