Vashti וַשְׁתִּי
Queen of Persia, deposed by King Ahasuerus (Xerxes)
Who is Vashti in the Bible?
Vashti was the queen of Persia and wife of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I), introduced in the book of Esther during a lavish royal feast (Esther 1:9). When the king, intoxicated after seven days of celebration, commanded her to appear before him and his guests wearing her royal crown to display her beauty, Vashti refused to obey his order (Esther 1:11-12). This act of disobedience infuriated the king, and after consulting his wise men, he decided to depose her from her position as queen (Esther 1:15-19). Vashti's removal from the throne created the opportunity for Esther to become queen, which ultimately positioned her to save the Jewish people from destruction. Though Vashti appears only briefly in Scripture, her refusal to submit illustrates the consequences of defying royal authority in the Persian court and serves as the pivotal event that sets the entire narrative of Esther in motion.
Biography
Vashti was the queen of Persia and the wife of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I). She is introduced in the book of Esther during a great feast the king held for his officials and servants. On the seventh day of the feast, when the king was drunk, he commanded Vashti to appear before him and his guests wearing her royal crown, to display her beauty. However, Vashti refused to come at the king's command, which greatly angered him. After consulting with his wise men, the king decided to remove Vashti as queen and give her royal position to another. This decision led to the selection of Esther as the new queen, setting the stage for her role in saving the Jewish people from Haman's plot. Vashti's refusal to appear before the king and her subsequent removal from her position is a key event in the early part of the book of Esther.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEsther 5 verses
- Esther 1:9
"Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes."
Study Esther → - Esther 1:11
"to bring Queen Vashti before him, wearing her royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and officials. For she was beautiful to behold."
Study Esther → - Esther 1:12
"Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became furious, and his anger burned within him."
Study Esther → - Esther 1:15
"“According to law,” he asked, “what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey the command of King Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs?”"
Study Esther → - Esther 1:16
"And in the presence of the king and his princes, Memucan replied, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the princes and the peoples in all the provinces of King Xerxes."
Study Esther →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | וַשְׁתִּי |
Vashti
anded the seven chamberlains who served in his presence to bring the queen into the assembly. We are told (Es 1:11) that his purpose was "to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look on." The king's command was met by Vashti with a mortifying refusal to obey. The reason which is sometimes assigned for her disobedience--that no man but the king was permitted to look upon the queen--is without foundation. Esther invites Haman on two occasions to accompany the king to a banquet at which she was present. Nor can it be said that there was any lack of recognition of Vashti's high dignity; the seven highest officials of the palace were sent to escort her. The refusal had to be visited with a punishment severe enough to reestablish the supremacy which it threatened to overthrow. She was, accordingly, divorced and dethroned.
There is no known reference to Vashti outside of Esther. The suggestion has been made that Vashti was an inferior wife, or one of the royal concubines. There is nothing, however, to support it; and it is, besides, directly opposed to several statements in the narrative. She is always named "queen" (Es 1:9,11,12,15-18). It is only (Es 1:19) when the decree is proposed to repudiate and degrade her that she is called merely "Vashti." She also (Es 1:9) presides at the banquet for the women. It is evident, therefore, that in the palace of the women there was no higher personage than Vashti.
John Urquhart
See WINEVAT.
volt (natsar, "to guard," "protest"): Isaiah's charge against Israel as "a people that .... lodge in the secret places" (<ref osisRef