Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Esther 1:13
Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so [was] the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
13. the wise men, which knew the times ] The expression includes two classes of functionaries, ( a) the astronomers and astrologers, who based their advice upon observation of the heavens, and ( b) students of the laws and customs which had come into existence in the past, and so formed a guide for the direction of present conduct.
for so was the king’s manner etc. ] This does not indicate a custom of Ahasuerus in particular, but is a general remark to the effect that the kings of Persia were in the habit of taking counsel in this way before coming to any important resolution, and nothing that in any way concerned the king’s dignity could be considered insignificant. By conforming to this national use Ahasuerus shewed that even on such an occasion, and while moved by passionate indignation, he was able to put some restraint upon himself. Another example of this usage in the Persian monarchy is that given by Herodotus (iii. 31), where Cambyses asks the opinion of the learned men who were about him before taking his sister in marriage.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Wise men … – Not astrologers, who were unknown in Persia; but rather men of practical wisdom, who knew the facts and customs of former times.
For so was the kings manner – Some render it: for so was the kings business laid before all that knew law …
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 13. To the wise men] Probably the lawyers.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Which knew the times; either,
1. The histories of former times, what princes have done in such cases as this was. Or,
2. Things done or to be done in time; what was just and fit to be done, or what was the law and judgment in these cases, as the following words explain it, and how and when things were to be done. See Poole “1Ch 12:32“. Times are oft put in Scripture and other authors for the things done in them, by a common figure called a metonymy of the adjunct.
So was the kings manner, to wit, to consult with them in all matters of moment.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
13-19. Then the king said to thewise menThese were probably the magi, without whose advice asto the proper time of doing a thing the Persian kings never did takeany step whatever; and the persons named in Es1:14 were the “seven counsellors” (compare Ezr7:14) who formed the state ministry. The combined wisdom of all,it seems, was enlisted to consult with the king what course should betaken after so unprecedented an occurrence as Vashti’s disobedienceof the royal summons. It is scarcely possible for us to imagine theastonishment produced by such a refusal in a country and a courtwhere the will of the sovereign was absolute. The assembled grandeeswere petrified with horror at the daring affront. Alarm for theconsequences that might ensue to each of them in his own householdnext seized on their minds; and the sounds of bacchanalian revelrywere hushed into deep and anxious consultation what punishment toinflict on the refractory queen. But a purpose was to be served bythe flattery of the king and the enslavement of all women. Thecounsellors were too intoxicated or obsequious to oppose the courtlyadvice of Memucan was unanimously resolved, with a wise regard to thepublic interests of the nation, that the punishment of Vashti couldbe nothing short of degradation from her royal dignity. The doom wasaccordingly pronounced and made known in all parts of the empire.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then the king said to the wise men that knew the times,…. Astrologers, as Aben Ezra, that knew the fit time for doing anything; or that had knowledge of ancient times, historians, well read in history, and knew things that had happened similar to this:
for so was the king’s manner towards all that knew law and judgment; it was customary with him in any case of difficulty to have the opinion and advice of those that were expert in the law, and well understood right and wrong. These are called by Herodotus t the king’s judges.
