Now it came to pass in the days of. See important note of Rabbinical commentators on Genesis 14:1.
Ahasuerus. the venerable king. An appellative, like Pharaoh, Czar, Shah, &c. See notes on p. 618 and App-57 and App-68.
this. Implying that others were so called, from whom lie is to be distinguished. This Ahasuerus was Astyages (Greek), Arsames (Persian). See App-67 and App-58. "This Ahasuerus" emphasizes the one who was specially renowned. Figure of speech Parenthesis.
from India even unto Ethiopia: i.e. the two extreme boundaries of the known world.
an hundred and seven and twenty provinces. Daniel 6:1 says 120 princes. The number continually altered to suit the requirements of government. Only in Daniel 6:1 do we find 120. Plato says that "when Darius (i.e. 'the Maintainer'. Astyages) came to the throne, being one of the seven, he divided the country into seven portions" (De Legibus iii). These are the seven named in verses: Esther 1:13-14. When Babylon afterward fell into his hands, he divided his newly acquired kingdom into 120 part3 (Daniel 9:1. Compare Esther 6:1). Why should he not have added these to the seven he already possessed, and thus have made the 127 of Esther 1:1; Esther 9:30. In the later days of Darius (Hystaspis) these had reduced to twenty-three, as stated and named on the Behistun inscription.