Introduction
The Book of Esther is a history of Israel while the Jews were in the lands of their captivity. It is a historical chronicle that centres around the life of two people, and particularly around the fate of all Jews who lived throughout the Persian Empire.
Esther’s story takes place in the Persian Empire during the reign of Ahasuerus, known more familiarly to us by the Greek form of his name, Xerxes I. He was the son of Darius the Great and reigned from 486-465 B.C . Ezra 4:24 / Ezra 5:5-7 / Ezra 6:1-15 / Daniel 6:1 /Daniel 6:25 / Haggai 1:15 / Haggai 2:10. He ruled over a vast empire that extended from India to Ethiopia, Esther 1:1.
Esther was a descendant of the tribe of Benjamin, which had been part of the kingdom of Judah. Her ancestors were among the Jews who had been carried captive to Babylon nearly one hundred years earlier. After the death of Esther’s parents, she was brought up in Susa by her uncle, Mordecai, Esther 2:7, who served in the Persian ruler’s palace. She was a Jewish orphan girl who eventually became the queen of Persia.
The book which is named after Esther is purely historical and what’s unique about it, is that the Name of God doesn’t appear anywhere within it. However, just because the Name of God isn’t mentioned, this doesn’t mean that God is absent. Whilst reading through the book, we can clearly see God’s fingerprints throughout.
AUTHOR
This book is named after Esther, whose Jewish name was Hadassah. Some believe that she was Queen Amestris whom the historian Herodotus mentioned as the queen during the reign of Xerxes, that is, Ahasuerus, the king of Persia. Her name means ‘a star,’ which was possibly given to her because of her unique beauty.
No one knows who wrote the book but it must have been written after the death of Ahasuerus, the Xerxes of the Greeks, which took place in B.C. 465. Some commentators believe because of the historical details within the book, the writer was contemporary with Mordecai and Esther. Hence they conclude that the book was written probably about B.C. 444 and that the author was one of the Jews of the dispersion.
DATE
The exact date of the book is difficult to determine, however, some commentators suggest because Ahasuerus is generally linked to Xerxes I, 486-464 B.C., the events of the book correspond to the dates 483-473 B.C.
OUTLINE
The removal of Queen Vashti, Esther 1.
The choice of Esther as Queen, Esther 2:1-20.
Mordecai discovers a plot against the life of the king, Esther 2:21-23.
Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews, Esther 3-4.
Esther’s successful petition, Esther 5-8:2.
The deliverance of the Jews, Esther 8:3-9:16.
The Feast of Purim, Esther 9:17-32.
A description of Mordecai’s greatness, Esther 10.
The Text
‘This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush: At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present. For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendour and glory of his majesty. When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king’s palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest who were in the citadel of Susa. The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones. Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king’s liberality. By the king’s command each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished. Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.’ Esther 1:1-9
QUEEN VASHTI DEPOSED
The history of Esther begins with the setting of how she became queen of the greatest world empire of that time, Esther 1:1. Xerxes, also known as Ahasuerus, reigned from 486 to 465 B.C. at Susa, Esther 1:2, some translations have the name Shushan. The military leaders at the time were Persia and Media, Daniel 2:36-45 / Daniel 5:30-31 / Daniel 8:20. In the time of Darius and Cyrus, there were only one hundred and twenty provinces, Daniel 6:1, now there are over one hundred and twenty-seven, Esther 1:1.
Archaeology discovered a foundation tablet which was recovered from Xerxes’ palace at Persepolis which lists both India and Ethiopia as provinces of Xerxes’ realm. Also, Herodotus mentioned that both the Ethiopians and the Indians paid tribute to Xerxes, Esther 1:1.
There are three feasts happening in this opening chapter.
1. The first feast was probably a regrouping of the leaders of the Persian Empire in order to reassess their military position in reference to threats against the Empire that existed at this time in the reign of Xerxes, Esther 1:3.
It was probably also a time when Xerxes can show off the glory and splendour of the riches of his kingdom, Daniel 5:3. This feast lasted for one hundred and eighty days, Esther 1:4.
2. The second feast was for the citizens of the capital city, Susa and it lasted for seven days, Esther 1:5.
Notice how extravagant the garden, the furniture and the pavement within the palace were, Esther 1:6. The historian Herodotus mentioned these eloquent furnishings in the palaces of Persia.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘White and blue or violet were the royal colours in Persia. Such awnings as are here described were very suitable to the pillared halls and porches of a Persian summer palace, and especially to the situation of that of Susa.’
The royal wine was now flowing and every one of the guest well invited to drink as much as they liked, Esther 1:7-8. Every feast like this was political, and so, some of those who were invited wanted to use the occasion for politics,
3. The third feast was for the women in the royal palace and was conducted by the wife of King Xerxes, Queen Vashti Esther 1:9.
