Karkas was one of the seven court officials (eunuchs) who served King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I) of Persia. He is mentioned in the book of Esther as one of those the king sent to bring Queen Vashti to the royal banquet. Although his role is briefly noted, he is part of the important event that led to Esther becoming queen.
Nyckelhändelser
Service at the king's banquet
Karkas was one of the seven courtiers who served at King Ahasuerus's court in Susa. He was present during the great banquet that the king held.
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—
On the seventh day of the banquet, when the king was merry with wine, he commanded Karkas and the other six courtiers to bring Queen Vashti wearing the royal crown, so that her beauty might be shown to the guests.
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.
The mission of Karkas and the other courtiers failed when Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command, leading to a political crisis at the court.
Vashti's refusal, which Karkas witnessed, led to her being deposed as queen, paving the way for Esther to become the new queen and later save the Jewish people.
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?"
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.
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.