King Ahasuerus's banquet
1THE events here related happened in the days of Ahasuerus, that Ahasuerus who ruled from India to Ethiopia, a hundred and twenty-seven provinces,
2at the time when he was settled on the royal throne in Susa, the capital city.
3In the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his officers and his courtiers; the Persians and Medes in full force, along with his nobles and provincial rulers, were in attendance.
4He put on display for many days, a hundred and eighty in all, the dazzling wealth of his kingdom and the pomp and splendour of his realm.
5At the end of that time the king gave a banquet for all the people present in Susa the capital city, both high and low; it lasted for seven days and was held in the garden court of the royal pavilion.
6There were white curtains and violet hangings fastened to silver rings by cords of fine linen with purple thread; the pillars were of marble, and gold and silver couches were placed on a mosaic pavement of malachite, marble, mother-of-pearl, and turquoise.
7Wine was served in golden goblets, each of a different design: the king's wine flowed in royal style,
8and the drinking was according to no fixed rule, for the king had laid down that all the palace stewards should respect the wishes of each guest.
9Queen Vashti too gave a banquet for the women inside the royal palace of King Ahasuerus.
10On the seventh day, when he was merry with wine, the king ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who were in attendance on the king's person,
11to bring Queen Vashti into his presence wearing her royal diadem, in order to display her beauty to the people and to the officers; for she was indeed a beautiful woman.
12But when the royal command was conveyed to her by the eunuchs, Queen Vashti refused to come. This greatly incensed the king, and his wrath flared up.
13He conferred with wise men versed in precedents, for it was his custom to consult all who were expert in law and usage.
14Those closest to the king were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven vicegerents of Persia and Media; they had access to the king and occupied the premier positions in the kingdom.
15“What”, he asked, “does the law require to be done with Queen Vashti for disobeying my royal command conveyed to her by the eunuchs?”
16In the presence of the king and the vicegerents, Memucan declared: “Queen Vashti has done wrong, not to the king alone, but also to all the officers and to all the peoples in every province of King Ahasuerus.
17The queen's conduct will come to the ears of all women and embolden them to treat their husbands with disrespect; they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come!’
18The great ladies of Persia and Media, who have heard what the queen has said, will quote this day to all the king's officers, and there will be no end to the disrespect and discord!
19“If it please your majesty, let a royal decree be issued by you, and let it be inscribed among the laws of the Persians and Medes, never to be revoked, that Vashti shall not again appear before King Ahasuerus; and let your majesty give her place as queen to another who is more worthy of it than she.
20When the edict made by the king is proclaimed throughout the length and breadth of the kingdom, all women, high and low alike, will give honour to their husbands.”
21The advice pleased the king and the vicegerents, and the king did as Memucan had proposed.
22Dispatches were sent to all the king's provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in their own language, in order that each man, whatever language he spoke, should be master in his own house.
Bahan Renungan: SH - RH - ROC
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