Esther 1:12

12 The attendants told Queen Vashti what the king had ordered her to do. But she refused to come. So the king became very angry. In fact, he burned with anger.

Esther 1:12 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 1:12

But the queen refused to came at the king's commandment by his
chamberlains
Even though he sent by them again, as the Targum; and so says Josephus ^F15; which might not purely arise from pride in her, and contempt of him, but because she might conclude he was drunk, and knew not well what he did; and therefore had she come at his command, when he was himself and sober, he might blame her for coming, nay, use her ill for it, and especially if she was to come naked, as say the Jews ^F16; and besides, it was contrary to the law of the Persians, as not only Josephus ^F17, but Plutarch ^F18 observes, which suffered not women to be seen in public; and particularly did not allow their wives to be with them at feasts, only their concubines and harlots, with whom they could behave with more indecency; as for their wives, they were kept out of sight, at home ^F19; and therefore Vashti might think it an indignity to be treated as an harlot or concubine:

therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him;
which was the more fierce, as he was inflamed with wine.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 Antiqu. l. 11. c. 6. sect. 1.
F16 Targum in loc. Midrash Esther, fol. 90. 1.
F17 Antiqu. l. 11. c. 6. sect. 1.
F18 In Themistoele.
F19 Macrob. Saturnal. l. 7. c. 1.

Esther 1:12 In-Context

10 On the seventh day Xerxes was in a good mood because he had drunk a lot of wine. So he gave a command to the seven officials who served him. They were Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carcas.

11 He told them to bring Queen Vashti to him. He wanted her to come wearing her royal crown. He wanted to show off her beauty to the people and nobles. She was lovely to look at.

12 The attendants told Queen Vashti what the king had ordered her to do. But she refused to come. So the king became very angry. In fact, he burned with anger.

13 It was the king's practice to ask advice from those who knew a lot about matters of law and fairness. So he spoke with the wise men who were supposed to understand what was going on at that time.

14 They were the men who were closest to the king. They were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan. They were the seven nobles of Persia and Media. They were the king's special advisers. In fact, they were the most important men in the kingdom.