The banquet
This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India to Cush. At that time King Xerxes was on his royal throne in the fortress of Susa, and in the third year of his reign he put on a banquet for all his officials and staff. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the nobles and the provincial officials were all there. For a hundred and eighty days he showed off the enormous wealth of his kingdom and the splendour and glory of his majesty. When that was over, the king put on a banquet lasting seven days in the walled garden of the palace, for everyone in the fortress of Susa, from the greatest to the least. There were white and blue linen hangings, tied with cords of white linen and purple to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic floor of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stone. Drinks were served in golden goblets, no two alike, and the royal wine was plentiful, in keeping with the king's generosity. By the king's order each guest was allowed to drink as he wished, because the king instructed all the stewards to serve each man what he wanted. Queen Vashti also put on a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India to Cush.
At that time King Xerxes was on his royal throne in the fortress of Susa,
and in the third year of his reign he put on a banquet for all his officials and staff. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the nobles and the provincial officials were all there.
For a hundred and eighty days he showed off the enormous wealth of his kingdom and the splendour and glory of his majesty.
When that was over, the king put on a banquet lasting seven days in the walled garden of the palace, for everyone in the fortress of Susa, from the greatest to the least.
There were white and blue linen hangings, tied with cords of white linen and purple to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic floor of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stone.
Drinks were served in golden goblets, no two alike, and the royal wine was plentiful, in keeping with the king's generosity.
By the king's order each guest was allowed to drink as he wished, because the king instructed all the stewards to serve each man what he wanted.
Queen Vashti also put on a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
Vashti says no
On the seventh day, when the king was in high spirits from the wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him — Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas — to bring Queen Vashti before him wearing her royal crown, to show off her beauty to the people and the nobles, because she was lovely to look at. But when the attendants delivered the king's command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king was furious, and his anger burned in him.
On the seventh day, when the king was in high spirits from the wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him — Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas —
to bring Queen Vashti before him wearing her royal crown, to show off her beauty to the people and the nobles, because she was lovely to look at.
But when the attendants delivered the king's command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king was furious, and his anger burned in him.
The experts
And the king spoke with the wise men who understood the times, because it was the king's custom to consult the experts in law and justice. The ones closest to him were Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan — the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom. “According to the law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?” he said. “She hasn't obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs delivered.” And Memukan said in front of the king and the nobles, “Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but against all the nobles and all the peoples in all the provinces of King Xerxes. Because what the queen has done will get out to all the women, and they'll look down on their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to be brought in front of him, and she wouldn't come.’ This very day the noblewomen of Persia and Media who've heard about the queen's conduct will say the same to all the king's nobles. There'll be no end of disrespect and discord. So if it please the king, let him issue a royal decree, and let it be written into the laws of Persia and Media, which can't be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Xerxes. And let the king give her position as queen to someone better than her. Then when the king's edict is proclaimed throughout his whole enormous kingdom, all the women will respect their husbands, from the greatest to the least.” This advice pleased the king and the nobles, and the king did as Memukan suggested. He sent letters to every part of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, saying that every man should be ruler over his own household.
And the king spoke with the wise men who understood the times, because it was the king's custom to consult the experts in law and justice.
The ones closest to him were Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan — the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom.
“According to the law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?” he said. “She hasn't obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs delivered.”
And Memukan said in front of the king and the nobles, “Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but against all the nobles and all the peoples in all the provinces of King Xerxes.
Because what the queen has done will get out to all the women, and they'll look down on their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to be brought in front of him, and she wouldn't come.’
This very day the noblewomen of Persia and Media who've heard about the queen's conduct will say the same to all the king's nobles. There'll be no end of disrespect and discord.
So if it please the king, let him issue a royal decree, and let it be written into the laws of Persia and Media, which can't be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Xerxes. And let the king give her position as queen to someone better than her.
Then when the king's edict is proclaimed throughout his whole enormous kingdom, all the women will respect their husbands, from the greatest to the least.”
This advice pleased the king and the nobles, and the king did as Memukan suggested.
He sent letters to every part of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, saying that every man should be ruler over his own household.