Abagtha
Encyclopedia
Abagtha was a court official (likely a eunuch
) of King Ahasuerus
. He is mentioned once in the Book of Esther
. According to this narrative, he and six other officials suggested that Queen Vashti
parade before the king and his ministers in the crown jewels. Her refusal led to her demise and the selection of Esther
as the new queen of the Persian Empire.
The Hebrew word סָרִיס (sarīs), translated eunuch
, can mean a general court official, not only a castrated man. Since Abagtha and the other six officials are spoken of as attending to the king, not to royal women, it is possible that he was not a eunuch in the technical sense.
Eunuch
A eunuch is a person born male most commonly castrated, typically early enough in his life for this change to have major hormonal consequences...
) of King Ahasuerus
Ahasuerus
Ahasuerus is a name used several times in the Hebrew Bible, as well as related legends and Apocrypha. This name is applied in the Hebrew Scriptures to three rulers...
. He is mentioned once in the Book of Esther
Book of Esther
The Book of Esther is a book in the Ketuvim , the third section of the Jewish Tanakh and is part of the Christian Old Testament. The Book of Esther or the Megillah is the basis for the Jewish celebration of Purim...
. According to this narrative, he and six other officials suggested that Queen Vashti
Vashti
Queen Vashti is the first wife of King Ahasuerus in the Book of Esther, a book included in the Hebrew Bible and read on the Jewish holiday of Purim. She is banished for her refusal to appear at the king's banquet, and Esther is chosen to succeed her as queen. In the Midrash, Vashti is described...
parade before the king and his ministers in the crown jewels. Her refusal led to her demise and the selection of Esther
Esther
Esther , born Hadassah, is the eponymous heroine of the Biblical Book of Esther.According to the Bible, she was a Jewish queen of the Persian king Ahasuerus...
as the new queen of the Persian Empire.
The Hebrew word סָרִיס (sarīs), translated eunuch
Eunuch
A eunuch is a person born male most commonly castrated, typically early enough in his life for this change to have major hormonal consequences...
, can mean a general court official, not only a castrated man. Since Abagtha and the other six officials are spoken of as attending to the king, not to royal women, it is possible that he was not a eunuch in the technical sense.