Esther 1: The king's feasts and Queen Vashti's refusal
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What happens?
King Ahasuerus, who rules 127 provinces from India to Cush, shows the wealth of his kingdom for 180 days and then holds a seven day feast in Susa. On the seventh day he sends for Queen Vashti to show her beauty, and she refuses to come, and the king is very angry. Memucan advises that a royal word be written that Vashti may never again come before the king. The king does as Memucan says, and letters go out to every province.
Who is speaking?
God is not named in this chapter, so nothing is in gold. The narrator tells the story. The king speaks to the wise men in verse 13, and the question in verse 15 is his. Memucan answers in verses 16 to 20, and in verse 17 he quotes what the women would say. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces),
In plain English: In the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Cush (Ethiopia) over 127 provinces,
Good to know: The Hebrew words for God (Elohim), for Yahweh and for Adonai are in 0 verses of Esther. The English of this Bible has none of "God", "Lord" or "Yahweh" in the book. Jewish and Christian traditions read this silence in different ways. The text itself does not say why.
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2in those days, when the King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Susa the palace,
In plain English: in those days, when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom in Susa the citadel (or: palace),
The Hebrew word: "Citadel" is birah, which the dictionary gives as "a castle or palace". It is in 10 verses of Esther. The WEB says "citadel" in 8 of them and "palace" in 2.
What changes: Read as "palace", Susa is where the king's palace stands. Read as "citadel", it is the fortified part of the city. The text does not say which.
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3in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants; the army of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces being before him.
In plain English: in the third year of his reign he made a feast for all his princes and his servants. The army of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of the provinces were before him.
The Hebrew word: "Princes" is sar, which the dictionary gives as "a head person (of any rank or class)". It is in 13 verses of Esther, and the WEB says "prince" in all 13.
What changes: In English "prince" can sound like a king's son. The Hebrew word means a head person of any rank, and the text does not say these men are the king's sons.
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4He displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even one hundred eighty days.
In plain English: He showed the wealth of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days.
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5When these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven day feast for all the people who were present in Susa the palace, both great and small, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.
In plain English: When these days were completed, the king made a feast lasting seven days for all the people found in Susa the citadel (or: palace), from the greatest to the least, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.
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6There were hangings of white and blue material, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars. The couches were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red, white, yellow, and black marble.
In plain English: There were hangings of white and blue (or: violet) material, held with cords of fine linen and purple on silver rings (or: rods) and marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a pavement of red, white, yellow and black marble (or: porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and paving stone).
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7They gave them drinks in golden vessels of various kinds, including royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.
In plain English: Drinks were given in golden vessels, each vessel different from the next, and there was a great deal of royal wine, according to the king's bounty (the Hebrew says: according to the hand of the king).
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8In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had instructed all the officials of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.
In plain English: The drinking was according to the law (or: the rule), and no one was compelling anyone (or: insisting). For the king had told every chief of his house to do according to the pleasure of each man.
The Hebrew word: "Compulsory" is anas, which the dictionary gives as "to insist". It is in this verse only in Esther.
What changes: The Hebrew is short, and it can be read in more than one way: for example "the drinking was by the law: no one was compelling", or "the law was that no one compels". The text does not rule between them.
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9Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to King Ahasuerus.
In plain English: Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal house that belonged to King Ahasuerus.
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10On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcass, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
In plain English: On the seventh day, when the king's heart was merry with wine, he told Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carcas, the seven eunuchs (or: officials) who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,
The Hebrew word: "Eunuchs" is saris, which the dictionary gives as "a eunuch; by implication, valet (especially of the female apartments), and thus, a minister of state". It is in 12 verses of Esther, and the WEB says "eunuch" in all 12.
What changes: The word can mean a eunuch or, more widely, a court official, and the WEB chose "eunuch" every time. The text does not say which meaning is meant here.
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11to bring Vashti the queen before the king wearing the royal crown, to show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was beautiful.
In plain English: to bring Queen Vashti before the king wearing the royal crown, to show her beauty to the peoples and the princes, for she was beautiful to look at.
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12But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him.
In plain English: But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's word, which came by the hand of the eunuchs (or: officials). The king was very angry, and his rage burned in him.
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13Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times (for it was the king’s custom to consult those who knew law and judgment;
In plain English: The king spoke to the wise men who knew the times (for this was the king's way before all who knew law and judgment),
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14and next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom),
In plain English: and the ones next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face and sat first in the kingdom.
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15“What shall we do to Queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the King Ahasuerus by the eunuchs?”
In plain English: "According to the law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she has not done the word of King Ahasuerus that came by the hand of the eunuchs (or: officials)?"
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16Memucan answered before the king and the princes, “Vashti the queen has not done wrong to just the king, but also to all the princes, and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus.
In plain English: Memucan answered before the king and the princes, "Queen Vashti has done wrong not only to the king, but also to all the princes and to all the peoples in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
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17For this deed of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to show contempt for their husbands when it is reported, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she didn’t come.’
In plain English: For the queen's deed will go out to all the women and make their husbands despised in their eyes, when they say, 'King Ahasuerus said to bring Queen Vashti before him, and she did not come.'
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18Today, the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s deed will tell all the king’s princes. This will cause much contempt and wrath.
In plain English: This day the noble ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's deed will speak of it to all the king's princes. There will be much contempt and anger.
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19“If it pleases the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be altered, that Vashti may never again come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.
In plain English: If it seems good to the king, let a royal word go out from him, and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media and not pass away: that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal place to another woman who is better than she.
The Hebrew word: "Law" is dat, which the dictionary gives as "a royal edict or statute". It is in 19 verses of Esther. The WEB says "law" in 7 of them and "decree" in 11; the other verse, , has neither word.
Good to know: says that a writing in the king's name and sealed with the king's ring may not be reversed by any man.
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20When the king’s decree which he shall make is published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give their husbands honor, both great and small.”
In plain English: When the king's decree that he makes is heard in all his kingdom (for it is great), all the women will give honor to their husbands, from the greatest to the least."
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21This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
In plain English: The word was good in the eyes of the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan.
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22for he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, that every man should rule his own house, speaking in the language of his own people.
In plain English: He sent letters to all the king's provinces, to each province in its own writing and to each people in its own language, that every man should be ruler in his own house, speaking in the language of his own people.
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