Esther 1:1-9

1Now it happenedH1961 in the daysH3117 of 1AhasuerusH325, the AhasuerusH325 who reignedH4427 2from IndiaH1912 to 3CushH3568 over 4127H7651H6242H3967 provincesH4082, 2in thoseH1992 daysH3117 as KingH4428 AhasuerusH325 5satH3427 on his royalH4438 throneH3678 whichH834 was at the citadelH1002 in 6SusaH7800, 3in the thirdH7969 yearH8141 of his reignH4427 7he heldH6213 a banquetH4960 for allH3605 his officialsH8269 and attendantsH5650, the armyH2428 officers of PersiaH6539 and MediaH4074, the noblesH6579 and the officialsH8269 of his provincesH4082, in his presenceH6440. 48At that time he displayedH7200 the richesH6239 of his royalH4438 gloryH3519 and the splendorH3366 of his greatH1420 majestyH1420 for manyH7227 daysH3117, 180H8084H3967 daysH3117.

5When theseH428 daysH3117 were finishedH4390, the kingH4428 heldH6213 a banquetH4960 lasting sevenH7651 daysH3117 for allH3605 the peopleH5971 who wereH4672 presentH4672 at the citadelH1002 in SusaH7800, from the greatestH1419 to the leastH6996, in the courtyardH2691 of 9the gardenH1593 of the king’sH4428 palaceH1055. 6There were curtains of fineH3768 whiteH2353 and violetH8504 linenH3768 heldH270 by cordsH2256 of fineH948 purpleH713 linenH948 on silverH3701 ringsH1551 and marbleH8337 columnsH5982, and 10couchesH4296 of goldH2091 and silverH3701 on a mosaicH7531 floorH7531 of porphyryH923, marbleH8337, mother-of-pearlH1858, and mineralH5508 stonesH5508. 7DrinksH8248 were servedH8248 in goldenH2091 vesselsH3627 of variousH8132 kindsH3627, and the royalH4438 wineH3196 was plentifulH7227 11in proportion to the king’sH4428 12bountyH3027. 8But the drinkingH8360 was done according to the royal lawH1881; thereH369 wasH369 noH369 compulsionH597, for soH3651 the kingH4428 had givenH3245 ordersH3245 to eachH3605 officialH7227 of his householdH1004, that he was to doH6213 as eachH376 personH376 pleasedH7522. 9QueenH4436 VashtiH2060 alsoH1571 heldH6213 a banquetH4960 for the womenH802 in the 13palaceH1004 whichH834 belonged to KingH4428 AhasuerusH325.