Estherchapter 1
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Queen Vashti Refuses to Obey Ahasuerus' Command — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
A.A hundred and eighty days of splendor in Shushan the palacevv. 1-9
1 This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush. 2 In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa. 3 In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces. 4 And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness. 5 At the end of this time, in the garden court of the royal palace, the king held a seven-day feast for all the people in the citadel of Susa, from the least to the greatest. 6 Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones. 7 Beverages were served in an array of goblets of gold, each with a different design, and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty. 8 By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired. 9 Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
B.Vashti refuses to come at the king's commandvv. 10-12
10 On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas— 11 to bring Queen Vashti before him, wearing her royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and officials. For she was beautiful to behold. 12 Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became furious, and his anger burned within him.
C.The wise men's counsel and a decree sent to every provincevv. 13-22
13 Then the king consulted the wise men who knew the times, for it was customary for him to confer with the experts in law and justice. 14 His closest advisors were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and ranked highest in the kingdom. 15 “According to law,” he asked, “what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey the command of King Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs?” 16 And in the presence of the king and his princes, Memucan replied, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the princes and the peoples in all the provinces of King Xerxes. 17 For the conduct of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’ 18 This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in much contempt and wrath. 19 So if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree, and let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti shall never again enter the presence of King Xerxes, and that her royal position shall be given to a woman better than she. 20 The edict the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom—and so all women, from the least to the greatest, will honor their husbands.” 21 The king and his princes were pleased with this counsel; so the king did as Memucan had advised. 22 He sent letters to all the provinces of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be master of his own household.
Chapter summary
Ahasuerus reigns from India even unto Ethiopia over a hundred and twenty and seven provinces, and throws a hundred and eighty days of display for his princes, then seven days of feasting in the palace garden court for everyone in Shushan, white cloth and blue hangings, pillars of marble, couches of gold and silver, and drinking by decree that 'none did compel.' Queen Vashti feasts the women separately.
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Chapter summary
Ahasuerus reigns from India even unto Ethiopia over a hundred and twenty and seven provinces, and throws a hundred and eighty days of display for his princes, then seven days of feasting in the palace garden court for everyone in Shushan, white cloth and blue hangings, pillars of marble, couches of gold and silver, and drinking by decree that 'none did compel.' Queen Vashti feasts the women separately.
Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾Show less ▴
Ahasuerus reigns from India even unto Ethiopia over a hundred and twenty and seven provinces, and throws a hundred and eighty days of display for his princes, then seven days of feasting in the palace garden court for everyone in Shushan, white cloth and blue hangings, pillars of marble, couches of gold and silver, and drinking by decree that 'none did compel.' Queen Vashti feasts the women separately. On the seventh day the king, merry with wine, sends seven chamberlains to bring her wearing the royal crown to show her beauty; she refuses. Fearing the example will reach every wife in the empire, the princes have Vashti deposed by unalterable law, 'that every man should bear rule in his own house.'
Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary and John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament.
Context
History · Mordecai — Esther overview
- A. 1–9 A hundred and eighty days of splendor in Shushan the palace
- B. 10–12 Vashti refuses to come at the king's command
- C. 13–22 The wise men's counsel and a decree sent to every province
Top cross-references8 chapters ▾
Esther 73 verses
- Esther 7:7In his fury, the king arose from drinking his wine and went to the palace garden, while Haman stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life, for he realized that the king was planning a terrible fate for him.
- Esther 7:8Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Would he actually assault the queen while I am in the palace?” As soon as the words had left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.
- Esther 7:9Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said: “There is a gallows fifty cubits high at Haman’s house. He had it built for Mordecai, who gave the report that saved the king.” “Hang him on it!” declared the king.
- Read Esther 7 →
Esther 22 verses
- Esther 2:4Then let the young woman who pleases the king become queen in place of Vashti.” This suggestion pleased the king, and he acted accordingly.
- Esther 2:18Then the king held a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his officials and servants. He proclaimed a tax holiday in the provinces and gave gifts worthy of the king’s bounty.
- Read Esther 2 →
Ephesians 52 verses
- Ephesians 5:22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
- Ephesians 5:33Nevertheless, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
- Read Ephesians 5 →
Daniel 62 verses
- Daniel 6:1Now it pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom,
- Daniel 6:17A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that nothing concerning Daniel could be changed.
- Read Daniel 6 →
4 more chapters this one speaks with
Daniel 52 verses
- Daniel 5:1Later, King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them.
- Daniel 5:2Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines.
- Read Daniel 5 →
Esther 52 verses
- Esther 5:4“If it pleases the king,” Esther replied, “may the king and Haman come today to the banquet I have prepared for the king.”
- Esther 5:8If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, may the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”
- Read Esther 5 →
Esther 82 verses
- Esther 8:8Now you may write in the king’s name as you please regarding the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring. For a decree that is written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.”
- Esther 8:9At once the royal scribes were summoned, and on the twenty-third day of the third month (the month of Sivan), they recorded all of Mordecai’s orders to the Jews and to the satraps, governors, and princes of the 127 provinces from India to Cush—writing to each province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language.
- Read Esther 8 →
Mark 61 verse
- Mark 6:21On Herod’s birthday, her opportunity arose. Herod held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.
- Read Mark 6 →
Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.