5.
The area of this seven day feast was decorated in an extravagant manner. The white, green and blue drapes were according to the royal colors of the kingdom. The materials used were of the finest available in his kingdom. They were tied back with cords of the very best of linen dyed purple, tied to rings of silver. The pillars were of marble. The floor covered with red, blue, white, perhaps mother of pearl and black marble. The couches on which they reclined were of gold and silver materials. There was every sign of great opulence to be found in the garden of the palace. Est. 1:6.
They drank wine out of various golden vessels. Ahasuerus, having conquered Babylon and taken spoils from the city, were these vessels the same as those taken from the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem? Note, Dan. 5:3-4 During the seven days of this great banquet the wine flowed in great abundance. It was not the ordinary wine of the man on the street, but the royal wine of the kingdom. While none were compelled to drink, neither was the abundance of wine withheld from any. Each one drank as much or as little as they desired.
At the same time Vashti, (Old Persian for beautiful woman), the queen entertained in the palace, the wives of those who attended the feast. After seven days of imbibing, Ahasuerus was certainly under the influence of the wine which had flowed so freely. It is difficult to picture anything but a loud drunken, raucous crowd of men. Suddenly, Ahasuerus is inspired to have his beautiful wife come into such an atmosphere that he might show her beauty to his drunken guests. Obviously the majority, if any of them had never seen her, and this was his opportunity to show her off. Were it not for the influence of the wine he would never have acted in such a crude manner. His heart was merry, of high spirits from the wine NIV. From the statements made and from the time spent in banqueting we have to assume that he was very intoxicated.