New American Standard Bible 1995

Esther 1

The Banquets of the King

1Now it tookH1961placeH1961in the daysבִּימֵ֣יbi.MeiH3117ofAhasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325,the Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325who reignedהַמֹּלֵךְ֙ha.mo.leKhH4427from Indiaמֵהֹ֣דּוּme.Ho.duH1912toEthiopiaכּ֔וּשׁKushH3568over127שֶׁ֛בַע וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּמֵאָ֖הShe.va' ve.'es.Rim u.me.'AhH7651 H6242 H3967provincesמְדִינָֽה׃me.di.NahH4082,

2in thoseהָהֵ֑םha.HemH1992daysבַּיָּמִ֖יםbai.ya.MimH3117as Kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325satכְּשֶׁ֣בֶת׀ke.She.vetH3427on his royalמַלְכוּת֔וֹmal.khu.ToH4438throneכִּסֵּ֣אki.Se'H3678whichאֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherH834wasat the citadelהַבִּירָֽה׃ha.bi.RahH1002inSusaבְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ןbe.shu.ShanH7800,

3in the thirdשָׁלוֹשׁ֙sha.lo.VoshH7969yearבִּשְׁנַ֤תbish.NatH8141of his reignלְמָלְכ֔וֹle.ma.le.KhoH4427he gaveעָשָׂ֣ה'a.SahH6213a banquetמִשְׁתֶּ֔הmish.TehH4960for allלְכָל־le.kholH3605his princesשָׂרָ֖יוsa.RavH8269and attendantsוַעֲבָדָ֑יוva.'a.va.DavH5650,the armyחֵ֣יל׀cheilH2428officersof Persiaפָּרַ֣סpa.RasH6539and Mediaוּמָדַ֗יu.ma.DaiH4074,the noblesהַֽפַּרְתְּמִ֛יםha.par.te.MimH6579and the princesוְשָׂרֵ֥יve.sa.ReiH8269of his provincesהַמְּדִינ֖וֹתha.me.di.NotH4082being in his presenceלְפָנָֽיו׃le.fa.NavH6440.

4And he displayedבְּהַרְאֹת֗וֹbe.har.'o.ToH7200the richesעֹ֙שֶׁר֙'o.sherH6239of his royalמַלְכוּת֔וֹmal.khu.ToH4438gloryכְּב֣וֹדke.VodH3519and the splendorיְקָ֔רye.KarH3366of his greatH1420majestyH1420for manyרַבִּ֔יםra.BimH7227daysיָמִ֣יםya.MimH3117,180שְׁמוֹנִ֥ים וּמְאַ֖תshe.mo.Nim u.me.'AtH8084 H3967daysיֽוֹם׃YomH3117.

5When theseהָאֵ֗לֶּהha.'E.lehH428daysהַיָּמִ֣יםhai.ya.MimH3117were completedוּבִמְל֣וֹאת׀u.vim.LotH4390,the kingהַמֶּ֡לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428gaveעָשָׂ֣ה'a.SahH6213a banquetמִשְׁתֶּ֖הmish.TehH4960lasting sevenשִׁבְעַ֣תshiv.'AtH7651daysיָמִ֑יםya.MimH3117for allלְכָל־le.kholH3605the peopleהָעָ֣םha.'AmH5971who were presentהַנִּמְצְאִים֩ha.nim.tze.'ImH4672at the citadelהַבִּירָ֜הha.bi.RahH1002in Susaבְּשׁוּשַׁ֨ןbe.shu.ShanH7800,from the greatestלְמִגָּ֧דוֹלle.mi.Ga.dolH1419to the leastקָטָ֛ןka.TanH6996,in the courtבַּחֲצַ֕רba.cha.TzarH2691ofthe gardenH1593of the king’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428palaceבִּיתַ֖ןbi.TanH1055.

6There were hangings offineH3768whiteח֣וּר׀churH2353and violetוּתְכֵ֗לֶתu.te.Khe.letH8504linenH3768heldאָחוּז֙'a.ChuzH270by cordsבְּחַבְלֵי־be.chav.lei-H2256of fineב֣וּץvutzH948purpleוְאַרְגָּמָ֔ןve.'ar.ga.ManH713linenH948on silverכֶ֖סֶףKhe.sefH3701ringsH1551and marbleH8337columnsוְעַמּ֣וּדֵיve.'a.Mu.deiH5982, andcouchesמִטּ֣וֹת׀mi.TotH4296of goldזָהָ֣בza.HavH2091and silverוָכֶ֗סֶףva.Khe.sefH3701on a mosaicH7531pavementרִֽצְפַ֥תritz.FatH7531of porphyryבַּהַט־ba.hat-H923,marbleH8337,mother-of-pearlוְדַ֥רve.DarH1858and preciousH5508stonesH5508.

