The Book Of Esther
CHAPTER 1:13-22
"Memucan's Advice and the King's Decree"

Outline with Text
J. Deering,
AncientPath.net


Quick Links to specific locations in the text below: 

1.     The Visualized Text 2.     Questions To Be Explored
3.     Brief Outline (The Outline of This Study) 4.     Cross References
5.     Commentary (After YOU STUDY!) 5.     The Horizontal Chart

THE VISUALIZED TEXT (NASB)  (conjunctions & prepositions underlined, words not in original text in italics)  (alternate text in purple)THE VISUALIZED TEXT (NASB)  (conjunctions & prepositions underlined, words not in original text in italics)

(1:13)
Since it was customary
for the king to consult experts
in matters of law and justice,
he spoke with the wise men
who understood the times

(1:14)
and were closest to the king--
Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan,
the seven nobles of Persia and Media
who had special access to the king and
were highest in the kingdom.

(1:15)
"According to law,
what must be done to Queen Vashti?"
he asked.
"She has not obeyed
the command of King Xerxes
that the eunuchs have taken to her."

(1:16)
Then
Memucan replied
in the presence of
the king and the nobles,
"Queen Vashti has done wrong,
not only against the king
but
also against
all
the nobles and
the peoples of
all
the provinces of King Xerxes.

(1:17)
For
the queen's conduct
will become known
to
all
the women, and
so
they
will despise their husbands and
say, 'King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.'

(1:18)
This very day the
Persian and
Median women
of the nobility
who have heard about the queen's conduct
will respond to
all
the king's nobles
in the same way.
There will be no end of disrespect and discord.

(1:19)
"Therefore,
if it pleases the king,
let him issue a royal decree and
let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media,
which cannot be repealed,
that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes.
Also
let the king give her royal position
to someone else
who is better than she.

(1:20)
Then
when the king's edict
is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm,
all
the women
will respect their husbands,
from the least
to the greatest."

(1:21)
The king and his nobles
were pleased with this advice,
so
the king did as Memucan proposed.

(1:22)
He sent dispatches
to
all
parts of the kingdom,
to each province
in its own script and
to each people in its own language,
proclaiming in each people's tongue
that
every man should be ruler over his own household.


ABOUT: (Questions to be explored based on this study's verses)
(1:13)

"Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times"
1. Who were these "wise men who understood the times?"
2. Do you find any contradiction in "wise men" and astrologers?
3. Why would an astrologer know anything about law?
4. Refer to the references below, why would astrologers know the details of Mosaic Law let alone Persian Law?

(1:14)
"and were closest to the king--Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom."
1. What is the significance of naming these seven wise men?
2. Why would these seven be "special access to the king?"
3. What is the significance of the fact that the seven nobles of Persia and Media were astrologers?
4. What would be the office of these seven if it were today?

(1:15)
""According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?" he asked. "She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her.""
1. Why be so careful that the actions taken must be "according to the law?"
2. Why is every detail carefully preserved about these actions?

(1:16)
"Then Memucan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, "Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes."
1. Do you think something more is going on than the discipline of the King's wife?
2. Examine the careful use of the word "all" and what could be the implications?
3. What's the big deal anyway?
4. Were Vashti's actions really against all the nobles and all the peoples of all the provinces?

(1:17)
"For the queen's conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, 'King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.'"
1. Why would the king's nobles use the expression "despise their husbands?"
2. Is the king the only one with trouble in his household?
3. Is Queen Vashti seen as the de facto leader of a woman's movement?

(1:18)
"This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen's conduct will respond to all the king's nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord."
1. Is this the truth, or does Memucan and the other nobles have an agenda?

(1:19)
""Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she."
1. What does the fact that a harsh penalty is recommended indicate about the situation?

(1:20)
"Then when the king's edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.""
1. Is this then the center of the issue?

(1:21)
"The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memucan proposed."
1. It says that the king was pleased with this advice -- what does that indicate about the king's part in this whole process?
2. Can this dictate be rescinded once executed (vs. 1:19)?

(1:22)
"He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, proclaiming in each people's tongue that every man should be ruler over his own household."
1. What does the extent of the time, resources, expense, and geography indicate about the size and importance of this problem?


BRIEF OUTLINE:
I.    The Jew's Grave Danger 1-3
        A.    The background of the plot 1:1-3:5
                1.    The feasts and folly of Xerxes, Queen Vashti deposed 1
                        a.    The three feasts 1:1-9


CROSS REFERENCES: *
(1:13)

"Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times"
1. Jeremiah 10:7 - The supremacy of the Lord God over "wise men of the nations"
2. Daniel 2:2 - "wise men" - magicians (soothsayer priests), conjurers, sorcerers, Chaldeans (master astrologers)
3. 1 Chronicles 12:32 - "the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times."

* Wise men who understood the times (astrologers). They also knew the Law of Moses (cf. Ezra 7:14).

(1:14)
"and were closest to the king--Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom."
1. Had special access - Lit., "saw the face of the king"
2 2 Kings 25:19 - The king's advisors - Lit., "saw the face of the king"
3. Matthew 18:10 - "the angles who behold the face of My Father"

(1:15)
""According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?" he asked. "She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her.""
1. Obey - Lit., "do"

(1:16)
"Then Memucan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, "Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes."

* The councilors turned the matter into a national crisis threatening male supremacy.

(1:17)
"For the queen's conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, 'King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.'"
1. Become known - "Lit., go forth"
2. To look with contempt - Lit., "despise ... in their eyes"

(1:18)
"This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen's conduct will respond to all the king's nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord."
1. no references

(1:19)
""Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she."
1. Edict - Lit., "word go forth from"
2. Be repealed - Lit., "pass away"
3. Another - Lit., "her neighbor"
4. Esther 8:8 - The remedy may not be revoked either
5. Daniel 6:8 - Daniel, and the law that cannot be revoked

* "cannot be repealed." Persian laws were irrevocable (Esther 8:8, Daniel 6:8)

(1:20)
"Then when the king's edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.""
1. "great as it is," Lit., "great is it."
2. Ephesians 5:22 - "Wives be subject ...."
3. Colossians 3:18 - "Wives be subject ...."

(1:21)
"The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memucan proposed."
1. "as Memucan proposed." Lit., "according to the word of"

(1:22)
"He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, proclaiming in each people's tongue that every man should be ruler over his own household."
1. Esther 3:12 - 2nd time "all parts of the kingdom"
2. Esther 8:9 - 3rd time "all parts of the kingdom"

* The king solemnly decreed (how could it ever have been enforced) that every man was to rule his own household and that his native language was to be spoken in that home.


*Footnotes from the Ryrie Expanded NIV Study Bible

Quick Links to specific locations in the text below: 
1.     The Visualized Text 2.     Questions To Be Explored
3.     Brief Outline (The Outline of This Study) 4.     Cross References
5.     Commentary (After YOU STUDY!) 5.     The Horizontal Chart

2012-11-21