| Geneva Study Bible Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus. Wesley's Notes 1:9 Women - While the king entertained the men. For this was the common custom of the Persians, that men and women did not feast together. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 9. Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women-The celebration was double; for, as according to the Oriental fashion, the sexes do not intermingle in society, the court ladies were entertained in a separate apartment by the queen. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 1:1-9 The pride of Ahasuerus's heart rising with the grandeur of his kingdom, he made an extravagant feast. This was vain glory. Better is a dinner of herbs with quietness, than this banquet of wine, with all the noise and tumult that must have attended it. But except grace prevails in the heart, self-exaltation and self-indulgence, in one form or another, will be the ruling principle. Yet none did compel; so that if any drank to excess, it was their own fault. This caution of a heathen prince, even when he would show his generosity, may shame many called Christians, who, under pretence of sending the health round, send sin round, and death with it. There is a woe to them that do so; let them read it, and tremble, Hab 2:15,16. | 