t Thalia, sive, l. 3. c. 14, 31. so in Aelian. Var. Hist. l. 1. c. 34.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The king, greatly incensed at this disobedience to his behest, inquired of his wise men what was to be done to Queen Vashti according to law. These wise men are Est 1:13 designated as those “who knew the times,” i.e., astrologers and magi, who give counsel according to celestial phenomena; comp. the wise men of Babylon, Dan 2:27; Dan 5:15; Isa 44:25; Isa 47:13; Jer 50:35. Of these he inquires, “for thus was the business of the king conducted before all that knew law and judgment.” here does not signify word or speech, but matter, business; and the meaning of this parenthetical sentence is, that in every matter, the king, before deciding, applied to those who were skilled in law and judgment to hear their opinions concerning it. With this is joined a second explanatory parenthetical sentence, Est 1:14: “And those next him were Carshena, etc., the seven princes of the Persians and Medes, who behold the king’s countenance, who hold the first seat in his kingdom.” is indefinite, and may be understood as expressing the plural. It is perhaps questionable how this clause should be combined with what precedes, whether with , before all that knew law and judgment and those next him, or with , Est 1:13: he spoke to the wise men … and those next him. In any case the sense is, that the seven princes of the Persians and Medes were also numbered either among the wise men who knew the times, or those who were skilled in the law. These seven princes are the seven king’s counsellors of Ezr 7:14, and by their number of seven form a counterpart to the seven Amshaspands. They who see the face of the king, i.e., are allowed direct intercourse with him. Herod. iii. 84 relates of the seven princes who conspired the overthrow of the pretended Smerdis, that they resolved, that it should be permitted them to present themselves unannounced before the future king. Hence many expositors identify these seven princes with the authorities called the seven counsellors, but without sufficient grounds. The number seven frequently recurs, – comp. the seven eunuchs, Est 1:5, the seven maidens who waited on Est 2:9, – and refers in the present case to the seven Amshaspands, in others to the days of the week, or the seven planets. , who sit first, i.e., in the highest place, i.e., constitute the highest authority in the realm. What the king said (Est 1:13) does not follow till Est 1:15: “According to law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not done the word of the king,” i.e., not obeyed his command by the eunuchs? , according to law, legally, is placed first because it is intended emphatically to assert that the proceeding is to be in conformity with the law. with , to inflict something on any one.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
C. Decree
TEXT: Est. 1:13-22
13
Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for so was the kings manner toward all that knew law and judgment;
14
and the next unto him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the kings face, and sat first in the kingdom,)
15
What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not done the bidding of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
16
And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
17
For this deed of the queen will come abroad unto all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
18
And this day will the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the deed of the queen say the like unto all the kings princes. So will there arise much contempt and wrath.
19
If it please the king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before the king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
20
And when the kings decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his kingdom, (for it is great,) all the wives will give to their husbands honor, both to great and small.
21
And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
22
for he sent letters into all the kings provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and should speak according to the language of his people.
Todays English Version, Est. 1:13-22
Now it was the kings custom to ask for expert opinion on questions of law and order, so he called for his advisers, who would know what should be done. Those he most often turned to for advice were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucanseven officials of Persia and Media who held the highest offices in the kingdom. He said to these men, I, King Xerxes, sent my servants to Queen Vashti with a command, and she refused to obey it! What does the law say that we should do with her?
Then Memucan declared to the king and his officials; Queen Vashti has insulted not only the king but also his officialsin fact, every man in the empire! Every woman in the empire will start looking down on her husband as soon as she hears what the queen has done. Theyll say, King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to come to him, and she refused. When the wives of the royal officials of Persia and Media hear about the queens behavior, they will be telling their husbands about it before the day is out. Wives everywhere will have no respect for their husbands, and husbands will be angry with their wives. If it please Your Majesty, issue a royal proclamation that Vashti may never again appear before the king. Have it written into the laws of Persia and Media, so that it can never be changed. Then give her place as queen to some better woman. When your proclamation is made known all over this huge empire, every woman will treat her husband with proper respect, whether hes rich or poor.
The king and his officials liked this idea, and the king did what Memucan suggested. To each of the royal provinces he sent a message in the language and the system of writing of that province, saying that every husband should be the master of his home and speak with final authority.
COMMENTS
Est. 1:13-15 Panic: When Vashti disobeyed the emperors order, panic ensued. The image he had built for himself by this grandiose feast was destroyed in one stroke. It was such an unprecedented response, the emperor did not know how he should act. He knew the queens actions would be known sooner or later throughout the empire. Along with the gossip must go a story of the emperor handling the situation. But how shall it be handled? He hastily convened a meeting with his wise men. These are well-known men who are next unto him and probably would be likened to our Presidents cabinet members. They were not astrologers or magi as the Talmud thinks. They are men learned in the laws and customs of Persian governmentfamiliar with all precedents set in the past and presently having the power of law. The Hebrew word used here for law is dath and not the usual torah (Mosaic law). Dath is a word used in the O.T. only during the Persian period and is used of the emperors laws Est. 3:8; Haman used the word to refer to the laws of the Jews Est. 3:8; it is used for the rules of drinking at a feast Est. 1:8; for purifying of women Est. 2:12. The Hebrew word translated the times is haitim and most often means past times. Some commentators have theorized that the times refers to the winds of a social upheaval (an ancient equal rights movement) then beginning to blow in Persia. Since the word haitim almost always means times of the past it is doubtful that such a movement was then in progress. Most assuredly, if Vashtis impertinence is not squelched, a feminist movement would soon be started! That was the definite conclusion of the emperors advisory council. There were seven families of the first rank (Ezr. 7:14) in Persia, from which the king was supposed to take his wives. The chiefs of each of these seven families had access to the king at all times, except when he was in the company of one of his wives.
