John Gill Commentary Esther 1:14

"and the next unto him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king`s face, and sat first in the kingdom)," — Esther 1:14 (ASV)

And the next to him
That sat next to the king, and was the chief in dignity and authority under him:

was Carshena ;
and so everyone in their rank and order, as next mentioned:

Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan ;
who, according to the latter Targum, were of different countries; the first of Africa, the second of India, the third of Idumea, the fourth of Egypt, the fifth of Resen, (Genesis 10:12) which is framed out of Marsena, who is dropped, and the last of Jerusalem, said to be Daniel; though the former Targum makes him to be Haman:

the seven powers of Persia and Media ;
which custom of having seven counsellors with the kings of Persia arose from the seven princes that slew Smerdis the pretender, and made Darius Hystaspis king, the father of Xerxes:

who saw the king's face ;
were intimate and familiar with him, often in his presence; yes, might go into it when they pleased, without the ceremony of being introduced; which privilege the above persons reserved to themselves, when they placed Darius on the throne, as Herodotus relates ^F21 :

and who sat the first in the kingdom ;
next to the king, and were assisting to him in the administration of government, see (Ezra 7:14) .

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FOOTNOTES:

• F21: lb. (Thalia, sive, l. 3.) c. 84, 118.