Esther Chapter 1 - Part 2

Esther 1:13 (VOICE) Immediately, King Ahasuerus called a meeting with his wise counsel, men who understood the laws and customs that had made the Persian Empire great. 14 These seven nobles—the king’s most elite confidants—came from Persia and Media and were named Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan.

The king responds to Vashti’s refusal to come at his bidding by asking his advisors what the laws and customs of the day say that he should do. Since he is the king, I find it peculiar that he would not know how to deal with the situation himself.

Q – Do you think, perhaps, the king acted with undo haste? Should one make important decisions while under the influence of alcohol or extreme anger?

King Ahasuerus: 15 Queen Vashti has blatantly defied me and refused the order I gave her through my assistants! Tell me, good men, what do the laws of this land suggest should be done to a queen who has disobeyed her king?

The king is looking for a way to punish the queen’s disobedience within the law, so that he is covered. He is still not thinking about WHY she may have disobeyed. He is not thinking about his wife but only of himself and how it hurt his ego. Perhaps he is afraid he will appear weak if he does not “control” his wife or respond decisively to her actions.

Q – At least he did seek advice. How often do we make important decisions without seeking counsel?

Memucan (before the king and nobles): 16 Your queen has wronged you, my king. She has also offended every noble of the land and all the people who reside in your provinces. Something must be done! 17 If we don’t act quickly, every woman in this kingdom will hear about Queen Vashti’s disrespect for you and they will follow her example in dishonoring their husbands. I can hear the women now, talking among each other: “Why should we listen to our husbands when Queen Vashti doesn’t come when King Ahasuerus calls for her?” 18 This day the noble women of Persia and Media who hear what the queen has done will respond in kind to your nobles, and there will be chaos all across the land.

Memucan was being a drama queen. He was jumping to the conclusion that this would set a precedence for women disobeying their husbands. Still, no one has searched out the reason for the disobedience of Vashti. On the one hand, she should not be disobedient; but on the other, her husband should NOT have asked such a vile thing of her.

Q – Do you think the queen should have had an opportunity to defend her actions? Perhaps that was not the custom of the time, since women were regarded as possessions; but do you think the king could have granted it?

Esther 1:19 But my king, don’t worry; I have an idea! With your permission, of course, I recommend that a decree be issued among the Persians and the Medes, a law which cannot be repealed, that forbids Vashti from ever being allowed in your presence again. In fact, I would further suggest that you give her position to another woman, someone who is more honorable than she is. 20 As your subjects hear about your decree in the far reaches of your kingdom, all the women will stop and give their husbands the honor they deserve, those of royal blood as well as the commoners. Oh, this is a great idea!

21 Memucan’s advice was well received by the king and his advisors.

King Ahasuerus: That is a brilliant idea! I say we make Memucan’s counsel into law!

Memucan’s counsel would make King Ahasuerus come out smelling like rose. This seems a drastic course of action to modern readers. However, keep in mind, the king could have someone executed just for entering his presence uninvited. Once this idea of banishing Vashti was made into official law, it could never be repealed. She could never be reinstated, even after he sobered up. He would be bound by law to choose a new queen. I wonder how many important decisions were made during these drunken parties? How many of these decisions were not the best for the long term of the kingdom?

Reformation Study Bible:

1:19 laws of the Persians . . . may not be repealed. The permanency of royal law is an important feature in the development of the story (4:11; 8:. The plan to banish Vashti and to give her position to someone better, more beautiful or more obedient, had to be carried out.

Q – If you had the power to make a law that could NEVER be repealed, how long and hard would you consider that action?

Esther 1:22 The king drafted letters and sent them to all of his provinces. His emissaries spread the news quickly at the king’s directive that each province receive the decree in their own script and language: “In Persia every man will be master of his own home and speak in the language of his own people—regardless of the language his wife speaks.”

The king made this decree in his passion but with the advice of his counselors. We do not know the entire exchange that may have occurred between the king and the queen or the attitude or tone of Vashti. However, God had a plan to save the Israelites, and He used this to advance His choice for queen to the throne. The important thing to take away from this is that no matter the follies of men, God’s providence prevails.

Matthew Henry’s commentary:

Whether it was the passion or the policy of the king that was served by this edict, God’s providence served its own purpose by it, which was to make way for Esther to the crown.

Q – Do you believe God orchestrates circumstances to bring about His will? Can you think of an example of this in your own life?

APPLY THIS TO YOUR LIFE:

1. If you are able to take a little time before making an important decision, do! Seek the Lord in His word, seek counsel from godly friends (choose your counselors wisely), and do not do anything drastic in the heat of the moment.

2. Take time to consider the other person’s side of the story, and the long term effects.

3. Trust that even when you make wrong choices, by surrendering to the Lord, He can create a message out of your mess.