Esther 01 The Banquet of Ahasuerus

 Esther 01

The Banquet of Ahasuerus

1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (that is, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia, over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces),

2 In those days, when King Ahasuerus sat upon the throne of his kingdom, which was in the citadel of Susa,

3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his princes and his servants (the power of Persia and Media and the greatest lords of the provinces were before him),

4 To shew forth the riches of the glory of his kingdom, and the splendor of his excellent greatness, for many days, even one hundred and eighty days.

5 And when those days were ended, the king made a feast to all the people who were present in the citadel of Susa, from the greatest to the least, for seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.

6 The hangings were of white, green, and blue, hung with cords of fine linen and purple, and silver rings, and marble pillars; the couches were of gold and silver, on a pavement of porphyry, marble, alabaster, and precious stones.

7 And the drink was served in vessels of gold, and the vessels were different from each other; and there was plenty of royal wine, according to the king's status.

8 And the drinking was a law, that no one should force another; for so the king had expressly commanded all the nobles of his house, that they should do as each one wished.

9 And Queen Vashti made a feast for the women of the royal household of King Ahasuerus.