Esther Chapter 1

The Banquets of the King

1Now it took place in the days of 1Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned 2from India to 3Ethiopia over 4127 provinces, 2in those days as King Ahasuerus 5sat on his royal throne which was at the citadel in 6Susa, 3in the third year of his reign 7he gave a banquet for all his princes and attendants, the army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of his provinces being in his presence. 48And he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days.

5When these days were completed, the king gave a banquet lasting seven days for all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the court of 9the garden of the king’s palace. 6There were hangings of fine white and violet linen held by cords of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble columns, and 10couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones. 7Drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was plentiful 11according to the king’s 12bounty. 8The drinking was done according to the law, there was no compulsion, for so the king had given orders to each official of his household that he should do according to the desires of each person. 9Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the 13palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.

Queen Vashti’s Refusal

10On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was 14merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal 15crown in order to display her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was beautiful. 12But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command delivered by the eunuchs. Then the king became very angry and his wrath burned within him.

13Then the king said to 16the wise men 17who understood the times--for it was the custom of the king so to speak before all who knew law and justice 14and were close to him: Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media 18who 19had access to the king’s presence and sat in the first place in the kingdom-- 15“According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she did not 20obey the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?” 16In the presence of the king and the princes, Memucan said, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also all the princes and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17For the queen’s conduct will 21become known to all the women causing them 22to look with contempt on their husbands by saying, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in to his presence, but she did not come.’ 18This day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s conduct will speak in the same way to all the king’s princes, and there will be plenty of contempt and anger. 19If it pleases the king, let a royal 23edict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so 24that it cannot 25be repealed, that Vashti may no longer come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to 26another who is more worthy than she. 20When the king’s edict which he will make is heard throughout all his kingdom, 27great as it is, then 28all women will give honor to their husbands, great and small.”

21This word pleased the king and the princes, and the king did 29as Memucan proposed. 22So he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, 30to each province according to its script and to every people according to their language, that every man should 31be the master in his own house and the one who speaks in the language of his own people.