The King Displays His Splendor
1 1 These events took place in the days of Ahasuerus — the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Cush, over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces a a v1 Cush was the land south of Egypt, along the upper Nile — roughly modern Sudan and southern Egypt. 2 —in those days, when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, 3 in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the officials of the provinces were assembled before him, 4 For many days — a hundred and eighty days — he displayed the wealth of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty.
5 When these days were over, the king held a banquet lasting seven days for all the people present in the citadel of Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the courtyard of the palace garden. 6 There were white cotton and blue hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings on marble pillars; and couches of gold and silver stood on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and colored stone. b b v6 Porphyry is a hard decorative stone prized in the ancient world for its deep purple and red coloring. 7 Drinks were served in golden goblets, each one different from the other, and the royal wine flowed freely by the king's generosity. 8 By royal decree, no one was required to drink, for the king had ordered every steward of his house to serve each man whatever he desired.
Queen Vashti Refuses the King
9 Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Ahasuerus.
10 On the seventh day, when the king was in high spirits from the wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas — the seven eunuchs who attended King Ahasuerus 11 —to bring Queen Vashti before the king wearing the royal crown, to display her beauty to the peoples and the officials, for she was lovely to look at. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. Then the king became furious, and his anger burned within him.
13 Then the king consulted the wise men who understood the times — for it was the king's custom to bring any matter before all who were skilled in law and judgment. 14 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 and held the highest rank in the kingdom. 15 "According to the law, what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she has not obeyed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?"
16 Then Memucan declared before the king and the officials, "Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also all the officials and all the peoples in every province of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the queen's conduct will become known to all the women, and they will despise their husbands, saying, 'King Ahasuerus ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.' 18 This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's conduct will say the same to all the king's officials, and there will be no end to the contempt and anger.
19 If it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him, written into the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti will never again come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another woman who is better than she. 20 When the king's decree is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, then all the women will honor their husbands, from the greatest to the least.
21 This advice pleased the king and the officials, and the king did just as Memucan proposed. 22 He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, that every man should be the head of his own household and speak the language of his own people.