Esther 1

The King's Banquets

1 Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces,2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the capital,t3 in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him,4 while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days.5 And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa, the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the garden of the king's palace.6 There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rodst and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones.7 Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king.8 And drinking was according to this edict: "There is no compulsion." For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired.9 Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus.

Queen Vashti's Refusal

10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown,t in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at.12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.

13 Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for this was the king's procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment,14 the men next to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom):15 "According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?"16 Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, "Not only against the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.17 For the queen's behavior will be made known to all women, causing them to look at their husbands with contempt, since they will say, 'King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.'18 This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's behavior will say the same to all the king's officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty.19 If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.20 So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, for it is vast, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike."21 This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed.22 He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, that every man be master in his own household and speak according to the language of his people.

Esther 1

The King Throws a Lavish Party

1 s The following events happenedt in the days of Ahasuerus.t (I am referring tot that Ahasuerus who used to rule over a hundred and twenty-seven provincess extending all the way from India to Ethiopia.t)2 In those days, as King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susats the citadel,t

3 in the thirds year of his reign he provided a banquet for all his officials and his servants. The armys of Persia and Medias was present,s as well as the nobles and the officials of the provinces.
4 He displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his majestic greatness for a lengthy period of timet – a hundred and eighty days, to be exact!t5 When those dayss were completed, the king then provided a seven-days banquet for all the people who were presentt in Susa the citadel, for those of highest standing to the most lowly.t It was held in the court located in the garden of the royal palace.6 The furnishings included linen and purple curtains hung by cords of the finest linens and purple wool on silver rings, alabaster columns, gold and silver couchest displayed on a floor made of valuable stones of alabaster, mother-of-pearl, and mineral stone.7 Drinkst were served in golden containers, all of which differed from one another. Royal wine was available in abundance at the king’s expense.8 There were no restrictions on the drinking,t for the king had instructed all of his supervisorst that they should do as everyone so desired.t

9 Queen Vashtis also gave a banquet for the women in King Ahasuerus’ royal palace.

Queen Vashti is Removed from Her Royal Position

10 On the seventh day, as King Ahasuerus was feeling the effects of the wine,t he ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who attended him,t11 to bring Queen Vashti into the king’s presence wearing her royal high turban. He wanted to show the people and the officials her beauty, for she was very attractive.t

12 But Queen Vashti refuseds to come at the king’s biddingt conveyed through the eunuchs. Then the king became extremely angry, and his rage consumedt him.
13 The king then inquired of the wise men who were discerners of the times – for it was the royal custom to confer with all those who were proficient in laws and legalities.t14 Those who were closest to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. These men were the seven officials of Persia and Media who saw the king on a regular basist and had the most prominent officest in the kingdom.

15 The king asked,t “By law,s what should be done to Queen Vashti in light of the fact that she has not obeyed the instructions of King Ahasuerus conveyed through the eunuchs?”
16 Memucan then replied to the king and the officials, “The wrong of Queen Vashti is not against the king alone, but against all the officials and all the people who are throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.17 For the matter concerning the queen will spread to all the women, leading them to treat their husbands with contempt, saying, ‘When King Ahasuerus gave orders to bring Queen Vashti into his presence, she would not come.’18 And this very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media who have heard the matter concerning the queen will respond in the same way to all the royal officials, and there will be more than enough contempt and anger!19 If the king is so inclined,s let a royal edict go forth from him, and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media that cannot be repealed,s that Vashtis may not come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king convey her royalty to anothert who is more deserving than she.t

20 And let the king’s decision which he will enact be disseminatedt throughout all his kingdom, vast though it is.s Then all the women will give honor to their husbands, from the most prominent to the lowly.”
21 The matter seemed appropriate to the king and the officials. So the king acted on the advice of Memucan.

22 He sent letters throughout all the royal provinces, to each province according to its own script and to each people according to its own language,s that every man should be ruling his familyt and should be speaking the language of his own people.s