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VASHTI

(Heb. waštî)

The queen of Persian king Ahasuerus (Xerxes I, 486/485-465 b.c.e.). At the culmination of a great display of his wealth before his satraps, Ahasuerus orders Vashti (cf. Pers. vahišta, “the best”; uas, “the beloved” or “desired one”) to display her beauty before the assembly (Esth. 1:11). Her refusal (Esth. 1:12) enrages Xerxes, who banishes her and proclaims that all women show obeisance to their husbands (vv. 16-22). The king’s aides search the kingdom for young beauties to replace Vashti, and young Jewish virgin Esther succeeds her as queen (Esth. 2:2-17).

Scholarly attempts to identify Vashti as a historical figure (e.g., Amestris, Herodotus Hist. 7.61; 9.108-12; Stateira, the queen of Artaxerxes II) have been unconvincing.

Jewish tradition depicts her as granddaughter of Nebuchadnezzar and daughter of Belshazzar, neither favorably disposed toward the Jews. Jewish lore further views Vashti’s own banquet (Esth. 1:9) as laden with political intrigue; the nobles’ wives are in fact captives, used as insurance that their husbands not rebel against Xerxes. One account portrays Vashti as both immodest and immoral, fully intending to parade nude before the royal guests but soon found to have leprosy. Another version says she thinks the king would be killed if his nobles see her beauty, for “they will want to enjoy me themselves, and will kill you” (Esth. Rab. 3:14); when Xerxes repeats his request, she insults him by reminding him he once had been a stable boy in her father Belshazzar’s stable. Jewish lore maintains that Vashti was put to death on the sabbath because during her queenship she forced Jewish maidens to disrobe and work in the nude on the sabbath.

Robin Gallaher Branch

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

VASHTI

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)