John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 1:12
But the queen refused to came at the king's commandment by his chamberlains ,.... Even though he sent by them again, as the Targum; and so says Josephus F15 Antiqu. l. 11. c. 6. sect. 1. ; which might not purely arise from pride in her, and contempt of him, but because she might conclude he was drunk, and knew not well what he did; and therefore had she come at his command, when he was himself and sober, he might blame her for coming, nay, use her ill for it, and especially if she was... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Esther 1:10-22
We have here a damp to all the mirth of Ahasuerus's feast; it ended in heaviness, not as Job's children's feast by a wind from the wilderness, not as Belshazzar's by a hand-writing on the wall, but by is own folly. An unhappy falling out there was, at the end of the feast, between the king and queen, which broke of the feast abruptly, and sent the guests away silent and ashamed. I. It was certainly the king's weakness to send for Vashti into his presence when he was drunk, and in company with... read more