Queen Vashti Deposed
The king turns to the men who understand law and custom, including the seven princes closest to him, and asks what should be done with Vashti for disobeying his command.
T13hen the king consulted the wise men who knew the times, for it was customary for him to confer with the experts in law and justice. 14His closest advisors were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and ranked highest in the kingdom. 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?”
Memucan argues that Vashti has wronged not only the king but the whole empire, because other women may hear of her refusal and begin to despise their husbands.
16And 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. 17For the conduct of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’ 18This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in much contempt and wrath.
He advises that an irreversible decree be written: Vashti must never again enter the king's presence, and her royal position should be given to another. He claims the decree will make women honor their husbands throughout the kingdom.
19So if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree, and let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti shall never again enter the presence of King Xerxes, and that her royal position shall be given to a woman better than she. 20The edict the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom — and so all women, from the least to the greatest, will honor their husbands.”
The counsel pleases the king and his princes, so letters are sent to every province in its own script and language declaring that every man should rule in his own household.
21The king and his princes were pleased with this counsel; so the king did as Memucan advised. 22He sent letters to all the provinces of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be master of his own household.