Esther 1:1-22
1 Now 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), 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the citadel, 3 that 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— 4 when 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.
5 And 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. 6 There 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. 7 And 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. 8 In 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. 9 Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.
10 On 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, 11 to 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. 12 But 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.
13 Then 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, 14 those 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?"
16 And 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. 17 For 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.' 18 This 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. 19 If 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. 20 When 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."
21 And the reply pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan. 22 Then 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.
God’s hand of providence and protection for His people is clearly seen throughout this book, even if His name is not spoken. Esther’s Hebrew name was Hadassah, meaning Myrtle (Esther 2:7), but her Persian name was Ester, from the Persian word for Star (Stara). Some would say that she is the center of the book, but it appears more that God is as He works through her and the circumstances for His sovereign protection and future plans for His chosen people, even though they had been given into captivity for their continued sin against Him. It begins with King Ahasuerus of Persia giving an enormous feast or party after three years into his reign. The celebration lasted almost half a year! The government officials from all Persia and Media and the provinces were all invited to the jubilation to honor the king, yet only Queen Vashti refused to join in when the king wanted to dress her up and show off his beautiful wife to all. This disregard and disrespect so infuriated Ahasuerus that he would replace her as queen to set the example to other women not to rebel against the authority of their husbands. She had set a bad example for others, despite rightfully not wanting to be paraded about as a beautiful possession instead of an honored wife and queen. The consensus of the princes and wise advisors prevailed to nip this in the bud and influenced the king to ban and replace her. There was even an edict which went throughout the entire kingdom ordering that all wives must honor their husbands, esteeming their worth as prized and appreciated instead of their own, as the former queen had done in dishonoring her husband to gain her own honor. The husbands then were to be masters in their own houses and speak their own languages instead of those of their wives presumably. The queen’s disobedience resulted in more restrictions for all women in the empire. We see in a tangential way how the sin of Eve in the garden also brought consequences on all wives in the future, restricting their service to the Lord and their husbands as a result (Genesis 3:16, 1 Timothy 2:13-14, 1 Corinthians 11:8-9). But in all these things, we still see God’s grace to use all of his people, male and female, for His glory and honor. The main lesson from this book then is to honor and respect each other according to God’s word and prescribed will in regards to our respective roles (and equality as Galatians 3:28 and Romans 11:11-12), and to trust in God’s sovereign work in circumstances for His glory and good, as well as our own (Romans 8:28).
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