Esther1
New King James Version
1Now 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),
2in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the citadel,
3that 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—
4when 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.
5And 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.
6There 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.
7And 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.
8In 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.
9Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.
10On 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,
11to 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.
12But 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.
13Then 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,
14those 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):
15“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?”
16And 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.
17For 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.’
18This 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.
19If 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.
20When 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.”
21And the reply pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan.
22Then 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.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Esther 1.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The royal feast of Ahasuerus. (1–9). Vashti's refusal to appear, The king's decree. (10–22).
vv1-9
The pride of Ahasuerus's heart rising with the grandeur of his kingdom, he made an extravagant feast. This was vain glory. Better is a dinner of herbs with quietness, than this banquet of wine, with all the noise and tumult that must have attended it. But except grace prevails in the heart, self-exaltation and self-indulgence, in one form or another, will be the ruling principle. Yet none did compel; so that if any drank to excess, it was their own fault. This caution of a heathen prince, even when he would show his generosity, may shame many called Christians, who, under pretence of sending the health round, send sin round, and death with it. There is a woe to them that do so; let them read it, and tremble, Hab 2:15, 16.
vv10-22
Ahasuerus's feast ended in heaviness, by his own folly. Seasons of peculiar festivity often end in vexation. Superiors should be careful not to command what may reasonably be disobeyed. But when wine is in, men's reason departs from them. He that had rule over 127 provinces, had no rule over his own spirit. But whether the passion or the policy of the king was served by this decree, God's providence made way for Esther to the crown, and defeated Haman's wicked project, even before it had entered into his heart, and he arrived at his power. Let us rejoice that the Lord reigns, and will overrule the madness or folly of mankind to promote his own glory, and the safety and happiness of his people.
Key Words
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ: Achashverosh (i.e. Ahasuerus or Artaxerxes, but in this case Xerxes), the title (rather than name) of a Persian king
מָלַךְ: to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence (by implication) to take counsel
הֹדוּ: Hodu (i.e. Hindustan)
כּוּשׁ: Cush (or Ethiopia), the name of a son of Ham, and of his territory; also of an Israelite
מְדִינָה: properly, a judgeship, i.e. jurisdiction; by implication, a district (as ruled by a judge); generally, a region
הֵם: they (only used when emphatic)
מֶלֶךְ: a king
יָשַׁב: properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
מַלְכוּת: a rule; concretely, a dominion
Cross References
Esther 1Refers to the seven counsellors who stood before the Persian king, aligning with the seven princes here.
Supported by JFB
Illustrates the unalterable nature of the laws of the Medes and Persians.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Pronounces a woe upon those who compel or entice others to excessive drinking.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Describes wise men who had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Confirms that royal decrees written in the king's name and sealed cannot be reversed.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Re-emphasizes the empire's vast extent, stretching from India to Ethiopia across many provinces.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the use of gold vessels in royal, wine-fueled feasts of pagan empires.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Mentions those who 'saw the king's face' as a mark of highest royal favor and access.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Establishes Shushan the palace as the prominent royal winter residence for Persian rulers.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Shares the royal color scheme of blue, white, and fine linen in Shushan.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Refers to the couches or beds used during banquets in the Persian palace.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Mentions the royal eunuchs (chamberlains) who served in the king's immediate presence.
Supported by JFB
Parallels a host's heart being 'merry within him' while heavily intoxicated with wine.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Illustrates how man devises his way, but the Lord sovereignly directs his steps.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Contrasts the enforced civil subjection of wives here with the godly submission of Christian wives.
Supported by JFB