Berean Standard Bible

Esther 1

1This is what happenedוַיְהִ֖יvay.HiH1961in the daysבִּימֵ֣יbi.MeiH3117of Xerxesה֣וּאhu'H325 H1931,who reigned overהַמֹּלֵךְ֙ha.mo.leKhH4427127שֶׁ֛בַע וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּמֵאָ֖הShe.va' ve.'es.Rim u.me.'AhH7651 H6242 H3967provincesמְדִינָֽה׃me.di.NahH4082from Indiaמֵהֹ֣דּוּme.Ho.duH1912toוְעַד־ve.'ad-H5704Cushכּ֔וּשׁKushH3568.

2In thoseהָהֵ֑םha.HemH1992daysבַּיָּמִ֖יםbai.ya.MimH3117Kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Xerxesאֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325satכְּשֶׁ֣בֶת׀ke.She.vetH3427onעַ֚ל'alH5921his royalמַלְכוּת֔וֹmal.khu.ToH4438אֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherH834throneכִּסֵּ֣אki.Se'H3678in the citadelהַבִּירָֽה׃ha.bi.RahH1002of Susaבְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ןbe.shu.ShanH7800.

3In the thirdשָׁלוֹשׁ֙sha.lo.VoshH7969yearבִּשְׁנַ֤תbish.NatH8141of his reignלְמָלְכ֔וֹle.ma.le.KhoH4427, Xerxesheldעָשָׂ֣ה'a.SahH6213a feastמִשְׁתֶּ֔הmish.TehH4960for allלְכָל־le.kholH3605his officialsשָׂרָ֖יוsa.RavH8269and servantsוַעֲבָדָ֑יוva.'a.va.DavH5650.The military leadersחֵ֣יל׀cheilH2428of Persiaפָּרַ֣סpa.RasH6539and Mediaוּמָדַ֗יu.ma.DaiH4074were thereלְפָנָֽיו׃le.fa.NavH6440,along with the noblesהַֽפַּרְתְּמִ֛יםha.par.te.MimH6579and princesוְשָׂרֵ֥יve.sa.ReiH8269of the provincesהַמְּדִינ֖וֹתha.me.di.NotH4082.

4And for a fullרַבִּ֔יםra.BimH7227180יָמִ֣ים שְׁמוֹנִ֥ים וּמְאַ֖תya.Mim she.mo.Nim u.me.'AtH8084 H3967 H3117daysיֽוֹם׃YomH3117he displayedבְּהַרְאֹת֗וֹbe.har.'o.ToH7200אֶת־'et-H853the gloriousכְּב֣וֹדke.VodH3519richesעֹ֙שֶׁר֙'o.sherH6239of his kingdomמַלְכוּת֔וֹmal.khu.ToH4438andוְאֶ֨ת־ve.'EtH853the magnificentתִּפְאֶ֖רֶתtif.'E.retH8597splendorיְקָ֔רye.KarH3366of his greatnessגְּדוּלָּת֑וֹge.du.la.ToH1420.

5At the endוּבִמְל֣וֹאת׀u.vim.LotH4390of thisהָאֵ֗לֶּהha.'E.lehH428timeהַיָּמִ֣יםhai.ya.MimH3117,in the gardenגִּנַּ֥תgi.NatH1594courtבַּחֲצַ֕רba.cha.TzarH2691of the royalהַמֶּ֡לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428palaceבִּיתַ֖ןbi.TanH1055,the kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428heldעָשָׂ֣ה'a.SahH6213a seven-dayשִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑יםshiv.'At ya.MimH7651 H3117feastמִשְׁתֶּ֖הmish.TehH4960for allלְכָל־le.kholH3605the peopleהָעָ֣םha.'AmH5971הַנִּמְצְאִים֩ha.nim.tze.'ImH4672in the citadelהַבִּירָ֜הha.bi.RahH1002of Susaבְּשׁוּשַׁ֨ןbe.shu.ShanH7800,from the leastקָטָ֛ןka.TanH6996toוְעַד־ve.'ad-H5704the greatestלְמִגָּ֧דוֹלle.mi.Ga.dolH1419.

