SERIES O --- RETURN TO THE LAND --- LESSON 16

A QUEEN DEPOSED

QUEEN VASHTI REBELS

From Esther 1

In the third year of his reign, King Ahasuerus gave a great celebration at his palace in Susa the capital, inviting his princes, attendants, and army officers. They came from all parts of his vast kingdom of a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, stretching from India to Ethiopia. For six months the king showed his guests his great riches and royal power. Near the end of the celebration, he gave a banquet which lasted seven days. He invited all the palace staff at Susa, from the greatest to the least. Beautiful decorations hung throughout the garden of the king’s palace where the banquet was held. Blue and white linen hangings were fastened with purple cords and silver rings to pillars of marble. There were gold and silver couches, and a patio made of coloured marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones. The king gave orders that everyone could have as much as he wished to drink of the king’s wine, but no person would be pressed to drink more than he wanted. The wine was served in the golden vessels of the king. While this was going on, Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women of the palace. On the seventh day of the king’s banquet, Ahasuerus was in a happy mood because of the wine. He commanded the seven eunuchs who served as his personal attendants, Mehuinan, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, to bring Queen Vashti with her royal crown before the king so that he could display her beauty to his guests, for Vashti was a very beautiful woman. But the queen would not come as the king had commanded. The king became very angry and counselled with the wise men who knew about the customs of the times, for it was his practice to discuss such things with the men who knew the laws and penalties of the land. These counsellors were seven princes of Persia and Media, men who came often before the king and sat in the highest places in the kingdom, men very close to the king. Their names were Carshena, Shethar, Adinatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. [How should we deal with Queen Vashti, since she has disobeyed the orders I sent through the eunuchs?] the king asked these counsellors. Memucan replied, [Queen Vashti has not only wronged the king, but also all the princes and citizens of the king’s empire. When other women hear what she has done, they will scorn their husbands also, saying, ‘If the queen can refuse to obey, so can I.’ They will answer their husbands as the queen has answered the king’s orders; and this will cause much contempt and anger throughout the land. If it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree, written in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be changed. Let Queen Vashti come no more into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let another woman, more worthy than she, be chosen as queen. [When the king’s decree is heard throughout his great kingdom, then all wives will honour their husbands, no matter how great or how small they are,] The king and his princes were pleased with this counsel, and the king did as Memucan suggested. King Ahasuerus sent letters to all provinces of the kingdom, written in the language and script of each province, urging every man to rule over his own house and to speak with authority according to the customs of his own people.

COMMENTARY

MEN’S JEWELRY IN THE PERSIAN EMPIRE

In ancient Persia a wealthy man wore jewellery. His beard sparkled with small gems, his robe was covered with gold and silver sequins, elaborate necklaces hung from his neck and wide precious armbands glowed on his arms. The more jewellery he wore, the more he was respected and admired. The importance and wealth of any man was directly reflected in the amount of jewellery that covered his body. In fact, jewellery was so much a part of the life of the Persian male that soldiers wore great amounts of gold into battle.