Elam, southwestern Persia (Iran) · Old Testament · 19 verses
Susa, called Shushan in the KJV, was a chief city of Elam and later a royal capital of the Persian Empire. It lay in what is now southwestern Iran. The name appears in Nehemiah, Esther, Daniel in the King James text.
About Susa
Susa, called Shushan in the KJV, was a chief city of Elam and later a royal capital of the Persian Empire. It lay in what is now southwestern Iran.
Its place in the story
Shushan is the setting of the book of Esther, where Esther became queen and delivered her people. Nehemiah served the Persian king there before returning to rebuild Jerusalem's walls. Daniel received one of his visions while at Shushan in the province of Elam.
Susa in Scripture (KJV)
“The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,”
“And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace;”
“And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:”
“So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.”
“The posts went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.”
“Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.”
Susa is named 19 times in Scripture; 8 shown above.
Where it leads
Esther's deliverance of her people from destruction at Susa is one of the great preservation stories through which God kept the line and nation that would bring forth Christ.
Susa, called Shushan in the KJV, was a chief city of Elam and later a royal capital of the Persian Empire. It lay in what is now southwestern Iran. The name appears in Nehemiah, Esther, Daniel in the King James text.
What happened at Susa?
Shushan is the setting of the book of Esther, where Esther became queen and delivered her people. Nehemiah served the Persian king there before returning to rebuild Jerusalem's walls. Daniel received one of his visions while at Shushan in the province of Elam.