Esther 1 Vashti
Esther’s story starts with Queen Vashti displeasing the king. She refused to come to a drunken king and was removed from her place forever. Enter, Esther.
When thinking about writing the story of Esther, I had a vision in my mind of the story. But I didn’t know if it was my own vision or one that developed while reading her story from another person’s account. I ran into the same problem when telling Ruth’s story. It took a bit, but I found the book that holds many of the images from my memory/imaginings of the story. Not 100%, but close. It is a really well written book with a shocking twist at the end. It is Sands of Persia by Elizabeth Faye. There are some very sensitive topics addressed throughout the book and it looks at more than the main story itself.
The story of Esther leaves open a LOT of “What came before…” questions for me. Like, “How did Mordecai end up caring for Esther?”, and “What happened to Esther’s parents?”. These are my main ‘before’ questions, but I have a few ‘after’ ones floating around too. Like, “What happened to Vashti after she is removed?”, and “Did she have any children, and what became of them?”. I know that these won’t be fully answered before seeing God face to face and asking for story details, but I’m going to try and work some of them in, over time.
For now, let’s join Vashti as the king readies the kingdom for the big celebration. Lead Your story Holy Spirit. Show me where You want me to focus and bring out the points YOU know my heart needs to hear.
One quick note before we jump in. Ahasuerus is the proper name for Xerxes I. Just in case I mess up and change names/titles along the way. And in case you might be wondering.
♥ ♦ ♥
It has been a very tiring year for Queen Vashti. King Ahasuerus has been entertaining the nobles and princes for the last six months! As the Queen, Vashti is expected to attend him and his guests when they dine. She has been the dutiful servant of the king the whole time; no matter how unpleasant some of the guests may get.
One night, Vashti was cornered in the hallway by a drunken noble as she returned from relieving herself. If it were not for one of the servants entering the hallway, Vashti doesn’t know what would have happened.
It is the last day of the feast for the nobles and princes. Vashti breaths a sigh of relief as the evening finally draws to a close. But she knows that the end of this season of feasting is not the end of the ‘marathon’ ahead. Ahasuerus is planning a week long banquet for EVERYONE in Susa.
Morning breaks and the noise from the garden floats upwards to the window of Queen Vashti’s room. It was a long night, and she would have loved to sleep in, but that is not going to happen this day.
Vashti rises from her bed, puts on a simple robe, and goes to the window. She looks down on a myriad of people moving about the garden. There are those digging up and turning the paths, those artistically arranging mosaic tiles in the fresh soil, those hanging great white flowing drapes, those hanging purple tapestries, those moving marble pillars into place, those bringing and arranging ornate couches, and those setting out tables.
“It is a wonder that they don’t fall over one another” thinks Vashti as she watches the hive of activity. She watches for a little while, but hunger drives her from her seat by the window. Vashti joins Ahasuerus for the first meal of the day in the dining hall.
“There is a lot of activity in the garden this morning” comments Vashti.
“Everything has to be ready by evening for the final feast. It will be GLORIOUS when it is finished” exclaims Ahasuerus.
“From what I could see from my window, I have no doubt.”
Silence reigns for a while as both king and queen eat their morning meal. As the table is cleared, Vashti broaches a subject that she has been considering for some time now.
“I would like to have a banquet for the women, while your banquet for the men of Susa are enjoying your banquet. I could host it in the palace, so that I would still be near enough, should some crisis arise.”
“That sounds like an excellent idea. This way, the wives of the nobles and princes can spend their time in your company, rather than sitting quietly beside their husbands; freeing the men to truly enjoy themselves.”
Vashti suppresses a bitter retort to the king’s notion that the nobles and princes were the least bit ‘restrained’ in the presence of their wives. “I will make the arrangements with my staff.”
“Don’t let it interfere with the arrangements for my feast.”
Vashti bows, then leaves to begin her own preparations. “It won’t be as lavish as what is going on in the garden, but it will be a place of refuge and safety” thinks Vashti.
The first stop in Vashti’s preparations is the kitchen. She can see that it is already the hub of activity for the celebration to come. She wonders about adding to the staff’s workload. She truly cares for all the staff and servants. Her royal pedigree does not keep her from understanding the lives of the hard-working women.
“Anahan, I need a moment of your time.”
Anahan, the head cook, wipes her hands and comes to stand before Vashti.
“I know you are working extremely hard for the upcoming feast that Ahasuerus has proclaimed. I have been given permission to have a feast of my own for the women.”
Anahan’s eyes go wide and her face blanches as she considers the work load just added to her shoulders. “My lady, I don’t know if I can provide adequately for both the king and your guests.”
“I already expected that this might be too large of a burden for you to carry on your own. My plan is to hire a second kitchen crew, to assist you during this period.”
Anahan breathes a sigh of relief. “That would be most helpful my queen.”
“I will also have extra stores brought in. Is there anything else you will need?”
Anahan looks sheepishly at the queen before answering. “A bigger kitchen would be nice. Can you arrange that?”
