Hi Dawn. Why did Queen Vashti refuse to appear before Xerxes? In Esthers story he killed Haman because he thought Haman was trying to sleep with Esther, right in front of him. This decision changed her destiny and changed the course of history. At the advice of his counselors the king ordered her deposed from her position and proclaimed that "every man should be lord in his house" (Esth. The Babylonian Rabbis cast Vashti in a negative light. In the modern world, Vashti's name is believed to mean "beautiful," but there have been various etymological attempts to understand the word as something more akin to "that drinks" or "drunkenness.". Bible Q | What happened to Queen Vashti? (Especially if she had shown up naked!) Vashti had royal bloodAccording to one account (there are many) in the midrash, Vashti was the daughter of Belshazzar, the King of Babylon. Queen Vashti was being made to lower herself to the wishes of men who had no moral compass. This was how things were done at the time. Or did she do the right thing when she refused to obey Ahasuerus? 8 And drinking was according to the law, no one was compelled; for the king had given orders to all the officials of his palace to do as every man desired. Was Vashti a Heroine? - A Study of Vashti vs. Esther - Chabad.org In those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, in the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his officials and ministers. There was only one course of action open to him: he had to repudiate Vashti. Why did Queen Vashti refuse to appear at the banquet? This is referring to her physical beauty. 1 This happened in the days of Ahasuerus, the same Ahasuerus who ruled over one hundred twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia. A queen regnant rules a kingdom in her own right (or, in rare cases, by sharing power with a king). King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) plays a prominent role in the book of Esther. SOLOMON Because she chose to stand up for herself, Queen Vashti was banished from the kingdom. But by not going, she disobeyed her husband the king. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. But she would dare not take on the mission in her own strength and power. This paves the way for the story to unfold. Esther 2:1 - Seeking Vashti's Successor - Bible Hub Just what showing off her beauty meant is unclear. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. in the aggadah: Ginzberg, Legends, index; I. asida, Ishei ha-Tanakh (1964), 142. In the biblical Book of Esther, Vashti is the wife of King Ahasuerus, the ruler of Persia. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. According to the midrash , Vashti () was the great-granddaughter of King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon and the daughter of King Belshazzar, making her a Babylonian. He belittled Vashtis position as queen by treating her as just another possession. 7Drinks were served in golden goblets, goblets of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king. (cf. He greased palms and scratched backs in a splendid display of wealth and power. What is more, Ahasuerus court seems to have been riven by power struggles, and it was one of those that led to her disgrace. Scripture describes royal goblets of gold, couches of gold to lounge upon, and an abundance of royal wine. shrsl_ShareASale_liveWid_Init(36263, 1398623, 'shrsl_ShareASale_liveWid_leaderBoard_populate'); The Bible tells us inEsther 1:10 that the kings heart was merry with wine. Her self-worth was secure so she could confidently say no to the King. By doing so, she plays right into his scheme. She recognizes her terrible position in the face of Ahasueruss coup. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus. Lol, I pray for you more Vashti qualities, Haji. The rabbis imagined the Bible's Vashti as both evil villain and tragic heroine. He expected her to look like somewhat like the prostitute of their day. Know who you are for yourself. ESTHER 1:10-11 - "On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served himMehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkasto 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." Answer. It so true that there is more to Vashtis story but Esthers story always crowds her out. King Ahasuerus was more concerned with his own ego than the dignity of his wife. Encyclopaedia Judaica. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Why was she able to be so bold about it? Ahasuerus must find a new queen and better advisors: Enter Esther and Haman, the heroine and villain. 1 Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel, 3 in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. 9 Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the palace which belonged to King Ahasu-erus. And she absolutely wasnt an animal at the country fair vying for a ribbon. But what? This was for his government officials and the primary purpose was to show off the glorious riches he had. 19 If it please the king, let a royal order go forth from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be altered, that Vashti is to come no more before King Ahasu-erus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. And there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. 2 In those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, 3 in the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his officials and ministers. (June 29, 2023). Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. In other words, she should have obeyed him because he was her king. Husbands need to love their wives in a genuine all-out way. Vashti and Her Role in the Book of Esther - Learn Religions Retrieved June 29, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/vashti. To understand the lessons we can draw from Vashtis life, we have to first do a quick study of her qualities. Esther 2 NRSVUE - Esther Becomes Queen - After these - Bible Gateway It seems harmless enough, but when you look at it in the context of a royal court, it becomes sinister. The reason for Vashtis refusalAccording to the Aggadah, Queen Vashtis modesty prohibited her from appearing before the king because his command had implied that she should present herself to his guests while wearing only her royal crown. Now that we have learned a little about Queen Vashtis character, what lessons can we draw from her life to apply to ours? gain access to 50+ premium resources to enhance your study of Scripture. In fact, he seemed a little crazy. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. ." While King Xerxes caroused for seven days in the royal gardens with all the men of the kingdom, enjoying never-ending wineserved in golden goblets, Queen Vashti held her own week-long womens banquet inside the royal palace (Esther 1:6-8). It, therefore, becomes necessary for us to be intentional about spending quality time with our spouses. Help me to bring honor and glory to my husband by first bringing honor and glory to You. He was around all the other kings and they were talking about all of their queens and how exciting it was when they came out. Her refusal is yet another clue to the nature of the king's command. The midrash goes one step further to imagine that because she was cruel to women, Vashtis downfall was indirectly brought about by other women. As a woman, never compromise on your standards, especially when you are standing on the Word of God. This article was updated by Chaviva Gordon-Bennett. It went on for seven days and nights. Vashti was smart, and cared about herself more than what others thought. ), daughter of Abihail, an exile at *Susa, and heroine of the Book of Esther. Vashti can teach us women so much about standing up for our own dignity. As husbands and wives, we need to bend our will to Gods way. According to the Book of Esther, during his third year on the throne,King Ahasuerus(also spelled Achashverosh,) decided to host a party in the city of Shushan. But the lessons we can glean from their example are timeless. Belshazzar s surviving heir is his granddaughter, Vashti. Queen Vashti was the first lady of the largest nation on earth at that time. People may dislike you but they must respect you. When Ahasuerus sent out his seven messengers to spring his trap, not one serving woman or noblewoman in Vashtis well-populated wing of the palace stepped forward to shield her. The palaces of Nimrud, as they would have appeared in ancient times, John Singer Sargants Woman with Earrings, Bible Study Resource for Women in the Bible, Vashti, wife of Ahasuerus the king of Persia, Finding a Husband Men who werent even thinking straight because of all the liquor they had consumed. After all, if the king does not deal with her harshly other wives in the kingdom might get ideas and refuse to obey their own husbands. Reared to be queen, she was being treated as a common prostitute. Ahasuerus expected Vashti to show up somewhat uncovered in a way that Eastern women never went in the presence of unfamiliar people but especially unfamiliar men. The name Vashti comes from a word that means beautiful one or lovely. There is no description of the items used at the women's banquet. [3] Historical identification [ edit] The wrath of Ahasuerus (anonymous), Rijksmuseum Queens are female sovereigns. Gold torque found among the ruins of ancient Susa. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/who-was-vashti-2076497. Not long after Vashtis banishment, King Xerxes began having regrets. The Talmud also gives a third reason: She refused to appear before the king because "The king was the stable boy of Vashti's father King Nebuchadnezzar" (Babylonian Talmud, Megilliah 12b.) And before we wrap this up, two fun facts about Vashti to take with you. She chose her integrity and morals over her marriage. 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 Jump to Previous Abated Ahasuerus Ahasu-E'rus Anger Appeased Assuaged Ceasing Decreed Feelings Fury King's Later Mind Order Pacified Remembered Subsided Thought Vashti Wrath Xerxes And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? (Esther 4:12). The writer of the book of Esther seems to refrain from comment on whether the actions of the king or queen are right or wrong. Jezebel Both Megillah 10b and Esther Rabbah Peticha 11 identify Vashti as the granddaughter of Belshazzar which, incidentally, makes her also the great-great granddaughter of Nebuchadnezzar himself the evil Assyrian king who destroyed the first Temple and sent the Jews into exile. However, biblical scholars, Jewish historians, and Christians throughout the ages have attempted to discern Queen Vashtis motives, using extra-biblical resources as a guide to her character. Gabriel is so touched he removes the ineffable name of God from the Book of Esther and entrusts it to Vashti, who thus ascends to ineffable heights as she removes herself from Ahasuerus sight. Neither of these portraits appears anywhere in the book of Esther, however. 9 Furthermore, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the women in the palace of King Ahasuerus. They characterize her as an adulterous woman, who mistreated her Jewish servants and regularly flaunted her naked form to groups of admirers. Was Queen Vashti just a disrespectful wife? Esther was Hebrew but Queen Vashti was Persian. After the attendants delivered the message to the queen, the Bible simply tells us, Queen Vashti refused to come (Esther 1:12). Vashti refused to appear. 9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. If she refuses, the king can spin her naysaying into a crime of treason. 9Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the palace which belonged to King Ahasu-erus. Vashti and Ahasuerus - Devotional Reflections . from the Bible document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Thanks for stopping by and sharing. To exhibit his greatness to the public, the king decided to hold a royal banquet for all his nobles, officials, princes, and military leaders. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. As a supposed descendant of the destroyer (Nebuchadnezzar II) of the First Temple in 586 BCE, Vashti was doomed in the Talmud by the sages of Babylon as evil and sinister, but lauded by the rabbis of Israel as noble. Esther 1 NRSVA - King Ahasuerus Deposes Queen Vashti - Bible Gateway Bible Gateway passage: Esther 1 - King James Version Ahasuerus, when we first meet him, is a man of war whose formidable tactics have just contributed to the formation of the Persian-Medean Empire, a now impressive 127 provinces in size. https://www.learnreligions.com/who-was-vashti-2076497 (accessed July 5, 2023). It probably meant she should appear with her face uncovered, in the richly embroidered clothes and extraordinary jewels she owned: in all her glory. The new tradition of waving a flag when Esther and Vashti's names are mentioned celebrates the triumph of these Purim heroines. 1:9) was that her guests would be hostages if their husbands should rise and rebel against the king (Est. 2). It would almost seem that hers was not a story with a happy ending but it depends on how you choose to look at it. Laymans term? In his intoxicated state, he decided that he wanted to show off his most valuable possession: Queen Vashti. It lasted half a year. The queen was afforded greater respect. Her refusal was occasioned either by the fact that she was suffering from leprosy (ibid. Or did she do the right thing when she refused to obey Ahasuerus? The punishment King Ahasuerus gives to Queen Vashti is recorded in Est. It was on the last day of this feast that King Ahasuerus demanded that Queen Vashti appear before him. 29 Jun. Some of us burned with indignation for Vashti. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. More like a feast. What Are the Four Questions at the Passover Seder? RSV New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, Expanded Edition, hardcover, RSV Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament 2nd Edition. Im guilty of having done both of those things. Attempts to identify Vashti with known historical figures have not been persuasive. The army of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the governors . All is in vain. 20So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, vast as it is, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low. 21This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed; 22he sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, that every man be lord in his own house and speak according to the language of his people. You can read more about Talmudic interpretations and the rabbis' view of Vashti, by exploring the Jewish Women's Archive. She fails, of course, but not without putting up one heck of a fight. But as they say: chicken merry, hawk deh near. Meaning, when we are most merry, danger catches us unaware. That will not serve you and it will not end well. 20 So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, vast as it is, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low.. Thank you so much for this!!! Some of the most intriguing people in Scripture are not those who take center stage during Sunday School lessons or Bible studies. Jewish sources say she was executed. The story of Esther has traditionally enjoyed historical status. Book of Esther 1:1 In the days of Ahasu-erus, the Ahasu-erus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, 2 in those days when King Ahasu-erus sat on his royal throne in Susa the capital, 3 in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his princes and servants, the army chiefs of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces being before him, 4 while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his majesty for many days, a hundred and eighty days. 85; L.B. No doubt or dispute, both Vashti and Esther faced injustice and maltreatment at the hand and heart of the pagan King Xerxes. 1 This happened in the days of Ahasuerus, the same Ahasuerus who ruled over one hundred twenty-seven provinces from India to Cush. Here are just three of them. 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. The new Persian-Median empire succeeds the old Persian Empire which had recently been ruled by Belshazzar, who is familiar to us from the Book of Daniel. Learn Religions, Sep. 21, 2021, learnreligions.com/who-was-vashti-2076497. Heavy gold necklace from thepalace at Nimrud. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control (1 Corinthians 7:3-5 ESV). There are seven named: Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media. So whos the real Vashti? 17For this deed of the queen will be made known to all women, causing them to look with contempt upon their husbands, since they will say, King Ahasu-erus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come. 18This very day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queens behavior will be telling it to all the kings princes, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty. She sent a reminder to her uncle that any woman who attempted to appear uninvited before the king would be killed. Who was Xerxes in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org must have been a member of one of the powerful and aristocratic families in the Persian empire. Rather than refusing because she valued herself, proponents of this reading see her as someone who thought she was better than everyone else and therefore refused King Ahasuerus' command because she was self-important. Persian king, identical with Xerxes (486-465 B.C.
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