7Drinksוְהַשְׁקוֹת֙ve.hash.kOtH8248were servedH8248in goldenזָהָ֔בza.HavH2091vesselsH3627of variousH8132kindsH3627,and the royalמַלְכ֛וּתmal.KhutH4438wineוְיֵ֥יןve.YeinH3196was plentifulרָ֖בravH7227according to the king’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428bountyכְּיַ֥דke.YadH3027.

8The drinkingוְהַשְּׁתִיָּ֥הve.ha.she.ti.YahH8360was doneaccording to the lawכַדָּ֖תkha.DatH1881,thereH369was noH369compulsionאֹנֵ֑ס'o.NesH597,for soכֵ֣ן׀khenH3651the kingהַמֶּ֗לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428had givenH3245ordersH3245to eachכָּל־kol-H3605officialרַ֣בravH7227of his householdבֵּית֔וֹbei.ToH1004that he should doלַעֲשׂ֖וֹתla.'a.SotH6213according to the desiresכִּרְצ֥וֹןkir.TzonH7522of eachאִישׁ־'ish-H376personוָאִֽישׁ׃va.'IshH376.

9Queenהַמַּלְכָּ֔הha.mal.KahH4436Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֣יvash.TiH2060alsoגַּ֚םgamH1571gaveעָשְׂתָ֖ה'a.se.TahH6213a banquetמִשְׁתֵּ֣הmish.TehH4960for the womenנָשִׁ֑יםna.ShimH802in thepalaceבֵּ֚יתbeitH1004whichאֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherH834belonged to Kingלַמֶּ֥לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃ ס'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325.

Queen Vashti’s Refusal

10On the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִ֔יha.she.vi.'IH7637dayבַּיּוֹם֙bai.yOmH3117,when the heartלֵב־lev-H3820of the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428wasmerryכְּט֥וֹבke.TovH2895with wineבַּיָּ֑יִןbai.Ya.yinH3196,he commandedאָמַ֡ר'a.MarH559Mehumanלִ֠מְהוּמָןLim.hu.monH4104,Bizthaבִּזְּתָ֨אbi.ze.Ta'H968,Harbonaחַרְבוֹנָ֜אchar.vo.Na'H2726,Bigthaבִּגְתָ֤אbig.Ta'H903,Abagthaוַאֲבַגְתָא֙va.'a.vag.Ta'H5,Zetharזֵתַ֣רze.TarH2242and Carkasוְכַרְכַּ֔סve.khar.KasH3752,the sevenשִׁבְעַת֙shiv.'AtH7651eunuchsהַסָּ֣רִיסִ֔יםha.Sa.ri.SimH5631who servedהַמְשָׁ֣רְתִ֔יםham.Sha.re.TimH8334in the presenceפְּנֵ֖יpe.NeiH6440of Kingהַמֶּ֥לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325,

11to bringלְ֠הָבִיאLe.ha.vi'H935Queenהַמַּלְכָּ֛הha.mal.KahH4436Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֧יvash.TiH2060beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428with herroyalמַלְכ֑וּתmal.KhutH4438crownבְּכֶ֣תֶרbe.Khe.terH3804in order to displayלְהַרְא֨וֹתle.har.'otH7200her beautyיָפְיָ֔הּya.fe.YahH3308to the peopleהָֽעַמִּ֤יםha.'a.MimH5971and the princesוְהַשָּׂרִים֙ve.ha.sa.RimH8269,for she was beautifulטוֹבַ֥תto.VatH2896.

12But Queenהַמַּלְכָּ֣הha.mal.KahH4436Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֗יvash.TiH2060refusedוַתְּמָאֵ֞ןva.te.ma.'EnH3985to comeלָבוֹא֙la.Vo'H935at the king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428commandבִּדְבַ֣רbid.VarH1697deliveredבְּיַ֣דbe.YadH3027by the eunuchsהַסָּרִיסִ֑יםha.sa.ri.SimH5631.Then the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428becameH7107veryמְאֹ֔דme.'OdH3966angryוַיִּקְצֹ֤ףvai.yik.TzofH7107and his wrathוַחֲמָת֖וֹva.cha.ma.ToH2534burnedבָּעֲרָ֥הba.'a.RahH1197within him.