6Hangings ofwhiteח֣וּר׀churH2353and blueוּתְכֵ֗לֶתu.te.Khe.letH8504linenכַּרְפַּ֣סkar.PasH3768were fastenedאָחוּז֙'a.ChuzH270with cordsבְּחַבְלֵי־be.chav.lei-H2256of fine whiteב֣וּץvutzH948and purpleוְאַרְגָּמָ֔ןve.'ar.ga.ManH713materialtoעַל־'al-H5921silverכֶ֖סֶףKhe.sefH3701ringsגְּלִ֥ילֵיge.Li.leiH1550on the marbleשֵׁ֑שׁSheshH8336pillarsוְעַמּ֣וּדֵיve.'a.Mu.deiH5982.Goldזָהָ֣בza.HavH2091and silverוָכֶ֗סֶףva.Khe.sefH3701couchesמִטּ֣וֹת׀mi.TotH4296were arrangedעַ֛ל'alH5921on a mosaic pavementרִֽצְפַ֥תritz.FatH7531of porphyryבַּהַט־ba.hat-H923,marbleוָשֵׁ֖שׁva.SheshH8336,mother-of-pearlוְדַ֥רve.DarH1858,and other costly stonesוְסֹחָֽרֶת׃ve.so.Cha.retH5508.

7Beverages were servedוְהַשְׁקוֹת֙ve.hash.kOtH8248in an array of gobletsH3627of goldזָהָ֔בza.HavH2091,eachH3627with a different designשׁוֹנִ֑יםsho.NimH8138,and the royalמַלְכ֛וּתmal.KhutH4438wineוְיֵ֥יןve.YeinH3196flowed freelyרָ֖בravH7227,according to the king’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428bountyכְּיַ֥דke.YadH3027.

8Byכַדָּ֖תkha.DatH1881orderיִסַּ֣דyi.SadH3245of the kingהַמֶּ֗לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,noאֵ֣ין'einH369limit was placedאֹנֵ֑ס'o.NesH597כִּי־ki-H3588כֵ֣ן׀khenH3651on the drinkingוְהַשְּׁתִיָּ֥ה עַ֚לve.ha.she.ti.Yah 'alH8360 H5921,and everyכָּל־kol-H3605officialרַ֣בravH7227of his householdבֵּית֔וֹbei.ToH1004was to serveלַעֲשׂ֖וֹתla.'a.SotH6213eachאִישׁ־'ish-H376manוָאִֽישׁ׃va.'IshH376whatever he desiredכִּרְצ֥וֹןkir.TzonH7522.

Queen Vashti’s Refusal

9Queenהַמַּלְכָּ֔הha.mal.KahH4436Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֣יvash.TiH2060alsoגַּ֚םgamH1571gaveעָשְׂתָ֖ה'a.se.TahH6213a banquetמִשְׁתֵּ֣הmish.TehH4960for the womenנָשִׁ֑יםna.ShimH802in the royalהַמַּלְכ֔וּתha.mal.KhutH4438palaceבֵּ֚יתbeitH1004אֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherH834of Kingלַמֶּ֥לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428Xerxesאֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃ ס'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325.

10On the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִ֔יha.she.vi.'IH7637dayבַּיּוֹם֙bai.yOmH3117,when the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428heartלֵב־lev-H3820was merryכְּט֥וֹבke.TovH2895with wineבַּיָּ֑יִןbai.Ya.yinH3196,he orderedאָמַ֡ר'a.MarH559the sevenשִׁבְעַת֙shiv.'AtH7651eunuchsהַסָּ֣רִיסִ֔יםha.Sa.ri.SimH5631who servedהַמְשָׁ֣רְתִ֔ים אֶת־ פְּנֵ֖י הַמֶּ֥לֶךְham.Sha.re.Tim 'et- pe.Nei ha.Me.lekhH8334 H854 H6440 H4428himאֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325—Mehumanלִ֠מְהוּמָןLim.hu.monH4104,Bizthaבִּזְּתָ֨אbi.ze.Ta'H968,Harbonaחַרְבוֹנָ֜אchar.vo.Na'H2726,Bigthaבִּגְתָ֤אbig.Ta'H903,Abagthaוַאֲבַגְתָא֙va.'a.vag.Ta'H5,Zetharזֵתַ֣רze.TarH2242,and Carkasוְכַרְכַּ֔סve.khar.KasH3752—

