THE BOOK OF ESTHER

Esther Chapter 1

1 ¶ Now in the days of Ahasuerus, (this Ahasuerus is Xerxes who reigned, from India to Ethiopia, over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces:)

2 At that time, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, in the fortress city of Shushan,

3 In the third year of his rule, he gave a banquet for all his officers and the men of his court; the chief military officers of the Persians and Medes, the leaders and governors of the provinces, being before him:

4 And he showed them the riches of his glorious kingdom and the costly splendor of his majesty for many days, even one hundred and eighty days.

5 And when these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed park of his palace, for all the people present in Shushan the capital, both high and low;

6 There were hangings of white, green, and blue cloth, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple and silver rings to pillars of marble: couches of gold and silver, were on a pavement of red, blue, white, and black, marble.

7 And they served them drinks in vessels of gold, (and each vessel was different,) and there was royal wine in abundance, according to the liberality of the king.

8 And the drinking was according to the rule; No one has to drink: for the king had ordered all the waiters in his palace, to let everyone do as he liked.

9 Vashti the queen also gave a banquet for the women at the royal palace of king Ahasuerus.

10 ¶ On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains or eunuchs who served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king wearing her royal crown, to show the people and the princes her beauty: for she was beautiful.

12 But queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by the eunuchs: therefore the king was enraged, and burned with anger.

13 Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for the king used to lay his matters before all who knew law and religion:

14 Those close to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven governors of Persia and Media, who saw the king face to face, and had the first place in the kingdom;)

15 According to law, what must be done to queen Vashti because she did not do what the king sent the eunuchs to tell her?

16 And Memucan said to the king and governors, Vashti the queen has not only done wrong to the king, but to all the officials, and people who are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

17 Because this deed of the queen will go out to all the women, leading them to look with contempt on their husbands, when it is known, That king Ahasuerus commanded men to bring Vashti the queen before him, but she refused.

18 This very day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard what the queen did, will be telling it to all the king’s officials. Thus stirring up much contempt and bad temper.

19 If it please the king, let a royal command go forth from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it may not be changed, That Vashti should no more come before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.

20 So when the king’s decree is made and proclaimed throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives, both high and low, will give honor to their husbands.

21 And this advice pleased the king and the governors; and the king did what Memucan advised:

22 He sent letters to all the royal provinces, into each province in its own script, and to every people in their own language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that his word should be the authority.