Who was Xerxes? Secular history tells us he was the ruler of the Persian Empire from 486 to 465 B.C. His father was Darius I, and his grandfather was Cyrus the Great. His father had invaded Greece at the Battle of Marathon but had been shamefully defeated. It appears that he wanted to avenge his father’s defeat and hoped to expand his empire simultaneously.[1]
We meet him in the first chapter of Esther as the ruler over an empire. Depending on your Bible translation, he may be called Xerxes (from the Greek) or Ahasuerus (from the Hebrew). We are told that he held a banquet for the nobles and princes for 180 days. Now, this probably wasn’t one continuous banquet but a series of banquets. He likely brought his military officers in on a rotating schedule to wine and dine them. He couldn’t pull all the officers from the empire in at once, as this would leave the empire vulnerable. But he did want to convince them that attacking Greece was a good idea.
Pride Before a Fall
Xerxes was a proud ruler, and his showy banquets would have impressed his military officers. So, at the final banquet, when his wife, Vashti, refused to come and be seen, it damaged his ego. (Esther 1:10-12). At the advice of his advisers, Xerxes banished Vashti from his presence.
But, as we carefully read the texts of Esther 1 and 2, it is almost four years before he looks for a new queen. Why so long? He had been at war with Greece and was soundly defeated. The Persian navy was destroyed at Salamis in 479 B.C., and the Persian army was defeated at Platea in 480 B.C.[2]
He returned home in shame and didn’t even have a queen to bring him solace. Xerxes’s pride and fall before the Greeks demonstrate a Godly truth. Proverbs 16: 18 Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.[3]
Who is in Control?
Xerxes flaunted his wealth to manipulate his military officers to increase his apparent authority. But, his own wife defied his order. His pride led to a sound military defeat by Greece. Xerxes did not believe in the one true God, but we can still learn a lesson from him.
We must remember that God is the ultimate authority. Romans 13:1b For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.[4] We may be proud of a leadership position, but we must remember that God has the authority. We are only second in command. If our pride prevents us from humbling ourselves before God’s leadership, we set ourselves up for a fall. Xerxes’ pride set him up for a fall in his military and home life. Always remember Jesus Christ is Lord.
Who was Xerxes? To find out more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/a-new-queen
[1-2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Be Committed (p. 74). Victor Books.
[3-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.