Queen Vashti Dismissed as Queen
December 2, 2021
Commentary
On the last day of a seven-day feast in the Shushan palace, the king was feeling happy because of so much wine and called for Vashti to appear before his drunken nobles to show her beauty and she refused (vv. 10-11). The king wanted her to wear her crown and let his people and officials see how beautiful she was (v. 11). Refusal to do so put her in a very difficult situation as once the king made a command, he could not reverse it. The purpose was that all wives throughout the Medo-Persian Empire might respect and honor their husbands. Her refusal to go to him made him very angry (v. 12).
The King called in seven of the highest officials of Persia and Media (vv. 13-14). These men understood all the laws and customs of the country, and he asked them what they thought about such matters. He was a great ruler. He had 127 provinces under his control, and he did it without a telephone, television, or telegraph. This land of Persia is today Iran and Iraq. The King and the nation were stunned (vv. 15-18). No one disobeys the King, even his wife, so the king lost his temper and was shamed in front of all the men. It was decided that they would make an example out of Vashti. The king dismissed Vashti as queen, probably taking her crown away and divorcing her as his wife (vv. 19-22). They felt that when every-body finds out that she had disobeyed the king, women everywhere would start disobeying their husbands and they couldn’t have that happening.
Application
I need to realize that things don’t just happen by accident, but God orchestrates the events of my life. Whether I do right or wrong has to do with whether I try to please God or people.
Esther 1:10– 22 (NET)
10 On the seventh day, as King Ahasuerus was feeling the effects of the wine, he ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who attended him, 11 to bring Queen Vashti into the king’s presence wearing her royal high turban. He wanted to show the people and the officials her beauty, for she was very attractive. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s bidding conveyed through the eunuchs. Then the king became extremely angry, and his rage consumed him.
13 The king then inquired of the wise men who were discerners of the times—for it was the royal custom to confer with all those who were proficient in laws and legalities. 14 Those who were closest to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. These men were the seven officials of Persia and Media who saw the king on a regular basis and had the most prominent offices in the kingdom. 15 The king asked, “By law, what should be done to Queen Vashti in light of the fact that she has not obeyed the instructions of King Ahasuerus conveyed through the eunuchs?”
16 Memucan then replied to the king and the officials, “The wrong of Queen Vashti is not against the king alone, but against all the officials and all the people who are throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the matter concerning the queen will spread to all the women, leading them to treat their husbands with contempt, saying, ‘When King Ahasuerus gave orders to bring Queen Vashti into his presence, she would not come.’ 18 And this very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media who have heard the matter concerning the queen will respond in the same way to all the royal officials, and there will be more than enough contempt and anger. 19 If the king is so inclined, let a royal edict go forth from him, and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media that cannot be repealed, that Vashti may not come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king convey her royalty to another who is more deserving than she. 20 And let the king’s decision that he will enact be disseminated throughout all his kingdom, vast though it is. Then all the women will give honor to their husbands, from the most prominent to the lowly.”
21 The matter seemed appropriate to the king and the officials. So the king acted on the advice of Memucan. 22 He sent letters throughout all the royal provinces, to each province according to its own script and to each people according to their own language, that every man should be ruling his family and should be speaking the language of his own people.