Esther 1:13-20 Meaning: Who Were the King’s Wise Men?
13Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times (for it was the king’s custom to consult those who knew law and judgment;
14and next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom),
15“What shall we do to Queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the King Ahasuerus by the eunuchs?”
16Memucan answered before the king and the princes, “Vashti the queen has not done wrong to just the king, but also to all the princes, and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus.
17For this deed of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to show contempt for their husbands when it is reported, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she didn’t come.’
18Today, the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s deed will tell all the king’s princes. This will cause much contempt and wrath.
19“If it pleases the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be altered, that Vashti may never again come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.
20When the king’s decree which he shall make is published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give their husbands honor, both great and small.”
13Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
14And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king’s face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
15What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
16And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
17For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
18Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king’s princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.
19If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
20And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.
13Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment;
14and the next unto him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom),
15What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not done the bidding of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
16And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
17For this deed of the queen will come abroad unto all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
18And this day will the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the deed of the queen say the like unto all the king’s princes. So will there arise much contempt and wrath.
19If it please the king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
20And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give to their husbands honor, both to great and small.
13And the king saith to wise men, knowing the times--for so is the word of the king before all knowing law and judgment,
14and he who is near unto him is Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, Memucan, seven heads of Persia and Media seeing the face of the king, who are sitting first in the kingdom--
15`According to law, what--to do with queen Vashti, because that she hath not done the saying of the king Ahasuerus by the hand of the eunuchs?'
16And Memucan saith before the king and the heads, `Not against the king by himself hath Vashti the queen done perversely, but against all the heads, and against all the peoples that are in all provinces of the king Ahasuerus;
17for go forth doth the word of the queen unto all the women, to render their husbands contemptible in their eyes, in their saying, The king Ahasuerus said to bring in Vashti the queen before him, and she did not come;
18yea, this day do princesses of Persia and Media, who have heard the word of the queen, say so to all heads of the king, even according to the sufficiency of contempt and wrath.
19`If to the king it be good, there goeth forth a royal word from before him, and it is written with the laws of Persia and Media, and doth not pass away, that Vashti doth not come in before the king Ahasuerus, and her royalty doth the king give to her companion who is better than she;
20and the sentence of the king that he maketh hath been heard in all his kingdom--for it is great--and all the wives give honour to their husbands, from great even unto small.'
13And the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for so was the king's business [conducted] before all that knew law and judgment;
14and the next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, [and] Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and who sat first in the kingdom),
15What shall be done to the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not performed the word of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
16Then said Memucan before the king and the princes, The queen Vashti has not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
17For the act of the queen will come abroad to all women, so as to render their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when they shall say, The king Ahasuerus commanded the queen Vashti to be brought in before him, and she came not!
18And the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's act, will say it this day to all the king's princes, and there will be contempt and anger enough.
19If it please the king, let a royal order go forth from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it may not pass, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to another that is better than she;
20and when the king's edict which he shall make shall be heard throughout his realm — for it is great — all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, from the greatest to the least.
Meaning in one sentence
Were the wise men astrologers or legal experts? This passage shows how human counsel can be flawed, yet God works through it all.
Context
The king was furious. Vashti had refused his summons, and Persian law had no ready answer. So Ahasuerus turned to the men who always sat near him: the seven princes of Persia and Media, and a group described as the wise men who knew the times. What exactly did that mean? Some see astrologers reading the stars for the right moment to act. Others read it as historians who knew precedent and custom. Either way, the king wanted a legal way to punish his queen. The reply came from Memucan, the last of the seven. He spoke not just to the king but for the princes, warning that Vashti’s defiance would spread like fire through every home in the empire. His proposal was swift and permanent: remove Vashti and replace her with someone better. The advice pleased the king, and a decree was issued that could never be revoked.
