The King Dethrones Queen Vashti
1 Now it came to pass in the days ofAhasuerus (thiswasthe Ahasuerus who reignedover one hundred and twenty-seven provinces,from India to Ethiopia),
2 in those days when King Ahasuerussat on the throne of his kingdom, whichwasinShushan the citadel,
3 thatin the third year of his reign hemade a feast for all his officials and servants—the powers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provincesbeingbefore him—
4 when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days, one hundred and eighty daysinall.
5 And when these days were completed, the king made a feast lasting seven days for all the people who were present in Shushan the citadel, from great to small, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.
6 Therewerewhite and blue linencurtainsfastened with cords of fine linen and purple on silver rods and marble pillars;andthecoucheswereof gold and silver on amosaicpavement of alabaster, turquoise, and white and black marble.
7 And they served drinks in golden vessels, each vessel being different from the other, with royal wine in abundance,according to the generosity of the king.
8 In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had ordered all the officers of his household, that they should do according to each man’s pleasure.
9 Queen Vashti also made a feast for the womeninthe royal palace whichbelongedto King Ahasuerus.
10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha,Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,
11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king,wearingher royal crown, in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for shewasbeautiful to behold.
12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandbroughtbyhiseunuchs; therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him.
13 Then the king said to thewise menwho understood the times (for thiswasthe king’s manner toward all who knew law and justice,
14 those closest to himbeingCarshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, theseven princes of Persia and Media,who had access to the king’s presence,andwho ranked highest in the kingdom):
15 “Whatshallwedo to Queen Vashti, according to law, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerusbroughttoherby the eunuchs?”
16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes: “Queen Vashti has not only wronged the king, but also all the princes, and all the people whoarein all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
17 For the queen’s behavior will become known to all women, so that they willdespise their husbands in their eyes, when they report, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, but she did not come.’
18 This very day thenobleladies of Persia and Media will say to all the king’s officials that they have heard of the behavior of the queen. Thustherewillbeexcessive contempt and wrath.
19 If it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him, and let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it willnot be altered, that Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.
20 When the king’s decree which he will make is proclaimed throughout all his empire (for it is great), all wives willhonor their husbands, both great and small.”
21 And the reply pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan.
22 Then he sent letters to all the king’s provinces,to each province in its own script, and to every people in their own language, that each man shouldbe master in his own house, and speak in the language of his own people.