New American Standard Bible 2020

Esther 1:3-14

3in the third year of his reign 1he 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. 4 2At 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 3the 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 4couches 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 5in proportion to the king’s 6bounty. 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 7palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.

10On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was 8cheerful 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 9turban 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 10delivered by the eunuchs. So the king became very angry, and his wrath burned within him.

13Then the king said to 11the wise men 12who 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 13who 14had access to the king’s presence and sat in the first place in the kingdom--

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Notes

1. Esther 1:3 Esth 2:18 ↩
2. Esther 1:4 Lit When ↩
3. Esther 1:5 Esth 7:7, 8 ↩
4. Esther 1:6 Ezek 23:41; Amos 6:4 ↩
5. Esther 1:7 Esth 2:18 ↩
6. Esther 1:7 Lit hand ↩
7. Esther 1:9 Lit royal house ↩
8. Esther 1:10 Judg 16:25 ↩
9. Esther 1:11 Esth 2:17; 6:8 ↩
10. Esther 1:12 Lit by the hand of the ↩
11. Esther 1:13 Jer 10:7; Dan 2:2 ↩
12. Esther 1:13 1 Chr 12:32 ↩
13. Esther 1:14 2 Kin 25:19; Matt 18:10 ↩
14. Esther 1:14 Lit saw the face of the king ↩

Notes

Commentaries on Esther 1