Key Words
Three Hebrew phrases shape this scene. First, the raw term for these advisors is chakamim, wise men, the same root used for skilled craftsmen and for sages who know God’s ways. But here their wisdom is tied to knowing ha’itim, the times. That could mean reading the heavens for lucky hours or studying past events to inform the present. The word itself bends both ways. Second, when the king asks for what to do “according to law,” the Hebrew word is dat, a Persian loanword for a royal decree or statute. This is not God’s law but the king’s own code, a human system designed to protect the throne. Third, Memucan says Vashti has done “wrong”, the verb avtah carries the weight of willful rebellion, even perversity. He frames her refusal as an attack on the social order. Together, these words show a court more concerned with preserving power than with justice. The wise men knew their king’s customs well, but that does not mean they saw clearly.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have noticed that the wise men’s advice was more political than principled. John Gill, an English Baptist, identified them as astrologers who claimed to know the right time for every royal action. The Geneva Bible notes simply that they “knew the times” from history and custom, a more practical reading. Methodist commentator Adam Clarke called Memucan’s reasoning “inconsequent and false,” pointing out that Vashti’s single refusal did not threaten every marriage in Persia. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges observes that no existing law covered Vashti’s case, so Memucan proposed a new one to cover the king’s embarrassment. All these voices agree on one thing: the counsel came from men who served the king’s pride, not from God. The text does not applaud them; it simply records what they said and what happened next.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading assumes these wise men gave sound, godly advice because they are called wise. In fact, the book of Esther never says their counsel was from God. Scripture elsewhere warns that human wisdom can be self-serving (1 Corinthians 2:14). Their plan protected the king’s reputation and their own authority, but it was driven by fear of what women might do if they followed Vashti’s example. The text invites us to see how even the “wisest” advisors can be blinded by pride and politics.
Living This Out
Who do you turn to when you are angry or embarrassed? Ahasuerus asked men who were experts in law but not necessarily in truth. Their advice made things worse for everyone, Vashti lost her place, the king hardened his heart, and a decree went out that could not be undone. This week, notice where you seek counsel. Do you only ask people who will agree with you, or do you invite voices that challenge your assumptions? More importantly, do you bring your decisions to God in prayer, asking for wisdom that is pure and peaceable (James 3:17)? You may not be a king, but every choice you make shapes your home, your relationships, and your heart.
Main takeaway: Even the most respected human wisdom can be flawed; only God’s wisdom is fully trustworthy, and He works through our flawed choices.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The king was upset, so he asked his helpers what to do. His helpers gave bad advice because they were worried about themselves. It is always better to ask God for help when you are upset.
For ages 9, 12
Ahasuerus asked the smartest men in his kingdom, but their advice was selfish and unfair. They made a law that hurt Queen Vashti and everyone else. This shows that even very smart people can be wrong if they are scared or proud. When you need advice, first pray and ask God to show you what is right. Then listen to people who care about the truth, not just about saving face.
Questions People Ask
Were the wise men astrologers or legal experts?
Scholars disagree. Some read 'who knew the times' as astrologers who watched the stars for the right moment to act. Others see it as historians who knew past laws and customs. The Hebrew phrase can mean either, and the book of Esther does not settle the question. Both readings show that the king trusted human systems of wisdom rather than seeking God directly.
Why did Vashti refuse the king’s command?
The text does not give her reasons. She may have been protecting her dignity, the king wanted to display her beauty while he was drunk, surrounded by men. Some readers see her refusal as an act of courage. Others view it as insubordination. The story does not judge her motives; it simply records her refusal and the consequences.
Was the punishment of Vashti fair?
The wise men treated her disobedience as a threat to every household in the empire. Adam Clarke called their reasoning 'inconsequent and false.' Many Christian readers see the punishment as excessive, driven by male pride and political fear. The text does not endorse it as just; it shows how human systems can punish people harshly for small offenses.
What does 'the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be altered' mean?
Persian kings prided themselves on making decrees that could never be changed. Once a law was written, even the king could not revoke it. This custom created stability but also led to tragic outcomes, as when a later decree threatened the Jews. In Esther’s story, this rule becomes a dramatic obstacle that God overcomes through daring human actions.
How does this passage set up the rest of the book of Esther?
Vashti’s removal opens the door for Esther to become queen. The wise men’s decree creates a vacancy, and later, Esther must risk her life to reverse another irreversible law. God is not named in the book, but many Christians see His hand at work: a king’s foolish anger leads to a Jewish girl being placed in the palace, ready to save her people.
For pastors & researchers
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