The Book Of Esther: The Plot Thickens And Memucan's Misongyny Is Exposed.

Esther 1:10-12

Seventh day, heart of the King was merry with wine, told Mehuman, Bizzetha, Harbona, Bigtha Abagtha, Zethar, Carcas, seven eunuchs serving presently King Ahasuerus, bring Queen Vashti before the King, Royal Crown, to display beauty to all princes, very pleasing. Queen Vashti refused to come, Kings’s command delivered by Eunuchs. King became angry and wrath burned within.

After seven days of drinking, the King was clearly drunk. I know how the Hebrew puts it, the King was very merry with wine. Yep, I would be very happy with actor seven days of wine drinking myself. LOL For those who don't think that the wine of the Bible doesn't have any alcoholic content, this clearly shows the opposite. He then gets it in his mind, that it would be a great idea to have the seven eunuchs, which were serving him, go and fetch the Queen.

Now, there are two schools of thought here. Was the Queen drunk too and not thinking straight or did she out and out disobey the King? Either way, the queen decided she was going to have nothing to do with the Kings banquet or being paraded around as a posession of the king. Obviously, she refused and the king became very angry at her disobedience.

Esther 1:10-15

King spoke, Wise men understanding the times, speaking of the King in such a manner to all who understood law and justice, closest, Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, Memucan, seven princes of Persia and Media, beholding king's face, who sat first in the kingdom, dwelling first in the Kingdom. By the Law, what can be done Queen Vashti, upon that commandment King Ahasuerus eunuchs.

Being angered by Vasti’s disobedience, Ahasuerus immediately consulted his seven right hand men, men who were first in the kingdom. At first thought, you think, “Why does the king need to consult these wise princes? He’s the king." Why doesn’t he just have her beheaded, imprisoned or whatever he chooses. His response actually gives us an insight into that Kingdom and their laws.

When the Persian kings conquered a people, they didn’t run rough shod over them. The Persian Royalty would incorporate the people into their society. Even though he was King over the Empire, the Empire was ran like a confederation, where the Empire was a loose confederation of provinces, which were ran independently by princes, who answered to the king. Far too many times, if a queen or king or some popular officer was murdered, the Empire could easily be facing an uprising. Even though the armies of these provinces were loyal to the King, the King didn’t want to test that loyalty based on a whim or unpopular edict. Therefore, it was smart politics for the King to get the advice of his underlings.

So, the King asked these Princes, what could be done legally to the queen or without much mumbling from the masses. 

As an interesting side note, if you look in Strong's Concordance, you'll find the meanings of the seven princes, you'll find that you get a prophetic sentence. The exception is Tarshish, which you have to dig into the root meanings. Also, an interesting sidenote is that Tarshish can also mean Yellow Jasper, which is a Semitic term, pointing to Israel. Either way, the following sentence works.

Carshena means, The Illustrious One and it also means A Sleeping Lamb.

Shethar means, A Star
Admatha means, will be his testimony to them
Tarshish means, sea coast
Meres means, He will be Lofty
Marsena means, He will be Worthy
Memucan means, He will be Dignified

Putting it all together, it means:

The Illustrious One, A Sleeping Lamb. A Star will be his testimony to them at the sea coast. He will be Lofty, Worthy and Dignified.

This gives us another example of God working behind the scenes and communicating to us, because here, God sends us a message about the time of the Messiah and his coming onto the scene. Amazing Stuff.

Esther 1:16-18

In the presence the king and the princes, Memucan said, "Queen Vashti committed iniquity not only the king, but all princes, all the peoples who are in provinces King Ahasuerus.” “King, Word will go back and forth, all women will look contempt husbands saying, “King Ahasuerus ordered Queen Vashti, come in his presence, come not.” This day, princesses of Persia and Media who heard queen word will speak all the king princes, much contempt and wrath.”

Here, Memucan, not only answers the King, but stirs the pot, which makes you wonder if he already had a problem with Vashti. Remember, Vashti was a daughter of the Babylonian King, a long time enemy of everyone. So, it's not hard to imagine, Memucan has an agenda, which will come to fruition with the King's coming referendum.

Anyway, back to the story, Memucan indicates that not only did Vashti insult and commit an egregious infraction against the King, but all the people, especially the men, who have independent thinking wives. It has been mentioned, in more places than one, that Memucan must have been hempecked and he finally had a chance to get back at his wife. Well, that may be true, but there is no evidence to that.

However, Memucan does appear to be a misogynist and he uses the Vashti incident to not only to put an end to Vashti, but get his digs in to all the women of the empire. He basically tells the King, that if he lets Vashti get away with this infraction against the King, the woman of the empire will cause all kinds of problems for the men of the Kingdom and he surely can't have this issue and be remembered as a Great King.

Esther 1:19-22

If please king, royal edict go forth, let it be inscribed, laws of Persia and Media, never revoked, that Vashti shall not come before King Ahasuerus, let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. Kings verdict, when heard throughout kingdom, entirely, women shall give honor to their husbands, great and small." Words well pleased King and Princes, King did Memucan said, sent letters all king's provinces, every province, as scripted, all people, every man master in his household, speaking according language of all people.

Memucan continues, by recommending that the King not only punish Vashti, but banish her and find someone else to replace her. He goes on to suggest that the King put the "Submission of Women"  into the Law of the Empire. He drives it home by suggesting that the "Women Submission Act" be entered as never to be revoked.

His misogyny then seethes out like the stink of a rotten carcass. He uses this time of the Kings anger to say to reveal his agenda. He tells him that when the King's decree is heard, all the women will not only submit to their men, but give honor. Can't you just see his mischievous smirk on his face?

Well, bottom line, the King did all of what Memucan suggested, by sending out letters to every province and in every language. You could almost imagine that there were posters on every direction sign and street post, within the kingdom. This is a great example why we need to take a step back, when we become angry become responding. Clearly the King went way overboard, in his reaction. Also, it shows that Satan will utilize even our closest allies to guide you into the sin of over-reaction and possibly lashing out at our loved ones. Don't let your anger get the best of you and beware of evil advisors with evil agendas.

Also, we find out, in the next verse, that Vashti is casted out, but that is for next time.