Memukan was one of the seven princes of Persia and Media who had access to the king's presence and held the highest positions in the kingdom. He is best known for his advice to King Ahasuerus to depose Queen Vashti after she refused to obey the king's command. His counsel led to a royal decree that paved the way for Esther to later become queen.
Avaintapahtumat
One of the King's Seven Advisors
Memukan is mentioned as one of the seven princes of Persia and Media who sat closest to the king and held the foremost positions in the kingdom.
14those closest to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media who had access to the king and held the highest rank in the kingdom.
When Queen Vashti refused to come when King Ahasuerus sent for her during a great feast, the king became furious and asked his advisors what should be done.
10On the seventh day, when the king's heart was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas—the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus—
11to bring Queen Vashti before him wearing her royal crown, so that he might display her beauty to the peoples and the officials; for she was lovely to look at.
14those closest to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media who had access to the king and held the highest rank in the kingdom.
15"According to the law," he asked, "what is to be done with Queen Vashti, since she has not obeyed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?"
Memukan spoke up among the advisors and claimed that Vashti's disobedience was not only an offense against the king but against all the princes and peoples in the provinces of the kingdom, and that other women would follow her example.
16Memucan answered before the king and the officials: "Queen Vashti has not wronged the king alone, but all the officials and all the peoples in every province of King Ahasuerus.
17For what the queen has done will become known to all the women, and they will despise their husbands, saying, 'King Ahasuerus commanded that Queen Vashti be brought before him, and she would not come.'
18This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard what the queen did will speak the same way to all the king's officials, and there will be no end of contempt and anger.
Memukan proposed that a royal decree be issued stating that Vashti should never again appear before King Ahasuerus, and that her royal dignity be given to another who was better than she.
19So if it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him and be written into the laws of Persia and Media, never to be revoked, that Vashti shall never again come before King Ahasuerus, and that the king give her royal position to another woman who is better than she.
The king and the princes followed Memukan's advice, and letters were sent to all the provinces of the kingdom stating that every man should be master in his own house. This decree paved the way for Esther's elevation to queen.
22He sent letters to all the king's provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, declaring that every man should be master of his own household, and that each should speak the language of his own people.