22;
22 He sent dispatches to all parts
of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their
own language, proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own
household, using his native tongue. (4)
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17 For
the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will
despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be
brought before him, but she would not come.’
18 This very day the
Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen’s
conduct will respond to all the king’s nobles in the same way. There will be no
end of disrespect and discord.
19 “Therefore, if it
pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the
laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again
to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position
to someone else who is better than she.
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8 By
the king’s command each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions, for
the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished. (8)
9 Queen Vashti also
gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
10 On the seventh day,
when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs
who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas—
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14 and
were closest to the king—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. (5)
15 “According to law,
what must be done to Queen Vashti?” he asked. “She has not obeyed the command
of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her.”
16 Then Memukan
replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, “Queen Vashti has done
wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the
peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes.
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5 When
these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king’s palace, for all
the people from the least to the greatest who were in the citadel of Susa.
(5)
6 The garden had
hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver
rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic
pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones.
7 Wine was served in
goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was
abundant, in keeping with the king’s liberality.
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20 Then
when the king’s edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the
women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.” (2)
21 The king and his
nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memukan proposed.
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11 to
bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her
beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. (2)
12 But when the
attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the
king became furious and burned with anger.
13 Since it was
customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he
spoke with the wise men who understood the times
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1 This is what
happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces
stretching from India
to Cush:
2 At
that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, (2)
3 and in the third year of his reign
he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and
the nobles of the provinces were present.
4 For a full 180 days he displayed
the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty.
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