Esth 1
1
NOW IT came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus--this is Ahasuerus who reigned, from
India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces--
2
that in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which
was in Shushan the castle,
3
in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants;
the army of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before
him;
4
when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent
majesty, many days, even a hundred and fourscore days.
5
And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast unto all the people that
were present in Shushan the castle, both great and small, seven days, in the court
of the garden of the king's palace;
6
there were hangings of white, fine cotton, and blue, bordered with cords of fine linen
and purple, upon silver rods and pillars of marble; the couches were of gold and silver,
upon a pavement of green, and white, and shell, and onyx marble.
7
And they gave them drink in vessels of gold--the vessels being diverse one from another--and
royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.
8
And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel; for so the king had appointed
to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
9
Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged
to king Ahasuerus.
10
On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman,
Bizzetha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains
that ministered in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
11
to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the peoples
and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look on.
12
But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by the chamberlains;
therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
13
Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times--for so was the king's manner
toward all that knew law and judgment;
14
and the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and
Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat the
first in the kingdom:
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'What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, forasmuch as she hath not
done the bidding of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?'
16
And Memucan answered before the king and the princes: 'Vashti the queen hath not done
wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples, that
are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
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For this deed of the queen will come abroad unto all women, to make their husbands
contemptible in their eyes, when it will be said: The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti
the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
18
And this day will the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the deed of
the queen say the like unto all the king's princes. So will there arise enough contempt
and wrath.
19
If it please the king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it
be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that
Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus, and that the king give her royal estate
unto another that is better than she.
20
And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his
kingdom, great though it be, all the wives will give to their husbands honour, both
to great and small.'
21
And the word pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word
of Memucan;
22
for he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to
the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should
bear rule in his own house, and speak according to the language of his people.