The Story of Esther…
…occurs right here in time. Ezra has been telling us of the first return to Jerusalem and rebuilding the Temple, which he was not a part of. There were a number of years during which time the story of Esther occurred, and then Ezra himself returned to the Holy Land.
Esther
There is a great deal of disagreement about the authorship and time period of Esther. After comparing the different theories with the actual text, (and giving more weight to each theory the closer it was to the actual events on the assumption that those closer in time would have a better chance of really knowing what happened), I have come to the conclusion that this book was probably written by Nehemiah. He lived shortly after the most likely time these events took place, was familiar with the palace at Shushan, had access to all the royal records, and would have been motivated to provide this information to those around him.
This is the only book of the Bible that does not directly mention God, though His working Hand is implied. Some have doubted that it should even be included in the Bible (most notably Martin Luther), but I tend to think God had control of what has been included as “scripture” for the last 2000-2500 years. And unlike some books from ancient times that are generally left out of the Cannon, the theme of the Book of Easter (that humans are fallen and God saves through our obedience) is in perfect harmony with the rest of the Bible.
Esther 1- The Queen’s Disgrace
1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)
The Medes under Darius and the Persians under Cyrus united to conquer Babylon. According to Jewish and Persian history the kings took turns being the senior ruler. So Darius took the kingdom with Cyrus’ help (Cyrus’ dad was senior king until his death).
Cyrus mother was Darius’ sister and Cyrus married Darius’ daughter, so this union was very natural.
Darius only ruled a very short time (months?) before he died, leaving Cyrus as senior king (ruler of Persia) and his son Ahasuerus as junior king (ruler of Medes).
Greek historians transliterated his name as “Xerxes” and “Artaxerxes” and because of the language barrier and kings having several names, thought there were more of them then there were.
2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:
Jewish legend says this party was to celebrate that he had successfully murder Cyrus (his cousin brother-in-law) and become the senior king.
4 When he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.
For 180 days he showed off everything he had. About half a year of bragging.
5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;
6 Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.
Everything was decorated beautifully.
7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.
Each cup was an individual work of art.
8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
The custom of the time was that anyone present at a feast, especially a king’s feast, had to drink at each round or risk insulting his host. Xerxes suspended this rule for this feast allowing everyone to drink however much or little they wanted to.
9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
Generally, the men and women did not mix socially. This cut down accusations of flirting, molesting or other wrong doing.
Jewish legend says that Vashti was Belteshazer's (the last king of Babylon) daughter. There is no way to verify this and it doesn’t seem very likely to me.
10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.
Some ancient translations add that the king commanded her to be naked.
Either way, no descent woman of the time would go to stand before a bunch of men (and drunks at that) to display her beauty. This would have been more the actions of a prostitute. Descent women don’t seek this kind of attention.
12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
Whether she was too virtuous to go show off, too drunk herself to make wise decisions, or figuring she would be in trouble when the king sobered up if she did obey, we don’t know. Whatever her reasoning, she refused a direct order of the king; a good thing since he was telling her to do something indecent.
13 Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
14 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
The king didn’t regret his request when he sobered up, but was still mad. He was getting advice on whether he should execute her, ignore her behavior, or just what.
16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, “Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
“This has bigger applications than just your marriage.”
17 “For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, ‘The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.’
Memucan was afraid that Vashti’s actions would set a fashion of women disobeying their husbands.
18 “Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.
19 “If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
This would not be a true divorce because Vashti would not be allowed to remarry. But she will lose all the benefits of being married and someone else will have her job and position.
Media and Persia were unique in that they even required their monarch to obey their laws. Now, he was free to make any law he wished, but once made, he couldn’t undo it. He had to obey it. So once he Oks putting Vashti away, it can’t be undone.
The Founders of America were all well versed in their Bibles and knew about this aspect of Persian law. They thought it a good, moral idea and decided to copy it. This is what is actually meant by “All men are created equal;” no one is above the law.
Unfortunately, those in charge find it all too tempting to exempt themselves from laws they want everyone else to obey but don’t want to obey themselves.
20 “And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honor, both to great and small.”
No one is perfect. We all have our inherent flaws.
Women tend to be snarky and catty. Memucan hopes this punishment for Vashti will keep men from being verbally and emotionally abused in their own homes.
21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
22 For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.
He decreed that man is the head of the household. This is actually a command of God.
God created men and women very differently. They each have strengths and weaknesses.
He created men to see the big picture, know what needs to be done, and have the drive to conquer it (whatever “it” is.)
But someone who does all that can’t see the little things that make life worth living. They have trouble caring for the day-to-day details, especially the repetitive ones. They do not have the intuition needed to care for the most helpless among us, (babies, elderly) because that intuition will get in the way of the big picture.
Women intuitively see the little things (and care enough to do something about them). They desire to create beauty and keep the mood of the house pleasant. They see the little things that build or destroy relationships. But they tend to get so focused on the details they can’t see the big picture, resulting in a lot of spinning their wheels; doing the little things over and over when they either aren’t important in the long run or there is a faster better way.
Man needs help to accomplish the goals God has given him just as the business owner needs a plant manager or the General needs the Drill Sargent. Both roles are vitally important, though VERY different.
Throughout the history of humanity, people have been able to see that families don’t work well when you put the Plant Manager in charge over the Business Owner. When this happens the Business Owner (Hubby) gets lazy, bored and frustrated and the Big Picture jobs never get done. The Plant Manager (Wifey) gets overwhelmed and frustrated, wanting the details done but not having the time to do them herself; knowing that the Big Picture is not being accomplished but not quite figuring out what that is.
And when the family doesn’t function right, Society collapses.
The simple solution is for the one God designed to take the lead to actually take the lead (not like a bully, but like a shepherd- gentle and patient) and the one He designed to care for the details to care for the details (not like a nag or (verbal) bully either, but as a willing, intelligent helper).
When this happens, the family functions well and so does society.
When it doesn’t happen, the society collapses.