Ester 1:12

12 A rainha Vasti, porém, recusou atender � ordem do rei dada por intermédio dos eunucos; pelo que o rei muito se enfureceu, e se inflamou de ira.

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 Ao sétimo dia, o rei, estando já o seu coração alegre do vinho, mandou a Meumã, Bizta, Harbona, Bigta, Abagta, Zétar e Carcás, os sete eunucos que serviam na presença do rei Assuero,

11 que introduzissem � presença do rei a rainha Vasti, com a coroa real, para mostrar aos povos e aos príncipes a sua formosura, pois era formosíssima.

12 A rainha Vasti, porém, recusou atender � ordem do rei dada por intermédio dos eunucos; pelo que o rei muito se enfureceu, e se inflamou de ira.

13 Então perguntou o rei aos sábios que conheciam os tempos (pois assim se tratavam os negócios do rei, na presença de todos os que sabiam a lei e o direito;

14 e os mais chegados a ele eram: Carsena, Setar, Admata, Társis, Meres, Marsena, Memucã, os sete príncipes da Pérsia e da Média, que viam o rosto do rei e ocupavam os primeiros assentos no reino)