11to bringלְ֠הָבִיאLe.ha.vi'H935אֶת־'et-H853Queenהַמַּלְכָּ֛הha.mal.KahH4436Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֧יvash.TiH2060beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440himהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428, wearingher royalמַלְכ֑וּתmal.KhutH4438crownבְּכֶ֣תֶרbe.Khe.terH3804,to displayלְהַרְא֨וֹתle.har.'otH7200her beautyיָפְיָ֔הּya.fe.YahH3308to the peopleהָֽעַמִּ֤יםha.'a.MimH5971and officialsוְהַשָּׂרִים֙ve.ha.sa.RimH8269אֶת־'et-H853.Forכִּֽי־ki-H3588sheהִֽיא׃Hi'H1931wasbeautifulטוֹבַ֥תto.VatH2896to beholdמַרְאֶ֖הmar.'EhH4758.

12Queenהַמַּלְכָּ֣הha.mal.KahH4436Vashti, howeverוַשְׁתִּ֗יvash.TiH2060,refusedוַתְּמָאֵ֞ןva.te.ma.'EnH3985to comeלָבוֹא֙la.Vo'H935at the king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428commandבִּדְבַ֣רbid.VarH1697אֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherH834broughtbyבְּיַ֣דbe.YadH3027hiseunuchsהַסָּרִיסִ֑יםha.sa.ri.SimH5631.And the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428became furiousוַיִּקְצֹ֤ף מְאֹ֔דvai.yik.Tzof me.'OdH7107 H3966,and his angerוַחֲמָת֖וֹva.cha.ma.ToH2534burnedבָּעֲרָ֥הba.'a.RahH1197within him.

Queen Vashti Deposed

13Then the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428consultedוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559the wise menלַחֲכָמִ֖יםla.cha.kha.MimH2450who knewיֹדְעֵ֣יyo.de.'EiH3045the timesהָֽעִתִּ֑יםha.'i.TimH6256,for it wasכִּי־ki-H3588customaryכֵן֙khenH3651for himהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428to conferדְּבַ֣רde.VarH1697withלִפְנֵ֕י כָּל־lif.Nei kol-H6440 H3605the expertsיֹדְעֵ֖יyo.de.'EiH3045in lawדָּ֥תdatH1881and justiceוָדִֽין׃va.DinH1779.

14His closest advisorsוְהַקָּרֹ֣בve.ha.ka.RoH7138wereאֵלָ֗יו'e.LavH413Carshenaכַּרְשְׁנָ֤אkar.she.Na'H3771,Shetharשֵׁתָר֙she.TarH8369,Admathaאַדְמָ֣תָא'ad.Ma.ta'H133,Tarshishתַרְשִׁ֔ישׁtar.ShishH8659,Meresמֶ֥רֶסMe.resH4825,Marsenaמַרְסְנָ֖אmar.se.Na'H4826,and Memucanמְמוּכָ֑ןme.mu.KhanH4462,the sevenשִׁבְעַ֞תshiv.'AtH7651princesשָׂרֵ֣י׀sa.ReiH8269of Persiaפָּרַ֣סpa.RasH6539and Mediaוּמָדַ֗יu.ma.DaiH4074who had personal access toרֹאֵי֙ פְּנֵ֣יro.'Ei pe.NeiH7200 H6440the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428andrankedהַיֹּשְׁבִ֥יםhai.yo.she.VimH3427highestרִאשֹׁנָ֖הri.sho.NahH7223in the kingdomבַּמַּלְכֽוּת׃ba.mal.KhutH4438.

