The book of esther begins with the queen of king ahasuerusvashtisnubbing the kings request to meet with her. The kings chief adviser, haman, is offended by esthers cousin and guardian, mordecai, and gets permission from the king to have all the jews in the kingdom killed. Esther is read during the purim feast on 14th and 15th adar februarymarch. Every aspect of the story of esther, from queen vashtis disobedience to hamans wicked motives to esthers beauty to mordecais wisdom, work together to save the jewish people. We are shown a persian emperor, ahasuerus loosely based on xerxes, 485464 b. Esther 1 new international version niv queen vashti deposed. The story starts off with a grand celebration that the. These are the accounts of queen vashti according to the bible esther 1. Introduction to the book of esther queen vashti is dethroned and divorced. The rest of the book of esther is predicated on a sortof halfway meeting of the minds. Esther 1 niv queen vashti deposed this is what bible. In game of queens, however, vashti and ahasuerus are not looked at in a simple narrative in the least. The relationship between the two persian queens is integral to understanding the purim story.
Or that the king had banished his first wife, queen vashti, for refusing to publicly flaunt her body before his drunken friends. Sep 24, 2012 this is part 3 in our series on the book of esther. Jan 02, 2020 the book of esther is the only book in the bible that does not mention god at all. King ahasuerus holds banquets for the members of his court and subsequently for his people, too. This is the best retelling of the book of esther i have ever read ive read about four so far. Let all the halfdrunken guests see his most lovely possession, queen vashti.
The book of esther begins with a description of king xerxes or ahasuerus of persia celebrating with the leading men of his kingdom. Mordecai, esthers uncle, offended a high court official called haman, who. Queen vashti devotional reflections from the bible. The book of esther is the only book in the bible that does not mention god at all. Vashti is indeed banned and a national beauty pageant is held to find a replacement. As we encounter vashti in chapter one, we learn the following about her. Both vashti and esther wanted to have something that was important to them that went against the edict of the king. However, when king ahazuerus calls for the queen, and she fails to come, her reign becomes shortlived. She was banished for her refusal to appear at the kings banquet to show her beauty as the king wished, and esther was chosen to succeed her as queen. Vashti disappears by the end of the first chapter, but she casts a long shadow. Cb38 the story of esther and its meaning edition 2.
The book of esther begins with king ahasuerus hosting two banquets. Feb 24, 2011 these are the accounts of queen vashti according to the bible esther 1. The story of esther begins with a grand banquet at the palace of king ahasuerus, also referred to as king xerxes. This is part 3 in our series on the book of esther. Esther, a jewess, is chosen and the story of how she saves the jewish people by her intervention with the. Vashti was a queen of persia and the first wife of persian king ahasuerus in the book of esther, a book included in the.
To bring vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty. Archaeology and the book of esther andrews university. In the midrash, vashti is described as wicked and vain. We are told this was in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was. The rest of the book of esther is predicated on a sort of halfway meeting of the minds. Apr 12, 2017 this is a teaching out of esther 1 that speaks to a heart posture that is fully abandoned. Who was queen vashti and is she found anywhere else. These graphs depict the timeline of the old testament, and note that the events in the book of esther cover a period of history after the babylonian captivity that most believe occurred during the third year of the reign of king xerxes, or. While the pacing surprised mewe didnt get to the what i consider the story.
Esther was a capable, intelligent and virtuous woman. Esther is not a bad feminist by leah berkenwald abby wisse schachter, associate editor at the new york post, recently published an article in commentary magazine that suggests that feminist thinking has changed the meaning of purim, and that that is a bad thing. Her situation is a two part blooper that needs to be addressed within the population of people containing, but not limited to housewives, first ladies, married couples, and people single or not that. According to that tradition, queen vashti refused because she did not want to be put on display. The book of esther is unique in that it was a book that had a hard time being accepted into the canon of scriptures by the jews because of several peculiarities in it which are not found in any other book in the scriptures. At the conclusion of seven days of feasting, the king called queen vashti to appear before him. Vashti s way of disobeying led to more restrictions and control over women in the empire esther s way of disobeying saved the lives of all the jews in the empire and elevated their status in the eyes of the king. Esther 1 niv queen vashti deposed 1 this is what happened during the time of xerxes,a the xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from india to cushb. Vashti doesnt get a speaking part in esther, but her actions speak much louder than her words.