“I will rent the bakers kitchen for the duration of the feast. Can you manage if I do this? My banquet will take place in the palace.”
“With two crews and two kitchens, I should be able to handle three banquets” exclaims Anahan.
Vashti laughs. “Two will be plenty.”
After assuring Anahan that she will be head of all the activity, Vashti sets about the task of hiring the second crew and taking over the bakery kitchen for her banquet. After all, much of the feast for the women will come from the confections created by the most masterful baker in all of Susa.
Once these details are completed, Vashti has the coziest banquet room decorated with hanging flowers, soft cushions, and filmy curtains on the windows to let the breeze in and keep the flies out.
After completing orders for her banquet preparations, she goes to the garden to look at what Ahasuerus has created. “This is beautiful” she says as she looks around.
The garden stepping stones have been replaced with a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones. This artistic arrangement is expanded into the center of the garden where gold and silver couches covered in luxurious pillows rest. Marble pillars surround the large grouping of couches, pillows, and tables. From the pillars hang flowing white cotton curtains. Covering those as multiple points are violet hangings, all fastened with cords of fine linen and purple silver rods. On the tables rests gold and silver vessels for drinking. No two are of the same design. They feature master craftsmanship and imagination. The eye is drawn from one to another like bees to flowers in a garden.
Vashti’s banquet won’t be as spectacular to the eye, but hopefully it will be to the heart. Her banquet will be a place where the women feel safe and valued. No men will be ogling them or demanding their attention or directing their every move. One thing that must be sacrosanct in Vashti’s banquet is that the women will NOT report anything that is said within the confines of the banquet room. The women must be free to express themselves without fear of repercussions from their husband, or those over him.
Both banquets flow beautifully! The women are enjoying the company of one another. While the men are boasting and topping one another. Ahasuerus has made an edict that no man be either made to drink wine or stopped at any point. He wants freedom to reign in this area, but he also has the BEST wines available for all to partake of. Vashti has lighter drinks, but is also stocks stronger drinks for those who wish to partake.
The food is sumptuous! The men prefer the meats of the hunts while the women indulge in the sweeter treats. Both are available at both banquets though. And both have several who indulge too much and relieve themselves. Vashti has set aside an area for such as this, while Ahasuerus guests raise a curtain or simply turn their heads.
One thing that is missing from Vashti’s banquet is the debauchery. Ahasuerus has slave girls entertaining the men, both visually with dress and dance, and physically with groping and sexual conquests, often in front of their peers.
When the seventh day arrives, things are winding down in the banquet of Vashti. The women are talking about return to their husbands with this little jewel of a week tucked away in their hearts.
“I will never forget this week Vashti. I have never known such freedom. I pray that a piece of this joy stays with me for years to come.”
“I do as well” echoes around the room.
In the banquet of the men, things are rising to a fever pitch. Nearly every man there is drunk and calling out for more ‘entertainment’. They want one last round before the night ends. Ahasuerus is drunk and in a mood to show off even more than usual. He summons his eunuchs to him. “Bring Queen Vashti to me. She is to wear her royal crown, and nothing else. I want all the men to see her beauty and envy me.”
The eunuchs look at one another but say nothing. This is not a fitting way to treat the queen, but Ahasuerus is the king. They will do as he commands.
The eunuchs walk together to the door of the banquet hall. Mehuman knocks on the door loud enough to be heard inside without being interpreted as pounding. Vashti comes to the door. She smiles gracefully as she sees Mehuman standing outside the door.
“King Ahasuerus demands your presence at his banquet.”
Vashti’s shoulders slump. She knows that the men are beyond drunk by now. She only hopes that the king will make them keep their distance from her. She squares her shoulders and readies to go with the king’s eunuchs when Mehuman speaks again.
“The king wishes you to wear your royal crown.”
Vashti turns and retrieves it from a nearby table. She places it on her head and turns back to Mehuman.
“And nothing else” says Mehuman.
“What do you mean” asks Vashti.
The women of the banquet have turned their attention to Vashti and Mehuman by now. They aren’t sure what is being said, but the shock clearly evident in the stance of the queen has them paying close attention.
“The king said that you are to appear before him in your royal crown and nothing else.” Mehuman lowers his eyes. “He wants to display your beauty for all to see, so that the men will envy him.”
Vashti’s hands fly to her mouth and she falls back in horror. “I cannot do this! I cannot appear before those drunken men, NAKED for all to see. What is to prevent them from attacking me?”
“We will stand guard around you. None will dare touch you.”
“And what if the king decides to remove you from guarding me? What will become of me then?”
“I cannot say, but we obey the king at all times.”
“This is one time I will NOT obey the king! I will NOT stand exposed before all the men of Susa. I will NOT allow them to ogle me with their eyes OR their hands.”
Mehuman starts to speak but Vashti shuts the door in his face and bars it. He understands her fear and respects her strength in making this decision. But he wonders what the cost will be; to her and to himself for failing to bring her to the king.
