On the seventh day of the feast, when King Xerxes was in high spirits because of the wine-he told the seven eunuchs who attended him-….to bring Queen Vashti to him with the royal crown on her head. He wanted the nobles and all the other men to gaze on her beauty, for she was a very beautiful woman. But when they conveyed the king’s order to Queen Vashti, she refused to come. This made the kind furious, and he burned with anger.
He immediately consulted with his wise advisors, who knew all the Persian laws and customs, for he always asked for their advice…..They meet with the king regularly and held the highest positions in the empire.
“What must be done to Queen Vashti?” the king demanded. “What penalty does the law provide for a queen who refuses to obey the king’s orders, properly sent through eunuchs?”
Memucan answered the king and his nobles. “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but also every noble and citizen throughout your empire. Women everywhere will begin to despise their husbands when they learn that Queen Vashti refused to appear before the king.” (vv. 10-17, NLT)
“So if it please the king, we suggest that you issue a written decree, a low of the Persian and Medes that cannot be revoked. It should order that Queen Vashti be forever banished from the presence of King Xerxes and that the king should choose another queen more worthy than she.”When this decree is published through the king’s vast empire, husbands everywhere, whatever their rank, will receive proper respect from their wives.” (vv. 19-20, NLT)