Now in the days of Ahasuerus1 (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces), 2in those days, when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom in the citadel of Susa, 3in the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his princes and his servants; the army of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him. 4He displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even one hundred eighty days.
5When these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast to all the people who were present in the citadel of Susa, both great and small, for seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. 6There were hangings of white cloth, of green, and of blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the couches were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red, and white, and yellow, and black marble. 7They gave them drink in vessels of gold (the vessels being diverse one from another), and royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king. 8In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had instructed all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.
9Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to King Ahasuerus.
10On 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 ministered in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, 11to bring Vashti the queen before the king wearing the royal crown, to show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was beautiful to look on. 12But 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.
13Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for it was the king’s custom to consult those who knew law and judgment; 14and the 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 King Ahasuerus by the eunuchs?
16Memucan 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 people who are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus. 17For this deed of the queen will become known to all women and cause them to show contempt for their husbands when it is reported, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, but she didn’t come.’ 18Today the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of what the queen did will speak the same way to all the king’s princes. So will there arise much contempt and wrath.
19“If it please the king, let a royal commandment go forth from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it cannot be altered, that Vashti come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she. 20When the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give to their husbands honour, both great and small.”
21The saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan. 22He sent letters to all the king’s provinces, to every province according to its script, and to every people according to their language, that every man should rule his own house, speaking the language of his own people.
- 1:1 Ahasuerus, or, Xerxes. ↩︎