Ahasuerus' Banquet and Vashti's Removal
Esther 1:1-22
Esth.1.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בימי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- אחשורוש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- אחשורוש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- מהדו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועד: CONJ+PREP
- כוש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שבע: NUM,card,sg
- ועשרים: CONJ+NUM,card,pl
- ומאה: CONJ+NUM,card,sg
- מדינה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- In the days of Ahasuerus — the same Ahasuerus who ruled from India to Cush — he reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces.
- Now it happened in the days of Ahasuerus — this is the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Cush — over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces.
Esth.1.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בימים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ההם: DEM,m,pl
- כשבת: CONJ
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אחשורוש: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- על: PREP
- כסא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלכותו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3ms
- אשר: REL
- בשושן: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,prop
- הבירה: NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- In those days, when King Ahasuerus sat on the royal throne of his kingdom in Susa the citadel,
- In the third year of his reign he showed the riches of the glory of his kingdom and held a feast for all his officials and servants; the army of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces were present before him.
Esth.1.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בשנת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,cons
- שלוש: NUM,card,f,sg
- למלכו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,ps:3ms
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- משתה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לכל: PREP+PRON,pl
- שריו: NOUN,m,pl,abs,ps:3ms
- ועבדיו: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs,ps:3ms
- חיל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פרס: NOUN,m,sg,abs,proper
- ומדי: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs,proper
- הפרתמים: NOUN,m,pl,def,proper
- ושרי: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- המדינות: NOUN,f,pl,def
- לפניו: PREP+PRON,3ms
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his princes and servants; and the power of his sovereignty and the splendour of his greatness he displayed for many days, one hundred and eighty days.
- For he displayed the abundance of his royal wealth and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days — one hundred and eighty days.
Esth.1.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בהראתו: PREP+VERB,hiphil,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- עשר: NUM,f,sg,abs
- כבוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלכותו: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:3,m,sg
- ואת: CONJ+PRT,acc
- יקר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תפארת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- גדולתו: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:3,m,sg
- ימים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- רבים: ADJ,m,pl
- שמונים: NUM,card,m,pl
- ומאת: CONJ+NUM,card,f,sg
- יום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- He also showed the riches of the glory of his kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty for many days, and when these days were finished he made a public feast for all the peoples who were present in Susa, from the greatest to the least, for seven days in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.
- And when these days were completed, the king made a banquet for all the people who were present in Shushan the citadel, from the greatest to the least, for seven days in the court of the king’s garden.
Esth.1.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ובמלואת: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,sg,cst
- הימים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- האלה: DEM,pl,abs
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לכל: PREP+PRON
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הנמצאים: VERB,qal,ptc,NA,m,pl,def
- בשושן: PREP+PN,f,sg,abs
- הבירה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- למגדול: PREP+ADJ,m,sg,abs
- ועד: CONJ+PREP
- קטן: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- משתה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שבעת: NUM,card,sg,cst
- ימים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בחצר: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- גנת: NOUN,f,sg,cst
- ביתן: NOUN,m,sg,cst
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- There were hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings on marble pillars; couches of gold and silver were placed on a floor of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones.
- There were hangings of white and purple linen, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings on marble pillars; the couches were of gold and silver, set upon a pavement of porphyry, marble, mother‑of‑pearl, and other costly stones.
Esth.1.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- חור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כרפס: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ותכלת: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אחוז: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,sg
- בחבלי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- בוץ: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וארגמן: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- גלילי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- כסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועמודי: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- שש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מטות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- זהב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וכסף: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- רצפת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- בהט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ושש: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ודר: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וסחרת: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- Drinking vessels of gold were used, each one different, and the royal wine flowed freely according to the king’s bounty.
- And they served wine in abundance in vessels of gold and silver; the royal wine was plentiful, according to the king’s bounty.
Esth.1.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והשקות: NOUN,f,pl,def
- בכלי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- זהב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וכלים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מכלים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- שונים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- ויין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלכות: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- רב: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- כיד: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the drinking was without compulsion — for the king had given orders to all the officers of his household to do as each man’s pleasure required.
- And the drinking was without compulsion; for the king had ordered all the officers of his house to do as each man desired.
Esth.1.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והשתיה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- כדת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אין: PART
- אנס: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- כן: ADV
- יסד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- על: PREP
- כל: DET
- רב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ביתו: NOUN,m,sg,cons+3,m
- לעשות: VERB,qal,inf
- כרצון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- Queen Vashti likewise gave a feast for the women in the royal palace of King Ahasuerus.
- Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal residence of King Ahasuerus.
