Ahasuerus
The Persian emperor who made Esther his queen, and whose sleepless night turned the story around.
Old Testament · 486–465 BC · Esther, Ezra · Also known as Xerxes, King of Persia
About Ahasuerus
"This is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces." After Queen Vashti refused to appear at his feast, he deposed her, and from all the young women brought to the palace "the king loved Esther above all the women," and made her queen. He gave his signet ring to Haman and let him decree the destruction of the Jews. But when Esther came uninvited, he held out the golden sceptre: "What wilt thou, queen Esther?" One sleepless night he discovered Mordecai had saved his life and gone unrewarded. At Esther’s banquet he learned the truth about Haman, and allowed a new decree letting the Jews defend themselves.
Ahasuerus is the Hebrew form of the Persian name the Greeks called Xerxes; most historians identify him with Xerxes I, who invaded Greece in 480 BC. The Greek historian Herodotus describes him as powerful and impulsive. Under Persian law, a royal decree sealed with the king’s ring could not be revoked.
The story
From India even unto Ethiopia
"Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)" he held a feast for his nobles that lasted "an hundred and fourscore days," showing "the riches of his glorious kingdom."
Esther 1:1-4
The king loved Esther
When Queen Vashti refused to come at his command, he removed her. Later, "the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti."
Esther 1:10-19; 2:16-18
What wilt thou, queen Esther?
Anyone who approached the king uninvited could die, unless he held out the golden sceptre. When Esther came, "she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre." "What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom."
Esther 4:11; 5:1-3
On that night could not the king sleep
"On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king." He heard how Mordecai had exposed a plot against his life, and asked, "What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this?" Nothing had been done.
Esther 6:1-3
Who is he?
At Esther’s banquet she begged for her life and her people. "Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?" When she named Haman, the king acted against him, gave Haman’s house to Esther, and let Mordecai write a new decree in his name, since "the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse."
Esther 7:1-8; 8:7-8
Key moments
- Rules 127 provinces: "From India even unto Ethiopia." (Esther 1:1)
- Deposes Vashti: For refusing his command. (Esther 1:19)
- Crowns Esther: "The king loved Esther." (Esther 2:17)
- Holds out the sceptre: "To the half of the kingdom." (Esther 5:2-3)
- A sleepless night: Mordecai’s deed remembered. (Esther 6:1-3)
Questions about Ahasuerus
In meetBible these answers are given in Ahasuerus’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
Why did you remove Queen Vashti?
At my feast I sent for Vashti "to shew the people and the princes her beauty," and she refused to come. My adviser Memucan warned that other wives would despise their husbands too, so a decree went out that she should come no more before me. Scripture records it without praising it; it shows the pride and power of my court, and makes room in the story for Esther.
Why couldn’t you cancel Haman’s decree?
Because in Persia "the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse." Not even I could undo it. Instead I let Mordecai write a second decree giving the Jews the right "to stand for their life" against anyone who attacked them.
Was it chance that you couldn’t sleep that night?
"On that night could not the king sleep." I asked for the chronicles, and of all the records they might have read, they read how Mordecai saved my life. The next morning Haman came to ask for Mordecai’s death and was told to honour him instead. The book of Esther never names God, but its timing is so exact that readers see His hand behind every "chance."
Connected people
- Esther: Queen
- Mordecai: Honoured him
- Haman: Promoted, then condemned him
- Vashti: Former queen
- Artaxerxes: Son and successor
Read it yourself
Start with Esther 1:1-4; 2:16-18; 5:1-3; 6:1-3; 7:1-8.