Esther 1:19

19 If it pleaseth to thee, a commandment go out from thy face, and be written by the law(s) of Persia and of Media, which it is unleaveful to be passed (over), that Vashti enter [in] no more to the king, but another woman, which is better than she, take her realm. (So if it please thee, let a command go out from thee, and be it written in the laws of Persia and Media, which law it shall forever be unlawful to break, that Vashti can no more come before the king, and then let another woman, who is more worthy than she, take her reign, or her crown.)

Esther 1:19 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 1:19

If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from
him
Not only a proclamation made, but a law enacted and published by royal authority: and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and Medes that it
be not altered;
for so it was, that when a law was made, and signed, and sealed, and registered among the laws of the kingdom, it remained unalterable, ( Daniel 6:8 Daniel 6:15 ) , this precaution Memucan took for his own safety; for had the king acted upon his advice, without passing it into a law in such form, he might change his mind, and recall Vashti, who would not fail of venting her wrath upon the counsellor, and so he be in danger of losing his life for it: that Vashti come no more before King Ahasuerus;
but be entirely divorced, never to be received any more: and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than
she;
or "to her companions" ^F26; that was with her in the house of the women in the seraglio; one that was fairer, as the Targum, or of a better disposition than her; let her be made queen, and enjoy all the honour, and dignity, and marks of royalty Vashti did; her throne, her crown, and royal apparel, as it is interpreted in an ancient Jewish writing ^F1.

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 (htwerl) "sodali ejus", Montanus; "sociae ejus", Tigurine version, Drusius, Rambachius.
F1 Tikkune Zohar, correct. 21. fol. 59. 2.

Esther 1:19 In-Context

17 For the word of the queen shall go out to all women, that they also despise their husbands, and say, King Ahasuerus commanded, that the queen Vashti should have come to him, and she would not. (For this deed of the queen shall become known to all the women, and then they shall also despise their husbands, for they shall say, King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to come to him, but she would not come.)

18 And by this ensample all the wives of the princes of Persia and of Media shall despise the behests of their husbands; wherefore the indignation of the king is just. (And so by this example all the wives of the leaders of Persia and Media shall despise the orders of their husbands; and so the king is justified to have indignation about this.)

19 If it pleaseth to thee, a commandment go out from thy face, and be written by the law(s) of Persia and of Media, which it is unleaveful to be passed (over), that Vashti enter [in] no more to the king, but another woman, which is better than she, take her realm. (So if it please thee, let a command go out from thee, and be it written in the laws of Persia and Media, which law it shall forever be unlawful to break, that Vashti can no more come before the king, and then let another woman, who is more worthy than she, take her reign, or her crown.)

20 And be this behest published into all the empire of thy provinces, which is full large, that all wives, both of greater men and of less, give honour to their husbands. (And so when this order is published in all the provinces of thy kingdom, which is very large, then all wives shall give proper respect to their husbands, both to greater and to lesser men alike.)

21 [And] His counsel pleased the king and the princes, (And his counsel pleased the king and the leaders), and the king did by the counsel of Memucan;