Esther 1:1-10

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.

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,