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;)
The men closest to him in rank were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan—seven princes of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and held the highest positions in the kingdom.
This verse lists the seven most powerful advisors in the Persian Empire who had direct access to King Xerxes and the highest authority after him.
📚 Historical Context
In the ancient Persian Empire, the king was considered almost divine and most people could never approach him directly. These seven princes formed an elite inner circle of advisors who had the rare privilege of meeting with the king face-to-face. This council system was a actual historical practice in the Persian court, where major decisions were made by consulting these trusted nobles.
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