1 -        The story takes place during the reign of Xerxes (Ahaseurus), King of Persia.  Xerxes was a grandson of Cyrus the Great (550-530 BC), through Cyrus’ daughter Atossa.  He inherited the kingdom from his father Darius I (520-486 BC).  The Persian kingdom stretched from India to Ethiopia. Xerxes made an ambitious attempt to conquer Greece (480-479 BC).  He devoted the latter years of his reign to a building project at Susa and Persepolis.  He was murdered by Artabamus, who placed Artaxerxes I on the throne in his place (Ezr. 7:1; Neh. 2:1).  Xerxes ruled over the 127 provinces of the Persian kingdom.

 

2 -        Xerxes ruled from his throne in Susa.  Susa was the nameof the city as wel as thename of the royal fortress or citadel in the city.  Fire destroyed these royal buildings dring the reig of Artaxerxes I (465-434 BC), but were rebuilt by Artaxerxes II (404-358 BC).

 

3 -        In his third year, Xerxes held the famous banquets to show off his wealth and glory.  It is estimated that close to 70,000 people attended over the six month span.  All the nobles ad political and military leaders were there.

 

4 -        The king displayed his wealth for 180 days (six months).  Why?  One thought is that it was a display before making plans for his Greek campaign.  Many came during this time to view his vast wealth, baybe in rotation.

 

5 -        When this enormous open house was over, te king held a seven day banquet for everyone in the citadel of Susa (nobles and commoners alike were invited).

 

6 -        Archeologists have found and examined the remains of Xerxes palace and have confirmed the accuracy of this verse as far as the garden features.

 

7 -        The king certainly had abundance of wine and gold.  His “liberality” meant they could all drink as much as they wanted without thinking of Xerxes running out of wine.  For every  person there, a unique gold goblet was given – no two were alike.

 

8 -        Everyone was free to drink as much as they wanted.  No one would be forced or compelled to drink and no one was restricted either.

 

9 -        Queen Vashti held her own banquet inside the palace for all the servant girls of the palace.  She was not under obligation of Persian custom to keep the women separated from the men’s banquet.

 

 

Queen Vashti is Dethroned (1:10-22)

 

10-12   On the seventh and last day of the banquet, the king was high from drinking wine for a week.  He had seven eunuchs – seven was a sacred number to the Persians as well as the Hebrews.  He sent the eunuchs to go and bring Vashti to appear before him at the banquet so the men could gaze at her beauty and loveliness.  Even though she may not have wanted to degrade herself before the king’s drunken guests, Xerxes became enraged at her refusal of his summon.

13-15   The king consulted his seven wise advisors.  They were wise and “knew the times.”  They were astrologers and magicians who consulted the celestials powers for their decisions.  There were seven such individuals called “the seven nobles of Persia and Media.”  In Ezra 7:14 they are called the “Counsel of Seven” or “seven advisers.”  They were considered high ranking officials and had more direct access to the king because of their rank.  Xerxes wanted to know from them what could be done legally to the queen for her refusal to obey his command.  There may have been some protective laws for queens.

16        Memucan may have been the spokesman for the seven and advises the king of their concern and decision.  Vashti had not only done this thing against the king, but against all the husbands of the provinces.  If the queen could show disrespect and refuse the king’s orders, then every woman cold show disrespect and disobey their husbands.  There must not have been an existing law pertaining to this situation, so they met to come up with a solution and a new decree.

17-18   These advisors were wise in that they recognized precedence could be set by the queen’s actions.  A person with such high visibility is watched to see what conduct will really be tolerated.  They felt a strong action had to be taken against Vashti or “there will be no end of disrespect and discord.”

 

19-20   Memucan advised immediate action be taken against the queen.  He further advised that it be recorded as a  “royal decree” and written into the “Law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”  The advisors wanted to make sure Vashti could again return to power and take revenge on them.  The law of the Persian was irrevocable as also shown in Est. 8:8 and Dan. 6:8.  Vashti refused to enter the kings presence when summoned, so her punishment was to banished from his presence forever.  The king was advised to give her position to someone else, better than she.  Looks were very important to the king (see. 1:11; 2:2; 2:17).  It was further advised that this decree be made known in all the kingdom so all women could be respectful toward their husband’s authority, from the smallest to the greatest of them.  What example are we showing to the world?   We are children of the king; actually we are the bride of Christ, the King, in a position like Vashti.

 

21-22   The advice pleased the king and so it was decreed.  Notice went out to every province in their written and verbal dialects.  He wanted to be sure that every person understood the decree.  It was proclaimed that every man should be ruler over his own household.