Ahasuerus and Vashti

Sources

Some time afterward, when the anger of King Ahasuerus subsided, he thought of Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her.

On the seventh day, when the king was merry with wine, he ordered Mehuman, Bizzetha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs in attendance on King Ahasuerus, to bring Queen Vashti before the king wearing a royal diadem, to display her beauty to the peoples and the officials; for she was a beautiful woman. But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command conveyed by the eunuchs. The king was greatly incensed, and his fury burned within him. Then the king consulted the sages learned in procedure…

He remembered Vashti. Her beauty, and he became sad.

Rashi on Esther 2:1:1

Rabbi José said: It was the universal custom of the kings of Media when they were eating and drinking to cause their women to come before them stark naked, playing and dancing, in order to see the beauty of their figures. When the wine entered the heart of Ahasuerus, he wished to act in this manner with Vashti the queen. She was the daughter of a king, and she was not willing to do this. He decreed concerning her, and she was slain. When the wine had passed from the heart of Ahasuerus, he sought after Vashti, but he did not find her…

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 49:12

“To bring Queen Vashti before the king with a royal crown, to display her beauty to the peoples and the princes, for she was of fair appearance” (Esther 1:11).
Rabbi Aivu said: The atonement of Israel is that when Israel eats, drinks, and rejoices, they bless, and praise, and acclaim The Holy One blessed be He. But when the nations of the world eat and drink, they engage in matters of lewdness. This one says: Medians are most beautiful; that one says: Persians are most beautiful. That foolish one [Aḥashverosh] said to them: ‘The vessel that this man uses [i.e…

Esther Rabbah 3:13-15

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