Ester 1:12

12 Quando, porém, os oficiais transmitiram a ordem do rei à rainha Vasti, esta se recusou a ir, e o rei ficou furioso e indignado.

Ester 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.

Ester 1:12 In-Context

10 No sétimo dia, quando o rei Xerxes já estava alegre por causa do vinho, ordenou aos sete oficiais que o serviam—Meumã, Bizta, Harbona, Bigtá, Abagta, Zetar e Carcas—

11 que trouxessem à sua presença a rainha Vasti, usando a coroa real. Ele queria mostrar aos seus súditos e aos nobres a beleza dela, pois era de fato muito bonita.

12 Quando, porém, os oficiais transmitiram a ordem do rei à rainha Vasti, esta se recusou a ir, e o rei ficou furioso e indignado.

13 Como era costume o rei consultar especialistas em questões de direito e justiça, ele mandou chamar os sábios que entendiam das leis

14 e que eram muito amigos do rei: Carsena, Setar, Adamata, Társis, Meres, Marsena e Memucã; eles eram os sete nobres da Pérsia e da Média que tinham acesso direto ao rei e eram os mais importantes do reino.