21
while he displayed the great wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and pomp of his majesty for many days, one hundred eighty days in all.
22
When these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in the citadel of Susa, both great and small, a banquet lasting for seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.
23
There were white cotton curtains and blue hangings tied with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and colored stones.
24
Drinks were served in golden goblets, goblets of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king.
25
Drinking was by flagons, without restraint; for the king had given orders to all the officials of his palace to do as each one desired.
26
Furthermore, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the women in the palace of King Ahasuerus.
27
On the seventh day, when the king was merry wih wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who attended him,
28
to bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing the royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the officials her beauty; for she was fair to behold.
29
But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king'scommand conveyed by the eunuchs. At this the king was enraged, and his anger burned within him.
30
Then the king consulted the sages who knew the laws (for this was the king's procedure toward all who were versed in law and custom,
31
and those next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media, who had access to the king, and sat first in the kingdom):