Chapter 1

Ahasuerus of Persia and Media makes royal feasts—Vashti disobeys the king and is deposed as queen.

 Now it came to pass in the days of aAhasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty bprovinces:)

 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in aShushan the palace,

 In the third year of his reign, he made a afeast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:

 When he shewed the ariches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.




 And the adrinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s bpleasure.


 10 ¶On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, aHarbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,


 12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very awroth, and his anger burned in him.

 13 ¶Then the king said to the awise men, which knew the btimes, (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment:






 19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not aaltered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.

 20 And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the awives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.


 22 For he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their alanguage, that every man should bear brule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.