1 Esdras chapter 3
[This chapter is in Orthodox Bibles] The debate of the three bodyguards. The speech about wine.
Note. The Book of First Esdras is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Orthodox Churches
THE DEBATE OF THE THREE BODYGUARDS
VERSE 1. Now King Darius made a great feast for all his subjects, for all who were born in his house, for all the princes of Media and of Persia,
Media. It had been an important part of the Persian Empire since Cyrus I conquered it in 550 BCE.
VERSE 2. and for all the local governors and captains and governors who were under him, from India to Ethiopia, in the one hundred twenty seven provinces.
provinces. The Persian Empire had 20 provinces.
Sometimes the word “provinces” is translated as satraps.
VERSE 3. They ate and drank, and when they were satisfied went home. Then King Darius went into his bedchamber slept, but awakened out of his sleep.
but awakened out of his sleep. This contradicts verse 13.
VERSE 4. Then the three young men of the bodyguard, who guarded the king, spoke one to another:
VERSE 5. “Let every one of us state what one thing is strongest. King Darius will give he whose statement seems wiser than the others great gifts and great honors in token of victory.
great gifts and great honors. The guards come up with a contest. They assert that the king will greatly reward the winner.
Their plan seems unlikely.
VERSE 6. He shall be clothed in purple, drink from gold cups, sleep on a gold bed, and have a chariot with bridles of gold, a fine linen turban, and a chain around his neck.
VERSE 7. He shall sit next to Darius because of his wisdom, and shall be called cousin of Darius.”
VERSE 8. Then they each wrote his sentence, sealed them, and laid them under King Darius’ pillow,
laid them under King Darius’ pillow. Putting things under the pillow of the king, while he sleeps, seems unlikely.
VERSE 9. and said, “When the king wakes up, someone will give him the writing. Whoever the king and the three princes of Persia judge that his sentence is the wisest, to him shall the victory be given, as it is written.”
VERSE 10. The first wrote, “Wine is the strongest.”
VERSE 11. The second wrote, “The king is strongest.”
VERSE 12. The third wrote, “Women are strongest, but above all things Truth is the victor.”
Women are strongest. In the ancient world, a positive statement about women seems very rare.
But the Bible sees women as fully equal to men. In fact, there are Female Prophets in the Old Testament.
And there are Female Prophets in the New Testament.
VERSE 13. Now when the king woke up, they took the writing and gave it to him, so he read it.
when the king woke up. This contradicts verse 3.
VERSE 14. Sending out, he called all the princes of Persia and of Media, the local governors, the captains, the governors, and the chief officers
VERSE 15. and sat himself down in the royal seat of judgment; and the writing was read before them.
VERSE 16. He said, “Call the young men, and they shall explain their own sentences.” So they were called and came in.
VERSE 17a. They said to them, “Explain what you have written.”
THE SPEECH ABOUT WINE
VERSE 17b. Then the first, who had spoken of the strength of wine, began
VERSE 18. and said this: “O sirs, how exceedingly strong wine is! It causes all men who drink it to go astray.
how exceedingly strong wine is. The young man admires the effect of alcohol.
VERSE 19. It makes the mind of the king and of the fatherless child to be the same, likewise of the bondman and of the freeman, of the poor man and of the rich.
VERSE 20. It also turns every thought into cheer and mirth, so that a man remembers neither sorrow nor debt.
VERSE 21. It makes every heart rich, so that a man remembers neither king nor local governor. It makes people say things in large amounts.
VERSE 22. When they are in their cups, they forget their love both to friends and kindred, and before long draw their swords.
VERSE 23. But when they awake from their wine, they don’t remember what they have done.
VERSE 24. O sirs, isn’t wine the strongest, seeing that it forces people to do this?” And when he had said this, he stopped speaking.
1 ESDRAS
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize
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