On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at. But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.
Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for this was the king’s procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment, the men next to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom): “According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?”
Comment: Vashti, the queen was a spectacular beauty! As the week-long feast was drawing to its end, the king, tipsy at least, if not drunk, decided to show off this very beautiful last piece of art that he owned. So he sent a phalanx of men to command his wife to come and be seen so that he could be praised for his great choice of a queen. Vashi, no doubt appreciating what was going on refused to be a part of it.
Ahasuerus reacted like the proud tyrant he was. The highest law administrators were called, and asked what he should do next. In my imagination I can see smoke coming from his nose, bolts of electricity from his eyes, as he suffers the great humiliation, before his guests, of a wife who thinks that she dare disobey him!
Prayer: Sometimes I find myself where a ‘good’ answer seems unobtainable. Thank You that we can turn to You for needed wisdom.
As I read it! 