The Trusted Cupbearer
The International Standard
Bible Encyclopedia explains why a cupbearer was such an
important official in the royal courts of antiquity. A
cupbearer was "an officer of high rank at ancient courts,
whose duty it was to serve the wine at the king's table. On
account of the constant fear of plots and intrigues, a person
must be regarded as thoroughly trustworthy to hold this
position. He must guard against poison in the king's cup, and
was sometimes required to swallow some of the wine before
serving it. His confidential relations with the king often
endeared him to his sovereign and also gave him a position of
great influence" (Vol. 1, p. 837).
A century ago, archaeologists discovered an Assyrian list
of salaries paid to high-ranking officers. In that land the
cupbearer received the fourth-highest salary in the kingdom,
above even that of the justice of the highest court of that
day.
Nehemiah was one of the many lines of distinguished Jews
who held high governmental positions. Before him were Daniel,
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego in the Babylonian period. In
the Persian era, Daniel again became a counselor of King
Darius (Daniel 6:1-2). Afterwards came Mordecai and Queen
Esther. So we should not be surprised to find a little later
that Nehemiah was a cupbearer for a Persian
king. GN
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