Women of the Bible / Study of the Book of Esther Lesson 1 Blog Bible Study
Hello Ladies, Welcome back to our "Women of the Bible Series" Blog Bible Study
Study of the Book of Esther Lesson 1 Chapter 1
These events occurred in the reign of Ahasuerus, king of Persia. He is also called Xerxes in secular history. He ruled over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia. In the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his officials and ministers. The military brass of Persia and Media were also there, along with the princes and governors of the provinces. This was a great empire, having overthrown the Babylonian Empire. The events occurred in the capital city of the empire which is called Shushan or Susa. For six months he put on exhibit the huge wealth of his empire and its stunningly beautiful royal splendors. At the conclusion of the exhibit, the king threw a week long party for everyone living in Susa, the capital—important and unimportant alike. The palace was decorated with curtains of white and blue bound up by fine linen cords with purple on silver rods and marble pillars. People sat on couches made of silver and gold (Keil says this refers to gold and silver thread woven into the cloth of the couches), which were placed on a mosaic pavement of alabaster, turquoise, white and black marble. Drinks were served in gold chalices, each chalice one-of-a-kind. The royal wine flowed freely—a generous king! This describes the lavish provisions of the feast and how it demonstrates the wealth of the king and his kingdom. Meanwhile, Queen Vashti was throwing a separate party for women inside King Xerxes’ royal palace. While the men were feasting, the queen Vashti made a feast for the women in the palace. This apparently created no problems. on the seventh day of the feast, the king was merry with wine. He then commanded
the seven named eunuchs to bring Vashti before the king wearing her royal crown, so the people and officials could observe her beauty. She was beautiful to behold, and the king in effect wanted to show her off. Vashti refused to come despite the command of the king. This infuriated the king. This was the event that led later to the queen being deposed.
Let's take a look at Vashti's decision. Some think she was justified in her refusal, some don't. It really depends on what the king asked her to do and why she refused, which is hard to determine. These men were obviously drinking and were probably drunk. No self respecting woman would want to go in front of a group of men and be displayed like a toy, no matter how beautiful. She may have felt this was a violation of her dignity and/or her modesty. On the other hand, if all she was required to display was her face, if she was not expected to expose more of herself it is hard to say that she would have been wrong to not go. The very fact she refused to go implies that she felt something out of the ordinary was being asked of her. It is possible, however, that she was haughty and simply determined to please herself regardless of her husband’s wishes. Perhaps we do not need to decide the right or wrong of her case, since we do not know the details. Although God instructs women to submit to their husband unless it is a sin against God.
The king was upset and called his advisers. The seven closest advisers are named, being the princes of Persia and Media. They had the highest rank as princes in the kingdom and so had access to the king’s presence. The king then asked of these men what he should do about Vashti. She had disobeyed a direct command of the king taken to her by the eunuchs. He evidently thought some penalty should be assessed against her. Memucan spoke up and said that Vashti’s conduct was not just an act of rebellion against the king, but it was a wrong done to all the princes and all the people because of its influence. The queen was so prominent that, if she were allowed to rebel against the king without consequence, then other women would follow her example and would show contempt for the authority of their husbands. The women would all hear what had happened and would use Vashti’s example as justification for them to do the same.
The principle that Memucan states here is an important principle (though we do not know that it is proper to apply it in this case). It is true that the conduct, especially of prominent people, has an influence on others. When people in positions of authority and prominence are known to practice sin, the result is a harmful influence on people of the nation. This is a legitimate concern. Of course, as discussed already, it could be that the principle is misapplied in Vashti’s case. If her conduct was justified, then this is not a right conclusion in her case. In that case what could have been done would be to send a proclamation explaining to everyone why the queen did as she did. Women could still be admonished to respect their husband’s authority and men would be admonished not to request their wives to act improperly.
Vashti would be punished by royal decree removing her from her position as queen and forbidding her to come anymore before the king. Someone else would be chosen in her place as queen. This proclomation would make sure all women respected the will of their husbands.
In these days royal decrees were made and recorded in the laws of the Medo-Persian Empire and could not be changed, not even by the king. We will see that this principle of law becomes quite significant in other applications as the story proceeds. She was taken away as queen but the king had a large heirum and only 1 would be chosen to become queen, and Vashti could possibly go back into the heirum, but never able to come before the king again.
The king and other princes were pleased by this advice. So letters were sent to all the provinces stating the decree. These were translated into the language of each of the provinces, so that people everywhere would know that each man should be respected as head of his house.
