1 The following events happened during the reign of King Ahasuerus.[ref] (Also known as King Xerxes, he ruled the empire of Persia with 127 provinces from India all the way across to Ethiopia.) 2 In those days, he ruled his empire from a city called Shushan,[fn] Persia’s capital.

3 In the third year of his reign, he hosted a celebration for all of his officials and for every important person who worked for him, as well as the officers who served in the army of the combined empire of Persia and Media, the wealthy landowners, and the officials of the provinces. The king was present in person to host the celebration 4 which, over a period of six months, would display the incredible wealth and prestige of his empire and his personal wealth and power.

5 Then at the end of that time, the king hosted another celebration, but this time for all the people in the royal fort in Shushan, from the nobles to the least prestigious. He held this celebration over an entire week in the enclosed garden of the royal palace. 6 There were white and blue curtains hanging from white and purple cords attached to silver rings on marble pillars. The guests reclined on gold and silver couches set on a mosaic floor that was made of red and white marble, and mother-of-pearl and other expensive stones. 7 Drinks were served in golden goblets, and each one was a unique design. The king’s wine seemed limitless as he displayed his generosity, 8 and it was served according to his rule: There is no compulsion to drink, but all of his servants were to give each guest however much they wanted.

9 Meanwhile, Queen Vashti was hosting a celebration for the women in a different part of the king’s royal palace.

10 On the seventh day of the celebrations, when the king was feeling cheery from his wine-drinking, he ordered seven of his chief servants (Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Karkas) 11 to bring Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, to him in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials, because she was very attractive. 12 But when the servants came and told her the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. When the king found this out, he got very angry and sat there raging. 13 So he called over his advisors who knew the law and could make good decisions, and discussed with them what he should do. 14 (His closest advisors were Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memukan. These seven officials were from various places in the empire of Persia and Media and they advised the king personally, thus making them the most powerful officials in the empire.) 15 “According to our law,” the king asked, “what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey my command when the servants passed it on to her?”

16 Then Memukan answered the king, speaking loudly enough that both the king and his officials could hear. “Queen Vashti has done wrong,” he said, “and not only against the king. She has also done wrong against all the officials and people groups in all the provinces that King Ahasuerus rules! 17 Soon women all over the empire will hear about what the queen did and they’ll say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded his servants to bring Queen Vashti to him, but she didn’t go! Then women will stop respecting their husbands. 18 Even today, the leading women of Persia and Media will hear what the queen did and start doing the same to their husbands who are officials, and this will cause a wave of contempt and anger. 19 If it pleases you to do so, your majesty, you should personally issue a royal decree and have it added to the laws of Persia and Media which cannot be repealed. This decree should say that Vashti can never again come into your presence, and then you should choose a different woman for the royal position—someone who’s better than her. 20 Your decree will be proclaimed right through your empire, even though it’s so huge, and then all women, irrespective of their status or position, will honour their husbands.

21 This seemed like a good idea to the king and his officials, so King Ahasuerus followed the advice of Memukan 22 and sent letters to every province in his empire. He wrote to every province using its own alphabet and to each people group in its own language. The letters said that men should be the masters over their wives and children, and that a husband should be able to give orders to his wife in his own native language that she should understand and obey.