Esther 1 · אסתר

Now it came to pass in the days of Aĥashverosh, (this is Aĥashverosh who reigned, from Hoddu as far as Kush, a hundred and twenty seven provinces:)

that in those days, when the king Aĥashverosh sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the capital,

in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants; the military power of Paras and Maday, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:

when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, namely a hundred and eighty days.

And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast for all the people that were present in Shushan the capital, both for great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace:

there were hangings of white, of fine cotton, and blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple on silver rods and pillars of marble: the divans were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of alabaster, marble, pearl and precious stone.

And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse from one another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the king’s bounty.

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.

Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women, in the royal house which belonged to king Aĥashverosh.

On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Bizzeta, Ḥarvona, Bigta, and Avagta, Zetar, and Karkas, the seven chamberlains who served in the presence of Aĥashverosh the king,

to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.

But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore the king was very wrathful, and his anger burned in him.

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:

and the next to him was Karshena, Shetar, Admata, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memukhan, the seven princes of Paras and Maday, who saw the king’s face, and who sat the first in the kingdom;)

What shall we do to the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not performed the bidding of the king Aĥashverosh by the chamberlains?

And Memukhan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen has not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples who are in all the provinces of the king Aĥashverosh.

For this deed of the queen will be made known to all the women, so as to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it shall be reported that the king Aĥashverosh commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.

And the princesses of Paras and Maday, who have heard of the deed of the queen, shall be telling of it today to all the king’s princes. Thus shall there be contempt and wrath in plenty.

If it please the king, let a royal commandment go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of Paras and Maday, so that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before king Aĥashverosh; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.

And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his kingdom, which is great, all the wives shall give honour to their husbands, both to high and low.

And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memukhan:

for he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to its writing, 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.