Est. 1:16-20 Prompting: Why did Xerxes wish to punish Vashti according to law? Apparently there was no law at that time to cover such behavior. The emperor eventually made one, but it was after the fact. Perhaps Xerxes did not have the courage or the abillity to handle Vashtis insolence as a husband should. Perhaps the deflation of his ego prompted him to seek a servere punishment to recover his damaged image. Memucan recognized that the politically expedient thing to do was suggest some punishment which would make it appear Vashtis behavior was a serious matter of public policy and concerned the welfare of the whole empire. It would not do, of course, to allow the citizens to think Vashtis punishment was merely the gratification of the emperors personal rage.
Memucan, a true male-chauvinist, believed that a womans respect and surrender is insured through male despotism. Some men believe the only way to assert masculinity is to exploit and tyrannize the opposite sex. The only real and lasting way a man may command the respect and devotion of a woman is to love her with all his heart and actions. Memucan may have known deep in his heart the truth of that last statement, but practically, feared such an answer would not satisfy the emperors impetuous rage. There is no reason to suppose that Vashtis behavior would cause such catastrophic rebellion as depicted by Memucan. The probable cause of Vashtis rebellion in the first place was the domineering attempt of Xerxes to profane her womanhood before a whole host of male-chauvinists. Memucans advice to reinforce male domination and exploitation by royal decree would hardly remedy the situation created by Vashtis refusal to obey her husband. It is true that women of that culture were, in some instances, treated as chattel by men. Vashtis defiance caused more of a stir in the hearts of men of the empire than in the women. The contempt and wrath Memucan feared was that of the men of the empire.
There may have been political intrigue involved in Memucans advice. It appears he expected the emperor to dispose of Vashtis royalty to another better than she. Did Memucan have someone specifically in mind? If he expected the emperor to choose the next queen from one of the families of the first-ranked seven, perhaps Memucan had a maiden from his own family in mind. Whatever the case, Memucans advice is very specific that the emperor make it a public decree (written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes) so that it could not be changed. Vashtis deposition and banishment must be irrevocable. If the way were left open for her to regain Xerxes favor and restoration to the throne, she would surely execute her vengeance on Memucan.
Est. 1:21-22 Precedent: We tend to agree with the Jewish rabbis in the Midrash that Xerxes was utterly devoid of sense in so decreeing, and, Nay more, he made himself a laughing-stock. There was no need for such a decree. The women of Persia would not be able to overthrow the government or revolutionize the cultural status-quo because of Vashtis disobedience. This royal law protected the myth of male superiority about as much as the attempt to legislate female equality by an equal rights amendment in the United States! It is apparent from certain incidents in the book of Esther that wives were held in considerable esteem by their husbands (cf. Est. 5:10; Est. 5:13; Est. 7:1-2, etc.). Xerxes certainly could neither insure his own male superiority nor that of the men of his empire by passing a law. He already had at his disposal enough force to depose or slay a queen who disobeyed him if he wished. But Vashti had already proved that in spite of all his power and laws he could not force her to prostitute her womanhood if she did not wish to do so! But Memucans advice pleased the intemperate king and his princes.
The precedent-setting decree was sent out to the whole empire. Since there were people of different languages (and probably different dialects), the decree was written in as many different languages as were necessary. The practice of the Persians to address proclamations in different languages is illustrated by the bilingual and trilingual inscriptions from Cyrus to Artaxerxes, and especially by that one of Darius preserved on the Behistun Rock (see map, page 271). The decree of Xerxes was, Let every man bear rule in his own house, and, speak according to the language of his people. The latter part of that decree seems superfluous. Jewish commentators take the phrase to mean that if a husband and wife were of different race and language, the husband was not to allow the wifes language to prevail in the home. He was to compel his wife to learn and speak his language.
