Esther 1

The king’s banquet in Susa

1It happened in the days of Ahasuerus — the Ahasuerus who ruled from India to Cush, over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces. 2In those days, when King Ahasuerus was seated on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, 3in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his officials and his servants. The army of Persia and Media, the nobles and the officials of the provinces were there before him, 4while he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the costly splendor of his greatness for many days — one hundred and eighty days. 5When those days were over, the king gave a banquet lasting seven days for all the people who were in the citadel of Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the courtyard of the garden of the king’s pavilion. 6There were hangings of white cotton and violet, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings on pillars of alabaster; couches of gold and silver stood on a pavement of porphyry and alabaster, mother-of-pearl and dark stone. 7Drinks were served in golden vessels, no two of them alike, and royal wine flowed in abundance, with a king’s liberality. 8The drinking followed a decree: no one was to be compelled, for the king had instructed every steward of his household to let each man do as he pleased. 9Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women, in the royal house that belonged to King Ahasuerus. 10On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas — the seven eunuchs who attended King Ahasuerus — 11to bring Queen Vashti before the king wearing the royal crown, to show the peoples and the officials her beauty; for she was lovely to look at. 12But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s word, delivered by the eunuchs. The king was enraged, and his fury burned within him.

The verdict on Vashti

13So the king spoke to the wise men who knew the times — for this was the king’s way with all who were versed in law and judgment, 14and those closest to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media who had access to the king and held first rank in the kingdom — 15“By law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, since she has not carried out the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?” 16Memucan answered before the king and the officials: “It is not the king alone whom Queen Vashti has wronged, but all the officials and all the peoples in every province of King Ahasuerus. 17For word of what the queen did will reach every woman, and they will look on their husbands with contempt, saying: ‘King Ahasuerus ordered Queen Vashti brought before him, and she did not come.’ 18This very day the noblewomen of Persia and Media who have heard what the queen did will say the same to all the king’s officials — and there will be contempt and anger enough. 19If it pleases the king, let a royal word go out from him and be written among the laws of Persia and Media, never to be revoked: that Vashti shall not come again before King Ahasuerus, and that the king shall give her royal rank to another woman, better than she. 20Then, when the king’s pronouncement is heard through all his realm — vast as it is — every wife will honor her husband, from the greatest to the least.” 21The proposal pleased the king and the officials, and the king did as Memucan had said. 22He sent letters to all the king’s provinces — to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language — that every man should be master in his own house and speak the language of his own people.