Esther 1
King Ahasuerus has a feast
King Ahasuerus’s reign over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia from his royal throne in Susa (the citadel), and in the third year of his reign, he prepared a feast for all his officials and servants. The Persian army, Median army, nobles, and governors of each province were with him while he put his riches and greatness on display for 180 days. When the feast was over the king prepared another feast for 7 days as a gift for everyone there (both great and small). He held it in the garden courtyard of his royal palace as a gift to everyone there. There were white cotton curtains, purple hangings with cords of fine linen, purple and silver rods, marble pillars, and silver & gold couches on a mosaic floor made from porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones. Drinks were served in all kinds of golden cups, and the royal wine was served because the king had so much of it. Their motto was “drink without limits” because the king had ordered his palace staff to fulfill the guests’ wishes. Queen Vashti also held a feast for the women in King Ahasuerus’s palace.
Queen Vashti refuses king’s order
On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was cheerful with wine, he ordered his 7 castrated guards for the women (Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas) to bring Queen Vashti out to him with her royal crown so he could show everyone her beauty (she was a very beautiful woman). But Queen Vashti refused to come out. This outraged the king, causing him to burn with rage. Whenever anyone refused his orders like this, he would always ask his wise men a question, so he leaned over to his highest officials (Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, Memucan, and the 7 princes of Persia and Media) and asked them, “What does the law say should be done to Queen Vashti for failing to obey King Ahasuerus’s orders?” In front of all the officials, Memucan replied,
“Queen Vashti hasn’t just wronged the king, but she’s wronged all his officials and people too. Now all the women will see the queen’s behavior and cause them to disrespect their husbands. They’ll say ‘King Ahasuerus ordered Queen Vashti to come and she didn’t.’ Starting today, all of Persia’s and Media’s noble women will say the same things to us, and disrespect and anger will abound. If you agree, you should make a law that disallows Vashti from entering your presence ever again. And you should give her royal position to someone else who is better than she is. If you make this proclamation, then all the women (high and low) throughout your expansive kingdom will continue to honor their husbands.”
King Ahasuerus punishes Queen Vashti
The king and princes liked this advice, so they did as Memucan proposed. He sent letters to all the royal provinces in their own languages so that every man could continue being the master of his own household.