Esther 1
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Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this was the Ahasuerus who reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India to Ethiopia), in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the citadel, that in the third year of his reign he made a feast for all his officials and servants—the powers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces being before him—when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days, one hundred and eighty days in all.
Ahasuerus is generally idendified as Xerxes
Imagine a six month party.
He invited all the officials and servants.
All to show off Ahasuerus’ wealth and power.
And when these days were completed, the king made a feast lasting seven days for all the people who were present in Shushan the citadel, from great to small, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. There were white and blue linen curtains fastened with cords of fine linen and purple on silver rods and marble pillars; and the couches were of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of alabaster, turquoise, and white and black marble. And they served drinks in golden vessels, each vessel being different from the other, with royal wine in abundance, according to the generosity of the king. In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had ordered all the officers of his household, that they should do according to each man’s pleasure.
After the six month party, the king gives another one week party.
He showed off all the best goodies in the palace.
Drinking was optional
Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.
The queen had a party of her own, just for the women.
On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, to bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing her royal crown, in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful to behold. But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs; therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him.
On the seventh day, after a six month long party, the king is a little tipsy
Now he is going to show off his favorite treasure, his queen.
The queen wasn’t too happy about being shown off like a trophy.
This aggravated the king.
His queen was showing him up in front of his officers.
Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times (for this was the king’s manner toward all who knew law and justice, those closest to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who had access to the king’s presence, and who ranked highest in the kingdom): “What shall we do to Queen Vashti, according to law, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus brought to her by the eunuchs?”
Now, the king looks for advice.
He’s backed into a corner, so he looks for advice as to what he should do.
The queen has disobeyed him, how should he handle it?
And Memucan answered before the king and the princes: “Queen Vashti has not only wronged the king, but also all the princes, and all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. For the queen’s behavior will become known to all women, so that they will despise their husbands in their eyes, when they report, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, but she did not come.’ This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media will say to all the king’s officials that they have heard of the behavior of the queen. Thus there will be excessive contempt and wrath.
The wise men are worried as well.
It’s not just the queen disobeying the king, she has set a precedent the other women will follow.
Why do you suppose the wives will despise their husbands?
(NKJV)
Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Could it be that the men of Persia do not treat there wives well and ruled them by force?
What do you think will happen when women throughout the kingdom learn that the queen refused her husband?
If it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him, and let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it will not be altered, that Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. When the king’s decree which he will make is proclaimed throughout all his empire (for it is great), all wives will honor their husbands, both great and small.”
Here’s the deal king, punish the queen.
Remove her from her throne.
Put another in her place.
Assuming that someone would be more compliant with the kings wishes.
Make it a law, so it cannot be changed.
Then send the decree throughout the empire so everyone knows what happens when the queen disobeys’ her husband.
And by extension any woman disobeys her husband.
And the reply pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan. Then he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, to each province in its own script, and to every people in their own language, that each man should be master in his own house, and speak in the language of his own people.
The idea pleased the king.
Does this surprise anyone?
The king gets a new queen.
He gets to reinforce his position as king.
And each man should be the master of his own house.
Women should obey their husbands under penalty of law.