Esther 1:15 - Forerunner Commentary

Esther 1:15

13 Then the king said to the ^awise men ^bwho understood the times (for this was the king’s manner toward all who knew law and justice,

14 those closest to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the ^aseven princes of Persia and Media, ^bwho had access to the king’s presence, and who¹ ranked highest in the kingdom):

15 “What shall we do to Queen Vashti, according to law, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus brought to her by the eunuchs?”

16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes: “Queen Vashti has not only wronged the king, but also all the princes, and all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

17 For the queen’s behavior will become known to all women, so that they will ^adespise their husbands in their eyes, when they report, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, but she did not come.’

18 This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media will say to all the king’s officials that they have heard of the behavior of the queen. Thus there will be excessive contempt and wrath.

19 If it pleases the king, let a royal¹ decree go out from him, and let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it will ^anot be altered, that Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.

20 When the king’s decree which he will make is proclaimed throughout all his empire (for it is great), all wives will ^ahonor their husbands, both great and small.”

Verse Comparison: Esther 1:15

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Esther 1:16 >>

American Standard Version
What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not done the bidding of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?

Amplified® Bible
[He said] According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti because she has not done the bidding of King Ahasuerus conveyed by the eunuchs?

Contemporary English Version
The king said to them, "Queen Vashti refused to come to me when I sent my servants for her. What does the law say I should do about that?"

Darby English Version
What shall be done to the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not performed the word of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?

Good News Bible
He said to these men, "I, King Xerxes, sent my servants to Queen Vashti with a command, and she refused to obey it! What does the law say that we should do with her?"

King James Version
What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?

New American Standard Bible
"According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus {delivered} by the eunuchs?"

New International Version
"According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?" he asked. "She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her."

New King James Version
“What shall we do to Queen Vashti, according to law, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus brought to her by the eunuchs?”

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
"According to law, what should happen to Queen Vashti, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?"

Revised Standard Version
"According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasu-e'rus conveyed by the eunuchs?"

Young's Literal Translation
`According to law, what -- to do with queen Vashti, because that she hath not done the saying of the king Ahasuerus by the hand of the eunuchs?'

New English Translation
The king asked,¹ “By law,² what should be done to Queen Vashti in light of the fact that she has not obeyed the instructions of King Ahasuerus conveyed through the eunuchs?”

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