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Text -- Esther 1:11-22 (NET)
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Context
1:11 to bring Queen Vashti into the king’s presence wearing her royal high turban . He wanted to show the people and the officials her beauty , for she was very attractive .
1:12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s bidding conveyed through the eunuchs . Then the king became extremely angry , and his rage consumed him.
1:13 The king then inquired of the wise men who were discerners of the times – for it was the royal custom to confer with all those who were proficient in laws and legalities .
1:14 Those who were closest to him were Carshena , Shethar , Admatha , Tarshish , Meres , Marsena , and Memucan . These men were the seven officials of Persia and Media who saw the king on a regular basis and had the most prominent offices in the kingdom .
1:15 The king asked, “By law , what should be done to Queen Vashti in light of the fact that she has not obeyed the instructions of King Ahasuerus conveyed through the eunuchs ?”
1:16 Memucan then replied to the king and the officials , “The wrong of Queen Vashti is not against the king alone , but against all the officials and all the people who are throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus .
1:17 For the matter concerning the queen will spread to all the women , leading them to treat their husbands with contempt , saying , ‘When King Ahasuerus gave orders to bring Queen Vashti into his presence , she would not come .’
1:18 And this very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media who have heard the matter concerning the queen will respond in the same way to all the royal officials , and there will be more than enough contempt and anger !
1:19 If the king is so inclined , let a royal edict go forth from him , and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media that cannot be repealed , that Vashti may not come into the presence of King Ahasuerus , and let the king convey her royalty to another who is more deserving than she.
1:20 And let the king’s decision which he will enact be disseminated throughout all his kingdom , vast though it is. Then all the women will give honor to their husbands , from the most prominent to the lowly .”
1:21 The matter seemed appropriate to the king and the officials . So the king acted on the advice of Memucan .
1:22 He sent letters throughout all the royal provinces , to each province according to its own script and to each people according to its own language , that every man should be ruling his family and should be speaking the language of his own people .
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics
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expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Est 1:11 Heb “was good of appearance”; KJV “was fair to look on”; NAB “was lovely to behold.”
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NET Notes: Est 1:15 The location of the prepositional phrase “according to law” is somewhat unusual in the Hebrew text, but not so much so as to require emend...
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NET Notes: Est 1:19 Heb “who is better than she.” The reference is apparently to worthiness of the royal position as demonstrated by compliance with the king&...
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NET Notes: Est 1:20 The phrase “vast though it is” is not included in the LXX, although it is retained by almost all English versions.
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