In many ways, the poor woman has received bad press. No doubt his relationship to God and past faithfulness was able to sustain him during this crisis. Job's wife uttered her words in the midst of a spontaneous outburst of pain, but Herod's wife's advice was calculated, cold, and pure evil. Herod's story, in particular, shows how powerful the emotions and senses can be, even when pitted against conscience and reason. No wonder Scripture talks so much about keeping our bodies and sensual pleasures under control.
Scripture makes no pretense to hide our faults, even the faults of the heroes of faith.
How nice, then, when we're given examples of those who, despite the traps of lust, vanity, and pride, stand firm for principle. The point of contention. Gorgeous Queen Vashti refuses to flaunt her beauty as commanded to the drunken audience. Vashti, standing on principle despite great personal cost to herself, lost her position as queen. Little is known about this remarkable woman, Vashti, who, even in such a male-dominated culture, refused to compromise her modesty.