CHAPTER 1
In the third
year
of his reign,
Xerxes held
a feast
for all
his officials
and servants.
The military leaders
of Persia
and Media
were there,
along with the nobles
and princes
of the provinces.
And for a full
180
days,
he displayed
the glorious
riches
of his kingdom
and
the magnificent
splendor
of his greatness.
At the end
of this
time,
in the garden
courtyard
of the royal
palace,
the king
held
a seven-day
feast
for all
the people
in the citadel
of Susa,
from the least
to
the greatest.
Hangings of white
and violet
linen
were fastened
with cords
of fine white
and purple
to
silver
rings
on the marble
pillars.
Gold
and silver
couches
were arranged
on a mosaic pavement
of porphyry,
marble,
mother-of-pearl,
and other precious stones.
Beverages were served
in an array of goblets
of gold,
each
with a different design,
and the royal
wine
flowed freely,
according to the king’s
bounty.
By
order
of the king,
no
limit
was placed on the drinking,
and every
wine steward
was to serve
each
man
whatever he desired.
On the seventh
day,
when the king's
heart
was merry
with wine,
he ordered
the seven
eunuchs
who served
him—
Mehuman,
Biztha,
Harbona,
Bigtha,
Abagtha,
Zethar,
and Carkas—
to bring
Queen
Vashti
before
him,
wearing her royal
crown,
to display
her beauty
to the people
and officials.
For
she was
beautiful
to behold.
Queen
Vashti, however,
refused
to come
at the king’s
command
brought by
his eunuchs.
And the king
became furious,
and his anger
burned
within him.
Then the king
consulted
the wise men
who knew
the times,
for it was
customary
for him
to confer
with
the experts
in law
and justice.
His closest advisors were
Carshena,
Shethar,
Admatha,
Tarshish,
Meres,
Marsena,
and Memucan,
the seven
princes
of Persia
and Media
who had personal access to
the king
and ranked
highest
in the kingdom.
“According to law,”
he asked, “what
should be done
with Queen
Vashti,
since
she refused to obey
the command
of King
Xerxes
delivered by
the eunuchs?”
And in the presence
of the king
and his princes,
Memucan
replied,
“Queen
Vashti
has wronged
not
only
the king,
but
all
the princes
and the peoples
in all
the provinces
of King
Xerxes.
For
the conduct
of the queen
will become known
to
all
women,
causing them to despise
their husbands
and say,
‘King
Xerxes
ordered
Queen
Vashti
to be brought
before him,
but she did not
come.’
This
very day
the noble women
of Persia
and Media
who
have heard
about
the queen's
conduct
will say
the same thing to all
the king’s
officials,
resulting in much
contempt
and wrath.
So if
it pleases
the king,
let him issue
a royal
decree,
and let it be recorded
in the laws
of Persia
and Media
so that it cannot
be repealed,
that
Vashti
shall never again
enter
the presence
of King
Xerxes,
and her royal position
shall be given
to a woman
more worthy
than she.
The edict
the king
issues
will be heard
throughout
his vast
kingdom—
and so
all
women,
from the least
to
the greatest,
will honor
their husbands.”
He sent
letters
to
all
the provinces
of the kingdom,
to
each province
in its own script
and to
each people
in their own language,
proclaiming
that every
man
should be
master
of his own household.