Who was Queen Vashti?
Jun 08, 2020 · Vashti, biblical character. Vashti Refuses the King's Summons by Edwin Long. Nationality. Persian. Occupation. Queen of Achaemenid Empire. Known for. figures in the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible. Click to see full answer.
What does Vashti stand for?
Biblically, Vashti was the queen to Ahasuerus who ruled over the lands from India to Ethiopia. Historically, Ahasuerus has been identified with Xerxes I who ruled 20 satrapies from 485-464 BCE. There is no mention of Vashti, nor of Queen Esther …
Why was Queen Vashti banished from the Kingdom of Xerxes?
To be considered for the position of queen, Vashti (circa 475 B.C.) must have been a member of one of the powerful and aristocratic families in the Persian empire. She was probably designated from birth as being a suitable wife for the emperor Ahasuerus , so she grew up very sure of her own status and was trained as a possible future queen .
Who are Xerxes and Vashti in the story of Esther?
Vashti is the Persian queen to King Ahasuerus mentioned in the first two chapters of the book of Esther. The Scripture records that "she was lovely to look at" (Esther 1:11). King Ahasuerus had just spent six months displaying "the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness" when he decided to end this exhibition with a seven-day feast (Esther 1:4).
Is Vashti an Indian name?
The name Vashti is a girl's name of Persian origin meaning "lovely". This Persian name with an Old Testament pedigree has a warm Sasha-like feel. The Biblical Vashti was a queen who refused her husband's orders to appear naked in front of his party guests and so was deposed in favor of Esther.
Who was Queen Vashti father?
The Banquet of Queen Vashti, from the 1617 Scroll of Esther from Ferrara, Italy. Institution: National Library of Israel, Jerusalem. According to on midrashic tradition, Vashti was a princess and Ahasuerus was her father's steward who acquired regal status by marrying her.
What does Vashti mean in Hebrew?
In Biblical Names the meaning of the name Vashti is: That drinks, thread.
What can we learn from Queen Vashti?
The king was up to no good. Once Queen Vashti made up her mind, she was ready to deal with the consequences. She teaches us about the role of integrity and courage; integrity takes courage. Although the women at her banquet overhear the conversation between the eunuchs and Vashti, she stands alone.
What happened to Vashti in the Bible?
She was either executed or banished for her refusal to appear at the king's banquet to show her beauty as Ahasuerus wished, and was succeeded as queen by Esther, a Jewess. That refusal might be better understood via the Jewish tradition that she was ordered to appear naked.
Where is Queen Vashti mentioned in the Bible?
the Book of EstherThe first wife of Ahasuerus, the king of Persia, Vashti is the featured character in the first episode of the Book of Esther. Ahasuerus summons Vashti to appear before the company with her royal crown upon her head, so he can show off her beauty.
What is Ruth's nationality?
She was a Moabite woman who married an Israelite.
Is King Ahasuerus the same as Xerxes?
Ahasuerus, a royal Persian name occurring throughout the Old Testament. Immediately preceding Artaxerxes I in the line of Persian kings, Ahasuerus is evidently to be identified with Xerxes.
How many wives did Xerxes I have?
Xerxes I is notable in Western history for his invasion of Greece in 480 BC....Xerxes I.Xerxes I 𐎧𐏁𐎹𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎠DiedAugust 465 BC (aged approximately 53)BurialNaqsh-e RostamSpouseAmestrisIssueDarius Hystaspes Artaxerxes I Arsames Amytis12 more rows
How old was Esther when she was made queen?
We may assume, therefore, that she was about 14 years of age when she succeeded to the throne. As Ahasuerus enjoyed only 14 more years on the throne, we conclude that Esther was but 28 years old when the couple met their deaths.Mar 6, 2020
What does Hadassah mean in English?
myrtle treeMeaning:myrtle tree. Hadassah as a girl's name is of Hebrew origin meaning "myrtle tree". In Biblical references, Hadassah is the Persian Queen Esther's Hebrew name.
What tribe is Esther from?
tribe of BenjaminShe is identified as the daughter of Avihail (Esth 2:15) and the cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, from the tribe of Benjamin (Esth 2:5–7). Not much is revealed about her character, but she is described as beautiful (2:7) and obedient (2:10), and she appears to be pliant and cooperative.
What does Vashti represent?
To these, Vashti represents the epitome of self-respect and self-determinism.
Who was the queen of Ahasuerus?
Biblically, Vashti was the queen to Ahasuerus who ruled over the lands from India to Ethiopia. Historically, Ahasuerus has been identified with Xerxes I who ruled 20 satrapies from 485-464 BCE. There is no mention of Vashti, nor of Queen Esther in any historical works outside of scripture..
Who is Esther in Purim?
Esther, a Jewess, is chosen and the story of how she saves the Jewish people by her intervention with the king is the focus for the Purim Festival. Esther disobeys her husband’s commands, as did Vashti, but in Esther’s case, she does so with a display of humility that wins her the king’s favor. In other words, whereas Vashti was openly ...
Who is Vashti in the Bible?
Vashti in the Bible was the wife of King Xerxes (or Ahasuerus in many translations). King Xerxes and Queen Vashti of Persia figure in the story of Esther, a beautiful Jewish girl living in Ahasuerus’ kingdom, and her cousin, Mordecai, who had raised her after the death of her parents. Both Esther and Mordecai were descendants ...
Does the book of Esther mention God?
The book of Esther is the only book in the Bible that does not mention God at all. But He is there nonetheless, evident in His divine providence. Every aspect of the story of Esther, from Queen Vashti’s disobedience to Haman’s wicked motives to Esther’s beauty to Mordecai’s wisdom, work together to save the Jewish people.
Was Esther a queen?
