CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Esther 1
Chapter 1 of 10
Chapter Overview
What happens in Esther 1
King Xerxes of Persia holds a great feast lasting 180 days to show off his wealth. When Queen Vashti refuses to appear before his guests, the king removes her from her royal position.
Scripture
Esther 1
The Great Feast of King Xerxes
Study note
King Xerxes (called Ahasuerus in Hebrew) ruled one of the largest empires in history. The capital city Susa (called Shushan in Hebrew) was a magnificent palace complex. Persian kings often held long celebrations to display their power to officials from across the empire.
1 This story takes place during the rule of King Xerxes, also known as Ahasuerus. His empire was huge. He ruled over 127 provinces that stretched from India to Ethiopia. Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)
2 At this time, King Xerxes was ruling his huge empire from his royal throne in the strong palace at Susa. That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
3 In the third year of his rule, the king threw a great feast for all his officials and servants. The army leaders of Persia and Media came, along with the nobles and governors from every area. In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:
4 For a full 180 days — half a year — the king showed off his amazing wealth and the great beauty of his kingdom for all to see. When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.
5 After those months of celebration ended, the king held another feast for seven days. It was for everyone in the palace at Susa, from the most important to the least. He held it in the courtyard garden of the king's 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;
6 The garden had white, green, and blue linen curtains. They hung from silver rings on marble columns by cords of fine linen and purple thread. Gold and silver couches sat on a floor of patterned marble in red, blue, white, and black. Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.
7 Drinks were served in unique golden cups -- no two were alike. The royal wine was plentiful, flowing as generously as the king's wealth allowed. And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.
8 The king had given one rule about the drinking: nobody would be pressured. He told all his servants to let every guest decide for themselves how much to drink. And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
9 At the same time, Queen Vashti was hosting her own feast for the women inside the royal palace. Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
Queen Vashti Refuses the King
Study note
In Persian culture, the king's word was absolute law. Vashti's refusal to appear was a serious act of disobedience that embarrassed the king in front of all his guests.
10 It was the last day of the feast, the seventh day. The king was happy from all the wine. He called for his seven servants. Their names were Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas. On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
11 He ordered them to bring Queen Vashti before him wearing her royal crown. He wanted everyone to see how beautiful she was, because she truly was stunning. To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.
12 But Queen Vashti flat-out refused to come when the servants delivered the king's order. The king was furious. His anger burned hot inside him. But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
The King's Advisors Respond
Study note
Persian kings relied on seven chief advisors who had special access to the king. Once a law was written into the Persian legal code, it could never be changed or reversed, even by the king himself.
13 The king turned to his trusted advisors -- the wise men who specialized in law and custom. It was standard practice for the king to consult experts in law and justice. Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
14 His inner circle of advisors included Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. These seven men were the top princes of Persia and Media. They had direct, personal access to the king and occupied the most powerful positions in the kingdom. And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
15 The king asked them, "What does the law say we should do about Queen Vashti? She refused to obey a direct command from King Xerxes, delivered by my own servants." What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
16 Memucan spoke up before the king and all the officials. He said, "Queen Vashti hasn't insulted the king. She has insulted every official and every person in every part of the kingdom." And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
17 "Once women hear what the queen did, trouble will spread. Wives will look down on their husbands. They will say, 'King Xerxes told Queen Vashti to come. She flat-out said no.'" For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
18 "Before the day is out, the noblewomen of Persia and Media who hear about the queen's behavior will be saying the same thing to all the king's officials. There will be no end to the disrespect and anger." Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.
19 "Here is my idea, if the king likes it. Send out a royal order. Write it into the laws of Persia and Media. Those laws can never change. Say that Vashti may never see King Xerxes again. Then give her crown to someone better." If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
20 "People will hear this order all through your huge land. Then every wife will treat her husband with respect. All women will, high and low." And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.
21 The king and his officials agreed this was excellent advice. So the king followed Memucan's recommendation. And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
22 He sent official letters to every province in the kingdom. Each one was written in the local language of that province. The letters said that every man should be the master of his own home and should speak his own people's language. For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.
Key Themes
Themes in Esther 1
The emptiness of worldly power and displayCourage to refuse degrading commandsHuman pride reacts harshly to perceived disrespectGod works behind the scenes even in secular settings
Apply This Today
Living Esther 1
Vashti refused to be put on display for a drunken crowd, and it cost her the crown. Standing up for your dignity may have consequences, but it also opens the door for God to work in unexpected ways. One person's exit becomes another person's entrance in God's plan.
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