Dual Panel1The following events happened <01961> in the days <03117> of Ahasuerus <0325>. (I am referring to that <01931> Ahasuerus <0325> who used to rule over <04427> a hundred <03967> and twenty-seven <06242> <07651> provinces <04082> extending all the way <05704> from India <01912> to Ethiopia <03568>.)
2In those <01992> days <03117>, as King <04428> Ahasuerus <0325> sat <07675> on <05921> his royal <04438> throne <03678> in Susa <07800> the citadel <01002>,
3in the third <07969> year <08141> of his reign <04427> he provided <06213> a banquet <04960> for all <03605> his officials <08269> and his servants <05650>. The army <02426> of Persia <06539> and Media <04074> was present <06440>, as well as the nobles <06579> and the officials <08269> of the provinces <04082>.
4He displayed <07200> the riches <06239> of his royal <04438> glory <03519> and the splendor <03366> of his majestic <08597> greatness <01420> for a lengthy period of time <07227> <03117>– a hundred <03967> and eighty <08084> days <03117>, to be exact!
5When those <0428> days <03117> were completed <04390>, the king <04428> then provided <06213> a seven-day <03117> <07651> banquet <04960> for all <03605> the people <05971> who were present <04672> in Susa <07800> the citadel <01002>, for those of highest <01419> standing to <05704> the most lowly <06996>. It was held in the court <02691> located in the garden <01594> of the royal <04428> palace <01055>.
6The furnishings included linen <03768> and purple <08504> curtains hung <0270> by cords <02256> of the finest linen <0948> and purple wool <0713> on <05921> silver <03701> rings <01550>, alabaster <08336> columns <05982>, gold <02091> and silver <03701> couches <04296> displayed on <05921> a floor <07531> made of valuable stones <0923> of alabaster <08336>, mother-of-pearl <01858>, and mineral stone <05508>.
7Drinks <08248> were served in golden <02091> containers <03627>, all of which differed from one another <08138>. Royal <04438> wine <03196> was available in abundance <07227> at the king’s <04428> expense <03027>.
8There were no <0369> restrictions <01881> on the drinking <08360>, for <03588> the king <04428> had instructed <03245> all <03605> of his supervisors <01004> <07227> that they should do <06213> as everyone <0376> <0376> so desired <07522>.
9Queen <04436> Vashti <02060> also <01571> gave <06213> a banquet <04960> for the women <0802> in King <04428> Ahasuerus <0325>’ royal <04438> palace <01004>.
10On the seventh <07637> day <03117>, as King <04428> <04428> Ahasuerus <0325> was feeling <03820> the effects <02896> of the wine <03196>, he ordered <0559> Mehuman <04104>, Biztha <0968>, Harbona <02726>, Bigtha <0903>, Abagtha <05>, Zethar <02242>, and Carcas <03752>, the seven <07651> eunuchs <05631> who attended <08334> him,
11to bring <0935> Queen <04436> Vashti <02060> into the king’s <04428> presence <06440> wearing her royal <04438> high turban <03804>. He wanted to show <07200> the people <05971> and the officials <08269> her beauty <03308>, for <03588> she was <01931> very attractive <04758> <02896>.
12But Queen <04436> Vashti <02060> refused <03985> to come <0935> at the king’s <04428> bidding <01697> conveyed through <03027> the eunuchs <05631>. Then the king <04428> became <07107> extremely <03966> angry <07107>, and his rage <02534> consumed <01197> him.
13The king <04428> then inquired <0559> of the wise <02450> men who were discerners <03045> of the times <06256>– for <03588> it was the royal <04428> custom <01697> to confer with all <03605> those who were proficient <03045> in laws <01881> and legalities <01779>.
14Those who were closest <07138> to <0413> him were Carshena <03771>, Shethar <08369>, Admatha <0133>, Tarshish <08659>, Meres <04825>, Marsena <04826>, and Memucan <04462>. These men were the seven <07651> officials <08269> of Persia <06539> and Media <04074> who saw <07200> the king <04428> on a regular basis <06440> and had the most prominent <07223> offices <03427> in the kingdom <04438>.
15The king asked, “By law <01881>, what <04100> should be done <06213> to Queen <04436> Vashti <02060> in light of <05921> the fact that <0834> she has not <03808> obeyed <06213> the instructions <03982> of King <04428> Ahasuerus <0325> conveyed through <03027> the eunuchs <05631>?”
16Memucan <04462> then replied <0559> to the king <04428> and the officials <08269>, “The wrong <05753> of Queen <04436> Vashti <02060> is not <03808> against <05921> the king <04428> alone <0905>, but against <05921> all <03605> the officials <08269> and all <03605> the people <05971> who <0834> are throughout all <03605> the provinces <04082> of King <04428> Ahasuerus <0325>.
17For <03588> the matter <01697> concerning the queen <04436> will spread <03318> to all <03605> the women <0802>, leading them to treat <05869> their husbands <01167> with contempt <0959>, saying <0559>, ‘When King <04428> Ahasuerus <0325> gave orders <0559> to bring <0935> Queen <04436> Vashti <02060> into his presence <06440>, she would not <03808> come <0935>.’
18And this <02088> very day <03117> the noble ladies <08282> of Persia <06539> and Media <04074> who <0834> have heard <08085> the matter <01697> concerning the queen <04436> will respond <0559> in the same way to all <03605> the royal <04428> officials <08269>, and there will be more than enough <01767> contempt <0963> and anger <07110>!
19If <0518> the king <04428> is so inclined <02895>, let a royal <04438> edict <01697> go forth <03318> from him <06440>, and let it be written <03789> in the laws <01881> of Persia <06539> and Media <04074> that cannot <03808> be repealed <05674>, that <0834> Vashti <02060> may not <03808> come <0935> into the presence <06440> of King <04428> Ahasuerus <0325>, and let the king <04438> convey <05414> her royalty <04428> to another <07468> who is more deserving <02896> than <04480> she.
20And let the king’s <04428> decision <06599> which <0834> he will enact <06213> be disseminated <08085> throughout all <03605> his kingdom <04438>, vast <07227> though <03588> it <01931> is. Then all <03605> the women <0802> will give <05414> honor <03366> to their husbands <01167>, from the most prominent <01419> to <05704> the lowly <06996>.”
21The matter <01697> seemed appropriate <05869> <03190> to the king <04428> and the officials <08269>. So the king <04428> acted <06213> on the advice <01697> of Memucan <04462>.
22He sent <07971> letters <05612> throughout <0413> all <03605> the royal <04428> provinces <04082>, to <0413> each <04082> province <04082> according to its own script <03791> and to <0413> each <05971> people <05971> according to its own language <03956>, that every <03605> man <0376> should be <01961> ruling <08323> his family <01004> and should be speaking <01696> the language <03956> of his own people <05971>.