After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti.
Acting under the impulse of rage
The king had given full sway to his passion and wounded pride, and treated his wife with great severity. In his moments of cool reflection he probably repented of the harshness of his proceedings towards her. Excitement is a bad guide in human affairs. He who acts under the impulse of rage is sure to be driven astray, even as a vessel in a storm is driven to situations of embarrassment and peril. Man in wrath speaks freely and eloquently, but never wisely, and he works with decision and energy, but who is benefited by his operations? He doeth much, but uniformly to a bad purpose. (J. Hughes.)
Avenging memories
O, memory! thou art a bitter avenger. (T. McEwan.)
Bitter memories
Ah! these bitter memories of earth will be ingredients in the future cup of the penal suffering of the lost. (T. McEwan.)
Too late
Repentance may come too late. Ahasuerus could not retrace his steps. (A. B. Davidson, D. D.)
Vain remembering
I. The regret of the king for his rash and unwarrantable act. He was sensible that he had committed injury and that he had not only wronged Vashti, but also made himself a sufferer.
1. He could not devise a remedy. There are wishes that even the most powerful despots cannot get gratified, and limits to their will that even they cannot pass over.
2. The law of the Medes and Persians must stand.
II. The expedient which his counsellors suggested to free him from his difficulty. Learn--
1. When men suffer themselves to be carried away by the impulse of any violent passions, they may commit acts which cannot afterwards be remedied, and which they themselves may have especially to lament.
2. It forms no excuse for sin committed, that the transgressor had reduced himself to a condition in which he ceased to retain his full consciousness of the distinction between right and wrong. Take an illustration from the history of Saul. He failed to improve his privileges; the Spirit of the Lord departed and the evil spirit took possession of him--slew prophets, etc. He was held responsible because he had laid his heart open for the reception of the evil spirit.
3. Repentance may come too late. (A. B. Davidson, D. D.)