Today you should read: Esther 1:10-22
Our passage today begins with King Ahasuerus caught in drunkenness. In his drunkenness and surrounded by people, he asks for his wife who was “lovely to look at” to come and show off in front of all to see. The queen refuses to come at the request, which was very rare and shocking that someone would defy the king, especially in front of a crowd of people.
The king essentially ex-communicated her because of her disobedience. He did this as an example to the people of the country as an example against women treating their husbands badly. (If I had to make an actual guest, it was because of protecting his own pride more than anything). The banishing of Queen Vashti sets the stage for the rest of the book: the choosing of Esther (who was Jewish) to be the queen of Persia.
Why is it so important that Esther would become queen? In short, it is because Esther would be able to protect her people from genocide, and that protection would lead to the birth of the Messiah Jesus. Although God is not explicitly mentioned in this book, his influence is all over the place.
By: Graham Withers — Pastoral Ministry Associate
JumpstartCPC.com 
Why do different translations of the Bible refer to the king by different names? NIV calls him Xerxes.
Xerxes is the Greek name of the king. Ahasuerus represents the Hebrew transliteration of the Persian name “Khshayarsha.” Xerxes being Greek, a popular language for a given time period, was the name that is more well known. Having discovered this information, I have a new appreciation for the simplicity of the Greek name!!
I’m with you! Thanks for the info.