But when the servants told Queen Vashti of the king’s command, she refused to come. This made the king furious.
Now it was the king’s custom to ask for expert opinion on questions of law and order, so he called for his advisers, who would know what should be done. …He said to these men, “I, King Xerxes, sent my servants to Queen Vashti with a command, and she refused to obey it! What does the law say that we should do with her?”
The king was subject to the law. Truly an advanced civilization.
“Wives everywhere will have no respect for their husbands, and husbands will be angry with their wives.”
It’s important to see the implications of decisions from a larger prospective. Help me to do that, Lord.
“If it please Your Majesty, issue a royal proclamation that Vashti may never again appear before the king. Have it written into the laws of Persia and Media, so that it can never be changed.”
Vashti got what she wished for – and then some…
The king and his officials liked this idea, and the king did what Memucan suggested. To each of the royal provinces he sent a message in the language and the system of writing of that province…
No doubt thanks to the various representatives at the Persian court (Nehemiah 11:24).
…the king’s advisers who were close to him suggested, “Why don’t you make a search to find some beautiful young virgins? You can appoint officials in every province of the empire and have them bring all these beautiful young women to your harem here in Susa, the capital city. Put them in the care of Hegai, the eunuch who is in charge of your women, and let them be given a beauty treatment. Then take the young woman you like best and make her queen in Vashti’s place.”
The king thought this was good advice, so he followed it.
Duh (Genesis 29:16-18)… 🥸
There in Susa lived a Jew named Mordecai son of Jair; he was from the tribe of Benjamin and was a descendant of Kish and Shimei. When King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took King Jehoiachin of Judah into exile from Jerusalem, along with a group of captives, Mordecai was among them.
Deported twice. One never knows what awaits us (Luke 2:1-7).
He had a cousin, Esther, whose Hebrew name was Hadassah; she was a beautiful young woman, and had a good figure.
Sweet. 😀