Open English Translation ESG Chapter 1

1 [In the second year of the reign of Ahashverosh (Ahasuerus) the great king, on the first day of Nisan, Mordekai the son of Yair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, of the Benyamin tribe, a Yehudi (Jew) living in the city Shushan (Susa), a great man, serving in the king’s palace, saw a vision. Now he was one of the captives whom Nevukadnetsar (Nebuchadnezzar) king of Bavel (Babylon) had carried captive from Yerushalem (Jerusalem) with Yekaneyah the king of Yehudah (Judea). This was his dream: Listen, voices and a noise, thunders and earthquake, tumult on the earth. And two great serpents came out, both ready for conflict. A great voice came from them. Every nation was prepared for battle by their voice, even to fight against the nation of the just. Listen, a day of darkness and blackness, suffering and anguish, affection and tumult on the earth. And all the righteous nation was troubled, fearing their own afflictions. They prepared to die, and cried to God. Something like a great river from a little spring with much water, came from their cry. Light and the sun arose, and the lowly were raised up, and devoured the honourable.

Mordekai, who’d seen that vision and what God desired to do, having arisen, kept it in his heart, and desired by all means to interpret it, even until night.

Mordekai rested quietly in the palace with Gabatha and Teresh the king’s two chamberlains, eunuchs who guarded the palace. He heard their conversation and searched out their plans. He learnt that they were preparing to lay hands on King Ahashverosh; and he informed the king about them. The king examined the two chamberlains. They confessed, and were led away and executed. The king wrote those things for a record. Mordekai also wrote about those matters. The king commanded Mordekai to serve in the palace, and gave gifts for that service. But Haman the son of Hamedata the Bugaean was honoured in the sight of the king, and he endeavoured to harm Mordekai and his people, because of the king’s two chamberlains.][fn]

And it happened after those things[fn] in the days of Ahashverosh, —(this Ahashverosh ruled over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces from Hodu)—2 in those days, when King Ahashverosh was on the throne in Shushan city, 3 in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for his friends, for people from the rest of the nations, for the leading citizens of the Persians and Madim (Medes), and for the chief of the local governors. 4 After that—after he’d shown them the wealth of his kingdom and the abundant glory of his wealth during one hundred and eighty days—5 when the days of the wedding feast were completed, the king made a banquet lasting six days for the people of the nations who were present in the city, in the courtyard of the king’s house, 6 which was adorned with fine linen and flax on cords of fine linen and purple, fastened to golden and silver studs on pillars of white marble and stone. There were golden and silver couches on a pavement of emerald stone, and of mother-of-pearl, and of white marble, with transparent coverings variously flowered, having roses arranged around it. 7 There were gold and silver cups, and a small cup of carbuncle set out, of the value of thirty thousand talents, with abundant and sweet wine, which the king himself drank. 8 That banquet wasn’t according to the appointed law, but as the king desired to have it. He charged the stewards to perform his will and that of the company.

9 Also Vashti the queen made a banquet for the women in the palace where King Ahashverosh lived. 10 Now on the seventh day, the king, being merry, told Haman, Bazan, Teresh, Baraze, Zatholtha, Abataza, and Tharaba, the seven chamberlains, servants of King Ahashverosh, 11 to bring in the queen to him, to[fn] enthrone her, and crown her with the diadem, and to show her to the princes, and her beauty to the nations, for she was beautiful. 12 But queen Vashti refused to come with the chamberlains; so the king was grieved and angered. 13 And he said to his friends, “That is what Vashti said. Therefore pronounce your legal judgement on this case.”

14 So Arkesaeus, Sarsathaeus, and Malisear, the princes of the Persians and Madim (Medes), who were near the king, who sat chief in rank by the king, drew near to him, 15 and reported to him according to the laws what it was proper to do to queen Vashti, because she hadn’t done the things commanded by the king through the chamberlains. 16 And Memukan said to the king and to the princes, “Queen Vashti hasn’t wronged the king only, but also all the king’s rulers and princes; 17 for he’s told them the queen’s words, and how she[fn] disobeyed the king. As she then refused to obey King Ahashverosh, 18 so this day the other wives of the chiefs of the Persians and Madim, having heard what she said to the king, will dare in the same way to dishonour their husbands. 19 If then it seems good to the king, let him make a royal decree, and let it be written according to the laws of the Madim and Persians, and let him not alter it: ‘Don’t allow the queen to come in to him any more. Let the king give her royalty to a woman better than she.’ 20 Let the king’s law which he’ll have made be widely declared in his kingdom. Then all the women will give honour to their husbands, from the poor even to the rich.” 21 That advice pleased the king and the princes; and the king did as Memukan had said, 22 and sent into all his kingdom through the several provinces, according to their language, so that men might be feared in their own houses.