Esther, born Hadassah, became Queen when she finds favor in the King’s eyes (2:8–20). King Ahasuerus had made arrangements to choose a new queen from a selection of beautiful young women from throughout the empire (2:1–4). Among these women is a Jewish orphan named Esther.
King Ahasuerus, the ruler of the Persian Empire, holds a lavish 180-day banquet, initially for his court and dignitaries and afterward a seven-day banquet for all inhabitants of the capital city, Shushan (Esther 1:1–9).
On the seventh day of the latter banquet, Ahasuerus orders the queen, Vashti, to display her beauty before the guests by coming before them wearing her crown (1:10–11). She refuses, infuriating Ahasuerus, who on the advice of his counselors removes her from her position as an example to other women who might be emboldened to disobey their husbands (1:12–19). A decree follows that “every man should bear rule in his own house” (1:20–22).