Esther 1

1This is what happened in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who ruled over 127 provinces from India to Cush.

2In those days, when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa the citadel,

3in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the officials of the provinces were present before him,

4while he displayed the rich glory of his kingdom and the splendid honor of his greatness for many days, 180 days in all.

5When these days were over, the king gave a banquet lasting seven days for all the people who were present in Susa the citadel, from the greatest to the least, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.

6There were hangings of white cotton and violet, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods and marble pillars, and there were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and colored stones.

7Drinks were served in golden vessels, each vessel different from the others, and there was royal wine in abundance, as befitted the king’s generosity.

8The drinking was according to the rule: no one was compelled. For the king had instructed all the officials of his household to do as each man wished.

9Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus.

10On the seventh day, when the king was in high spirits from the wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served King Ahasuerus,

11to bring Queen Vashti before the king wearing the royal crown, in order to show her beauty to the peoples and the officials, for she was beautiful to look at.

12But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command delivered by the eunuchs. The king became furious, and his anger burned within him.

13Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times—for this was the king’s practice with all who were experts in law and justice,

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 the highest rank in the kingdom—

15“According to the law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she has not obeyed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?”

16Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Queen Vashti has done wrong not only against the king but also against all the officials and all the peoples in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

17For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women, and it will make them look down on their husbands, for they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’

18This very day the noblewomen of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will speak the same way to all the king’s officials, and there will be no end of contempt and anger.

19If it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him, and let it be written into the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another woman who is better than she is.

20Then when the decree the king makes is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, vast as it is, all women will give honor to their husbands, from the greatest to the least.”

21The king and the officials were pleased with this advice, and the king did as Memucan proposed.

22He sent letters to all the king’s provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, declaring that every man should be master in his own house and speak the language of his own people.