Teks -- Esther 1:12 (NET)

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

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Est 1:12 - Refused

Being favoured in this refusal by the law of Persia, which was to keep mens wives, and especially queens, from the view of other men.

JFB: Est 1:10-12 - On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine

As the feast days advanced, the drinking was more freely indulged in, so that the close was usually marked by great excesses of revelry.

JFB: Est 1:10-12 - he commanded . . . the seven chamberlains

These were the eunuchs who had charge of the royal harem. The refusal of Vashti to obey an order which required her to make an indecent exposure of herself before a company of drunken revellers, was becoming both the modesty of her sex and her rank as queen; for, according to Persian customs, the queen, even more than the wives of other men, was secluded from the public gaze. Had not the king's blood been heated with wine, or his reason overpowered by force of offended pride, he would have perceived that his own honor, as well as hers, was consulted by her dignified conduct.

Clarke: Est 1:12 - Vashti refused to come

Vashti refused to come - And much should she be commended for it. What woman, possessing even a common share of prudence and modesty, could consent to expose herself to the view of such a group of drunken Bacchanalians? Her courage was equal to her modesty: she would resist the royal mandate, rather than violate the rules of chaste decorum

Her contempt of worldly grandeur, when brought in competition with what every modest woman holds dear and sacred, is worthy of observation. She well knew that this act of disobedience would cost her her crown, if not her life also: but she was regardless of both, as she conceived her virtue and honor were at stake

Her humility was greatly evidenced in this refusal. She was beautiful; and might have shown herself to great advantage, and have had a fine opportunity of gratifying her vanity, if she had any: but she refused to come

Hail, noble woman! be thou a pattern to all thy sex on every similar occasion! Surely, every thing considered, we have few women like Vashti; for some of the highest of the land will dress and deck themselves with the utmost splendor, even to the selvedge of their fortunes, to exhibit themselves at balls, plays, galas, operas, and public assemblies of all kinds, (nearly half naked), that they may be seen and admired of men, and even, to the endless reproach and broad suspicion of their honor and chastity, figure away in masquerades! Vashti must be considered at the top of her sex: -

Rara avis in terris, nigroque simillima cygno

A black swan is not half so rare a bird.

Defender: Est 1:12 - chamberlains

The "chamberlains" were eunuchs in charge of the king's harem. Each woman in the harem was actually married to the king; they were more than simply concubines. One - in this case, the beautiful Vashti - was considered the primary wife and recognized as the queen, from whom one son would inherit the kingdom. This son probably was Artaxerxes, who was the emperor under whom Ezra and Nehemiah served. Artaxerxes thus became a stepson of Esther (Xerxes died about thirteen years after Esther became queen). Vashti's refusal to display herself before a drunken crowd of government officials was an act of illegal disobedience to her husband, yet it was an act of moral courage before her Creator."

TSK: Est 1:12 - the queen // refused // by his chamberlains // was the king // burned

the queen : This refusal of Vashti’ s, to expose herself to the view of such a group of drunken Bacchanalians, was highly praiseworthy, and became the dignity of her rank and the modesty of her sex.

refused : Gen 3:16; Eph 5:22, Eph 5:24; 1Pe 3:1

by his chamberlains : Heb. which was by the hand of his eunuchs

was the king : Pro 19:12, Pro 20:2; Dan 2:12, Dan 3:13, Dan 3:19; Nah 1:6; Rev 6:16, Rev 6:17

burned : Exo 32:19, Exo 32:22; Deu 29:20; Psa 74:1, Psa 79:5

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Est 1:12 - Vashti refused to come

Vashti refused to come being favoured in this refusal by the laws and customs of Persia, which was to keep men’ s wives, and especially queens, as much as might be from the view of other men.

Haydock: Est 1:12 - Fury

Fury. This is the usual consequences of excess. (Worthington)

Gill: Est 1:12 - But the queen refused to came at the king's commandment by his chamberlains // therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him

But the queen refused to came at the king's commandment by his chamberlains,.... Even though he sent by them again, as the Targum; and so says Josephus ^o; which might not purely arise from pride in her, and contempt of him, but because she might conclude he was drunk, and knew not well what he did; and therefore had she come at his command, when he was himself and sober, he might blame her for coming, nay, use her ill for it, and especially if she was to come naked, as say the Jews ^p; and besides, it was contrary to the law of the Persians, as not only Josephus ^q, but Plutarch ^r observes, which suffered not women to be seen in public; and particularly did not allow their wives to be with them at feasts, only their concubines and harlots, with whom they could behave with more indecency; as for their wives, they were kept out of sight, at home ^s; and therefore Vashti might think it an indignity to be treated as an harlot or concubine:

therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him; which was the more fierce, as he was inflamed with wine.