Esther 1:1-22 NIV
Queen Vashti Deposed
2At that
time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, 3and in
the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials.
The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the
provinces were present.
4For a
full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and
glory of his majesty. 5When
these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the
enclosed garden of the king’s palace, for all the people from the least to the
greatest who were in the citadel of Susa. 6The
garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen
and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of
gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and
other costly stones. 7Wine
was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal
wine was abundant, in keeping with the king’s liberality. 8By the
king’s command each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions, for the
king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished.
9Queen
Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
10On the
seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the
seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar
and Karkas— 11to
bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her
beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. 12But
when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come.
Then the king became furious and burned with anger.
13Since
it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice,
he spoke with the wise men who understood the times 14and
were closest to the king—Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena
and Memukan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the
king and were highest in the kingdom.
15“According
to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?” he asked. “She has not obeyed the
command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her.”
16Then
Memukan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, “Queen Vashti has
done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the
peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes. 17For the
queen’s conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise
their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought
before him, but she would not come.’ 18This
very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the
queen’s conduct will respond to all the king’s nobles in the same way. There
will be no end of disrespect and discord.
19“Therefore,
if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in
the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never
again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal
position to someone else who is better than she. 20Then
when the king’s edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the
women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.”
21The
king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memukan
proposed. 22He sent
dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and
to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be
ruler over his own household, using his native tongue.
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