Esther 1:12

1:12 But Queen Vashti refused 1  to come at the king’s bidding 2  conveyed through the eunuchs. Then the king became extremely angry, and his rage consumed 3  him.

Esther 2:2

2:2 The king’s servants who attended him said, “Let a search be conducted in the king’s behalf for attractive young women. 4 

Esther 4:2

4:2 But he went no further than the king’s gate, for no one was permitted to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.

Esther 5:4-5

5:4 Esther replied, “If the king is so inclined, 5  let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.” 5:5 The king replied, “Find Haman quickly so that we can do as Esther requests.”

So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

Esther 5:12

5:12 Haman said, “Furthermore, Queen Esther invited 6  only me to accompany the king to the banquet that she prepared! And also tomorrow I am invited 7  along with the king.

Esther 6:5

6:5 The king’s attendants said to him, “It is Haman who is standing in the courtyard.” The king said, “Let him enter.”

Esther 6:8

6:8 let them bring royal attire which the king himself has worn and a horse on which the king himself has ridden – one bearing the royal insignia! 8 

1 sn Refusal to obey the king was risky even for a queen in the ancient world. It is not clear why Vashti behaved so rashly and put herself in such danger. Apparently she anticipated humiliation of some kind and was unwilling to subject herself to it, in spite of the obvious dangers. There is no justification in the biblical text for an ancient Jewish targumic tradition that the king told her to appear before his guests dressed in nothing but her royal high turban, that is, essentially naked.

2 tn Heb “at the word of the king”; NASB “at the king’s command.”

3 tn Heb “burned in him” (so KJV).

4 tn Heb “young women, virgins, good of form.” The same phrase also occurs in v. 3.

5 tn Heb “If upon the king it is good”; NASB “If it please the king.”

6 tn Heb “caused to come”; KJV “did let no man come in…but myself.”

7 tn Heb “called to her”; KJV “invited unto her”; NAB “I am to be her guest.”

8 tc The final comment (“one on whose head the royal crown has been”) is not included in the LXX.

tn Heb “a royal crown on his head.” The reference is to an official decoration or headdress for horses in royal service. See HALOT 506 s.v. כֶּתֶר; DCH 4:477 s.v. כֶּתֶר. Cf. TEV “a royal ornament”; CEV “a fancy headdress.”