15“According to lawכְּדָת֙ke.DatH1881,”he asked, “whatמַֽה־mah-H4100should be doneלַּעֲשׂ֔וֹתla.'a.SotH6213with Queenבַּמַּלְכָּ֖הba.mal.KahH4436Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֑יvash.TiH2060,sinceעַ֣ל׀'alH5921אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834she refused to obeyלֹֽא־ עָשְׂתָ֗הlo'- 'a.se.TahH3808 H6213אֶֽת־'et-H853the commandמַאֲמַר֙ma.'a.MarH3982of Kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Xerxesאֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325delivered byבְּיַ֖דbe.YadH3027the eunuchsהַסָּרִיסִֽים׃ סha.sa.ri.SimH5631?”

16And in the presenceלִפְנֵ֤יlif.NeiH6440of the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428and his princesוְהַשָּׂרִ֔יםve.ha.sa.RimH8269,Memucanמְמוּכָ֗ןmu.me.khanH4462repliedוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Queenהַמַּלְכָּ֑הha.mal.KahH4436Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֣יvash.TiH2060has wrongedעָוְתָ֖ה'a.ve.TahH5753notלֹ֤א עַל־lo' 'al-H3808 H5921onlyלְבַדּ֔וֹle.va.DoH905the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428,butכִּ֤י עַל־ki 'al-H3588 H5921allכָּל־kol-H3605the princesהַשָּׂרִים֙ וְעַל־ha.sa.Rim ve.'al-H8269 H5921and the peoplesהָ֣עַמִּ֔יםha.'a.MimH5971אֲשֶׁ֕ר'a.SherH834כָּל־kol-H3605in allבְּכָל־be.kholH3605the provincesמְדִינ֖וֹתme.di.NotH4082of Kingהַמֶּ֥לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Xerxesאֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325.

17Forכִּֽי־ki-H3588the conductדְבַר־de.var-H1697of the queenהַמַּלְכָּה֙ha.mal.KahH4436will become knownיֵצֵ֤אye.Tze'H3318toעַל־'al-H5921allכָּל־kol-H3605womenהַנָּשִׁ֔יםha.na.ShimH802,causing them to despiseלְהַבְז֥וֹת בְּעֵינֵיהֶ֑ןle.hav.Zot be.'ei.nei.HenH959 H5869their husbandsבַּעְלֵיהֶ֖ןba'.lei.HenH1167and sayבְּאָמְרָ֗םbe.'a.me.RamH559, ‘Kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Xerxesאֲחַשְׁוֵר֡וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325orderedאָמַ֞ר'a.MarH559Queenהַמַּלְכָּ֛הha.mal.KahH4436Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֧יvash.TiH2060to be broughtלְהָבִ֨יאle.ha.Vi'H935אֶת־'et-H853before himלְפָנָ֖יוle.fa.NavH6440,but she did notוְלֹא־ve.lo'-H3808comeבָֽאָה׃Va.'ahH935.’

18Thisהַזֶּ֜הha.ZehH2088very dayוְֽהַיּ֨וֹםve.hai.YomH3117the noble womenשָׂר֣וֹתsa.RotH8282of Persiaפָּֽרַס־pa.ras-H6539and Mediaוּמָדַ֗יu.ma.DaiH4074whoאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834have heardשָֽׁמְעוּ֙sha.me.'UH8085aboutאֶת־'et-H853the queen’sהַמַּלְכָּ֔הha.mal.KahH4436conductדְּבַ֣רde.VarH1697will sayתֹּאמַ֣רְנָה׀to.Mar.nahH559the same thing to allלְכֹ֖לle.KholH3605the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428officialsשָׂרֵ֣יsa.ReiH8269,resulting in muchוּכְדַ֖יu.khe.DaiH1767contemptבִּזָּי֥וֹןbi.za.YonH963and wrathוָקָֽצֶף׃va.Ka.tzefH7110.

