Ahasuerus is the prototype of the unstable, foolish ruler. He
sacrificed his wife Vashti to his friend Haman-Memucan, and later on
again his friend Haman to his wife Esther. (49) Folly possessed him,
too, when he arranged extravagant festivities for guests from afar,
before he had won, by means of kindly treatment, the friendship of his
surroundings, of the inhabitants of his capital. (50) Ridiculous is the
word that describes his edict bidding wives obey their husbands. Every
one who read it exclaimed: "To be sure, a man is master in his own
house!" However, the silly decree served its purpose. It revealed his
true character to the subjects of Ahasuerus, and thenceforward they
attached little importance to his edicts. This was the reason why the
decree of annihilation directed against the Jews failed of the effect
expected by Haman and Ahasuerus. The people regarded it as but another
of the king's foolish pranks, and therefore were ready to acquiesce in
the revocation of the edict when it came. (51)
The king's true character appeared when he grew sober after the episode
with Vashti. Learning that he had had her executed, he burst out
furiously against his seven counsellors, and in turn ordered them to
death. (52)
Foolish, too, is the only word to describe the manner in which he set
about discovering the most beautiful woman in his dominion. King David
on a similar occasion wisely sent out messengers who were to bring to
him the most beautiful maiden in the land, and there was none who was
not eager to enjoy the honor of giving a daughter of his to the king.
Ahasuerus's method was to have his servants gather together a multitude
of beautiful maidens and women from all parts, and among them he
proposed to make choice. The result of this system was that the women
concealed themselves to avoid being taken into the harem of the king,
when it was not certain that they would be found worthy of becoming his
queen. (53)
With his stupidity Ahasuerus combined wantonness. He ordered force to
be used in taking the maidens from their parents and the wives from
their husbands, and then he confined them in his harem. (54) On the
other hand, the moral sense of the heathen was so degraded that many
maidens displayed their charms to public view, so that they might be
sure to attract the admiring attention of the royal emissaries.
As for Esther, for four years Mordecai kept her concealed in a chamber,
so that the king's scouts could not discover her. But her beauty had
long been known to fame, and when they returned to Shushan, they had to
confess to the king, that the most superbly beautiful woman in the land
eluded their search. Thereupon Ahasuerus issued a decree ordaining the
death penalty for the woman who should secrete herself before his
emissaries. There was nothing left for Mordecai to do but fetch Esther
from her hiding-place, and immediately she was espied and carried to
the palace of the king. (55)