Esth.1.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- גם: ADV
- ושתי: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- המלכה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- עשתה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- משתה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נשים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,cs
- המלכות: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- למלך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- אחשורוש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, his seven eunuchs,
- On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Karkas — the seven eunuchs who served in the king’s presence —
Esth.1.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ביום: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- השביעי: ADJ,m,sg,def
- כטוב: PREP+ADJ,m,sg,abs
- לב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ביין: PREP
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- למהומן: PREP+PN,m,sg
- בזתא: PN,m,sg
- חרבונא: PN,m,sg
- בגתא: PN,m,sg
- ואבגתא: CONJ+PN,m,sg
- זתר: PN,m,sg
- וכרכס: CONJ+PN,m,sg
- שבעת: NUM,m,pl,constr
- הסריסים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- המשרתים: NOUN,part,m,pl,def
- את: PRT
- פני: NOUN,m,pl,constr
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אחשורוש: PN,m,sg
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- to bring before the king Queen Vashti wearing her royal crown, so she might display her beauty to the people and the princes; for she was beautiful to behold.
- to bring before the king Queen Vashti, wearing the royal crown, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was very fair to behold.
Esth.1.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- להביא: VERB,qal,inf
- את: PRT,acc
- ושתי: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- המלכה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- לפני: PREP
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בכתר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלכות: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- להראות: VERB,qal,inf
- העמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- והשרים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,def
- את: PRT,acc
- יפיה: NOUN,f,sg,poss3f
- כי: CONJ
- טובת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- מראה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- היא: PRON,3,f,sg
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command sent by the eunuchs; therefore the king became very angry and his wrath burned within him.
- But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command transmitted by the eunuchs, and the king was furious; his anger burned within him.
Esth.1.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותמאן: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- המלכה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ושתי: CONJ+NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
- לבוא: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- בדבר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: REL
- ביד: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הסריסים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ויקצף: CONJ+VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- מאד: ADV
- וחמתו: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- בערה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- בו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the king consulted with the wise men who understood the times — for the law of the king was customarily consulted by those who knew law and judgment — and the princes who were near him.
- Then the king consulted with the wise men who were versed in law and judgment (for such was the king’s custom toward all who knew law and justice):
Esth.1.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,impf-consec,3,m,sg
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לחכמים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ידעי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- העתים: NOUN,f,pl,def
- כי: CONJ
- כן: ADV
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לפני: PREP
- כל: ADJ
- ידעי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- דת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ודין: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- They said to the king, “What shall be done to Queen Vashti according to law, because she has not obeyed the command of King Ahasuerus sent by the eunuchs?”
- And the king said, “What is to be done to Queen Vashti according to law, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus conveyed by the eunuchs?”
Esth.1.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והקרב: CONJ+VERB,qal,ptc,pl,m
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- כרשנא: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- שתר: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אדמתא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תרשיש: NOUN,prop,sg,abs
- מרס: NOUN,prop,sg,abs
- מרסנא: NOUN,prop,pl,abs
- ממוכן: PREP+NOUN,prop,sg,abs
- שבעת: NUM,card
- שרי: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- פרס: NOUN,prop,sg,abs
- ומדי: CONJ+NOUN,prop,sg,abs
- ראי: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- פני: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הישבים: VERB,qal,ptc,pl,m,def
- ראשנה: ADJ,ord,sg
- במלכות: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the princes who were of his court said before the king and the nobles, “Not only has the queen wronged the king, but all the princes will hear of it, and there will be contempt among all the wives of the provinces when they hear of the queen’s conduct.
- Memucan answered in the presence of the king and the princes, “Not only has Queen Vashti done wrong to the king, but to all the princes and to all the peoples who live in all the provinces of the king.
Esth.1.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כדת: ADV,interr
- מה: PRON,int,sg
- לעשות: VERB,qal,inf
- במלכה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ושתי: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- אשר: PRON,rel
- לא: PART,neg
- עשתה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- את: PART,acc
- מאמר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אחשורוש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ביד: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הסריסים: NOUN,m,pl,def
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- For this day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s deed will tell it to all the king’s officials, and there will be much contempt and anger.
- For this deed of the queen will be circulated to all women, causing them to despise their husbands in their eyes, saying, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’
Esth.1.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ממוכן: PREP+PRON,2,m,pl
- לפני: PREP
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והשרים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,def
- לא: PART,neg
- על: PREP
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לבדו: ADV+PRON,3,m,sg
- עותה: ADV
- ושתי: CONJ+PN,sg,f
- המלכה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- על: PREP
- כל: DET
- השרים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ועל: CONJ+PREP
- כל: DET
- העמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בכל: PREP+DET
- מדינות: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אחשורוש: PN,sg,m
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- If it pleases the king, let a royal edict go forth from him and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be repealed: that Vashti shall never again come into the presence of King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.
- And there will be much contempt and wrath among the women of the realm, which will only increase.”
Esth.1.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- יצא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,cs
- המלכה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- כל: PRON,indef
- הנשים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- להבזות: INF,qal,inf
- בעליהן: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,f,pl
- בעיניהן: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,3,f,pl
- באמרם: PREP+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחשורוש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- להביא: INF,hiph,inf
- את: ACC
- ושתי: CONJ+PN,f,sg,abs
- המלכה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לפניו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ+NEG
- באה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- When the matter becomes known to all women, it will cause them to regard their husbands with contempt, saying, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’
- “If it please the king,” Memucan continued, “let a royal edict go forth from the king, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes — it must not be repealed — that Vashti shall never come again before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.