She gave a banquet for the women because it wasn’t the custom for the woman to participate in the feast that was conducted by the king and his men, Daniel 5:2. Therefore, the queen conducted a separate feast for the wives of the leaders.
‘On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas—to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.’ Esther 1:10-12
King Xerxes was in high spirits from the wine on the seventh day, Esther 1:10, which means he was rather drunk. And so, he makes an irrational demand on Queen Vashti, whom, he thought, would on his command parade herself immodestly before the men of the king’s feast, Esther 1:10-11.
Notice that Queen Vashti refused the king’s command which was delivered by the ‘attendants’, who were eunuchs of the king’s court who served the royal family, Esther 1:13 / Esther 1:10. She certainly knew the consequences of her refusing him. It’s here that we see her moral stature as she refuses to allow herself to be an object of immoral thought by parading herself before others.
Jewish tradition says ‘she was ready to appear before the banqueters completely unclothed, except that God smote her with leprosy just as she received the request.’ This is highly unlikely. The Jewish Targum is an Aramaic paraphrase, explanation, and interpretation of the Hebrew text of the Jewish Scriptures provided by the rabbis in the course of teaching. The Targum adds the word ‘naked’, to this verse.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Scholars have suggested several possible reasons why Vashti would not obey the king, but in all likelihood, Vashti was pregnant with Artaxerxes I.’
Samuel, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This banquet probably took place just before the birth of Artaxerxes, and her natural modesty rebelled against making a display of herself before the king and his well drunken banqueters.’
Notice when Vashti refused to come to the king, the king became furious and burned with anger, Esther 1:12.
‘Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times and were closest to the king—Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memukan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom. “According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?” he asked. “She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her.” Then Memukan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, “Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes. For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.’ This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen’s conduct will respond to all the king’s nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord. “Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she. Then when the king’s edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.” The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memukan proposed. He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own household, using his native tongue.’ Esther 1:13-22
It was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, and so he spoke with wise men, Esther 1:13. These wise men who ‘understood the times’ Esther 1:13, weren’t necessarily astrologers of the king’s court who advised the king as some suggest. It’s more likely, that they were men of practical wisdom, who knew the facts and customs of former times.
The seven nobles were seven families of the first rank in Persia, Esther 1:14, from which alone the king could take his wives. Their chiefs were entitled to have free access to the monarch‘s person. King Xerxes them according to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti? She has not obeyed kings commands, Esther 1:15 / Esther 1:13.
Henry, in his commentary, says the following concerning the question, ‘what shall we do to the queen Vashti according to the law?’
‘1. Though it was the queen that was guilty, the law must have its course. 2. Though the king was very angry, yet he would do nothing but what he was advised was according to law.’
After inquiring about what should be done about the queen, Memukan’s answer was based on the belief that the example of the queen would encourage women throughout the Empire to show contempt for their husbands.
They were basically afraid that because of Queen Vashti’s example, the wives of all the kings and nobles would despise their husbands, Esther 1:16-17. They wouldn’t respect their husbands and show discord towards them, Esther 1:18. It appears that they wanted to make sure that each man is the master in his own house, Ephesians 5:33.
Some commentators believe there were some personal agendas happening in the background. They suggest that there may have been some personal contention between the king and the queen, with the wise men taking advantage of the situation in order to advance their beliefs.
It’s possible that the wise men had a falling out with the queen at some point in the past, and so, they took advantage of the opportunity to have her banished from the presence of the king. They possibly took advantage of the situation in order to maintain the submission of the women throughout the Empire.
Memukan suggest that the king issues a royal decree and write it in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed and that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes, Esther 1:19. He also suggest that the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she, Esther 1:19. By doing this, all the women in his vast realm will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest, Esther 1:20.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Both God’s law and common sense taught this from the foundation of the world. And is it possible that this did not obtain in the Persian empire, previously to this edict? The twentieth verse has another clause, That all wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small. This also was universally understood. This law did nothing. I suppose the parade of enactment was only made to deprive honest Vashti of her crown.’
‘The Targum adds, ‘that each woman should speak the language of her husband.’ If she were even a foreigner, she should be obliged to learn and speak the language of the king. Perhaps there might be some common sense in this, as it would oblige the foreigner to devote much time to study and improvement, and, consequently, to make her a better woman, and a better wife. But there is no proof that this was a part of the decree. But there are so many additions to this book in the principal versions, that we know not what might have made a part of it originally.’
The king and his nobles agreed with the advice they were given, Esther 1:21, and so letters, Esther 3:12-15 / Esther 8:9-14, were sent out to each of the provinces, Esther 1:2 / Esther 1:1.