The World of Esther
...play of the ruthlessness of this kingdom is when the King finds out that Esther is a Jew in Esther 8:8, “And you may further write with regard to the Jews as you see fit. [Write it] in the King’s name and seal it with the king’s signet, for an edict that has been written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet may not be revoked.” So in other words the king recognizes his mistake and still does not recall his order. However, the King graciously allows the Jews to defend themselves. This analysis also leads to the issue of genocide. Today it would be hard to imagine the order of a massacre (this still happens today) of an entire people. In the situation of Esther, the King did not have a problem with the Jewish people; this command was brought about because of the hatred of one man, Haman. Through the actions of one man, an entire culture will be destroyed, but on the inverse of this situation, through the actions of one woman, an entire culture is saved. Reading Esther, a person would come to the conclusion that she did an extraordinary feat by saving the Jewish people, but when you read between the lines you truly understand how difficult it was to accomplish these things being a woman. The treatment of women as second class citizens starts in the first chapter when the King has a banquet for “high and low” alike. This banquet had gold, silver, blue and white cotton, royal wine… the whole nine yards. Then there is a strong verse in chapter 1, “In addition, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for women, in the royal palace of King Ahaserus.” That’s it. No gold and silver or Blue and white cotton, just that the women could get together and eat. One could conclude that there were three classes of people in this kingdom: high, low and women, the latter being the lowest of the three groups. There are other indicators that women were treated at a lower level then men. In verses13-22 King Ahaserus commands his wife Queen Vashti to come out to the banquet, which she refuses to do so. She is then ordered to never see the King again. This order is declared because of the men’s power over the women would be taken away. Verses 16-18 of chapter 1, “Queen Vashti has committed and offense not only against your majesty but also against all the peoples in all the provinces of King Ahaserus. For the queen’s behavior will make all wives despise their husbands…. This very day the ladies of Persia and Media, who have heard of the queen’s behavior, will cite it to all Your Majesty’s officials, and there will be no end of scorn and provocation!” So what these verses are saying is that women will now do what they want, instead of obeying every whim of their husband. What a horrible thought. Women in Esther are also paraded around as cattle. When the King dismisses Vashti, he brings the most beautiful women and chooses on...