Est 1 | ABEn | STEP | And it came to pass in the days of Artaxerxes. This Artaxerxes [ 5 from 6 India 2 a hundred 3 twenty-seven 4 regions 1 held].

‏ Esther 1

CHAPTER 1 Artaxerxes Makes a Banquet

1 And it came to pass in the days of Artaxerxes. This Artaxerxes [⁵from ⁶India ²a hundred ³twenty-seven ⁴regions ¹held]. 2 And in those days when [³was enthroned ¹king ²Artaxerxes] in Shushan the city, 3 in the third year of his reign, [²banquet ¹he made a] to his friends, and to the rest of the nations, and to the Persians and Medes -- the honorable ones, and to the rulers of the satrapies. 4 And after these things, after the showing to them the riches of his kingdom, and the glory of his gladness for [³days ¹a hundred ²eighty], 5 and when [³were fulfilled ¹the ²days] of the wedding, [³made ¹the ²king] a banquet for the nations, to the ones found in the city, for [²days ¹six], in the courtyard of the house of the king, 6 being adorned in fine linen, and cotton being stretched upon lines of fine linen and of purple, upon cube studs of gold and silver, upon columns of Parian marble, and stones, with beds of gold and silver upon a stone pavement of emerald stone, and mother of pearl, and Parian marble stone, and [²strewn beds ¹transparent ⁴variously ³being decorated], 7 with cups of gold and silver, wine abundant and agreeable, which [³himself ¹the ²king] drank. 8 But this banquet [²not ³according to ⁵being situated ⁴the law ¹took place]; but thus [³wanted ¹the ²king], and he gave orders to the managers to do his will, and for the men. 9 And Vashti the queen made a banquet for the women in the palace where king Artaxerxes was. 10 And on the [²day ¹seventh] [⁴with pleasure ³being ¹the ²king], said to Mehuman, and Biztha, and Harbona, and Bigtha, and Abagtha, and Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs of king Artaxerxes, 11 to bring in the queen to him, to give her reign, and to put on her the diadem, and to show her to all the rulers and to the nations of her beauty, for she was beautiful.

Queen Vashti Dishonors the King

12 And [³did not ⁴listen to ⁵him ²Vashti ¹queen] to come with the eunuchs. And [³fretted ¹the ²king], and he was provoked to anger. 13 And he said to his friends, Thus these things Vashti spoke, you deal then concerning this law and judgment! 14 And came forward to him Carshena, and Shethar and Admatha, and Tarshish, and Meres and Marsena and Memucan seven rulers of the Persians and Medes, the ones near the king, the ones foremost being seated near the king. 15 And they reported to him according to the laws as what [⁴must ⁵do ¹Vashti ²the ³queen], for she had not done the things [²by ³the ⁴king, ¹having been assigned] through the eunuchs. 16 And Memucan said to the king and to the rulers, Not [⁵the ⁶king ¹only ⁴wronged ³Vashti ²queen], but also all the rulers, and the leaders of the king, 17 (for he described to them the sayings of the queen) and how ever she contradicted the king, as then she did contradict to king Artaxerxes, 18 so today, the wives of the sovereigns of the rest of the rulers of the Persians and Medes hearing the things [²against the ³king ¹having been said] by her, they shall dare in like manner to dishonor their husbands. 19 If then it seems good to the king, let him assign a royal decree, and let him write it according to the laws of the Medes and Persians! and not otherwise treat nor let [⁴enter ³any longer ¹the ²queen] to him, and [⁵her royalty ¹let ⁴give ²the ³king] to a woman better than her! 20 And let [⁶be heard ¹the ²law ³by ⁴the ⁵king]! which ever he should make for his kingdom. And thus all the women shall invest honor to their own husbands, from poor unto rich. 21 And [³pleased ¹the ²word] the king and the rulers. And [³did ¹the ²king] as Memucan said. 22 And he sent letters into all the kingdom, according to place, according to their form of speech, so as to be fearing them in their households.