She is viewed as an independentminded heroine in feminist interpretations of the purim story. Esther is described in the book of esther as a jewish queen of the persian king ahasuerus. The price of esther is far above rubies while vashti named her price for rubies proverbs 31. King ahasuerus wants her to come see him so that he can show her off to all the subjects in his kingdom, but she delivers a crushing diss, refusing to show up. Queen vashti book of esther, the outsiders pdf whole book, vashti was queen of persia and the first wife of persian king ahasuerus in the book of esther, a book included in the. The act of vashti was a shameful and disgraceful one so she became a rottenness in the bone of the king. Although vashti and esther never meet, the relationship between them is integral to understanding the events of the book of esther. Esther 1 nivuk queen vashti deposed this is what bible. Esther 1 niv queen vashti deposed this is what bible gateway. Queen vashti deposed this is what happened during the time of xerxes, the xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from india to cush. But he is there nonetheless, evident in his divine providence. Vashti appears in the opening chapter of the book of esther just to be deposed as queen, paving the way for esther, the heroine of the book. Recently, some christians have conjured a reinterpretation of the story of esther that is equally as imaginative as my beauty queen versionone that casts vashti as an ungodly wife for refusing to submit to her husband and esther as a model of godly submission for respecting her husband. Vashti s disobedience resulted in her banishment esther s disobedience resulted in giving her more freedom and more power as a queen.
Mordecai is brought into prominence at the right time 6. Vashti, the queen, holds a separate banquet for the women. The bible tells and advice the women to reference their husband according to the book of 1peter 3. In the narrative, ahasuerus seeks a new wife after his queen, vashti, refuses to obey him, and esther is chosen for her beauty. Feb 09, 2016 the story of esther begins with a grand banquet at the palace of king ahasuerus, also referred to as king xerxes. What does queen vashti represent in the book of esther in the. Therefore astyages is one of the possible candidates for king ahasuerus mentioned in esther. Queen vashti, bible woman married to a dangerous fool. Hope youre ready for a truly interesting story that were about to study called the book of esther. Lonely, he sought a new queen the most beautiful woman in the land. As we have contemplated this powerful inquiry from the lord, this is what the lord revealed.
The book of esther chapter 1 queen vashti dethroned by king ahasuerus duration. Esther understands very well her role as ahasueruss queen. The king had become drunk on wine and commanded that his wife, queen vashti come out before everyone to show how beautiful she was. The book of esther has served the jewish people as support of their national hope and especially so. For fans of the red tent and the dovekeepers, india edghill breathes new life into the biblical story of vashti and esther with her signature historical richness, epic scope, and sweeping romance.
Towards the end of the banquet when he is drunk, the king orders his wife to appear before his guests, to show off her beauty. You may know part of the story already, but you know only what history has passed along. Queen vashti lost her position due to disobedience and disloyalty. Now he needs to pick a new queen and eventually manages to select esthera comely, young secretly jewish woman who is a part of his harem. According to one writer, waving vashti flags complete with bells attached serves to make the holiday an opportunity to honor womens power in the face of those who fear it. Towards the end of the banquet when he is drunk, the king orders his wife to appear before. Credited with saving her fellow jews from destruction in ancient persia, esther, wed to king ahasuerus, is the traditional heroine of the narrative that bears her name. While the book of esther holds a high place in the sacred literature of the jews. Vashti was a queen of persia and the first wife of persian king ahasuerus in the book of esther, a book included in the tanakh and the old testament and read on the jewish holiday of purim. The book of esther tells the story of the church of god, christ, god almighty and the millennial reign of the kingdom of. Hence it belongs to the bestknown otbooks with the jews and it is also the book, which has the oldest copies. How vashti made queen esther possible washington jewish week. The story of vashti, queen of persia, wife of xerxes youtube.
See part 1 and part 2 while just about everyone familiar with scripture has heard of the beautiful queen esther, few know of vashti, the other queen, whose defiance set in motion the events that would allow esther to rise to power and save the jewish people. Why did queen vashti refuse to appear before xerxes. From the new york times bestselling author of cane river comes the dramatic, intertwining story of two families and their struggles during the tumultuous years that followed the civil war. What does queen vashti represent in the book of esther in. A young jewish orphan, esther, was chosen but she was careful to keep her jewish identity secret. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of vashti. Vashtis disobedience resulted in her banishment esthers disobedience resulted in giving her more freedom and more power as a queen. Vashti is dethroned and executed for her disobedience.