Esth.1.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והיום: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: PRON,dem,m,sg
- תאמרנה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,pl
- שרות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- פרס: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ומדי: CONJ+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- שמעו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PTCL,acc
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המלכה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- לכל: PREP+PRON,indef,pl
- שרי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וכדי: CONJ+PREP
- בזיון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וקצף: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- The suggestion pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed.
- And when the edict which the king issues is proclaimed throughout all his realm, all wives will honor their husbands, from great to small.”
Esth.1.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אם: CONJ
- על: PREP
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- טוב: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- יצא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלכות: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מלפניו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ויכתב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בדתי: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,cons
- פרס: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ומדי: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולא: CONJ+NEG
- יעבור: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- לא: NEG
- תבוא: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- ושתי: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,prop
- לפני: PREP
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אחשורוש: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- ומלכותה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,def+PRON,3,f,sg
- יתן: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לרעותה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,f,sg
- הטובה: ADJ,f,sg,def
- ממנה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- He sent letters to all the king’s provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, that every man should be ruler in his own house and speak the language of his own people.
- The counsel pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan.
Esth.1.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ונשמע: VERB,niphal,imperf,3,m,sg
- פתגם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- יעשה: VERB,qal,imperf,3,m,sg
- בכל: PREP
- מלכותו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3ms
- כי: CONJ
- רבה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- היא: PRON,3,f,sg
- וכל: CONJ+QUANT
- הנשים: NOUN,f,pl,def
- יתנו: VERB,qal,imperf,3,m,pl
- יקר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לבעליהן: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+3fp
- למגדול: PREP+ADJ,m,sg
- ועד: CONJ+PREP
- קטן: ADJ,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thus the king’s decree which he issued was firm throughout all his vast dominion; a law of the Persians and the Medes could not be revoked.
- He sent letters to all the king’s provinces, to every people in their own script and to every nation in its own language, declaring that every man should be ruler in his own household and speak the language of his people.
Esth.1.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וייטב: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- הדבר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בעיני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,cons
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והשרים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,def
- ויעש: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- כדבר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ממוכן: PREP+ADJ,m,sg
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- The royal command was circulated by couriers on swift horses and by mounted messengers, bearing the king’s writing in every province.
- Thus the decree of the king went out, and it was written in the laws of the Persians and the Medes and could not be repealed.
Esth.1.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישלח: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- ספרים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אל: PREP
- כל: DET
- מדינות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: PREP
- מדינה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ומדינה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ככתבה: PREP+VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- עם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כלשונו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- להיות: VERB,qal,inf
- כל: DET
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שרר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בביתו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- ומדבר: CONJ+PART,qal,act,m,sg
- כלשון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עמו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- No parallels.
Alternative generated candidates
- So the king and his princes carried out the decree, and in every province the wives feared their husbands; and the word of the king went forth and was proclaimed in all the languages of his realm.
- So when the king’s edict was published throughout all his provinces, many women gave honor to their husbands, both great and small.
In the days of King Ahasuerus—this is the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia—over one hundred twenty-seven provinces;
in those days, when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom in Susa the citadel,
in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his princes and his servants; and the power of Persia and Media was before him.
He displayed the riches and glory of his kingdom and the splendor of his great majesty for many days—one hundred and eighty days.
When these days were completed, the king made a seven-day feast for all the people who were present in Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the court of the garden of the king;
there were hangings of white and blue and purple fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars; couches of gold and silver were placed on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones. And they served drinks in goblets of gold—royal wine in abundance—according to the liberality of the king.
There was no compulsion to drink; for the king had given orders to all the officers of his house that they should do according to each man's pleasure.
Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.
On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas to bring Queen Vashti before the king wearing the royal crown, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was beautiful to behold. But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command sent by his eunuchs; therefore the king was greatly enraged, and his wrath burned within him.
Then the king consulted with the wise men who understood the times—(for the king's affairs were accustomed to be managed by those who knew law and judgment)—and who sat first in the kingdom:
Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had access to the king and were highest in the kingdom. And the king said to the wise men who knew the law, 'What shall we do to Queen Vashti according to law, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus sent by his eunuchs?'
Memucan replied before the king and the princes: 'Not only against the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but against all the princes and against all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
'For the thing which the queen has done will be made known to all women, causing them to despise their husbands in their eyes, saying, "King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come."
'This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's behavior will say the same to all the king's princes, and there will be much contempt and wrath.
'If it please the king, let a royal decree go out from him and be recorded among the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed: that Vashti never again come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king appoint another who is better than she.
'When the king's decree which he shall make is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all wives will give honor to their husbands, from great to small.'
The proposal pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan.
He sent letters to all the king's provinces, to every people in their own script and to every nation in its own language, declaring that each man should be master in his own house and speak according to the language of his people. Thus the king's command was proclaimed throughout all his provinces, and it was recorded in the law of the Persians and the Medes, and it could not be repealed.