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

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, the wealthy landowners, the officials of the provinces, as well as the officers who served in the army of the combined empire of Persia and Media. He was present in person 4 to host the six-month celebration which, displayed the incredible wealth and prestige of his empire and his personal wealth and power.

5 At the end of that time, the emperor 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 made of red and white marble, 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 was no compulsion to drink, but 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 royal palace.

10 On the last day of the celebrations, when the emperor was pleasantly tipsy, he ordered seven of his chief servants (Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Karkas) 11 to bring Queen Vashti to him, wearing her royal crown, in order to show the officials and other people how good-looking she was, because she was very beautiful. 12 The servants told her Ahasuerus’s command, but Queen Vashti refused to come. When they reported back to Ahasuerus, he was furious and sat there raging for a while.

13-14 Eventually he discussed it with his close advisors who knew the law and could make good decisions. (These seven officials; Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan; were from various places They advised the emperor personally, so were the most powerful officials in the empire.) 15 ‘According to our law,’ he asked, ‘what should be done with Empress Vashti, since she refused to obey my command when the servants passed it on to her?’

16 Memukan replied, addressing the whole group, ‘Empress Vashti has done wrong, and not only against the emperor. She has also done wrong against all the officials and people groups of the empire. 17 Soon women all over the empire will hear about what the empress did and they’ll say, “Emperor Ahasuerus commanded his servants to bring Empress Vashti to him, but she didn’t go!” Then women will stop respecting their husbands. 18 Even today, the important wives of the empire will hear what the empress did and start doing the same to their husbands; it will result in contempt on her part and anger on his. 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. Then you should choose a different woman for the royal position—someone who’s better than her. 20 Have your decree proclaimed throughout your empire, even though it’s so huge, and then all women, whatever their status or position, will respect their husbands.’

21 Memukan’s advice seemed like a good idea to the emperor and his officials, so that’s what they did. 22 They wrote letters 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 language and that she should understand and obey him.