The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Esther 01
1 Now in the days of Ahasuerus (this is
Ahasuerus who reigned from India evento
Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven
provinces),
2 inthosedays, whenthe King Ahasuerus
sat on the throne of his kingdom, which
was in Susa the palace,
3 in the third year of his reign, he made
a feast for all his princes and his servants;
the army of Persia and Media, the nobles
and princes of the provinces being before
him.
4 He displayed the riches of his glorious
kingdom and the honor of his excellent
majesty many days, even one hundred
eighty days.
5 When these days were fulfilled, the
king made a seven day feast for all the people who were
present in Susa the palace,
both great and small, in the court of the
garden of the king’s palace.
6 There were hangings of white and blue
material, fastened with cords of fine linen
and purple to silver rings and marble pillars. The couches were of gold and silver,
on a pavement of red, white, yellow, and
black marble.
7 They gave them drinks in golden vessels of various kinds, including royal wine
in abundance, according to the bounty of
the king.
8 In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king
had instructed all the officials 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, Biztha, Harbona,
Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcass,
the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
11 to bring Vashti the queen before the
king wearing the royal crown, to show the
people and the princes her beauty; for she
was beautiful.
12 But the queen Vashti refused to come
at the king’s commandment by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was very angry,
and his anger burned in him.
13 Then the king said to the wise men,
who knew the times (for it was the king’s
custom to consultthose who knew law and
judgment;
14 and next to him were Carshena,
Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres,
Marsena, and Memucan,the seven princes
of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s
face, and sat first in the kingdom),
15 “What shall we do to Queen Vashti
according to law, because she has not done
the bidding of the King Ahasuerus by the
eunuchs?”
16 Memucan answered before the king
and the princes, “Vashti the queen has not
done wrong to just the king, but also to all
the princes, and to all the people who are
in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus.
17 For this deed of the queen will become
known to all women, causing them to
show contempt for their husbands when it
is reported, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded
Vashti the queen to be brought in before
him, but she didn’t come.’
18 Today, the princesses of Persia and
Media who have heard ofthe queen’s deed
will tell all the king’s princes. This will
cause much contempt and wrath.
19 “If it pleases the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be
written among the laws of the Persians and the
Medes, so that it cannot be altered, that
Vashti may never again come before King
Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal
estate to another who is better than she.
20 When the king’s decree which he shall
make is published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will
give their husbands honor, both great and
small.”
21 This advice 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 its writing, and to every people in their
language, that every man should rule his
own house, speaking in the language of his
own people.