The Bachelor: Ancient Persian Style
by Anybody here into the ubiquitous reality shows on TV these days? The Bachelor seems to be a huge hit – one guy surrounded by twenty five gorgeous women. If they had cameras and reality shows back in Persia around 400 BC, I don’t think the content of the following story could be shown on national television.
If you think that the content (and the dress code) on the show The Bachelor are a bit racy, you probably would have been horrified at the contest set up for King Xerxes, who was king of Persia from 486-465 BC.
King Xerxes was a rather proud and impulsive man, accustomed to having people ask “how high” on their way up whenever he said “Jump!” He threw some pretty impressive parties at his fortress in Susa. In the third year of his reign, he invited all of his princes, officials, and all of the military officers of Media and Persia, and other assorted noblemen to an extravagant celebration that lasted six months! And on the heels of that party, he gave a special seven day nosh-up for all of his palace servants and officials. I’m sure they deserved it, after serving the King and all of those guests for six months!
In the meantime, his official queen, Vashti, gave a banquet for the women of the palace. On the last day of his binge-fest, when Xerxes was at least three sheets to the wind, he commanded his attendants to fetch Queen Vashti to come to his party. He wanted all the men to see how beautiful she was. She refused to come. I can’t say that I blame her, but Xerxes was furious. He consulted with his lawyers to ask what penalty the laws of Persia could provide for a queen who refuses to obey the king’s orders.
One of the lawyers, Memucan answered: “Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes.
“For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.’
This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen’s conduct will respond to all the king’s nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord.
“Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she.
Then when the king’s edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.” (Esther 1:16-20)
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Post Commentrutherfranc
On February 18, 2009 at 10:50 am
very clever of you to associate the old with the new.. history does repeat itself, always. waiting for the continuation, don`t take too long..
R J Grant
On February 18, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Oh no, you don’t write a great part one and leave me hanging for part two. You could get banished or something. Let’s go, out with it!
Grant
Lee Altman
On February 18, 2009 at 6:16 pm
I agree with RJ come on with part 2, good reading
Betty Carew
On February 18, 2009 at 7:48 pm
I was just getting into it Karen I will look for part 2 if you have it published . Great write
Ruby Hawk
On February 18, 2009 at 9:09 pm
It’s one ofmy favorite bible stories. You did an outstanding job.
Yovita Siswati
On February 18, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Interesting. I wait for part 2.
Catelin Hoover
On February 21, 2009 at 10:38 pm
I was about to apologize for not being more attentive to reading your post sooner, (caregiver duties), but now I am pleased I delayed as I can go straight to the remaining sequels. This is a wonder rendition of the story of Esther (one of my favorites), Karen. I wish I would have been this clever when telling it to my younsgers in Children’s Church and the Kid’s Club!