[0] And all Israel in the days of Zerub'babel and in the days of Nehemi'ah
gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they set
apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which
was for the sons of Aaron. [1] In the days of Ahasu-e'rus, the Ahasu-e'rus
who reigned from India to Ethiopia over one hundred and twenty-seven
provinces, [2] in those days when King Ahasu-e'rus sat on his royal throne
in Susa the capital, [3] in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet
for all his princes and servants, the army chiefs of Persia and Media and
the nobles and governors of the provinces being before him, [4] while he
showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his
majesty for many days, a hundred and eighty days. [5] And when these days
were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the
capital, both great and small, a banquet lasting for seven days, in the
court of the garden of the king's palace. [6] There were white cotton
curtains and blue hangings caught up with cords of fine linen and purple to
silver rings and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a
mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones.
[7] Drinks were served in golden goblets, goblets of different kinds, and
the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king. [8] And
drinking was according to the law, no one was compelled; for the king had
given orders to all the officials of his palace to do as every man desired.
[9] Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the palace which
belonged to King Ahasu-e'rus. [10] On the seventh day, when the heart of
the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehu'man, Biztha, Harbo'na,
Bigtha and Abag'tha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served King
Ahasu-e'rus as chamberlains, [11] to bring Queen Vashti before the king
with her royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the princes her
beauty; for she was fair to behold. [12] But Queen Vashti refused to come
at the king's command conveyed by the eunuchs. At this the king was
enraged, and his anger burned within him. [13] Then the king said to the
wise men who knew the times-- for this was the king's procedure toward all
who were versed in law and judgment, [14] the men next to him being
Carshe'na, Shethar, Adma'tha, Tarshish, Meres, Marse'na, and Memu'can, the
seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat first
in the kingdom--: [15] "According to the law, what is to be done to Queen
Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasu-e'rus
conveyed by the eunuchs?" [16] Then Memu'can said in presence of the king
and the princes, "Not only to the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but
also to all the princes and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of
King Ahasu-e'rus. [17] For this deed of the queen will be made known to all
women, causing them to look with contempt upon their husbands, since they
will say, `King Ahasu-e'rus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before
him, and she did not come.' [18] This very day the ladies of Persia and
Media who have heard of the queen's behavior will be telling it to all the
king's princes, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty. [19] If it
please the king, let a royal order go forth from him, and let it be written
among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be altered,
that Vashti is to come no more before King Ahasu-e'rus; and let the king
give her royal position to another who is better than she. [20] So when the
decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, vast as
it is, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low." [21]
This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memu'can
proposed; [22] he sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every
province in its own script and to every people in its own language, that
every man be lord in his own house and speak according to the language of
his people.
