Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Not only against the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. For the queen’s behavior will be made known to all women, causing them to look at their husbands with contempt, since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’ This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s behavior will say the same to all the king’s officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty. If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, for it is vast, all women will give honour to their husbands, high and low alike.” This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed. He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, that every man be master in his own household and speak according to the language of his people.
Comment: Vashti was brave but she brought a bucket load of problems to fall on her head. Often standing up for the right is costly! She was no longer queen but probably banished to the back of the harem with orders to be treated badly. On the other hand the men certainly didn’t shine with glorious character. Wives were obviously meant to do their husbands wishes. For Vashti, in a huge way, to make the king look foolish made the men fear how this might affect their own families. Vashti is banished from the royal court and the fact is spread far and wide – with the aim of crushing any other women doing the same. There were no newspapers or TV so the scribes and translators were given a huge job. The men’s attitude was in no way a reflection of the Biblical stance of making men the head of their homes! “All women will give honour to their husbands, high and low alike.” was possibly the real reason the message was sent!
Prayer: We confess, Father, that we often make mistakes because of selfish motives.
As I read it! 