Hi, we are now publishing our weekly Bible studies on our blog 'Notes from my Bible'. Sign up on our homepage to receive them direct to your inbox each week. Esther Chapter 1  Introduction The book of Esther is one of the historical books of the Old
Testament and is believed to have been written by Mordecai. Mordecai was
Esther’s cousin and had brought her up because she was an orphan. The name of
God does not appear in the book but it does demonstrate the love and care that
He had for His people even though they had been taken away from Israel and into
captivity because of their sin. It shows how God used both Esther and Mordecai
to deliver the Jews from a plot to exterminate them. As we go through it we
will discover how it can apply to Christians in today's world. 1. A Lavish Feast by an Arrogant Man 1 - 8. 1.1. The following events happened in the days of
Ahasuerus. (I am referring to that Ahasuerus who used to rule over
a hundred and twenty-seven provinces extending all the way from
India to Ethiopia. ) The time in history is made clear. Ahasuerus or Xerxes I in
some translations, was King of Persia from 486 - 465 BC. To clarify this
Ahasuerus we are told that he ruled over
127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. No other king of Persia’s
domains covered this large area. 1.2. In those days, as King Ahasuerus sat on his royal
throne in Susa the citadel,
At this time the king ruled his empire from his royal throne
at his palace of Susa in the city of the same name. 1.3. In 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. The events recorded in the book happened in the third year
of Ahasuerus’ reign. At this time he laid on a banquet for all his nobles and
officials. He also invited all the military officers of Persia and Media and
all the princes and nobles of the provinces that he ruled over. 1.4. The celebration lasted 180 days—a tremendous display
of the opulent wealth of his empire and the pomp and splendor of his majesty. This was not a one day affair but continued for 180 days!
The purpose of this feast was so that the King could show off all his great
wealth by the extravagance of the expense of such a feast. Also to impress his
guests with the greatness of his majesty. 1.5. When those days were completed, the king then
provided a seven-day banquet for all the people who were presentin
Susa the citadel, for those of highest standing to the most lowly. It
was held in the court located in the garden of the royal palace. When this extensive feast was over he then provided a seven
day banquet for everybody who was then present in the city of Susa from the
highest to the lowest in society. It was held in the courtyard of the palace
garden.
The following verses give an inventory of the extravagant
length this arrogant king went to in order to exalt himself and we shall see
the outcome of it (Psalm 73:6, Proverbs 13:10). 1.6. The furnishings included linen and purple curtains
hung by cords of the finest linenand purple wool on silver rings,
alabaster columns, gold and silver couches displayed on a floor made of
valuable stones of alabaster, mother-of-pearl, and mineral stone. Expense was of no consideration in providing this feast. The canopies were made of linen and purple
curtains hung from cords of the best linen.
These were hung from silver rings and marble pillars. The couches on
which the guests reclined while eating were made of gold and silver and resting
on a mosaic floor of marble, mother of pearl and other costly stones. 1.7. Drinks were served in golden containers, all of
which differed from one another. Royal wine was available in abundance at the
king's expense.
Drink was provided from the royal wine cellars in abundance
at the king’s expense and was served in golden goblets of many designs. 1.8. There were no restrictions on the drinking, for the
king had instructed all of his supervisors that they should do as everyone so
desired.
There was no limit set about the amount a person could
drink. The king instructed his servants to let the people have as much as they
wanted to.
In this first heading we have seen the pride of man with his
disregard of God and his indulgence in the things of the world. John tells us that this is not of God the
Father (1 John 2:16). 2. A Rebellious Woman 9 - 12. 1.9. Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in
King Ahasuerus' royal palace. All this partying was for the men only, women were excluded!
So Queen Vashti gave her own banquet exclusively for the women in the King’s Palace. 1.10. On the seventh day, as King Ahasuerus was feeling
the effects of the wine, he ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha,
Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who attended him, On the last day of this seven day feast the king was irresponsibly
merry because of his excessive drinking. In this state he called seven of his
personal servants to attend to him. 1.11. to bring Queen Vashti into the king's presence
wearing her royal high turban. He wanted to show the people and the officials
her beauty, for she was very attractive. There was no end to this man’s show of arrogance! Not
content with the elaborateness of his banquets he now wants to parade his
number one wife, his queen, (Note: he would have had many wives) like a fashion
model before all the people and officials
because she was a very beautiful woman. So he tells his servants to go
an tell her to come to him wearing her royal crown the token of her queenship. 1.12. But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's
bidding conveyed through the eunuchs. Then the king became extremely angry, and
his rage consumed him. Queen Vashti refused to obey the king’s command. We may say quite right too why should she
expose herself to a lot of drunken men!
