The Bible In Paintings, #165: THE KING CHECKMATES THE QUEEN

Bing Images ^ | c.2200 BC - c.95 AD | by the Father, Son & Holy Spirit

[Hebrews 11:6]

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THE KING

CHECKMATES

THE

QUEEN

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ESTHER
1
New International Version, emphases added
Abrdgd: the complete text is in your Bible


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C L I C K :

To read ESTHER 1 in full
To hear MAX McLEAN reading it
To hear a DRAMATIZATION of it
To see an ANIMATION of Esther

4 8 3
B. C.

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CHAPTER 1

2 King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, 3 and he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials.

4 For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty. 5 When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king’s palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest who were in the citadel of Susa.

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1 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by MAURYCY GOTTLIEB
"Ahasuerus"

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2 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by AERT DE GELDER
"The Banquet of Ahasuerus"

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3 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by GIUSEPPE VAROTTI
"The Banquet of Ahasuerus"

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4 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by Master of Paul and Barnabas
"The Feast of Ahasuerus"

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10 On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him 11 to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. 12 But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.

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5 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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+ mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
in St Andrews Church, Old Headington, Oxford, England
"Vashti, Queen of Persia"

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7 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by EDWIN LONG
"Vashti Refuses the King's Summons"

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8 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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9 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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10 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by GUSTAVE DORÉ
"The Queen Vashti Refusing to Obey
the Command of Ahasuerus"

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13 Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times 14 and were closest to the king.

15 “According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?” he asked. “She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes.”

16 Then Memukan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, “Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes. 17 For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.’ 18 This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen’s conduct will respond to all the king’s nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord.

19 “Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she. 20 Then when the king’s edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.”

21 The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memukan proposed. 22 He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own household.

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11 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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12 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by PAOLO VERONESE, 1556
"Banishment of Queen Vashti"

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13 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by MARC CHAGALL, 1960
"Ahasuerus Sends Vashti Away"

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14 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by ERNEST NORMAND, 1890
"Vashti Deposed"

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→ a n d…. f i n a l l y ←

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15 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by FILIPPINO LIPPI
"Queen Vashti Leaves the Royal Palace"

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֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎
֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎

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Preview of
COMING
ATTRACTIONS

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SNEAK PEEK: Next time,
ESTHER, THE
NEW QUEEN

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֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎
֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎

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R E S O U R C E S

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If you'd like to see for yourself the Bing page
which yielded most of the works above, here is the link:

Queen Vashti

Image Sources are provided for most individual works.
Where no attribution appears below a work,
the source did not provide the artist's name.
Works are numbered to facilitate your commenting.

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Links to three masters who painted Biblical scenes prolifically:

REMBRANDT HARMENSZOON van RIJN

GUSTAV DORÉ
241 wood engravings for
La Grande Bible de Tours

JAMES TISSOT
180 watercolors depicting Bible scenes

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Links to two Bibles with comprehensive illustrations:

The Art Bible (1896)

The Maciejowski-Morgan Bible (c.1245)

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This series keeps moving from one Bible passage to another,
so here is a fascinating and enjoyable link to assist in following along:
BIBLE TIMELINE

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Here are links to the
PREVIOUS 164 POSTS IN THIS SERIES
with descriptive titles to assist you in finding those which interest you

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Finally, what God did to initiate The Bible In Paintings:
HOW GOD STARTED THIS SERIES
BY SHOWING ME JUST ONE PICTURE

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SPECIAL THANKS
to FReeper left that other site,
who allowed God to make her His conduit
for incomparable enthusiasm, encouragement,
education, advice and technical assistance!

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NOTES ON MY SELECTION CRITERIA

A r t Q u a l i t y

The Bible and its Author are my focus, not the art: this is The Bible in Paintings, not "Great Paintings" nor even "Good Paintings." So, works need not be masterpieces to qualify for inclusion here—they don't need to be housed at the Louvre nor auctioned by Sotheby's. They only need to illustrate successfully some aspect of the Biblical text or, frankly, just tickle my fancy, which I'm always asking the Holy Spirit to guide.

Often, artists misrepresent the Scripture, but unless the error is material, licentious or heretical I usually include the artwork, trusting that the Spirit is perfectly capable of defending Himself. So, with such forgiving filters, it means that you're seeing practically everything I'm finding.

T e x t S e q u e n c i n g

The Protestant Canon does not (for several reasons) follow a strictly chronological sequence. There are many examples where, for God's good purposes, stories are told out-of-order. Nevertheless, for the sake of simplicity, clarity, and my sanity, I have chosen to proceed linearly and methodically from Genesis onward, illustrating each Bible passage as we come to it. Where two passages cover the same incident I omit the second telling, excepting the four Gospels which I will treat synoptically. Now, onward!

P a c i n g

The pace here may seem appallingly snail-like to those eager to see their favorite events illustrated. My commission is to search for art on each Bible passage in sequence: if I find enough, then it becomes the next installment, even if undramatic (but where there is little or no art, that Bible passage goes untold here).

Then, there is the human element: this is not actually a daily series, because I can only research, compose, edit and post five or six of these installments weekly. And because I only get to do this series once, I'm taking my time, chiefly by posting everything; if I find lots of art, I don't cherry-pick some and discard the rest. Rather, I line up all of them and then sort them into manageable bunches, often resulting in multiple days' episodes of the same story. Obviously, I like being thorough. Were you in a big hurry?

The Bible is a thick book, as you know; but we'll get there eventually, Lord willing—this is His project, after all. And always remember:
love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control is a fruit of the Spirit!

