Esther 1:1-10

1This is what happenedH1961 in the daysH3117 of XerxesH325H1931,1 who reigned overH4427 127H7651H6242H3967 provincesH4082 from IndiaH1912 toH5704 CushH3568.2 2In thoseH1992 daysH3117 KingH4428 XerxesH325 satH3427 onH5921 his royalH4438 throneH3678 in the citadelH1002 of SusaH7800.

3In the thirdH7969 yearH8141 of his reignH4427, Xerxes heldH6213 a feastH4960 for allH3605 his officialsH8269 and servantsH5650. The military leadersH2428 of PersiaH6539 and MediaH4074 were there, along with the noblesH6579 and princesH8269 of the provincesH4082. 4And for a fullH7227 180H8084H3967H3117 daysH3117 he displayedH7200 the gloriousH3519 richesH6239 of his kingdomH4438 andH853 the magnificentH8597 splendorH3366 of his greatnessH1420.

5At the endH4390 of thisH428 timeH3117, in the gardenH1594 courtH2691 of the royalH4428 palaceH1055, the kingH4428 heldH6213 a seven-dayH7651H3117 feastH4960 for allH3605 the peopleH5971 in the citadelH1002 of SusaH7800, from the leastH6996 toH5704 the greatestH1419. 6Hangings of whiteH2353 and blueH8504 linenH3768 were fastenedH270 with cordsH2256 of fine whiteH948 and purpleH713 material toH5921 silverH3701 ringsH1550 on the marbleH8336 pillarsH5982. GoldH2091 and silverH3701 couchesH4296 were arrangedH5921 on a mosaic pavementH7531 of porphyryH923, marbleH8336, mother-of-pearlH1858, and other costly stonesH5508.

7Beverages were servedH8248 in an array of gobletsH3627 of goldH2091, eachH3627 with a different designH8138, and the royalH4438 wineH3196 flowed freelyH7227, according to the king’sH4428 bountyH3027. 8ByH1881 orderH3245 of the kingH4428, noH369 limit was placedH597 on the drinkingH8360H5921, and everyH3605 officialH7227 of his householdH1004 was to serveH6213 eachH376 manH376 whatever he desiredH7522.

9QueenH4436 VashtiH2060 alsoH1571 gaveH6213 a banquetH4960 for the womenH802 in the royalH4438 palaceH1004 of KingH4428 XerxesH325.

10On the seventhH7637 dayH3117, when the king’sH4428 heartH3820 was merryH2895 with wineH3196, he orderedH559 the sevenH7651 eunuchsH5631 who servedH8334H854H6440H4428 himH325—MehumanH4104, BizthaH968, HarbonaH2726, BigthaH903, AbagthaH5, ZetharH2242, and CarkasH3752—