In God’s providence, Esther was eventually made queen in Vashti’s place. She was the right person in the right place at the right time, for it was through Esther’s exalted position in the palace that God later preserved His people from annihilation. According to the Aggadah (or Haggadah), a book of Jewish tradition and folklore, ...
What does Vashti mean?
In the modern world, Vashti's name is believed to mean "beautiful," but there have been various etymological attempts to understand the word as something more akin to "that drinks" or "drunkenness.".
Who is Vashti in the Bible?
Vashti in the Bible. In the biblical Book of Esther, Vashti is the wife of King Ahasuerus, the ruler of Persia.
Who ordered Vashti to be brought before him?
For the queen's behavior will make all wives despise their husbands, as they reflect that King Ahasuerus himself ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come" (Esther 1:16-18). Memucan then suggests that Vashti should be banished and the title of queen be given to another woman who is "more worthy" (1:19) of the honor. ...
Where did King Ahasuerus celebrate his third year?
According to the Book of Esther, during his third year on the throne, King Ahasuerus (also spelled Achashverosh, אחשורוש) decided to host a party in the city of Shushan. The celebration lasted for half a year and concluded with a week-long drinking festival, during which both the king and his guests consumed vast quantities of alcohol.
Why did Vashti refuse to be a queen?
Vashti was among his most beautiful possessions. But when the king called for Queen Vashti to parade her beauty to the people and the officials, she refused him. For a king attempting to put his power on display, his wife’s refusal served as an embarrassing and humiliating blow to his ego.
What did the king say to Vashti?
A common belief among Bible commentators is that when the king commanded the eunuchs to “bring Queen Vashti before him with her royal crown” (Esther 1:11), he intended that she come wearing only the crown and nothing else. Perhaps Vashti’s modesty kept her away.
How many provinces did Xerxes rule?
He ruled over 127 provinces of an area that is now known as the Middle Eastern region of the world, along with parts of Africa. Xerxes’ empire was vast and mighty. Vashti was his queen. History records that the king developed a passionate hunger to conquer Greece.
Who is Cathy McIntosh?
Cathy McIntosh is a Christian Speaker, Faith Coach, Blogger, and Author of the prayer devotional for marriage: 31 Specific Prayers for Your Marriage. Cathy has taught, mentored, inspired, and ministered to God’s women for nearly 20 years and is passionate about embracing God’s joy, even amid jumbled lives.You can find her books and blog at: https://cathymcintosh.com
Did Vashti get banned from the palace?
Vashti surely didn’t foresee her ban ishment from the palace, yet the Lord used it in miraculous ways. It impacted generations of people. On days when the unexpected happens in our own lives, we can trust that God is up to something mighty. He is active and involved in every situation and will work out each detail for our good and His glory.
What does the Bible say about all things working together?
It says, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose” (HCSB). God has proven this verse to us time and time again. As we personally face awful events, we learn that we can trust in God’s plan.
Can we trust God?
We can trust God fearlessly, however, knowing that He works through His unfailing love for us. When we make mistakes, we tend to think we’ve “ruined” something. God shows us through Vashti that His perfect plan cannot be thwarted by the sins and mistakes of men and women. He always accomplishes His purpose.
Overview
Popular culture
• Vashti is the name of one of the principal characters in E. M. Forster's prophetic 1909 science fiction piece "The Machine Stops".
• Vashti is the subject of the second chapter of László Krasznahorkai's 2008 novel Seiobo There Below.
• In Charlotte Brontë's 1853 novel Villette, the protagonist Lucy Snowe calls an actress she admires Vashti. A chapter of this novel is called Vashti.
Etymology and meaning
The meaning of the name Vashti is uncertain. As a modern Persian name it is understood to mean "goodness" but most likely it originated from the reconstructed Old Persian *vaištī, related to the superlative adjective vahišta- "best, excellent" found in the Avesta, with the feminine termination -ī; hence "excellent woman, best of women".
Hoschander proposed that it originated as a shortening of an unattested "vashtateira", which he …
In the Book of Esther
In the Book of Esther, Vashti is the first wife of King Ahasuerus. While the king holds a magnificent banquet for his princes, nobles and servants, she holds a separate banquet for the women. On the seventh day of the banquet, when the king's heart was "merry with wine", the king orders his seven chamberlainsto summon Vashti to come before him and his guests wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty. Vashti refuses to come, and the king becomes angry…
Historical identification
Because the text lacks any references to known events, some historians believe that the narrative of Esther is fictional, and the name Ahasuerus is used to refer to a fictionalized Xerxes I, in order to provide an aetiologyfor Purim. Some historians additionally argue that, because the Persian kings did not marry outside a handful of Persian noble families, it is unlikely that there was a Jewis…
In the Midrash
According to the Midrash, Vashti was the great-granddaughter of King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon, the granddaughter of King Amel-Marduk and the daughter of King Belshazzar. During Vashti's father's rule, mobs of Medes and Persians attacked. They murdered Belshazzar that night. Vashti, unknowing of her father's death, ran to her father's quarters. There she was kidnapped by King Darius of Persia. But Darius took pity on her and gave her to his son, Ahasuerus, to marry.
As a feminist icon
Vashti's refusal to obey the summons of her drunken husband has been admired as heroic in many feminist interpretations of the Book of Esther. Early feminists admired Vashti's principle and courage. Harriet Beecher Stowe called Vashti's disobedience the "first stand for woman's rights." Elizabeth Cady Stanton wrote that Vashti "added new glory to [her] day and generation...by her disobedience; for 'Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.'"
External links
• Vashti at Jewish Encyclopedia
• "Vashti, Queen of Queens" audio file, at John Whiting, "My KPFA - A Historical Footnote: Compendium Cliché Productions: The Jim Armstrong Legacy"