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Art is merely the Toy Department of Bible study,
so I'm just having fun here—I hope you are, too!
Thank you for your understanding.

Hebrews 11:6
Dan Lewis
DodgerDan
'55 '59 '63 '65 '81 '88 '20

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PING
LIST

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To be alerted to each new posting,
either reply here or FRmail me.

No contracts, startup charges or monthly fees;
no hazing or initiation rituals; cancel anytime.

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[Hebrews 11:6]

At the Holy Spirit's prompting, I am surveying "Bible art" to give God glory, as many of these artists have done, and for my own amusement and learning; and I thought others might enjoy it and be blessed by it, too. My plan is to proceed methodically from left-to-right, Genesis to Revelation, as the Lord wills. Back soon with another.

The Bible encourages us to meditate on it (Ps. 1:1-3, 119:11-16, etc.); these artists have done so, and their works can assist us and enrich our own thoughts about biblical characters, incidents and concepts, and increase our faith in He who is behind it all. As you encounter and consider these images and the related Scriptures and the Spirit enlightens your understanding, please share it with us!

But it is not only oil-on-canvas that can so help us; I refer to the astonishing video series The Chosen, which strolls through the four Gospels at the most leisurely pace. The eight episodes of Season 1 are finished, and the second of a planned seven seasons is being filmed right now. I say "leisurely" because after an entire year's viewing Jesus still has only seven of the apostles (although He's preparing to call up Thomas from the minor leagues--but Thomas is skeptical, of course). Anticipating a canvas of fifty-plus hours instead of a movie's paltry two hours, The Chosen turns the characters (especially including Jesus!) into three-dimensional humans and brings the Gospels alive--you have never seen anything even remotely like it! Here is the Official Trailer.

Here is a link for free viewing of The Chosen: "Works with your phone, tablet, and you can cast to your Roku or Chromecast." Last fall I paid $34.98 for DVDs and ongoing internet access—best 35 bucks I've ever spent (I don't recall how much our marriage license cost, but then it was 43 years ago).

[Hebrews 11:6]

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P r e s e n t e d . . F o r . . Y o u r

CONSIDERATION

ENJOYMENT

& BLESSING

[etabeta]

Brava Vashti! Better be banished than paraded in front of ogling drunken men.

[Hebrews 11:6]

"ogling drunken men"

That pretty much captures it, I'd say.

[left that other site]

Interesting that Vashti was banished for REFUSING to appear before the King,

And Esther risked her life to appear before the king WITHOUT permission.

The next few days promise some exquisite art! :-)

[etabeta]

Kate Gardiner Hastings (British, 1837-1925), Esther.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Well-noticed! Access to the King, both declined and sought, the eternal dilemma:

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:15-16

The next few days promise some exquisite art!

Every artist and his brother wanted in on this action, but your humble editor has it narrowed down to 243 images across 9 posts.

[Maudeen]

These advisors sound like those ill-advising President Trump. But then God used them to set in motion the rescuing of His people. Looking forward to another year of “The Bible in Paintings”.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thank you, Alba, for adding that lovely work. Ordinarily, I decline to include “portraits” of the key players in our dramas as being idiosyncratic and unhelpful in advancing the narrative; but I have a couple of Esther upcoming—you’ve jumped the gun!—and I would certainly have added Hastings’ had I found it, because her attendants make this more than merely a portrait. In many ways you’re vastly more qualified than I to do this.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Started on D-Day, June 6, so coming up on seven months, but I catch your meaning.

The counsel Ahasuerus' advisors are quoted as offering rings true: it is exactly what pre-Christian patriarchal misogynistic power-accumulators naturally would say. But God's business, as you point out so delightfully, is to accomplish His purposes anyway.

[etabeta]

But you have knowledge of the Bible, I don’t. Many times I have said “Who the heck are these people” and am running to read more and more. You are giving me, us, what is more important. The pictures crystallize the stories in our minds, a valuable aid to remembering.

[Hebrews 11:6]

I just now added Hastings’ “Esther” to tomorrow’s thread: it fit there perfectly. It is a telling comment on the inadequacy of my searching skills that I never came across it. I’m entirely self-taught in that regard, and evidently I had a fool for a teacher.

[OneVike]

Very well presented.

Queen Vashti, reminds me much of my first wife.

Unfortunately I could not just banish her, and then have a beauty pageant to replace her. I had to go through a divorce and that was not fun.

Alas, 42 years laster I am the better for it.

[Vendome]

The women are hawt...

[Hebrews 11:6]

Sorry to hear about your travails. Not gloating, but my wife Cheryl and I celebrated (in the full meaning of that word) our forty-third wedding anniversary last summer. She was sitting next to me, a year before our marriage, when I was born again, and God immediately joined us together, knowing “It is not good for Dan to be alone.”

[Hebrews 11:6]

This was just the appetizer. Youze ain’t seed nuttin’ yet—check back in tomorrow for the main course.

[Vendome]

Oh I will!

When I go to museums I sometimes get lost in the beauty that is created by man’s hand.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Isn’t that why they even exist?

[OneVike]

Congratulations. Forty three years together is a testament to the love you have for each other.

I must say in all honesty, it takes two to tangle, and 50% of all problems are mine. Yet, I am currently enjoying my present wife, whom I have been with for 33 years, and look forward to many more.

God bless you brother.

Looking forward to your next instillment.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Since you're looking forward to it, my next instillment is intitled

"ESTHER - IN THE HAREM, IN THE BED"