Esther 1, Vashti's Disgrace

During the Babylonian captivity, the Jews must learn to live in a foreign land. 

Esther 1: 1-8, Elegant party
This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush:

At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present.

For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty. When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king's palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest, who were in the citadel of Susa. The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones. Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king's liberality. By the king's command each guest was allowed to drink in his own way, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished.

 

The book of Esther begins with a Hebrew word, a version of hayah, translated by the King James as "Now it came to pass."  This word begins the books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, Ezekiel and Jonah (says Huey.)  

We begin with a description of an elaborate banquet and party hosted by King Xerxes. There is a half-year display of the king's wealth, followed by a week long banquet.  This is held in the palace at Susa, often a winter home for Babylonian kings. The guests are given as much (or as little) wine as they wished, so their are hints that this is a racous event.

The Hebrew word for king's name is Ahasuerus, usually translated Xerxes, who ruled Babylon from 486 to 465 BC. But later kings Artaxerxes I and Artaxerxes II have been suggested as alternate identifications for this king. If the king here is Xerxes then the date of the banquet is about 483 BC, occurring after Xerxes has secured his throne, putting down revolts in Babylon and Egypt.

Esther 1: 9-14, Vashti's refusal

Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.

On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him--Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carcas-- to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at.

But when the attendants delivered the king's command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger. Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times and were closest to the king--Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom.

On the seventh day of this party, the king calls for his queen, so that she can be shown off. But she refuses. She has been holding her own party.  (One might reasonably be suspicious of the intent of a lot of drunken nobles to see her "display her beauty.") The king is furious and asks advice from seven nobles.

Esther 1: 15-18, "No end of disrespect!"

"According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?" he asked.  "She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her."

Then Memucan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, "Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes. For the queen's conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, `King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.' This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen's conduct will respond to all the king's nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord.

Vashti is to be punished.  If her disrespect is allowed to go unpunished, why, all women might think about disrespecting their husbands! (Horrors! This is not the first time we have been confronted by the patriarchal views of the ancient Near East.)

As Huey points out, the Hebrew word translated "husbands" in verse 17 is essentially baal, the name used for an ancient Canaanite male deity and often translated "master", "lord" or "owner."

Esther 1: 19-22, Queen exiled

"Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she. Then when the king's edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest."

The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memucan proposed. He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, proclaiming in each people's tongue that every man should be ruler over his own household.

And so Vashti is to be exiled and a royal decree is made that all women should respect their husbands and all men were to rule their households! This decrees is put out to all of Persia in a variety of languages.

Huey, in his commentary on Esther (Expositor's Bible Commentary, Volume 4, p. 803) tells of a Jewish Targum which claims that the advisor, Memucan, was having problems with his own wife and wanted a decree to keep her in line!

Our story has begun with a clear statement of patriarchy and power. A young Jewish woman will soon have an impact of this ancient kingdom.