This concludes our lesson, if you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave or email them. Be blessed ladies til next week.
miranda@urbeauty4ashes .org
Study of the Book of Esther Lesson 1 Chapter 1
These events occurred in the reign of Ahasuerus, king of Persia. He is also called Xerxes in secular history. He ruled over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia. In the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his officials and ministers. The military brass of Persia and Media were also there, along with the princes and governors of the provinces. This was a great empire, having overthrown the Babylonian Empire. The events occurred in the capital city of the empire which is called Shushan or Susa. For six months he put on exhibit the huge wealth of his empire and its stunningly beautiful royal splendors. At the conclusion of the exhibit, the king threw a week long party for everyone living in Susa, the capital—important and unimportant alike. The palace was decorated with curtains of white and blue bound up by fine linen cords with purple on silver rods and marble pillars. People sat on couches made of silver and gold (Keil says this refers to gold and silver thread woven into the cloth of the couches), which were placed on a mosaic pavement of alabaster, turquoise, white and black marble. Drinks were served in gold chalices, each chalice one-of-a-kind. The royal wine flowed freely—a generous king! This describes the lavish provisions of the feast and how it demonstrates the wealth of the king and his kingdom. Meanwhile, Queen Vashti was throwing a separate party for women inside King Xerxes’ royal palace. While the men were feasting, the queen Vashti made a feast for the women in the palace. This apparently created no problems. on the seventh day of the feast, the king was merry with wine. He then commanded
the seven named eunuchs to bring Vashti before the king wearing her royal crown, so the people and officials could observe her beauty. She was beautiful to behold, and the king in effect wanted to show her off. Vashti refused to come despite the command of the king. This infuriated the king. This was the event that led later to the queen being deposed.
Let's take a look at Vashti's decision. Some think she was justified in her refusal, some don't. It really depends on what the king asked her to do and why she refused, which is hard to determine. These men were obviously drinking and were probably drunk. No self respecting woman would want to go in front of a group of men and be displayed like a toy, no matter how beautiful. She may have felt this was a violation of her dignity and/or her modesty. On the other hand, if all she was required to display was her face, if she was not expected to expose more of herself it is hard to say that she would have been wrong to not go. The very fact she refused to go implies that she felt something out of the ordinary was being asked of her. It is possible, however, that she was haughty and simply determined to please herself regardless of her husband’s wishes. Perhaps we do not need to decide the right or wrong of her case, since we do not know the details. Although God instructs women to submit to their husband unless it is a sin against God.
The king was upset and called his advisers. The seven closest advisers are named, being the princes of Persia and Media. They had the highest rank as princes in the kingdom and so had access to the king’s presence. The king then asked of these men what he should do about Vashti. She had disobeyed a direct command of the king taken to her by the eunuchs. He evidently thought some penalty should be assessed against her. Memucan spoke up and said that Vashti’s conduct was not just an act of rebellion against the king, but it was a wrong done to all the princes and all the people because of its influence. The queen was so prominent that, if she were allowed to rebel against the king without consequence, then other women would follow her example and would show contempt for the authority of their husbands. The women would all hear what had happened and would use Vashti’s example as justification for them to do the same.
The principle that Memucan states here is an important principle (though we do not know that it is proper to apply it in this case). It is true that the conduct, especially of prominent people, has an influence on others. When people in positions of authority and prominence are known to practice sin, the result is a harmful influence on people of the nation. This is a legitimate concern. Of course, as discussed already, it could be that the principle is misapplied in Vashti’s case. If her conduct was justified, then this is not a right conclusion in her case. In that case what could have been done would be to send a proclamation explaining to everyone why the queen did as she did. Women could still be admonished to respect their husband’s authority and men would be admonished not to request their wives to act improperly.
Vashti would be punished by royal decree removing her from her position as queen and forbidding her to come anymore before the king. Someone else would be chosen in her place as queen. This proclomation would make sure all women respected the will of their husbands.
In these days royal decrees were made and recorded in the laws of the Medo-Persian Empire and could not be changed, not even by the king. We will see that this principle of law becomes quite significant in other applications as the story proceeds. She was taken away as queen but the king had a large heirum and only 1 would be chosen to become queen, and Vashti could possibly go back into the heirum, but never able to come before the king again.
The king and other princes were pleased by this advice. So letters were sent to all the provinces stating the decree. These were translated into the language of each of the provinces, so that people everywhere would know that each man should be respected as head of his house.
This concludes our lesson, if you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave or email them. Be blessed ladies til next week.
miranda@urbeauty4ashes .org
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