Hey guys! It's Catherine here! This is my first blog-post ever but I'm gonna try my best to do this amazing book some justice! Today is Esther Chapter 1!
So starting off this chapter, it discusses all about King Xerxes. Saying that he ruled over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia, although, his throne is in the city of Susa (the capital, to be specific)
Esther 1:4
"For a full 180 days, he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty." (NIV)
Esther 1:6
"The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. there were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones." (NIV)
Now, reading these verses, it made me think of James 5:1-6 which was speaking about the rich. How they indulge in their earthly luxuries and are selfish. I automatically related this back to the first chapter of Esther. King Xerxes is showing off all of his riches, despite the fact that they will be worth nothing in the afterlife. I think he is just showing off his power. Showing everyone that he is in charge and they should bask in his glory. Later on in this chapter, you will see how he uses this power when he doesn't get his way.
Esther 1:10-12
"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." (NIV)
These verses are telling how the King wished to show off his wife, but she refused. As it says in verse 12, King Xerxes was furious when he heard of her refusal. Due to the considerably large amount of people at this event, the news spread fairly quickly.
Esther 1:16-18
"Then Memukan 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. 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.’ 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." (NIV)
This is something the king was worried about. A woman's defiance of man was unheard of at the time, but with the news of Queen Vashti refusing to take orders from the King, all women thought that it was okay. Being the Queen, she sets the example for the other women of the society. In modern times, its just like a trend. Often times, when celebrities are seen wearing certain things, everyone starts dressing the same way. Or like, when your with your friends and they start goofing around in class, you think that since they're doing it, it's okay. Some people take this concept to the extreme though. It can easily turn into peer pressure. But in this case, the women of the kingdom saw defiance towards their husband's as an acceptable way to behave because the Queen did it as well.
Esther 1:22
"He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own household, using his native tongue." (NIV)
Huge example of the King's powerful and selfish ways. Because the queen did not give in to the King's demands, the King made a law that every man should rule over his own household (including the women).
That's it for Chapter 1! But be on the lookout for Chapter 2 tomorrow! Let me know what you thought of this chapter! Although, being quite honest, it's a pretty straight-forward chapter on it's own, but ya know... feedback is always nice :)
Well... thanks! BYE :) :) :)
3 comments:
Yay Catherine! You did a really good job of summarizing and explaining chapter 1! :)
When I was reading verse 16-17 stuck out to me.
Memucan answered the king and his nobles, "Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also every noble and citizen throughout your empire. (17) Women everywhere will begin to dispose their husbands whey they learn that Queen Vashti has refused to appear before the king.(NLT)
I really liked how you explained these verses Catherine. You said that the queen was the one who set the example for women back then. So by the queen not going to her husband when he wanted her that would make other women think that they don't need to do what there husbands say.
Great job Catherine :) i'm glad we are doing the book of Esther. Since the first chapter is so straight forward and Catherine and Jackie did such a great job i'm going to tell y'all bout some cool things in this book.
1. Esther's name means star
2. Not once in the entire book do they mention the name of God. It's also the only book in the entire bible that doesn't.
3. No one knows who wrote the book of Esther although it is rumored that Mordecai did.
4. The story of Esther lasted about ten years.
5. Esther isn't even in chapter one but the book is named after her.
6. Only two books in the bible are named after women, Ruth and Esther.
7. The book of Esther is the only old testament book not discovered at Qumran amongst the Dead Sea Scrolls.
8. Its one of the scrolls, or megillot, that the Jews read in full at particular times throughout the liturgical calendar year.
I think Esther is such a great book and i can't wait to read what y'all think about it:)
I have a prayer request. My granddaddy had a heart attack last night. So pray for him:) ~abby<3
Wow that's really interesting!
We will pray for ur grandpa!
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