Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger

Esther 1:1-12

This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush.

For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty.

When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king’s palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest who were in the citadel of Susa.

Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.

On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas— to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.

The Persian emperor Ahasuerus reigned from 485-465 BC over an empire stretching from the Indus to northern Sudan. He was the son of Darius 1, who left him vast wealth and a new luxurious palace complex at Susa. Excavation has revealed the throne room, harem, and paradise.

His winter capital was Susa, a city in Elam, about 260km miles east of Babylon. The Greek historian Herodotus describes him as a cruel, capricious, sensual man - which fits well with his character in this book.

Why?

The time and the background are showing to welcome the coming of Ester to save her people.

All of these backgrounds shows the wealthy and the proud of King Xerxes who ruled over huge area and countries.

People got everything and stand in the highest position to show their power and their wealth, it shows his capability and his generosity. They like to get higher praise from others.

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年代在主前483年前左右。

亞哈隨魯王，即薛西的父親是大利烏王。整卷書沒有出現耶和華、祭司、神的話等。以色列人在外邦中，神好像隱藏了。處處隱藏著神的作為，神藉著以斯帖、莫底改救了以色列人。

亞哈隨魯王開始拆除其他宗教的廟宇，歷史上記載他殘暴、好色。展示帝國榮耀，擺了三個月的宴席。他沒有他父親厲害，沒有戰績。於是用展示富豪極奢華，來顯出他的偉大、慈悲。

王為了自己的面子，要王后出來展示他的美貌在許多男人前面，她覺得有失身份，因此不願意。人往往為了榮耀自己，不僅浪費金錢，不惜犧牲自己太太、至親的顏面放在地上踩踏，讓太太像動物一樣被人家看。人死要面子，什麼親人都可以犧牲。

耶穌基督為了救贖我們的罪，反而願意放下自己的尊嚴，虛己以致於死，受到極大的羞辱。

耶穌用付出愛、尊嚴來得到尊嚴。人用文字獄來管制其他人，表面上有面子，人人卻恨在心裏。

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How?

To be a Chrisitan does mean wealthy or famous but the Lord gives us what we need and peace and joy. It is better than any other. The Lord is my shepherd.