Esther1
New Living Translation
1These events happened in the days of King Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia.
2At that time Xerxes ruled his empire from his royal throne at the fortress of Susa.
3In the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. He invited all the military officers of Persia and Media as well as the princes and nobles of the provinces.
4The celebration lasted 180 days—a tremendous display of the opulent wealth of his empire and the pomp and splendor of his majesty.
5When it was all over, the king gave a banquet for all the people, from the greatest to the least, who were in the fortress of Susa. It lasted for seven days and was held in the courtyard of the palace garden.
6The courtyard was beautifully decorated with white cotton curtains and blue hangings, which were fastened with white linen cords and purple ribbons to silver rings embedded in marble pillars. Gold and silver couches stood on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.
7Drinks were served in gold goblets of many designs, and there was an abundance of royal wine, reflecting the king’s generosity.
8By edict of the king, no limits were placed on the drinking, for the king had instructed all his palace officials to serve each man as much as he wanted.
9At the same time, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
10On the seventh day of the feast, when King Xerxes was in high spirits because of the wine, he told the seven eunuchs who attended him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas—
11to bring Queen Vashti to him with the royal crown on her head. He wanted the nobles and all the other men to gaze on her beauty, for she was a very beautiful woman.
12But when they conveyed the king’s order to Queen Vashti, she refused to come. This made the king furious, and he burned with anger.
13He immediately consulted with his wise advisers, who knew all the Persian laws and customs, for he always asked their advice.
14The names of these men were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan—seven nobles of Persia and Media. They met with the king regularly and held the highest positions in the empire.
15“What must be done to Queen Vashti?” the king demanded. “What penalty does the law provide for a queen who refuses to obey the king’s orders, properly sent through his eunuchs?”
16Memucan answered the king and his nobles, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also every noble and citizen throughout your empire.
17Women everywhere will begin to despise their husbands when they learn that Queen Vashti has refused to appear before the king.
18Before this day is out, the wives of all the king’s nobles throughout Persia and Media will hear what the queen did and will start treating their husbands the same way. There will be no end to their contempt and anger.
19“So if it please the king, we suggest that you issue a written decree, a law of the Persians and Medes that cannot be revoked. It should order that Queen Vashti be forever banished from the presence of King Xerxes, and that the king should choose another queen more worthy than she.
20When this decree is published throughout the king’s vast empire, husbands everywhere, whatever their rank, will receive proper respect from their wives!”
21The king and his nobles thought this made good sense, so he followed Memucan’s counsel.
22He sent letters to all parts of the empire, to each province in its own script and language, proclaiming that every man should be the ruler of his own home and should say whatever he pleases.
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