A modern English translation drawn directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Translated word-for-word where possible, by a committee with scholarly oversight.
Uses the same source texts as the ESV, NASB, and most academic Bibles, including the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and the Nestle-Aland critical edition.
Esther 1
Esther 1 is the opening chapter of the seventeenth book of the Bible. The 22-verse chapter sets up the situation that opens a place for Esther: the Persian king Xerxes deposes his queen for refusing to obey a public order.
The chapter opens with the scale of King Xerxes' empire, 127 provinces from India to Cush. In the third year of his reign, around 483 BC, Xerxes holds a long banquet at the citadel of Susa for his nobles, officials, military leaders, princes, and provincial governors. The display of wealth lasts 180 days.
After the long banquet, Xerxes holds a seven-day feast for everyone in Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the enclosed garden of the royal palace. The chapter describes the setting in detail: hangings of white and blue linen on silver rings and marble pillars, gold and silver couches on a mosaic pavement, wine served in gold goblets each one different. The queen, Vashti, holds a separate feast for the women in the royal palace.
On the seventh day, Xerxes, drunk and showing off, sends his eunuchs to bring Queen Vashti before him wearing her royal crown so the men can admire her beauty. She refuses. Xerxes is furious.
He consults his advisers. They warn him that if Vashti's refusal becomes known, women throughout the empire will defy their husbands. They recommend a permanent royal decree deposing Vashti and replacing her. Xerxes agrees. The decree is issued. The next chapter will begin the search for a new queen.
Verse 1. This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.
Verse 2. In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.
Verse 3. 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.
Verse 4. And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.
Verse 5. At the end of this time, in the garden court 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.
Verse 6. Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple material 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 costly stones.
Verse 7. 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.
Verse 8. By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired.
Verse 9. Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
Verse 10. 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—
Verse 11. 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.
Verse 12. 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.
Verse 13. 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.
Verse 14. 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.
Verse 15. “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?”
Verse 16. 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.
Verse 17. 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.’
Verse 18. 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.
Verse 19. 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 that her royal position shall be given to a woman better than she.
Verse 20. 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.”
Verse 21. The king and his princes were pleased with this counsel; so the king did as Memucan advised.
Verse 22. 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.
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