What happened to Vashti? There is no record. So far as we know, Vashti was never given an opportunity to speak in her own defense. Nor do we find anyone else speaking out on her behalf. Her fate was decided according to the whim of an egotistical and intemperate tyrant. Jewish tradition believes she was executed. The history of deposed kings and queens of the East would substantiate that tradition. Disgraced potentates were usually put to the sword.
Led into rashness by his own intemperance and given foolish counsel by his advisors, Xerxes is trapped. His hand is forced, he banishes the one closest to him and now he is alone with himself. He is in desperate need of a wise consort.
We may learn the following lessons from this chapter:
1.
Pride and arrogance feeds on the exploitation of others.
2.
Intemperance, especially in alcohol, causes people to disregard decency and sacrifice personal integrity.
3.
No woman, not even a pagan one, likes to be treated as a mere object or thing to satisfy male gratification.
4.
The proper functioning of members of a household cannot be sustained through civil legislationit must be established through love.
5.
Almighty God uses the consequences of mens evil deeds to carry out His plan of redemption for the world.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(13) Which knew the times.That is, who were skilled in precedents, and could advise accordingly.
For so. . . .Translate, for so was the kings business laid, before . . .
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
13. The wise men, which knew the times Men versed in the laws and customs of their age and of former times, and, therefore, capable of giving proper counsel on any matters of law or precedent.
So was the king’s manner The regard of the Persians and Medes for their laws is proverbial, and the kings were always careful to consult the wise men, who knew law and judgment, before they proceeded to enact or execute any great or unusual measure.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Est 1:13. The wise men, which knew the times Some have inferred from hence, that, as the Persian kings did nothing without their magi or wise men, who were great pretenders to astrology, men of this sort were called to know whether it was a proper time to set about the thing which the king had in his mind; for, such was the superstition of the eastern people, that, as the satirist remarks.
Quicquid Dixerit astrologus, credent a fonte relatum Ammonis. JUVENAL, Sat. 6:
Such credit to astrologers is given, What they foretel is deem’d a voice from heaven. DRYDEN.
The explication, however, which Vitringa gives of the original is far from being improbable; namely, that these were men well versed in ancient histories, and in the laws and customs of their country, and were therefore able to give the king counsel in all extraordinary and perplexed cases. Houbigant renders the passage thus: then the king, speaking to the wise men, who knew the law and judgment (for the royal decrees were then established, when they were laid before those who knew the law and judgment; Est 1:13 and for that reason he had by his side seven princes of Persia, Carshena, &c.) said, Est 1:15. What shall we do, &c. See Le Clerc, and 1Ch 12:32.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Est 1:13 Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so [was] the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
Ver. 13. Then the king said to the wise men ] What a sudden change is here! Ex conviviis fiunt comitia, imo et convitia, saith an interpreter. The enraged king forgets all his old love to Vashti, and breathes nothing else but reparation of his own lost honour, and revenge upon his peerless paragon. Howbeit herein he is to be commended, that he sent not for her forthwith by force, that he might dispatch her with his own hands; as Alexander did his friend Clitus and others in his cups and choler; neither ran he raging into her chamber, and kicked her out of the world, as Nero did his wife Octavia, for a less matter (Sueton. Ner.). He knew that anger is an evil counsellor.
– qui non moderabitur irae,
Infectum velit esse dolor quod suaserit et mens (Horat.).
He that reineth not in his anger, shall do that in his haste whereof it shall repent him by leisure, and could eat his nails to have it undone again. Ahasuerus therefore calleth for his judges and counsellors, skilful in state matters.
Which knew the times
For so was the king’s manner] sc. To advise with them in matters of moment, but not always to take their advice. The manner was, and the fundamental laws of the land took order, for prevention of tyranny, that the kings of Persia should be ruled by this grave senate of the kingdom, and not bring in an arbitrary government. But Xerxes (who is this Ahasuerus) once at least (if not oftener), viz. in his expedition against Greece, which was not long after this great feast, called his seven princes together, and spake to them after this manner; lest, said he, I should seem to follow mine own counsel, I have assembled you, and now do you remember, that it becomes you rather to obey than advise (Val. Max. lib. 9, cap. 5).
