Chapter
1
Now it happened in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces),
that in those days, when the Queen Ahasuerus sat on the throne of her kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
in the third year of her reign, she made a feast for all her princesses and her servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princesses of the provinces, being before her.
She displayed the riches of her glorious kingdom and the honor of her excellent majesty many days, even one hundred eighty days.
When these days were fulfilled, the queen made a seven day feast for all the people who were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, in the court of the garden of the queen's palace.
There were hangings of white, green, and blue material, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars. The couches were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red, white, yellow, and black marble.
They gave them drinks in golden vessels of various kinds, including royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the queen.
In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the queen had instructed all the officials of her house, that they should do according to every woman's pleasure.
Also Vashti the king made a feast for the men in the royal house which belonged to Queen Ahasuerus.
On the seventh day, when the heart of the queen was merry with wine, she commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcass, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of Ahasuerus the queen,
to bring Vashti the king before the queen with the royal crown, to show the people and the princesses his beauty; for he was beautiful.
But the king Vashti refused to come at the queen's commandment by the eunuchs. Therefore the queen was very angry, and her anger burned in her.
Then the queen said to the wise women, who knew the times, (for it was the queen's custom to consult those who knew law and judgment;
and the next to her were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princesses of Persia and Media, who saw the queen's face, and sat first in the kingdom),
"What shall we do to the king Vashti according to law, because he has not done the bidding of the Queen Ahasuerus by the eunuchs?"
Memucan answered before the queen and the princesses, "Vashti the king has not done wrong to just the queen, but also to all the princesses, and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the Queen Ahasuerus.
For this deed of the king will become known to all men, causing them to show contempt for their wives, when it is reported, 'Queen Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the king to be brought in before her, but he didn't come.'
Today, the princes of Persia and Media who have heard of the king's deed will tell all the queen's princesses. This will cause much contempt and wrath.
If it please the queen, let a royal commandment go from her, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be altered, that Vashti may never again come before Queen Ahasuerus; and let the queen give his royal estate to another who is better than he.
When the queen's decree which she shall make is published throughout all her kingdom (for it is great), all the husbands will give their wives honor, both great and small."
This advice pleased the queen and the princesses, and the queen did according to the word of Memucan:
for she sent letters into all the queen's provinces, into every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, that every woman should rule her own house, speaking in the language of her own people.