The Pulpit Commentary — Esther — Section 20

e.nd assented to by the remainder (ver. 21), confirmed_ by the judgment of others. Ce.n- that VR.shti should be degraded from 'l\"llB, daules, kmg of Lydia, is said to have lost the position of qutien, and her pince given his crown and his life through imprudently to another. This sentence was supported indulging this desire (Herod., i. 8-12). So p_ublic an exposure, however, IUl that de- by specious arguments based upon expedi- signed by Ahasuorus is not recorded of any ency, and ignoring entirely the outrageous other monarch, and would scarcely have character of the king's command, which was been attempted by any one less extravagant of course the real, and sole, justification of in his conduct than Xerxes. Vashti's disobedience. It was treated as a Ver. 12.-But the queen Vashti refused. V~hti's refusal was morally quite justifiable. simple question of the wife's duty to obey Neither a husband's nor a king's authority her husband, and the husband's right to extends to the wanton reqnirement of acts enforce submission. Ahasuerus, as might that, if done, would disgrace the doer for life. be expected, received the decision of his Had Vashti complied, she would have lost obsequious counsellors with great satisfac- the respect not only of the Persian nation but of the king himself. Therefore was th~ tion, and forthwith sent letters into all the king very wroth. Had Ahasuerus really provinces of his vast empire, announcing loved his wife, or been a man of fair and what had been done, e.nd requiring wives equitable disposition, he would have excused everywhere to submit themselves unreserv- her refusal, and felt that he had deserved the edly to the e.bsolut.e rule of their lord (ver. rebuff. But, not really loving her, and 22). being of a hot and ungovernable temper, he was violently enraged with her, as he always wa.s when anything fell out contrary to his Ver. 10.-When the heart of the king wishes (see Herod., vii. 11, 35, 39, &c.). was merry with wine. We are told that Ver. 13.-Then the king said to the wise once a year, at the feast of Mithra, the king men. Angry as he was, Ahasuerus had still of Peraia was bound to intoxicate himself some power of self-restraint. He was in the (Duris, Fr. 13). At other times he did as presence of his whole conrt, and of a great he pleased, but probably generally drank till assembly of the people. It would not be rea.srm was somewhat obscured. Kehuman, seemly that he should vent his passion in &c. Peraia.n etymologies have been given for violent words, imprecations, or threats. His most of these names, but they are all more dignity reqnired that he should at any rate or less uncertain; and as eunuchs were often seem calm, and, instead of issuing any hasty foreigners, mutilated for the Persian market order, should proceed deliberately to consider (Herod., iii 93 ; viii 105), who bore foreign what were the next steps to be taken. names. like the Hermotimus of Herodotus Xerxes appears to have been rather fond ot (viii. i04--106), it is qnite possible that asking advice (Herod., vii 8, 48, 234 ; viii. Persian etymologies may here be ont of 101) ; and he now, in a sufficiently dignified place. Bigtha, however, if it be regarded as way, reqnired the opinion of his "wise men" a shortened form of Bigthan (eh. ii 21) or on the practical qnestion, What was to be Bigtha.na (eh. vi. ), wonld seem to be Persian, done to Vashti 1 (see ver. 15). Which knew beingequivalenttoBagadana(=Theodorus), the times. I. e. persons who were well ac- "the gift of God." Chamberlains. Really, quainted with past times, and knew what as in the margin, " eunuchs." The influ- it was customary to do on each occasion. ence of eunuchs at the Persian conrt was For so was the king's maDJ1er toward all great from the time of Xerxes. Ctesias that knew law and judgm.ent. Rather, makes them of importance even from the "For so was the business of the king brought time of Cyrus (' Exe. Pora.,' §§ 5, 9). before such as knew law and judgment." Ver. 11.-Vaahti . . . . with the crown Ea.eh matter which concerned the king was royal We have no representation of a submitted to learned persons for their opinion Persian queen among the sculptures ; but before any actual step was taken (compare Mousa, a Parthian queen, appears on a coin Herod., iii. 31, where Cambyses asks the of her son Phrnataces (' Sixth Oriental opinion of the royal judges with respect to Monarchy,' p. 220), crowned with a very his proposed marriage with his sister). It is elaborate tiara. It consists of a tall stiff not a special practice of Ahasuerus, but a cap, not unlike the ci,daru of a Persian king, feneral usage of the Persian monarchy, which but is apparently set with large jewels. is noticed. Va.shti's " crown royal" we.a probably not Ver. 14.-And the next unto him was very dissimilar. To ah.ow the prince1 and Carahena, Shethar, &c. The chief native the people her beauty. More than one Ori- advisers of Xerxes in the early part of his ental monarch is reported to have desired to reign ap:eear to have been Mardonius (Pers. !lave his own opinion of his wife's beauty Mard111miya) and Artabanus (Pers, Arta- OH. I. 10-22.] THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 17