But we must keep in mind the age that she was living in that the King
was supreme ruler. Not only was he her husband but he was her king. In the light of this her action was
rebellious. The king became extremely angry and was consumed by his rage.
From the New Testament
teachings we know that all are equal in Christ whether men or women,
bond or free (1 Corinthian 12:13). However there are clear teachings as to how
a woman and wife should conduct themselves (Ephesians 5: 22 - 24) and likewise
men and husbands (Ephesians 5: 25). Let us make certain we do not follow King
Ahasuerus’ and Queen Vashti’s example. 3. The Consequences of Arrogance and Rebellion 13 - 22. 1.13. The king then inquired of the wise men who were
discerners of the times — for it was the royal custom to confer with all those
who were proficient in laws and legalities. The king called for seven of his wise men and counsellors
who knew all the Persian laws and customs to ask them what he should do about
this outrage of the Queen. 1.14. Those who were closest to him were Carshena,
Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. These men were the
seven officials of Persia and Media who saw the king on a regular basis and had
the most prominent offices in the kingdom. These were seven princes of Persia and Media and were very
close to the king. They held the most
important positions in the land and often met with the king to give him advise. 1.15. The king asked, "By law, what should be done
to Queen Vashti in light of the fact that she has not obeyed the instructions
of King Ahasuerus conveyed through the eunuchs?"
He asked them what according to the law could be done to
Queen Vashti for refusing to obey his command that he had given through the
eunuchs to come to him. 1.16. Memucan answered the king and his nobles, "Queen
Vashti has wronged not only the king but also every noble and citizen
throughout your empire. One of the princes, Memucan (his name means dignified)
highlighted the far greater consequences of Queen Vashti’s rebellion. It was
not only the king she had wronged but every noble and citizen through the
empire. 1.17. For the matter concerning the queen will spread to
all the women, leading them to treat their husbands with contempt, saying,
'When King Ahasuerus gave orders to bring Queen Vashti into his presence, she
would not come.
It would be the signal for every woman to begin to treat
their husbands with contempt, to defy or resist their authority. They would use Queen Vashti’s refusal to obey
the King as a precedent (example that is used to justify similar
occurrences at a later time) to support this.
The exhortation in the New Testament and the example in the Old
Testament clearly state that a wife must respect her husband (Ephesians
5: 33, 1 Peter 3: 5 -6). To refuse to do
as the word of God says is rebellion against God and showing a contempt for
Him, to defy and resist His authority. 1.18. And this very day the noble ladies of Persia and
Media who have heard the matter concerning the queen will respond in the same
way to all the royal officials, and there will be more than enough contempt and
anger!
He further said that before the day is over the wives of all
the king’s nobles through Persia and Media will have heard what Queen Vashti
did and will behave in the same way to their husbands no matter what their
position in life. They won’t respect their husbands and their husbands will be
angry with them. 1.19. If the king is so inclined, let a royal edict go
forth from him, and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media that
cannot be repealed, that Vashti may not come into the presence of King
Ahasuerus, and let the king convey her royalty to another who is more deserving
than she. The king’s word was law and so Memucan and the other
counsellors could only advise him. Their advise was that he should make a royal
decree that should be entered into the law books of Persia and Media that could
not be annulled that Vashti is to be divorced and therefore no longer Queen and
never come into the presence of the king again.
That the king should choose another queen who is more worthy than Vashti. The consequences of King Ahasuerus’ arrogance
was that he lost a wife and his queen. The consequences of Vashti rebellion was
that she lost her crown and was banished from the presence of the king. There is a consequence to man’s rebellion
against God as there was with Satan. The
devil was cast out of heaven (Isaiah 14:12,Luke 10:18, Revelation 12: 7 - 9)
and will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). So it will be for
all people who follow in Satan’s footsteps (Psalm 5:10, Romans 2:8). 1.20. And let the king's decision which he will enact be
disseminated throughout all his kingdom, vast though it is.Then all
the women will give honor to their husbands, from the most prominent to the
lowly." This law was to be made known throughout the king’s empire
so that all the women will know the consequences of Vashti’s disobedience to
the king and they will show respect their husbands no matter what their rank
whether rich or poor. 1.21. The matter seemed appropriate to the king and the
officials. So the king acted on the advice of Memucan. This advice pleased the king and the princes and so the king
set his seal upon this new law. 1.22. He sent letters throughout all the royal provinces,
to each province according to its own script and to each people according to
its own language, that every man should be ruling his family and should be
speaking the language of his own people. Letters we sent throughout the kings provinces written in
their own language that every man should
be master in his own house and ruling his family (1 Corinthians 11:3, Ephesians
5:23). © Derek Williams 2012 Bible Studies Online UK
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