Esther 1

This happened in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who ruled over 127 provinces from India to Cush. In those days, when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, in the third year of his reign, he held a banquet for all his officials and servants. The forces of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the officials of the provinces were before him, while he displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his majestic greatness for many days—180 days. When those days were over, the king held a banquet for seven days for all the people present in the citadel of Susa, great and small, in the garden courtyard of the royal palace. White cotton and blue hangings were fastened with cords of fine linen and purple cloth to silver rings and marble columns. Gold and silver couches stood on a pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stone. Drinks were served in gold cups, each different from the others. There was royal wine in abundance, according to the king's generosity. The rule for drinking was that no one was compelled, for the king had instructed all the stewards of his household to do as each man wished. Queen Vashti also held a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Ahasuerus. On the seventh day, when the king's heart was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, to bring Queen Vashti before the king wearing the royal crown, to show the peoples and officials her beauty, for she was beautiful to look at. But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered through the eunuchs. The king became furious, and his anger burned within him. The king consulted the wise men who understood the times, for it was his custom to bring his affairs before all who knew law and judgment. 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's presence and held the highest seats in the kingdom. “According to the law,” he asked, “what should be done to Queen Vashti for not carrying out the command of King Ahasuerus delivered through the eunuchs?” Memucan said before the king and the officials, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the officials and all the peoples in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. For word of the queen's conduct will spread to all the women, leading them to despise their husbands in their own eyes, as they say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’ This very day the noblewomen of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's conduct will say the same to all the king's officials. There will be contempt and anger in plenty. If it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be revoked: Vashti must never again come before King Ahasuerus, and the king should give her royal position to another woman who is better than she. When the king's decree is heard throughout his kingdom, vast as it is, all the wives will give honor to their husbands, great and small.” The proposal pleased the king and the officials, and the king did as Memucan had said. He sent letters to all the king's provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, so that every man would rule in his own house and speak the language of his own people.

Rights and attribution