Introduction: In this book we must remember that the Jew had been in Babylonian
captivity, under Nebuchadnezzar, for 70 years. After
However, out of the millions of the Jews, only around 60,000 went home. The rest stayed inside the Medo-Persian empire. Here, in this book, we see those staying in the land of captivity and are considered to be out of the “Will of God”. For God wanted them to go home to their land, but instead they are staying in a foreign land, a land of caprivity.
In this book, God is never mentioned
and neither is prayer. The people have disobeyed and forgotten about God. But
God has not forgotten his people. He will direct them, even if they do not want
His direction. He directs them by His Providence.
Esther
Chapter 1
Est 1:1 Now it came to pass in
the days of Ahasuerus,
(this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from
Vs 1 Ahasuerus means “high father”. It is a title given, like that of Caesar, to a king.
It is my belief that this title was given to the king named Xerxes. He ruled over
127 provinces from
Est 1:2 That in those days, when
the king Ahasuerus sat on
the throne of his kingdom, which was in
Shushan the palace,
Est 1:3
In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all
his princes and his servants; the power of
nobles and princes of the provinces, being
before him:
Vs 2,3 The king threw a banquet for the delegates of the 127 provinces. It was in the
kings third year of rule
Est
1:4 When he shewed the riches of his
glorious kingdom and
the honour of his excellent majesty many
days, even an hundred
and fourscore days.
Vs 4 For 180 days this banquet lasted. It would show all the wealth and power of
the Medo-Persian kingdom. It was probably given to win the support of the
nobles present, that they might
follow a campaign of warfare against
History teaches us that this man
Xerxes did wage war with
Est 1:5 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;
Vs 5 For 7 more days a banquet was given in the garden court for the people of
Shushan. Both small and great were present at this banquet.
Est 1:6 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.
Vs 6 This party was a very expensive and elaborate affair. The king wanted everyone
to know that he could afford war.
Est 1:7 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.
Est 1:8
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.
Vs 7,8 This party turned into a drunken ordeal. No one was made to drink, but it was
very much a part of the party. Today men are made to feel guilty, if they do not
participate in the company cocktail party. Companies will spend thousands of
dollars to sober up and dry out employees. Then turn around and send them to
cocktail parties and make them feel guilty if they choose not to participate.
Est 1:9 Also Vashti the queen
made a feast for the women in
the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
Vs 9 The social custom of that day was for men to have a party, while the women had
another party of their own. Vashti, the Queen, held a separate gala for the women.
Est 1:10 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,
Vs 10 The king, got drunk, and made an unwise move, in that he, under the influence of
alcohol tried to show out. Today alcohol is the drug of choice. It is the #1 killer
of those under the age of 30. How do they die ? 1-car accidents 2-Home accidents
3-Liver disease. Did you know that 95% of alcoholics are just like us, at home in
their own environment? They are not bums, but hold jobs and own homes just
like us. Of every 100 users, 96 will die, 3 are treated and 1 will go into an irreversible coma.
Some go for help and then turn away from it.
class=Section2>Why do they go for help ? 1-legal problems or a DWI 2-family or spouse about
to leave or 3- the loss or threat of job loss.
Est 1:11 To bring Vashti the
queen before the king with the
crown royal, to shew the people and the
princes her beauty:
for she was fair to look on.
Vs 11 The king showed wealth and power, but now under influence of alcohol he does
something contrary to custom. He orders the queen to come to the banquet of
the men and show her beauty. He wanted other men to see his most prized
treasure,
the queen. I believe he should protect her, not expose her.
Est
1:12 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.
Vs 12 The queen refused the kings edict. Now the king is mad and really he has
only himself to blame. In front of the public eye, how can he lead a war
campaign if it appears he cannot command his queen ? We see he ruled
127 provinces and cannot even rule his own spirit of anger.
Est 1:13 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:
Est 1:14
And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar,
Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and
Memucan, the
seven princes of
and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
Est 1:15
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?
Vs13-15 A cabinet meeting takes place. What should we do with a queen that has
refused the kings command ? All of the other women have seen this open defiance
and the cabinet and king think that they appear as weak. What if all the other
women do the same ?
Est 1:16 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.
Est 1:17
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.
Est 1:18
Likewise shall the ladies of
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.
Vs16-18 There is no law discovered to force her to obey and do the will of the king.
So Memucan, afraid probably of how his own wife might act, makes a suggestion.
Remember this is a royal crisis. The king and queen are to be an example to the
entire kingdom. I believe Memucan was a henpecked husband. I believe that
husband and wife should be as one. I believe that Vashti did what she should do
and not expose herself and that the kings drunkenness got him into trouble.
Est 1:19 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.
Vs 19 Memucan asks that there be a law written to do away with the queen, because she
will not obey her husband and give her estate to another who is better than she.
What a mess!
Est 1:20 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
honour, both to great
and small.
Est 1:21
And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and
the king did according to the word of
Memucan:
Est 1:22
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.
Vs 20-22 The king makes this decree and a law is written that “If a wife dishonors
the husband, by disobeying a command of her husband, then she is to be done away
with forever, and a new wife is to be given her place”. This was made into a law which
could not be changed. In other words, if a man thought that his wife had burnt the bread,
then should could be done away with. How ridiculous !