Esther 1:4-14

4 while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days.
5 And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa, the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of 1the garden of the king's palace.
6 There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods[a] and marble pillars, and also 2couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones.
7 Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king.
8 And drinking was according to this edict: "There is no compulsion." For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired.
9 Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus.

Queen Vashti's Refusal

10 On the seventh day, 3when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, 4Harbona, 5Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,
11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with 6her royal crown,[b] in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at.
12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.
13 Then the king said to 7the wise men 8who knew the times (for this was the king's procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment,
14 the men next to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and 9Memucan, 10the seven princes of Persia and Media, 11who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom):

Cross References 11

  • 1. Esther 7:7, 8
  • 2. [Ezekiel 23:41; Amos 6:4]
  • 3. [2 Samuel 13:28]
  • 4. Esther 7:9
  • 5. [Esther 2:21; Esther 6:2]
  • 6. Esther 2:17; Esther 6:8
  • 7. Jeremiah 10:7; Daniel 2:12, 13; Matthew 2:1
  • 8. 1 Chronicles 12:32
  • 9. ver. 16, 21
  • 10. Ezra 7:14
  • 11. 2 Kings 25:19

Footnotes 2

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.