rd

Esther 1

8 King Ahashuerósh maketh a royal feast, 10 Whereunto the Queen Vashtí will not come, 19 For which cause she is divorced. 20 The King’s decree touching the preeminence of man.
1.In the days of aAhashuerósh (this is Ahashuerósh that reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an bhundreth, & seven & twenty provinces.)
2.In those days when the King Ahashuerósh csate on his throne, which was in the palace of *Shushán,
3.In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants, even the power of Persia and Media, and to the captains and governours of the provinces which were before him,
4.That he might shewe the riches and glory of his kingdom, and the honour of his great majesty many days, even an hundreth and four score days.
5.And when these days were expired, the King made a feast to all the people that were found in the palace of Shushán, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the King’s palace,
6.Under an hanging of white, green, and blue clothes, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple, in silver rings, and pillars of marble: the dbeds were of gold, and of silver upon a pavement of porphyry, and marble and alabaster, and blue colour.
7.And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, and changed vessel after vessel, and royal wine in abundance according to the epower of the King.
8.And the drinking was by an order, none might fcompel: for so the King had appointed unto all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.
9.¶ The Queen Vashtí made a feast also for the women in the royal house of King Ahashuerósh.
10.Upon the gsevent day when the King was merry with wine, he commanded Mehumán, Bizthá, Harboná, Bigthá, and Abagthá, Zethár, and Carcás, the seven eunuches (that served in the presence of King Ahashuerósh)
11.To bring Queen Vashtí before the King with the crown royal, that he might shewe the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look upon.
12.But the Queen Vashtí refused to come at the King’s word, ^which he had given in charge to the eunuches: therefore the King was very angry, and his wrath kindled in him.
13.Then the King said to the wise men, hthat knew the times (for ÉR so was the King’s manner towards all that knew the law and the judgement:
14.And the next unto him was Carshená, Shethár, Admátha, Tarshish, Méres, Marsená, and Memucán the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the iKing’s face, and sate the first in the kingdom)
15.What shal we do unto the Queen Vashtí according to the law, because she did not according to the word of the King Ahashuerósh by the commission of the eunuches?
16.Then Memucán answered before the King and the princes, The Queen Vashtí hath not only done kevil against the King, but against all the princes, and against all the people that are in all the provinces of King Ahashuerósh.
17.For the iact of the Queen shal come abroad unto all women, so that they shal despise their husbands in their own eyes, and shal say, The King Ahashuerósh commanded Vashtí the Queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
18.So shal the mprincesses of Persia and Media this day say unto all the King’s Princes, when they hear of the act of the Queen, thus shal there be much despitefulness and wrath.
19.If it please the King, let a royal decree proceed from him, and let it be written among the statutes of Persia, and Media (and let it not be transgressed) that Vashtí come nnomore before King Ahashuerósh, and let the King give he royal estate unto her companion that is better then she.
20.And when the decree of the King which shalbe made, shalbe published throughout all his kingdom (though it be ogreat) all the women shal give their husbands honour, both great and small.
21.And this saying pleased the King and the princes, and the King did according to the word of Memucán.
22.For he sent letters into all the provinces of the King, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should pbear rule in his own house, and that he should publish it in the language of that same people.

Notes

1-a.
Called also Darius, who was now the sovereign Monarch, and had the government of the Medes, Persians and Caldeans some think he was Darius Hystaspis’ son, called also Artaxerxes.
1-b.
Daniel chapter 6.1 makes mention but of six score, leaving out the number that is unperfect, as the Scripture in divers places uses.
2-*.
Neh. 1.1.
2-c.
That is, had rest, and quietness.
6-d.
Which they used in those countries instead of tables.
7-e.
As was beseeming for so magnifical a King.
8-f.
None might be compelled to drink more then it pleased him.
10-g.
Which was the last day of the feast that the King made for the people, as verse 5.
12-^.
Ebr., which was in the hand of the eunuches.
13-h.
That had experience of things, as they had learned by diligent marking in continuance of time.
14-i.
Which were his chief counsellors, that might have always access to him.
16-k.
By her disobedience she has given an example to all women to do the like to their husbands.
17-l.
That is, her disobedience.
18-m.
Meaning, that they would take first occasion hereof to do the like, and that the rest of women would by continuance do the same.
19-n.
Let her be divorced and another made Queen.
20-o.
For he had under him a hundred twenty and seven countries.
22-p.
That is, that the wife should be subject to the husband and at his commandment.