13Then the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559tothe wiseלַחֲכָמִ֖יםla.cha.kha.MimH2450menH2450who understoodיֹדְעֵ֣יyo.de.'EiH3045the timesהָֽעִתִּ֑יםha.'i.TimH6256--for it was the customדְּבַ֣רde.VarH1697of the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428soכֵן֙khenH3651to speakbeforeלִפְנֵ֕יlif.NeiH6440allכָּל־kol-H3605who knewיֹדְעֵ֖יyo.de.'EiH3045lawדָּ֥תdatH1881and justiceוָדִֽין׃va.DinH1779

14and were closeוְהַקָּרֹ֣בve.ha.ka.RoH7138to him: Carshenaכַּרְשְׁנָ֤אkar.she.Na'H3771,Shetharשֵׁתָר֙she.TarH8369,Admathaאַדְמָ֣תָא'ad.Ma.ta'H133,Tarshishתַרְשִׁ֔ישׁtar.ShishH8659,Meresמֶ֥רֶסMe.resH4825,Marsenaמַרְסְנָ֖אmar.se.Na'H4826and Memucanמְמוּכָ֑ןme.mu.KhanH4462,the sevenשִׁבְעַ֞תshiv.'AtH7651princesשָׂרֵ֣י׀sa.ReiH8269of Persiaפָּרַ֣סpa.RasH6539and Mediaוּמָדַ֗יu.ma.DaiH4074whohad accessרֹאֵי֙ro.'EiH7200to the king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428presenceפְּנֵ֣יpe.NeiH6440and satהַיֹּשְׁבִ֥יםhai.yo.she.VimH3427in the firstרִאשֹׁנָ֖הri.sho.NahH7223place in the kingdomבַּמַּלְכֽוּת׃ba.mal.KhutH4438--

15“According to lawכְּדָת֙ke.DatH1881,whatמַֽה־mah-H4100is to be doneלַּעֲשׂ֔וֹתla.'a.SotH6213with Queenבַּמַּלְכָּ֖הba.mal.KahH4436Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֑יvash.TiH2060,becauseעַ֣ל׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר'al 'a.SherH5921 H834she did notobeyעָשְׂתָ֗ה'a.se.TahH6213the commandמַאֲמַר֙ma.'a.MarH3982of Kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325deliveredby the eunuchsהַסָּרִיסִֽים׃ סha.sa.ri.SimH5631?”

16In the presenceלִפְנֵ֤יlif.NeiH6440of the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428and the princesוְהַשָּׂרִ֔יםve.ha.sa.RimH8269,Memucanמְמוּכָ֗ןmu.me.khanH4462saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Queenהַמַּלְכָּ֑הha.mal.KahH4436Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֣יvash.TiH2060has wrongedעָוְתָ֖ה'a.ve.TahH5753not onlyלְבַדּ֔וֹle.va.DoH905the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428but alsoallכָּל־kol-H3605the princesהַשָּׂרִים֙ha.sa.RimH8269and allכָּל־kol-H3605the peoplesהָ֣עַמִּ֔יםha.'a.MimH5971whoאֲשֶׁ֕ר'a.SherH834are in allבְּכָל־be.kholH3605the provincesמְדִינ֖וֹתme.di.NotH4082of Kingהַמֶּ֥לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325.

17For the queen’sהַמַּלְכָּה֙ha.mal.KahH4436conductדְבַר־de.var-H1697willbecomeH3318knownH3318to allכָּל־kol-H3605the womenהַנָּשִׁ֔יםha.na.ShimH802causing themto lookבְּעֵינֵיהֶ֑ןbe.'ei.nei.HenH5869with contemptלְהַבְז֥וֹתle.hav.ZotH959on their husbandsבַּעְלֵיהֶ֖ןba'.lei.HenH1167by sayingבְּאָמְרָ֗םbe.'a.me.RamH559, ‘Kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֡וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325commandedאָמַ֞ר'a.MarH559Queenהַמַּלְכָּ֛הha.mal.KahH4436Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֧יvash.TiH2060to be broughtלְהָבִ֨יאle.ha.Vi'H935in to his presenceלְפָנָ֖יוle.fa.NavH6440,but she did not comeבָֽאָה׃Va.'ahH935.’

