Zethar was one of the seven court officials (eunuchs) who served at the court of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) in the Persian Empire. He is mentioned in the Book of Esther as one of the trusted servants whom the king sent to bring Queen Vashti during the great banquet. Although his role in the Bible is brief, he represents the structure and power of the Persian court.
Nyckelhändelser
Service at King Ahasuerus's banquet
Zethar is mentioned as one of the seven court officials who served at King Ahasuerus's great banquet in the citadel of Susa, which lasted 180 days.
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 feast, when the king was merry with wine, he commanded Zethar and the six other courtiers to bring Queen Vashti wearing the royal crown, so that her beauty might be shown to the people.
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.
Vashti's refusal of the message brought by Zethar and the other courtiers caused the king to consult his wise men, and Vashti was ultimately deposed as queen.
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?"
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.