VASHTI văsh’ tî (וַשְׁתִּ֣י, LXX ̓Αστίν, possibly Pers. vashti, one who is desired, or beautiful woman). The Queen of Ahasuerus (Xerxes I, c. 485-465) (Esth 1:9-19; 2:1, 4, 17) who refused to exhibit her beauty to his lords on the seventh day of a feast. The king banished her and made an edict (Esth 1:22) that each man should be lord over his own house. Her deposition lead to the selection of Esther (q.v.) as Ahasuerus’ queen.

Herodotus (vii. 61; ix. 108-112) says Xerxes’ queen was Amestris (cf. SOTI, p. 404 and ATs, p. 516 for full discussion). Others attempt to equate Vashti with Stateira, the queen of Artaxerxes II (404-358), but this is not likely. Some think Vashti may have been an inferior wife or concubine.