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Esther 1

1 It was in the reign of Xerxes, the Xerxes who reigned from India to Ethiopia, over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces. 2 It was when king Xerxes had seated himself on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, 3 during the third year of his reign, that he gave a banquet to all his officials and courtiers, and in presence of the officers of the Persian and Median army and of the nobles and officials of the provinces, 4 displayed his royal treasures in their splendour and his rare kingly robes for many a day, indeed for a hundred and eighty days. 5 When this was over, he gave a banquet to all the men within the citadel of Susa, to high and low alike, for seven days, in the park belonging to the royal palace; 6 there were hangings of white and violet cotton, corded with white and purple linen, caught up on silver rings and marble columns; the couches of gold and silver were stretched on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, coloured marble, and mother-of-pearl. 7 The wine was served in cups of gold (no two alike), and the wine flowed right royally; 8 though the rule about drinking was this, that no one was forced to drink, the king’s orders being that the attendants of his household should allow every guest to please himself. 9 Vashti the queen also gave a banquet to the women in the royal apartments belonging to king Xerxes,

10 On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Karkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the retinue of king Xerxes, 11 to bring queen Vashti before the king, wearing the royal crown, in order to let the men and the officials see her beauty. For she was lovely to behold. 12 But queen Vashti refused to come, when the eunuchs brought the king’s order. Then the king was furious, his anger blazed up, 13 and he consulted the sages who were familiar with usage and precedent (for any royal action was always discussed with those who were expert in law and custom). 14 Those next him were Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marseha, and Memucan, the seven viziers of Persia and Media, who had access to the royal presence and sat next to the royal throne. 15 He asked them what ought to be done to queen Vashti for refusing to obey the king’s order by the eunuchs.

16 Memucan replied, in presence of the king and the viziers, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but all the officials and all men in every province of king Xerxes. 17 This behaviour of the queen will come to the ears of every woman, and they will look down upon their husbands, when the saying goes that king Xerxes ordered queen Vashti to be brought before him and she would not come. 18 This very day, the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s conduct are talking proudly and petulantly enough to all the king’s officials! 19 If it please the king, let him issue a royal edict, and let it be engrossed among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, never to be repealed, 20 that Vashti never come again into the presence of king Xerxes; let the king assign her royal position to a bet20 ter woman. So, when the king’s decree, which he shall issue, is proclaimed in every quarter of his realm (great though it is), all women shall show honour to their husbands, high and low.” 21 This counsel pleased the king and the viziers, and the king acted as Memucan had advised; 22 he sent despatches to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own script and to each nation in its own language, directing that every man should be master in his own house and give what orders he chose.

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