The eunuchs shake their heads and return empty handed to the king. Ahasuerus watches them as they cross the polished, and stained, pavement towards him. His eyebrows knit together and a frown appears on his face when he notices the absence of his queen.
Mehuman approaches the king. He speaks softly so none of the guests can hear him. “The queen refuses to come. She has shut and barred the door.”
The color of crimson climbs the king’s face as the fury inside him rises. If he were not in the company of so many guests, he would throw his table and anything he could get his hands on, before charging to the banquet room where Vashti waits and dragging her out by her hair.
He takes a moment to compose himself enough to be able to speak. He then poses the problem to the seven princes of Persia who sit with him at his table.
“According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?” (Esther 1:15).
Memucan, one of the princes, shares his mind regarding the matter. “Not only against the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. For the queen’s behavior will be made known to all women, causing them to look at their husbands with contempt, since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’ This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s behavior will say the same to all the king’s officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty. If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, for it is vast, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike” (Esther 1:16-20).
The king likes this idea very much. The other princes at the table agree that this would be a fitting response. The women of Susa CANNOT follow Vashti’s example. And Vashti CANNOT go unpunished for such an offense.
The king sends for a scribe immediately and begins the process. As soon as the king finishes dictating the decree, the scribe retires to his work station and begins translating the text into every language in the provinces.
Ahasuerus also sends for his captain of the guard. “Take men and break down the door to the chambers where Vashti is holding her banquet. Seize her and remove her from the palace. Put her in a place of isolation for the rest of her life. She is NEVER to see my face again.”
While this is going on, Vashti is in the arms of the women at her banquet. She tells them of the king’s command. She shares the story of the one night only a few weeks ago, where she was set upon by one drunken man. “Imagine standing TOTALLY EXPOSED before hundred of drunken men. I would be torn body and spirit!”
“You did the right thing” one woman coos as she tries to console Vashti.
Several others also try to console her, but they shake their heads above her. They are afraid of what the queen’s behavior is going to mean to them personally. Even allowing them to attend this banquet was troubling to some of the husbands. What repercussions await them on the other side of the door.
As the women continue to comfort Vashti, a loud pounding on the door makes them all recoil in fear. The pounding continues, and a voice cries out through the thick timbers. “Open in the name of the king!”
Vashti draws back even further in fear. Just as her she screws up the courage to answer the door, even heavier blows rain down on it. In a matter of moments, the door burst in two and half of it hangs uselessly on its hinges.
The guards rush in and grab Vashti by the wrists and drag her from the embrace of the other women. No one has the courage to rise and challenge them as Vashti is dragged bodily from the room.
Wails and tears fill the women’s banquet hall as fear grips each of the attendees’ hearts. They have no idea what awaits them, if Vashti is treated so vilely. After an hour or more, the women slowly make their way back to their own homes. There they will wait to see what the day brings. None of the joy experienced during the feast specially prepared for them leaves the banquet room.
The next morning the king’s edict is sent out to every province in the empire. No wife has the right to refuse ANY command of her husband. To do so will be punishable by death. Vashti is to remain in isolation the rest of her life. As the king’s wife, even a former wife, she is NEVER to be touched by another man. She will spend the rest of her life in loneliness, knowing only the sound of her personal servant and her own voice.
(to be continued)
I am SO grateful that I have ‘rights’ in the place where I live. There are some places today where, the wife’s refusal of ANY command still means death. I don’t know how I would survive in such a place.
In the story, I made the king’s command a little more explicit. I cannot imagine a woman refusing the command of the king, unless it was wholly detestable. If Vashti had felt safe, I believe she would have come; even at the request of a ‘drunken husband’. But the king’s command was so abhorrent that she risked her life in refusing it. Even being the daughter or royalty did not give her the right to refuse the king’s commands.
There are times when we must withhold obedience to those in authority over us. Those times are limited in scope, but bring consequences of their own. I would have done as Vashti did, no matter what the consequences.
Pick your battles, and be willing to live with the consequences; even when you don’t know what they will be in advance. I am saying this to all those who are battered and abused. You have to make a choice, whether to continue living in the abusive relationship, KNOWING that it is NOT going to get better, or stepping out of it into uncertainty. There are consequences no matter which decision you make, so pick the one that you can actually LIVE with. Look for support wherever you can. There are places to go that help decrease the ‘uncertainty’, but it is not an easy move. It will most likely save your life though.
Father God, I pray for every woman who is in an abusive relationship. Whether that abuse comes in the form of physical, sexual, mental, financial, or legal abuse. Open doors for them to freedom from abuse. Give them courage to face the unknown, before it is too late. Thank You for bringing me out of the mentally abusive situation I was in, even though I didn’t do the work. I understand the struggle more than many know.
Thank You for healing the wounds inflicted by those who claimed to love me. I still bear the scars today and struggle with self-esteem. Thank You for showing me who I am in You! Even if my body doesn’t show the beauty You placed in me, I hold fast to Your words about me. I am precious, loved, lovely, cherished, and most importantly, Your child. The decision to take on Your love is one decision I will NEVER regret!
