Author Topic: Vashti is a wicked person - not a martyr for feminism  (Read 2329 times)

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Offline edu

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Vashti is a wicked person - not a martyr for feminism
« on: May 05, 2016, 03:17:33 PM »
http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16474#showrashi=true
The letters colored blue is Rashi's commentary as brought the Chabad Translation
Quote
Esther - Chapter 1
      
9 Also, Vashti the queen made a banquet for the women, in the royal house of King Ahasuerus.         

10 On the seventh day, when the king's heart was merry with wine, he ordered Mehuman, Bizzetha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains who ministered in the presence of King Ahasuerus.         
On the seventh day: Our Rabbis said that it was the Sabbath.         
11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was of comely appearance.         
12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's behest which was [brought] by the hand of the chamberlains, and the king became very wroth, and his anger burnt within him.         
But Queen Vashti refused: Our Rabbis said (Meg. 12b): Because leprosy broke out on her, in order that she should refuse and be killed. Because she would force Jewish girls to undress, and work on the Sabbath, it was decreed that she should be stripped naked on the Sabbath.         
became very wroth: because she sent him shameful words.         

13 And the king said to the wise men who knew the times-for so was the king's custom, [to present the case] before all who knew law and judgment.     
for so was the king’s custom: For it was the king’s custom in every judgment to present the matter before all who knew law and judgment.         
14 And the nearest to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, who sat first in the kingdom.         
And the nearest to him: to present his words before them were the following: Carshena, Shethar, etc.         
15 "According to the law, what shall be done to Queen Vashti, inasmuch as she did not comply with the order of the king, [brought] by the hand of the chamberlains?"         
According to the law what [is there] to do: This refers back to “And the king said to the wise men.”         
16 Then Memucan declared before the king and the princes, "Not against the king alone has Vashti the queen done wrong, but against all the princes and all the peoples that are in all King Ahasuerus's provinces.    
has… done wrong: Heb. עָוְתֳה, an expression of iniquity (עָוֹן).         
17 For the word of the queen will spread to all the women, to make them despise their husbands in their eyes, when they say, 'King Ahasuerus ordered to bring Vashti the queen before him, but she did not come.'    

For the word of the queen will spread to all the women: that she disgraced the king- [this will cause] all the women to despise their husbands as well.         

18 And this day, the princesses of Persia and Media who heard the word of the queen will say [the like] to all the princes of the king, and [there will be] much contempt and wrath.         
the princesses of Persia and Media, etc. will say: this word to all the princes; this is an ellipsis.         
and much contempt and wrath: And in this matter, there is much contempt and wrath.    
   
19 If it please the king, let a royal edict go forth from before him, and let it be inscribed in the laws of Persia and Media, and let it not be revoked, that Vashti shall not come before King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to her peer who is better than she.       
a royal edict: a royal edict of revenge, i.e., that he commanded to execute her.         
and let it be inscribed in the laws of Persia and Media: in the books of the statutes and the customs of the kingdom.         
and let it not be revoked: this statute from among them; this should be a statute and a law for anyone who shows contempt for her husband.         
that Vashti did not come: and therefore, she was executed.         

20 And let the verdict of the king be heard throughout his entire kingdom, although it is great, and all the women shall give honor to their husbands, both great and small."         
21 And the matter pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan.    
22 And he sent letters to all the king's provinces, to every province according to its script, and to every nationality according to its language, that every man dominate in his household and speak according to the language of his nationality.         
and speak according to the language of his nationality: He can compel his wife to learn his language if her native tongue is different.

Offline edu

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Re: Vashti is a wicked person - not a martyr for feminism
« Reply #1 on: May 05, 2016, 03:35:19 PM »
Because feminists like Hillary Clinton who resembles Vashti being the wife of the leader of a superpower (although obviously, Bill Clinton no longer holds the job, so the comparison is not perfect ) and they don't like the results of the Persian King's decree, some feminists are tempted to whitewash Vashti to make her into a martyr for feminism.
However, Vashti did not refuse the King's order for the sake of feminism.
She was just caught in a moment of shame, as a Divine punishment for shaming Jewish women on Shabbat, the 7th day of the week.