WOMEN OF THE BIBLE PART 1 , ESTER PART I – GOODMORNING

CLEVER QUEEN, FOOLISH KING

Names in the Bible often say something about the person:
Hadassah, Esther’s Jewish name, comes from the word for ‘myrtle’, a tree whose leaves only release their fragrance when they are crushed. Esther’s true heroism only appeared when she and her people were in terrible danger. The name ‘Esther’ means ‘hidden’: Esther’s real identity as a Jewess was hidden for many years.
Vashti means ‘sweetheart’ or ‘the beloved one’
The names Esther and Mordecai may have arisen from stories about the Persian deities Ishtar and Marduk. Ishtar (stareh, a star) was the Babylonian goddess of love and war, daughter of the moon god Sin. She was called Astarte in Canaan. Marduk was the principal male god of Babylon. Haman and Vashti may correspond to the Elamite gods Humman and Mashti.
These similarities suggest that the Book of Esther was based on a much older Babylonian story.

What the story is about

The Book of Esther was written for Diaspora Jews, (Jews who lived outside Israel), to show them how to live in exile. If they encountered bigotry and prejudice, they must act with courage and integrity. The story also explained the origin of the feast of Purim, a major Jewish feast day.

Try telling the story from the point of view of each character, one at a time. You’ll see how rich, how complex the story is.
The story was also a political satire, showing the danger of giving absolute power to a monarch who turned out to be a fool. The Persian king in the story, Ahasuerus, governed by whim rather than by wisdom, becoming the tool of anyone shrewd enough to exploit him. The lesson is clear: do not give too much power to any one person; in the long run God alone should rule us.

Christianity is often accused of causing the terrible anti-Semitism that has shamed the modern world. In fact, this story shows that anti-Semitism existed long before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.

See Maps of Bible Lands for the location of this story

The story of Esther contains three different episodes:

1 Vashti was banished, and Esther became Queen (Esther 1 & 2) Queen Vashti refused to obey the orders of her husband King Ashasuerus, so he divorced her and sought a new queen. This new queen was to be the most beautiful woman in the land. A young Jewish girl, Esther, was chosen. Her uncle, Mordecai, overheard a plot against the king, and warned him through Esther.

2 Esther saved Mordecai from Haman (Esther 3-8:14)
Mordecai offended a high court official, who decided to kill not only Mordecai but all the Jews in the Persian empire. Esther pleaded with the king at two banquets she gave. Mordecai was saved from death, and Haman was punished.

3Esther saved the Jewish people of Persia (Esther 8:15-10)
Letters were sent throughout the kingdom repealing the decree of death for all Jews. There was great rejoicing, and an annual festival was celebrated to commemorate the courage of Esther and the deliverance of the Jews. This festival was called Purim.

For a short version of the story of Esther, see Bible People: Esther

Vashti banished, Esther became Queen

Jewelry excavated at Nimrud: a Queen’s jewels

Esther 1 & 2

The story of Esther began at a magnificent banquet at the court of the Persian king, Ahasuerus, usually thought to be the emperor Xerxes (486-465BC). Susa, the ancient city where the story took place, contained the winter palace of the king.

There were two separate banquets being held: one for the king, his councilors and all the men of Susa; the other given by Queen Vashti, for the women of the court and nobility. You read Herodotus’ description of the great banquets of Xerxes in Herodotus Book 7, section 116-123 or Book 9, section 82-83.

Having drunk too much wine, King Ahasuerus sent for the Queen to appear before the men at his banquet. She was noted for her beauty, and he wished to show her off to the men of the city.

But the Queen of the Persian Empire was chosen from among the seven most ancient and noble families of the empire, and Vashti was therefore of ancient and noble lineage.

Drunk with wine, he sent for his beautiful queen, Vashti, to appear before the men. She refused to come. Humiliated, the king banished her.

But now he was lonely, so a beauty contest was held: the loveliest girl would become his new queen.
Read Wife Disobeys Husband!

She would not have enjoyed the prospect of being paraded in front of a room full of drunken men – it was not a suitable thing for a queen to do. Men and women often dined together in ancient Persia, but as the dinner progressed and more wine was drunk, the wives left the dining area, and were replaced by concubines.

She refused to come.

On the seventh day, when the King was merry with wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who attended him to bring Queen Vashti before the King, wearing the royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the officials her beauty; for she was fair to behold. But Queen Vashti refused to come. At this the King was enraged, and his anger burned within him.

Read Esther 1:1-22.