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          DASV: Esther 1    

1 Now these things happened in the days of Ahasuerus (this Ahasuerus,
[also called Xerxes], reigned over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia).
2 In those days, when King Ahasuerus sat on his throne in the citadel
in Susa,
3 in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his officials
and servants. The commanders of the army of Persia and Media,
the nobles and governors of the provinces were present.
4 He displayed the riches of his glorious empire and the splendor
of his majesty for a total of 180 days.
5 When these days were completed, the king made a feast for all the
people who were present in the citadel of Susa, both great and small.
It lasted seven days and was held in the courtyard of the garden of
the king's palace.
6 There were white and blue linen curtains with cords of fine linen
and purple ribbons tied to silver rings to pillars of marble.
The couches were of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry,
marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly colored stones.
7 Drinks were served in gold goblets with each one different from the
other, and royal wine was in abundance at the king's expense.
8 The drinking was according to the instructions that there should be
no restrictions, for the king had ordered all the officers of his
house, that they should give to each of the guests whatever they
desired.
9 Queen Vashti also hosted a feast for the women in the royal palace
that belonged to King Ahasuerus.

10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with
wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha,
Zethar and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence
of Ahasuerus the king,
11 to bring Vashti the queen before the king wearing the crown
royal, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she
was very beautiful.
12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command by the
eunuchs. Then the king became infuriated and his anger burned
within him.

13 Then the king consulted with the wise men, who understood
the times (for it was the king's custom to consult with those
who understood the law and justice,
14 and those next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish,
Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia
and Media, who regularly saw the king's face and held the
highest positions in the kingdom).
15 "What should be done to Queen Vashti according to law,
because she has not obeyed the command of King Ahasuerus
by the eunuchs?"
16 Then Memucan responded before the king and the princes,
"Queen Vashti has not done wrong just to the king, but also
to all the officials, and to all the peoples throughout
the provinces of the King Ahasuerus.
17 For this action of the queen will become know to all women,
encouraging them to treat their husbands with contempt,
since they will say, 'King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the
queen to be brought in before him, but she would not come.'
18 This day the noble women of Persia and Media who have
heard about the queen's behavior will rebel against all the
king's nobles the same way and there will be no end of
the contempt and wrath.
19 So if it pleases the king, let a royal decree be issued
by him, and let it be written in the laws of the Persians
and the Medes so that it cannot be altered, that Vashti be
banished from the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the
king give her royal estate to another who is more worthy
than she.
20 Then when the king's decree is published throughout his
entire kingdom, as vast as it is, all the wives will
give to their husbands honor from greatest to the least."

21 The saying pleased the king and the officials, so the
king followed the advice of Memucan.
22 He sent letters to all the royal provinces, into every
province in its own script and to each people in their
own language, that every man should be ruler in his own
home, and should speak the language of his own people.

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