And the next unto him [was] Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, [and] Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, [and] which sat the first in the kingdom;)
Ver. 14. And the next unto him was Carshena, &c.] These were his trusty and well-beloved cousins, and counsellors, primi et proximi, first in the kingdom, and next unto the king, without whom he was to have done no business of importance. But it is recorded in story that they had no freedom nor liberty of council: for every one of them had a plate or tile of gold to stand upon in the council house; and if he gave counsel that the king thought well or; the plate of gold was given him for a reward; but if he delivered anything contrary to the king's mind, flagris caedebatur, he was beaten with stripes. Lo, this was the manner of the Persian monarchs.
The seven princes] See Ezra 7:14 .
Which saw the king's face] That came at pleasure into the presence, as they call it. It was a piece of the silly glory of these kings of Persia to secrete themselves from their subjects. No man might see the king uncalled for on pain of death, cum eius persona sub specie maiestatis occuleretur, saith Justin. Only these seven might ordinarily take the boldness to see his face; which lest Haman should do, they covered his face.
And which sat the first in the kingdom] Xenophon tells us that Cyrus, the first Persian monarch, ordained that the nobles should sit before the king every man according to his degree and dignity. Aben Ezra upon this text saith the same.