Its lesson is the worth of conscience to god, as well as its worth to man. In the book of esther, vashti rejected the demand to show up to king ahasuerus party, wearing a royal diadem, to display her beauty to the. God set in action social forces that, for the time being, frustrated the operation of that particular law of the medes and persians. Queen vashti married a fool the story of vashti has 3 parts. She was banished for her refusal to appear at the kings banquet to show her beauty as the king wished. Vashtis way of disobeying led to more restrictions and control over women in the empireesthers way of disobeying saved the lives of all the jews in the empire and elevated their status in the eyes of the king.
Queen vashti refused to be paraded before everyone. She is identified as the daughter of avihail esth 2. It is best to read the entire book of esther to get the full meaning. Apr 09, 2015 another important feature in the life of esther was that she is respectful, she had respect respect for her husband esther 4. Sleep is taken from ahasuerus at precisely the right time 6. Esther queen of persia, a courageous woman for a dangerous time is a finalist for the 20 book of the year awards in the religious fiction category. Although vashti and esther never meet, the relationship between them is. Esther 1 new international version uk nivuk queen vashti deposed. Esther first appears in the story as one of the young virgins collected into the kings harem as possible replacements for vashti, the banished wife of king ahasuerus xerxes i, reigned 485465 b. Vashti would not display her charms at a drunken feast. The book informs us on these points and on many other useful ones. The book of esther stands squarely against any such teaching of the right of one human being to override the conscience of another and against the law the seven wise men framed and king ahasuerus proclaimed for his empire. In the biblical book of esther, vashti is the wife of king ahasuerus, the ruler of persia. Who was queen vashti and is she found anywhere else besides.
Vashti and her role in the book of esther learn religions. I never learned in sunday school that esther, whose jewish name was hadassah, was forced, along with perhaps thousands of virgin girls from susa, into king xerxes harem. Ahasuerus, king of persia, holds a royal banquet to honor the powerful men of his vast empire and display his enormous wealth. Vashti disappears by the end of the first chapter, but she casts a long shadow over the rest of the book. According to another writer, valuable lessons can be learned from both esther and vashti. As a whole and beginning with vashti, it is well reasoned out to its end. The book of esther the story of queen vashti scripture.
Another important feature in the life of esther was that she is respectful, she had respect respect for her husband esther 4. Naturally, being a rather unstable fellow, ahasuerus firesslashdivorces her. Rather than the position of a virtuous extensive character development is a mainstay feature of this book, making it a great novel based on a portion of the bible not eagerlyquoted or often remembered. Esther, a jewess, is chosen and the story of how she saves the jewish people by her intervention with the king is the focus for the purim festival. The bible makes a point of the inebriated condition of the men. But as those who are familiar with the story will recall, there was a queen before esther.
Queen esther came to the throne for just such a time 4. Vashti did not want to have to go to the banqueting hall and be paraded around like a prize in front of the kings inebriated friends and colleagues. In the biblical book of esther, vashti is the wife of king ahasuerus, the ruler of persia, who. Hoschander, the book of esther in the light of histor. As the book of esther of begins, queen vashti, one of the most beautiful women in the land, is secure in her position. This is a teaching out of esther 1 that speaks to a heart posture that is fully abandoned. Jul 08, 2007 17 now the king was attracted to esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. Queen vashti disobeyed the drunken orders of her husband king ahasuerus, so he divorced her. Vashti the first feminist queen vashti of persia, original feminist. See part 1 and part 2 while just about everyone familiar with scripture has heard of the beautiful queen esther, few know of vashti, the other queen, whose defiance set in motion the events that would allow esther to. The book of esther tells a story of the deliverance of the jewish people. Astin was a queen of persia and the first wife of persian king ahasuerus in the book of esther, a book included in the tanakh hebrew bible and the old testament christian bible and read on the jewish holiday of purim.
1336 701 1002 892 506 900 776 5 484 748 79 695 659 490 261 1043 326 1096 116 223 879 605 104 423 424 1258 141 972 1240 441 558 1131 1138 405 503