19So ifאִם־ עַל־'im- 'al-H518 H5921it pleasesט֗וֹבTovH2896the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ מִלְּפָנָ֔יוha.Me.lekh mi.le.fa.NavH4428 H6440,let him issueיֵצֵ֤אye.Tze'H3318a royalמַלְכוּת֙mal.KhutH4438decreeדְבַר־de.var-H1697,and let it be recordedוְיִכָּתֵ֛בve.yi.ka.TevH3789in the lawsבְּדָתֵ֥יbe.da.TeiH1881of Persiaפָֽרַס־fa.ras-H6539and Mediaוּמָדַ֖יu.ma.DaiH4074so that it cannotוְלֹ֣אve.Lo'H3808be repealedיַעֲב֑וֹרya.'a.VorH5674,thatאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֗יvash.TiH2060shall never againלֹֽא־lo'-H3808enterתָב֜וֹאta.Vo'H935the presenceלִפְנֵי֙lif.NeiH6440of Kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Xerxesאֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325,and that her royal positionוּמַלְכוּתָהּ֙u.mal.khu.TahH4438shall be givenיִתֵּ֣ן הַמֶּ֔לֶךְyi.Ten ha.Me.lekhH5414 H4428to a womanלִרְעוּתָ֖הּlir.'u.TahH7468betterהַטּוֹבָ֥הha.to.VahH2896than sheמִמֶּֽנָּה׃mi.Me.nahH4480.

20The edictפִּתְגָ֨םpit.GamH6599the kingהַמֶּ֤לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428אֲשֶֽׁר־'a.Sher-H834issuesיַעֲשֶׂה֙ya.'a.SehH6213will be heardוְנִשְׁמַע֩ve.nish.Ma'H8085throughoutבְּכָל־be.kholH3605his vastרַבָּ֖ה הִ֑יאra.Bah Hi'H7227 H1931kingdomמַלְכוּת֔וֹmal.khu.ToH4438—and soכִּ֥יkiH3588allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605womenהַנָּשִׁ֗יםha.na.ShimH802,from the leastקָטָֽן׃ka.TanH6996toוְעַד־ve.'ad-H5704the greatestלְמִגָּד֖וֹלle.mi.ga.DolH1419,will honorיִתְּנ֤וּ יְקָר֙yi.te.Nu ye.KarH5414 H3366their husbandsלְבַעְלֵיהֶ֔ןle.va'.lei.HenH1167.”

21The kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428and his princesוְהַשָּׂרִ֑יםve.ha.sa.RimH8269were pleasedוַיִּיטַב֙ בְּעֵינֵ֥יvai.yi.Tav be.'ei.NeiH3190 H5869with this counselהַדָּבָ֔רha.da.VarH1697;so the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428didוַיַּ֥עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213as Memucanמְמוּכָֽן׃me.mu.KhanH4462advisedכִּדְבַ֥רkid.VarH1697.

22He sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חvai.yish.LachH7971lettersסְפָרִים֙se.fa.RimH5612toאֶל־'el-H413allכָּל־kol-H3605the provincesH4082of the kingdomהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,toאֶל־'el-H413each provinceH4082in its own scriptכִּכְתָבָ֔הּkikh.ta.VahH3791and toוְאֶל־ve.'el-H413each peopleH5971in their own languageכִּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹkil.sho.NoH3956,proclaimingוּמְדַבֵּ֖רu.me.da.BerH1696כִּלְשׁ֥וֹןkil.ShonH3956H5971that everyכָּל־kol-H3605manאִישׁ֙'ishH376should beלִהְי֤וֹתlih.YotH1961masterשֹׂרֵ֣רso.RerH8323of his own householdבְּבֵית֔וֹbe.vei.ToH1004.

Queen Vashti’s Refusal

Queen Vashti Deposed

Commentaries on Esther 1