Esther 1:15

15 "According to [the] law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she has not done the command of King Ahasuerus {conveyed by}^[a] the eunuchs?

Esther 1:15 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 1:15

What shall we do unto the Queen Vashti, according to law
The king desired to know what law was provided in such a case as her's, and what to be done according to it:

because she hath not performed the commandment of the king by the
chamberlains?
as this was the crime, disobedience to his commands, he would have those who had knowledge of the law consider what punishment was to be inflicted on her for it, according to former laws, usages, and customs, or as reason and justice required; and it being a festival, and they heated with wine, was no objection to a consultation on this head; for it was the manner of the Persians at festivals, and when inflamed with wine, to consult and determine about matters of the greatest moment ^F23; yea, reckoned their counsels and decrees firmer than when made when they were sober ^F24; so the ancient Germans ^F25.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F23 Clio, sive, l. 1. c. 133.
F24 Strabo. Geograph. l. 15. p. 505. Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 4. c. 11. & l. 5. c. 21.
F25 Tacitus de Mor. German. c. 22.

Esther 1:15 In-Context

13 And the king said to the wise men, {the ones who know the times}--for it [was] the procedure of the king before all those who knew law and rights;

14 and those next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media who {had access to the king} and sat first in the kingdom--

15 "According to [the] law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she has not done the command of King Ahasuerus {conveyed by} the eunuchs?

16 And Memucan said before the king and the officials, "Not only has Queen Vashti done wrong to the king, but to all the officials and all of the people who [are] in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

17 For this deed of the queen {will be known} to all the women, causing them {to look with contempt on their husbands}, as they will say, 'King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him but she did not come!'

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "by the hand of"