Esther

These events took place during the days of Xerxes, the king who reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, stretching from India to Ethiopia.

In those days, King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the fortress of Susa.

In the third year of his reign, he gave a great banquet for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces were all present.

For a full six months, he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the magnificent glory of his majesty.

When these days were over, the king gave another banquet lasting seven days for all the people present in the fortress of Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the courtyard of the palace garden.

The garden was decorated with white and blue linen curtains, fastened with silver rings and purple cords to marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic floor of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones.

Drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was abundant, as was fitting for a king.

By the king’s command, no guest was forced to drink more than they wished, for the king had instructed his officials to let every man do as he pleased.

Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.

On the seventh day, when the king was in high spirits from the wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him to perform a specific task.

He ordered them to bring Queen Vashti before him, wearing her royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and the nobles, for she was very lovely to look at.

However, Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command, and when the eunuchs told this to the king, he became furious and burned with anger.

The king then spoke to his wise men, the experts in such matters, for it was his custom to consult those who knew law and justice.

The closest advisors were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. These seven princes of Persia and Media had direct access to the king and held the highest positions in the kingdom.

The king asked them, "According to the law, what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs?"

In the presence of the king and the princes, Memucan replied, "Queen Vashti has done wrong not only to the king, but also to all the princes and all the people in all the provinces of King Xerxes."

He continued, "For the queen’s conduct will become known to all women, causing them to look on their husbands with contempt. They will say, 'King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.'"

"This very day, the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s conduct will respond in the same way to all the king’s princes, and there will be no end of contempt and anger."

"Therefore, if it pleases the king, let a royal decree be issued by him and recorded in the laws of Persia and Media, so that it cannot be changed. Let it state that Vashti is never again to come into the presence of King Xerxes, and let the king give her royal position to someone better than she."

"When the king’s decree is proclaimed throughout all his vast empire, all women will give honour to their husbands, from the greatest to the least."

The king and the princes were pleased with this advice, and the king did exactly as Memucan proposed.

He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language. The decree proclaimed that every man should be the master in his own household and should speak his own native language.