Esther 1 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Esther 1

The King’s Banquets

1:1 Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel, 3 in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him, 4 while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days. 5 And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. 6 There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods¹ and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones. 7 Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king. 8 And drinking was according to this edict: “There is no compulsion.” For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired. 9 Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus.

Queen Vashti’s Refusal

10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown,² in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.

13 Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for this was the king’s procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment, 14 the men next to him being 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): 15 “According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?” 16 Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Not only against the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the queen’s behavior will be made known to all women, causing them to look at their husbands with contempt,³ since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’ 18 This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s behavior will say the same to all the king’s officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty. 19 If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. 20 So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, for it is vast, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike.” 21 This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed. 22 He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, that every man be master in his own household and speak according to the language of his people.

Footnotes

[1] 1:6 Or rings
[2] 1:11 Or headdress
[3] 1:17 Hebrew to disdain their husbands in their eyes

Commentary

The Book of Esther is well-known as not containing the name of God. Prov 25.2 says that it is the glory of God to conceal a matter. So we see God's hand upon Esther, her uncle Mordecai, and the entire Jewish people scattered across a huge empire. Events are neither accidental nor coincidental, but providential, as God's purposes are worked out. As we read and re-read the book we see more and more details of God's gracious and powerful intervention.

v1-3: Xerxes has been identified as Ahasuerus, who reigned during the time of Ezra. He ruled a vast empire. Haman is introduced here. He is an Agagite, an apparent descendant from Agag the Amalekite (1 Sam 15.20). Haman is not literally a descendant, but is another in the line of those who seek to destroy the people of God (Ex 17.8).

v4: A feast lasting 6 months, to show off the enormous wealth of his kingdom. The writer seems to include exaggeration to highlight the ways of Xerxes' kingdom. at the end of the first chapter, the claim is made that every wife would be inspired to dishonour her husband - unlikely! Later, Haman has a cross built which is 6 storeys high - unnecessary!

How much greater is the glory and splendour of our God; He has eternity to demonstrate the splendour and glory of His majesty and kingdom.

v5-6: After the main feast, he invited the ordinary people of Susa to share in His glory; this was the second feast. This enclosed garden must also have been very large, to accommodate so many people.

v7-8: Each golden vessel was different, and no one was obliged to drink. Contrast Dan 1.8-10, where the captives from Judah were forced to eat and drink what was provided by the king.

v9: At the same time as the second feast, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the women.

v10-12: At the end of the second feast, King Xerxes had become drunk. He demanded that Queen Vashti show her beauty (probably her nakedness), which she refused. This public act of rebellion created something of a constitutional problem at Susa.

The illustration is of Israel's disobedience to God, Matt 21.43; Rom 10.21, quoting Is 65.2. Esther later became the new Queen, illustrating the church, Rom 10.20.

v13-15: See 1 Chr 12.32; Matt 16.3; Luke 19.44. The King consulted the wise men of his kingdom.

v16-18: The wise men spoke of the consequences of Vashti's disobedience;

the Queen had done a great wrong, against the king, the nobles, and all the people, of all the provinces, i.e: everyone;
she encouraged disobedience in others;
her single act would have serious consequences throughout the empire; and
In the shame-based culture, Vashti's refusal to obey her husband was a serious matter.

v19: The conclusion was that Queen Vashti be deposed, and someone to take her place.

See Rom 11; "give the vineyard to others", Matt 21.43; Luke 20.16; Rom 2.24.

v20: The king's decree, deposing the Queen, would reverse the attitude of rebellion that she had incited.

v21-22: The message was sent to all the peoples in their own language.