Toward all that knew law and judgment
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Est 1:13-20
13Then the king said to the wise men who understood the timesfor it was the custom of the king so to speak before all who knew law and justice 14and were close to him: Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had access to the king’s presence and sat in the first place in the kingdom15According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vasti, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs? 16In the presence of the king and the princes, Memucan said, Queen Vasti has wronged not only the king but also all the princes and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women causing them to look with contempt on their husbands by saying, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vasti to be brought in to his presence, but she did not come.’ 18This day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s conduct will speak in the same way to all the king’s princes, and there will be plenty of contempt and anger. 19If it pleases the king, let a royal edict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vasti may no longer come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to another who is more worthy than she. 20When the king’s edict which he will make is heard throughout all his kingdom, great as it is, then all women will give honor to their husbands, great and small.
Est 1:13 the wise men who understood the times This same idiom is used in 1Ch 12:32. Maybe the best way to make it contemporary would be they understood the cultural impact (cf. Est 1:15-18).
Some scholars assert that this refers to the seven special family counselors of the Persian kings (cf. Ezr 7:14-15; Ezr 7:28; Ezr 8:25).
before all who knew law and justice This phrase either characterizes the wise men mentioned above or is a second group of wise men who were specialists in the law (cf. Est 1:15). Herodotus says there was a group of judges who were appointed for life who advised the Persian kings on matters of law.
Est 1:14 the seven princes of Persia We learn from Herodotus 3.84 that there were seven special families who made up Persian nobility (cf. Ezr 7:14; Herodutus 3.84; Xenophon, Anabasis 1.4.6). Members of these families were the close counselors of the Persian kings.
Est 1:15-16 Ahasuerus’s advisors made this event a national threat (not only of the king, but potentially of the other husbands) because of Vasti’s precedent of disobedience in the presence of the other assembled wives.
Est 1:18 there will be plenty of contempt and anger The TEV catches the implication of this phrase by attributing the contempt to the wives of the nobility, and the anger to their husbands.
Est 1:19 the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed This historical addition is only known from the Bible (cf. Est 8:8; Dan 6:8; Dan 6:12; Dan 6:15). This may have been a literary device used by the writer to ridicule the Persian government. Their unchanging laws were changed by YHWH’s powerful presence with His covenant people!
In this context it is stated so that Xerxes will not change his mind about the beautiful Vasti when he sobers up (cf. Est 2:1).
that Vasti should come no more into the presence fo the King Vasti remained in the harem, but could not physically be with the king anymore. This was like an official separation.
NASBwho is more worthy
NKJV, NRSVwho is better
TEVto some better woman
NJBworthier
The Hebrew term (BDB 373 II) has a wide semantic field, but in this context it means more obedient or to show proper respect to the king.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
for. See note on the parentheses, Est 1:7.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Est 1:13-22
Est 1:13-22
“Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment; and next unto him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meshes, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom), What shall we do unto the queen Vashti, according to law, because she hath not done the bidding of the king Ahashuerus by the chamberlains? And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples that are in all the provinces of the king Ahashuerus. For this deed of the queen will come abroad unto all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahashuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not. And this day will the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the deed of the queen say the like to all the king’s princes. So will there arise much contempt and wrath. If it please the king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before the king Ahashuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives shall give to their husbands honor, both to great and small. And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan: for he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and should speak according to the language of his people.”
Nothing could demonstrate more forcefully the low estate of women in the ancient world than the brutal facts of this outrage against Vashti. In all the societies of mankind where women are unprotected by the teachings of the Son of God, women have invariably been reduced to the status so clearly visible in this chapter. Only in Jesus Christ are women elevated to the respected and honored status they deserve; and the great pity of our generation is that women are being wooed and persuaded by political promises of all kinds to give up their worship of the Christ. They are promised “equality” with men; but it is a specious `equality,’ like that which the women of Russsia got when they gave up even an imperfect Christianity for communism. It turned out to be “equality” to carry the bricks, sweep the streets, and work till they dropped dead in the fields. Let the women of America beware!
