Esther Chapter 1

The Banquets of the King

1Now it happened in the days of 1Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned 2from India to 3Cush 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 held a banquet for all his officials and attendants, the army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the officials of his provinces, in his presence. 48At that time he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days.

5When these days were finished, the king held 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 courtyard of 9the garden of the king’s palace. 6There were curtains 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 floor of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and mineral stones. 7Drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was plentiful 11in proportion to the king’s 12bounty. 8But the drinking was done according to the royal law; there was no compulsion, for so the king had given orders to each official of his household, that he was to do as each person pleased. 9Queen Vashti also held 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 14cheerful with wine, he ordered 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 15turban in order to display her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful. 12But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s order 16delivered by the eunuchs. So the king became very angry, and his wrath burned within him.

13Then the king said to 17the wise men 18who understood the times--for it was the custom of the king to speak this way before all who knew Persian law and justice 14and were close to him, namely, Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media 19who 20had 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, since she did not 21obey the command of King Ahasuerus 22delivered by the eunuchs?” 16And in the presence of the king and the other officials, Memucan said, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17For the queen’s conduct will 23become known to all the women so as to make their own husbands despicable in their sight, when they say, ‘King Ahasuerus 24commanded that Queen Vashti be brought in to his presence, but she did not come.’ 18And this day the wives of the officials of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will talk about it to all the king’s officials, and there will be plenty of contempt and anger. 19If it pleases the king, let a royal 25edict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so 26that it cannot 27be repealed, that Vashti may not come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to 28another who is more worthy than she. 20When the king’s edict which he will make is heard throughout his kingdom, 29great as it is, then 30all women will give honor to their husbands, great and small.”

21Now this word pleased the king and the officials, and the king did 31as Memucan proposed. 22So he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, 32to each province according to its script and to every people according to their language, that every man was to 33be the ruler in his own house and the one who speaks in the language of his own people.