[:en]SCRIPTURE: ESTHER 1
“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” (Esther 1:18)
“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” (Esther 1:20)
“He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, proclaiming in each people’s tongue that every man should be ruler over his own household” (Esther22)
INTRODUCTION:
This book wrote about a Jewish girl who married a Gentile King of Persia. King Xerxes ruled Persia from 486-465 BC. Esther means “Star” and her Jewish name “Hadassah” means “Myrtle”.
The theme of “Esther” centers on the rescue of the Jewish nation from extinction. It also brought about the origin of the Feast of Purim which was being observed by the Jews faithfully. God’s name does not appear in this book, but it shows the working of God’s hand.
QUEEN VASHTI DEPOSED (vs. 1-22)
A banquet was held with the attendance of the king’s chiefs, leaders, nobles and officials. eating and drinking. The gathering lasted for 180 days and the feast lasted for 7 days (v. 5) in the king’s beautiful garden. Following a Persian practice, the women had a separate banquet. To please his guests, King Xerxes asked the queen to come to the men’s banquet but Vashti refused because she knew the king and his guests were under the influence of wine. When Queen Vashti refused to come, the king became furious. He consulted with the experts of laws and justices what must be done to Queen Vashti. The men advised him to depose Vashti and make her a public example to the entire nation. The king followed the advice of Memucan and issued a royal decree that Vashti was never again be allowed to enter to the presence of King Xerxes and that the king will give her royal position to someone else better than she (v. 19). So, the king sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, proclaiming in each people’s tongue that every man should be ruler over his own household (v. 22).[:]