Esther 1:1-22
Q.1. How lavish was the king’s banquet? Who were the invited guests? In what condition was the king when he invited the queen to appear? Why did she refuse? – (Est.1:1-12)
Ahasuerus was the Persian king – 1 … reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, 2 in those days as King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne which was at the citadel in Susa (Est.1:1-2). In the third year of his reign, he threw a huge banquet that lasted 180 days, to celebrate one of his notable victories, along with the princes, attendants, and army officers of the Medo-Persian Empire (Est.1:3). The banquet was then extended to his subjects in the city – … from the greatest to the least, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace (Est.1:5).
The descriptions suggest that the banquet was lavish. Queen Vashti was also banqueting with women in the palace. The story took a sudden twist – when the heart of the king was merry with wine (Est.1:10). He ordered his servants – to bring Queen Vashti before the king wearing her royal crown in order to display her beauty to the people and the princes for, she was beautiful (Est.1:11). However, Queen Vashti refused to come. This provoked an angry reaction from the king (Est.1:12). Though the Scriptures do not spell out the drunken request of the king, it is likely that she was being asked to compromise herself in the eyes of the people.
Q.2. What did the king do about the queen’s refusal? How did the leaders react to Vashti’s insult? What advice did they give the king? – (Est.1:12-22)
The king consulted his sages, in order to help him decide what should be done. They judged that – … Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also all the princes and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women causing them to look with contempt on their husbands by saying … (Est.1:16-17). They advised Ahasuerus to replace Vashti with – 19 … another who is more worthy than she. 20 When the king’s edict which he will make is heard throughout all his kingdom, great as it is, then all women will give honour to their husbands, great and small (Est.1:19-20). As a result, Vashti was deposed, and letters sent – … that every man should be the master in his own house and the one who speaks in the language of his own people (Est.1:22).