18Thisהַזֶּ֜הha.ZehH2088dayוְֽהַיּ֨וֹםve.hai.YomH3117the ladiesשָׂר֣וֹתsa.RotH8282of Persiaפָּֽרַס־pa.ras-H6539and Mediaוּמָדַ֗יu.ma.DaiH4074whoאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834have heardשָֽׁמְעוּ֙sha.me.'UH8085of the queen’sהַמַּלְכָּ֔הha.mal.KahH4436conductדְּבַ֣רde.VarH1697will speakתֹּאמַ֣רְנָה׀to.Mar.nahH559in the same wayto allלְכֹ֖לle.KholH3605the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428princesשָׂרֵ֣יsa.ReiH8269,and there will be plentyוּכְדַ֖יu.khe.DaiH1767of contemptבִּזָּי֥וֹןbi.za.YonH963and angerוָקָֽצֶף׃va.Ka.tzefH7110.

19Ifאִם־'im-H518it pleasesH2895the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,let a royalH4438edictדְבַר־de.var-H1697be issuedיֵצֵ֤אye.Tze'H3318by him and let it be writtenוְיִכָּתֵ֛בve.yi.ka.TevH3789in the lawsבְּדָתֵ֥יbe.da.TeiH1881of Persiaפָֽרַס־fa.ras-H6539and Mediaוּמָדַ֖יu.ma.DaiH4074sothat it cannotוְלֹ֣אve.Lo'H3808be repealedיַעֲב֑וֹרya.'a.VorH5674,that Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֗יvash.TiH2060may noלֹֽא־lo'-H3808longer comeתָב֜וֹאta.Vo'H935into the presenceH6440of Kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325,and let the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428giveיִתֵּ֣ןyi.TenH5414her royalH4438positionH4438toanotherלִרְעוּתָ֖הּlir.'u.TahH7468who is moreH4480worthyH2896thanH4480she.

20When the king’sהַמֶּ֤לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428edictפִּתְגָ֨םpit.GamH6599whichאֲשֶֽׁר־'a.Sher-H834he will makeיַעֲשֶׂה֙ya.'a.SehH6213is heardוְנִשְׁמַע֩ve.nish.Ma'H8085throughout allבְּכָל־be.kholH3605his kingdomמַלְכוּת֔וֹmal.khu.ToH4438,greatרַבָּ֖הra.BahH7227as it is, thenallוְכָל־ve.kholH3605womenהַנָּשִׁ֗יםha.na.ShimH802will giveיִתְּנ֤וּyi.te.NuH5414honorיְקָר֙ye.KarH3366to their husbandsלְבַעְלֵיהֶ֔ןle.va'.lei.HenH1167,greatלְמִגָּד֖וֹלle.mi.ga.DolH1419and smallקָטָֽן׃ka.TanH6996.”

21Thiswordהַדָּבָ֔רha.da.VarH1697pleasedוַיִּיטַב֙ בְּעֵינֵ֥יvai.yi.Tav be.'ei.NeiH3190 H5869the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428and the princesוְהַשָּׂרִ֑יםve.ha.sa.RimH8269,and the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428didוַיַּ֥עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213as Memucanמְמוּכָֽן׃me.mu.KhanH4462proposedכִּדְבַ֥רkid.VarH1697.

22So he sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חvai.yish.LachH7971lettersסְפָרִים֙se.fa.RimH5612to allכָּל־kol-H3605the king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428provincesמְדִינ֣וֹתme.di.NotH4082,to eachמְדִינָ֤הme.di.NahH4082provinceוּמְדִינָה֙u.me.di.NahH4082according to its scriptכִּכְתָבָ֔הּkikh.ta.VahH3791and to everyעַ֥ם'amH5971peopleוָעָ֖םva.'AmH5971according to their languageכִּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹkil.sho.NoH3956,that everyכָּל־kol-H3605manאִישׁ֙'ishH376shouldbe the masterשֹׂרֵ֣רso.RerH8323in his own houseבְּבֵית֔וֹbe.vei.ToH1004and the one who speaksוּמְדַבֵּ֖רu.me.da.BerH1696in the languageכִּלְשׁ֥וֹןkil.ShonH3956of his own peopleעַמּֽוֹ׃ פa.MoH5971.

The Banquets of the King

Queen Vashti’s Refusal

Commentaries on Esther 1