Esther Chapter 1:10-22: A King’s Pride and a Queen’s Defiance

The Story

Imagine a massive party, the biggest and most extravagant you can think of. The king, Ahasuerus, is showing off his wealth and power to everyone in his kingdom. It’s a feast that lasts for days, and on the seventh day, when the king is probably a little tipsy from all the wine, he decides to call for his queen, Vashti, to come and show off her beauty to his guests. But Vashti refuses. This is a major insult to the king, and he’s furious. His advisors suggest that Vashti’s disobedience could set a bad example for other women in the kingdom, so they convince him to remove her as queen and find a replacement.

Key Points

• Power and Pride: King Ahasuerus’ actions show us how power and pride can lead to bad decisions. He wanted to use Vashti as an object to show off, not as a person to respect.
• Vashti’s Courage: Vashti’s refusal to obey the king was a bold move. She valued her dignity and self-respect more than pleasing her husband’s ego.
• Consequences: Vashti’s defiance led to her removal as queen, but it also set the stage for Esther to become queen and play a crucial role in saving her people.
• God’s Hidden Hand: Even though God isn’t directly mentioned in this chapter, we see how He can work through even seemingly bad situations to accomplish His purposes.

Study Questions

1. Why do you think Vashti refused to obey the king’s command? Was she right or wrong?
2. How does this story show the dangers of pride and the importance of humility?
3. What can we learn from Vashti about standing up for what we believe in, even when it’s difficult?
4. How does this chapter set the stage for the rest of the book of Esther? What do you think will happen next?
5. Even though God isn’t mentioned, how do you think He might be working in the background of this story?

Challenge

Think about a time when you had to stand up for what you believed in, even when it was difficult. How did it feel? What did you learn from that experience?

This commentary and the study questions are designed to help young people engage with the story of Esther and understand the important themes of power, pride, courage, and God’s providence. It encourages them to think critically about the characters’ actions and motivations and to apply the lessons of the story to their own lives.