King Artaxerxes’ Banquet
Esther 1, verse 1. It came to pass, after these matters, in the days of Artaxerxes (this is the same Artaxerxes who reigned over the hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India to Ethiopia),
Introduction: Mordecai's Prophetic Dream
Esther 1, verse 1a. In the second year of the reign of the great King Artaxerxes, on the first day of Nisan, Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, the son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, had a dream. Esther 1, verse 1b. He was a Jewish man living in the city of Susa, a great man who served in the court of the king. Esther 1, verse 1c. He was from the captives Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had deported from Jerusalem with Jechoniah the king of Judah. Esther 1, verse 1d. And this was his dream: Behold, there was noise and tumult, thunder and earthquake—confusion on the earth. Esther 1, verse 1e. Two great dragons came forth, both ready for combat. A great roar came forth from them, Esther 1, verse 1f. and at the sound of them, every nation prepared to wage war against the nation of the just. Esther 1, verse 1g. And indeed, it was a day of gloom and of darkness, tribulation and anguish, oppression and great confusion upon the earth. Esther 1, verse 1h. The entire upright nation was troubled, fearing the evils against them; they were prepared to perish, and they cried out to God. Esther 1, verse 1i. And at their cry there came forth, as it were from a small spring, a great river having abundant water. Esther 1, verse 1j. There was light, and the sun rose, and the lowly were exalted, and they devoured the esteemed. Esther 1, verse 1k. Mordecai, who had seen this vision and what God was planning to do, awoke. Esther 1, verse 1l. He kept it in his heart and wished to ponder it until night.
A Plot against the King
Esther 1, verse 1m. Then Mordecai rested in the courtyard with Gabatha and Tharra, the king's two eunuchs who guarded the courtyard. Esther 1, verse 1n. He overheard their words and considered their anxieties, and he realized they were preparing to lay hands upon the king, and he informed the king about them. Esther 1, verse 1o. Then the king interrogated the two eunuchs, and they confessed and were led away to be executed. Esther 1, verse 1p. The king made a memorandum of these matters, and Mordecai also wrote about these matters. Esther 1, verse 1q. And the king commanded Mordecai to serve in the court, and he gave him gifts for this service. Esther 1, verse 1r. But Haman, the son of Hamadatha the Agagthite, was held in high honor before the king, and he sought for ways to bring harm to Mordecai and his people because of the two eunuchs of the king. Esther 1, verse 2. in the days when King Artaxerxes sat on the throne in the city of Susa, Esther 1, verse 3. that in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for his friends and the rest of the nations, and for the nobles of the Persians and the Medes and the chiefs of the satraps. Esther 1, verse 4. And after these things, that is after he had displayed the wealth of his kingdom and the glory of the joy of his riches for one hundred eighty days, Esther 1, verse 5. when the days of the celebration were completed, the king set forth a banquet in the court of the king's palace for six days for the people living in the city. Esther 1, verse 6. The courtyard was adorned with fine white linen curtains stretched out on cords of purple and fastened to square gold and silver studs, on pillars of marble and stone. And the couches were of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of emerald stone, mother of pearl, and marble, and transparent coverings variously adorned with colorful flowers and encircled with embroidered roses. Esther 1, verse 7. There were gold and silver cups, and a ruby goblet set out, worth thirty thousand talents, and there was an abundance of sweet wine, which the king himself drank. Esther 1, verse 8. Now this banquet was not in keeping with established law; but this is what the king desired, and he ordered all the stewards of his household, those of his men, to do his will. Esther 1, verse 9. Queen Vashti also provided a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Artaxerxes.
Queen Vashti Dishonors the King
Esther 1, verse 10. Now on the seventh day, the king was merry and told Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas—the seven eunuchs, the servants of King Artaxerxes— Esther 1, verse 11. to bring the queen before him, to enthrone her and to place the royal crown upon her, to show her beauty to the rulers and the nations, for she was beautiful. Esther 1, verse 12. But Queen Vashti did not heed his words and refused to come with the eunuchs. The king was distressed and angry. Esther 1, verse 13. The king said to his friends, “Thus has Vashti spoken; follow the law and justice concerning this.” Esther 1, verse 14. And Arkesaios, Sarsathaios and Memucan, the nobles of the Persians and Medes, those near to the king and first in rank by the king, went to him. Esther 1, verse 15. They reported to him what according to the laws was to be done to the queen Vashti, because she did not do as commanded by King Artaxerxes by way of the eunuchs. Esther 1, verse 16. And Memucan said to the king and the princes, “Queen Vashti has not only wronged the king, but also all the king's rulers and nobles.” Esther 1, verse 17. He reported the words of the queen, and how she contradicted the king, and how she disobeyed King Artaxerxes: Esther 1, verse 18. “Thus today the royal ladies of the rulers of the Persians and the Medes, hearing the words which were spoken to the king, will dare to dishonor their husbands in the same way. Esther 1, verse 19. If it pleases the king, let him make a royal decree, and let it be written according to the laws of the Persians and the Medes, and let it not be declared otherwise, that the queen no longer come before him, and let the king give her royal position to a woman better than she. Esther 1, verse 20. And let the decree of the king, which he shall have made, be proclaimed throughout his kingdom, and thus all wives will honor their husbands, from the poor to the rich.” Esther 1, verse 21. And the word pleased the king and the nobles, and the king did just as Memucan said. Esther 1, verse 22. He then sent out to his entire kingdom, throughout the provinces, according to their own language, that husbands be feared in their own houses.