The seven princes of Persia and Media (Est 1:14). In the book of Daniel, one finds the expression, “The law of the Medes and the Persians”; but a little later in this chapter, it reads, “The law of the Persians and the Medes.” Why the difference? In Daniel’s day, the king was a Mede (Darius); so the Medes were mentioned first, but now Xerxes, a Persian, was the ruler; so the Persians came first! The Medes and the Persians were the two principal races that formed the Medo-Persian Empire, but it was never two empires – only one.
It is of interest that Xerxes’ letter to all the 127 ethnic groups in his empire was addressed to each one of the groups in their native language. Also, there was added that provision that every man should use only his native language in his own house, which certainly presented a problem in homes where there were mixed marriages with the races. Such a law was unenforceable. But as Keil noted, “Xerxes was the author of many strange facts besides this.”
Halley and others held the opinion that one of the last actions of Xerxes before he left on that four-year campaign against Greece was the deposition of Vashti, and that, “He did not marry Esther until four years later in 478 B.C., after he returned from the Grecian campaign.” This accounts for the four-year gap between this chapter and the next one. This conclusion is fully supported by the writings of Herodotus.
E.M. Zerr:
Est 1:13-15. Something must be done, the king thought, to cover the shame that had been heaped upon him by the disobedience of his wife. It was his practice to consult his men which knew the times. That means men among the sages who were supposed to give good counsel on the affairs of state. They were to advise what the law would authorize to be done to a queen who refused to obey her king.
Est 1:16-18. Memucan was spokesman for the 7 wise men. He told the king that the action of Vashti had wronged him. But it would not stop there, for the report would reach the ears of the women of Persia and Media, and all over the country. When they would hear of the action of Vashti, and if she were allowed to “get by” with it, they would be encouraged to despise (belittle) their own husbands. If a queen can act thus against the king, then surely no other woman need obey her husband.
Est 1:19. The whole proposition may be considered as a “face-saving” gesture. There would really be no need for a royal commandment that the queen come no more before the king. Under the rules already in force (Est 4:10-11), all that would have been necessary would be not to call for her. The action therefore was to create an appearance of authority over the queen. Give her royal estate unto another meant to demote her so that she would feel the humiliation as a penalty. Moreover, the decree was to be incorporated into the regular laws of the Persians and Medes. The object of that was to be sure that neither the king nor anyone else could revoke it. There was a foolish notion among those people that man could make a law that was so completely right that it could not be improved. If this decree of the king became a part of the regular statutes, the fate of Vashti’s honor would be fixed. That is the significance of the words that it be not altered.
Est 1:20. The preceding verse revealed the motive of the proposed decree as it would affect the king and queen directly. This one shows the other motive to have been concerned over the dignity of the men in general throughout the empire. When the decree became a part of the unchangeable law, it was then to be published to all the citizens. Such a serious action would certainly have a profound effect on all the wives with regard to their own husbands. Fearing a similar treatment for themselves, they would be induced to yield obedience to their lords.
Est 1:21-22. The king was pleased with the suggestion of Memucan. He doubtless was still smarting under the injury to his pride, and was in a mind to do anything that would seem to be in the nature of revenge. He later would have recalled the vicious edict had he the power to do so. But he sent letters into all the provinces of his mighty empire. They included so much territory that not all the people spoke the same language. The decree was therefore translated into the speech of each province. We have no information on the effect it had on the various people, when they received the hasty action of the haughty monarch. But the publishing of it was evidently a solace to the wounded pride of the king, and also must have given some satisfaction to the princes who had become uneasy over their own authority.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
the wise: Jer 10:7, Dan 2:2, Dan 2:12, Dan 2:27, Dan 4:6, Dan 4:7, Dan 5:7, Mat 2:1
knew: 1Ch 12:32, Mat 16:3
Reciprocal: Dan 2:21 – he changeth
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Est 1:13. Which knew the times The histories of former times, what princes had done in such cases as this was, and were well skilled in the laws and customs of their country, and were therefore able to give the king counsel in all extraordinary and perplexed cases. Inasmuch, however, as the Persian kings did nothing without their magi, or wise men, who were great pretenders to astrology, some have supposed that men of this sort were now called in, to know whether it was a proper time to do what the king had in his mind.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1:13 Then the king said to the wise men, {h} which knew the times, (for so [was] the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
(h) Who had experience in things as they had learned by diligent marking in continuance of time.