Who were the “princes of the territories”
Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 8:56 pm
Dear All:
While reading I came across a group of officials called שרי המדינות in Esther 1:3, 8:9 and 9:3. They are listed alongside satraps and governors as apparently similar in authority. First some thoughts.
The term שר doesn’t mean “prince” as in English, rather it refers to what probably would be called a “sheriff”, someone who’s tasked with enforcing the authority of the king. The king’s sons become “sheriffs” in that it is in their best interests to enforce their father’s authority. This is an office that is not necessarily hereditary.
The term מדינה comes from the same root as דון to bring a lawsuit, be a plaintiff, accuse, making a מדינה be the territory under the authority of a court. In previous times, the king was the supreme court, would that not make a מדינה the territory under a king’s authority?
Putting the two thoughts above together, would that not make the שרי המדינות officials appointed by a king of kings to keep his vassal kings in line? And the “boys” of these officials the squad of troops under his direct command to back him up? (נער was also used for grown men who were called “boys” to show their lower status as slaves or servants.)
Is there any information from other sources that may either back this up or tear it down?
What do you all think?
Karl W. Randolph.
While reading I came across a group of officials called שרי המדינות in Esther 1:3, 8:9 and 9:3. They are listed alongside satraps and governors as apparently similar in authority. First some thoughts.
The term שר doesn’t mean “prince” as in English, rather it refers to what probably would be called a “sheriff”, someone who’s tasked with enforcing the authority of the king. The king’s sons become “sheriffs” in that it is in their best interests to enforce their father’s authority. This is an office that is not necessarily hereditary.
The term מדינה comes from the same root as דון to bring a lawsuit, be a plaintiff, accuse, making a מדינה be the territory under the authority of a court. In previous times, the king was the supreme court, would that not make a מדינה the territory under a king’s authority?
Putting the two thoughts above together, would that not make the שרי המדינות officials appointed by a king of kings to keep his vassal kings in line? And the “boys” of these officials the squad of troops under his direct command to back him up? (נער was also used for grown men who were called “boys” to show their lower status as slaves or servants.)
Is there any information from other sources that may either back this up or tear it down?
What do you all think?
Karl W. Randolph.