THE FEAST

......the end and the beginning

Music. Dance. Wine. Hullabaloos.
The aroma of celebration filled the atmosphere that the people were almost choked in happiness.

There were hangings of fine white cloth, of green and of blue cotton, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars. The couches of gold and silver rested on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, white marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious colored stones.
Drinks were served in different kinds of golden goblets, and there was royal wine in abundance, according to the generosity of the king.

Men drumming
Women dancing
Children singing
As the capital city of Shushan explodes in joy.

The king had decided to celebrate his successful dominance over 127 provinces, from India to Ethiopia, for 3 years. Filled with wine, Xerxes stood by the decorated Verander and watched the dance of the alluring women - both young and old- at the sight of beauties, he was quickly reminded of Vashti, the Queen. "Bring me Vashti!" He commanded  "And let her show the peoples and princes she is the most beautiful. More than these ones!"

The chief eunuch who had been sent to bring Vashti before the king hurried back in reverence "My lord." He called the Kings attention "The Queen has refused the King's command"

Xerxes' became furious, as anger was visible dancing all over his face. His anger wasn't just about Vashti's refusal to honour his call, but he was also reminded of last night -

The king was in his chambers pleasing himself with the thoughts of how mighty he had become, while Vashti appeared in a white transparent robe; her hips swaying uniformly, and it captured the King's sight. "Come. Let's merry!" The king had said stretching his right hand forward towards Vashti. But Vashti would not agree to Xerxes' request. "Apologies my King." The Queen said swiftly "pressing matters await me. Shall not we prepare well for tomorrow?" She slowly walked away, and vanished from the King's sight.

While the king stand aggrieved after Vashti's latest refusal, Memucan, often referred to as 'loud-mouthed', short with a bald head -one of the wise men who knew the time and stays with the king in times of judgement- said "Vashti the queen has not only done wrong to the king but also to all the princes and to all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Xerxes. If it pleases the king, let a royal command go forth from him and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and Medes, so that it may not be changed, that Vashti is to be divorced and come no more before King Xerxes; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she."

The king, unable to think straight in his grievance agreed to Memucan's advice and ordered the chief eunuch to gather beautiful virgins in the city, so he could pick a new Queen for himself.

The Queen has lost her place
And even beauty could not save her
Her place another would take
The city ladies would call her sister
What shall save Vashti?
Arrogance?

Beautiful virgins walked before the king enticing him with their bodies. One of them was Ayala, called 'qanna' which means jealous; but Xerxes seemed unsatisfied until an alluring young virgin named Esther walked before him; she has a perfectly black long hair, fair and tall with a slim body enough to capture the  King's heart. The king, lost in the realm of beauty stood on his feet and pointed at Esther "That's my queen!"

The king is charmed with beauty;
His heart jolts at the sight of the virgin
Her waists has deprived him of thinking.
Who will cure the king of this foolery?

The words "That's my queen" brought memories back to Esther.. And  she remembered;

"Stop making a fool of thyself. You're not the most beautiful girl in this town. I am" Ayala yelled at Esther in jealousy, for she had earlier said to the other girls "Is she the only girl in this town? We are almost not existing in the sight of men wherever she is."
A brokenhearted Esther couldn't delay the tears as the city girls screamed at her in mockery. She wept.

"Why cry thou, Esther?" Mordecai, her uncle had asked. "The city ladies mock me, for I am the least beautiful amongst them all." She backed those words up with her tears. "Cry not my queen. They say not the truth; for I say unto thee, you are the most beautiful in Judah." Mordecai said with smiles glued to his face. He reached out his hands and embraced her. "Thanks uncle" she said. "Nay. Call me father" Mordecai interrupted. "Thanks, Father" she smiled. "That's my queen!"

And Esther won favour in the sight of all who saw her. And she was taken to King Xerxes into his royal palace in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

The king loved Esther more than all the women and he made her Queen instead of Vashti.

Who will cry for Vashti?
Abandoned for a common Jew?
Esther has arrived with a new beauty
And Vashti The king remembers not, except her misdeeds.

Perhaps the end of Vashti marks the beginning of Esther.

Joshua Levites 2016.