King Ahasuerus sends Queen Vashti away
1This is what happened when King Ahasuerus was king. He was king of 127 provinces from the land of India to the land of Cush. 2When King Ahasuerus was king, he lived in Susa, a city that had strong walls. 3In the 3rd year after he had become king, he gave a feast for all of his officials and officers. The rulers of the lands of Persia and Media were there and all the important officials of the provinces. 4The king wanted to show the people that he was a rich and important king, so the feast went on for 180 days.
5After the feast was over, the king started another feast and he invited everyone from the city of Susa, the rich and the poor people. They ate and drank for 7 days in the beautiful gardens of the palace. 6White and blue linen cloths were tied to silver rings on marble pillars. They tied the linen cloths with cords of linen and purple wool. There were beds made of gold and silver and the floor was made of gemstones. 7The men drank wine from golden cups and each cup looked different. The king said that there had to be a lot of wine. 8He said everyone could drink as much wine as he wanted to drink and the wine stewards had to serve wine when the people asked for it.
9Queen Vashti also invited the women for dinner in King Ahasuerus' palace.
10On the 7th day of his feast, the king had a lot of wine and became very happy. He called the 7 emasculated men who worked for him in the palace. Their names were Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas. 11The king told them to bring Queen Vashti with her crown on her head to him. She was a beautiful woman and he wanted to show all the officials and the people how beautiful she was. 12But Queen Vashti said no. She did not want to go to the king and then he became very, very angry.
13He talked to his advisors and asked them what he should do to Queen Vashti because she did not listen to him. The king always talked to his wise men, who knew the laws, and asked them what he should do. 14The 7 officials of Persia and Media were the closest to the king. Their names were Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan. They were the most important officials in the land and they could talk to the king every day. 15The king asked them: ‘What do the laws say? What should I do to Queen Vashti? She did not come to me when I called her. She did not listen to me.’
16Memukan said to the king and the officials: ‘Queen Vashti has done wrong to the king and she has done wrong to all the officials and all the people in the provinces of the king. 17All the women will talk about what the queen has done and they will think that they do not have to listen to their husbands. They will not respect their husbands or think that they are important. They will say: “King Ahasuerus called Queen Vashti and she did not go.” 18All the wives of the leaders of Persia and Media will hear about what the queen has done today and they will do the same to their husbands. Men will think that they are not important and they will become very angry.
19Your_Majesty, if you think it is right, then you must say this today and you must write a new law in the laws of Persia and Media. This law must say that Vashti may never, ever come to you again. And you must choose another woman and make her queen, a woman who is better than Vashti. 20When the people in the lands where you are king hear what you have said, then all the women will respect their husbands, the important men and the unimportant men.’
21The king and his officials were happy when they heard what Memukan said, and the king did what he said. 22The king told them to send letters to every province and told them to write the letter in the language of the people of that province. The king said that every man must be the ruler in his family and that he must do what he thinks is right.
