Esther 01
Vashti the Queen Refuses to Come to the Banquet
10 On the seventh day, when the king's heart was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigthan, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,
11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing the royal crown, to show her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was beautiful to look at.
12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command, at the hands of the eunuchs. Therefore the king was very angry and his anger burned within him.
13 Then the king asked the wise men who understood the times (for this was how the king's affairs were conducted in the presence of all who knew the law and the judgment;
14 and those closest to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, Memucan, the seven princes of the Persians and Medes, who saw the king's face and sat first in the kingdom),
15 what should be done according to the law to Queen Vashti, because she had not carried out the commandment of King Ahasuerus by the hand of the eunuchs?
16 Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the princes, "Queen Vashti has sinned not only against the king, but also against all the princes and against all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus."
17 For the news of this deed of the queen will go out to all the women, so that they will despise their husbands in their eyes, when it will be said, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded to bring Queen Vashti before him, but she did not come.’
18 And on that same day the princesses of Persia and Media will say the same to all the king’s princes, when they hear of the deed of the queen; and there will be great contempt and wrath.
19 If it pleases the king, let a royal edict go out from him and be written in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, and not be broken, that Vashti may no longer come before King Ahasuerus, and the king may give her kingdom to her companion who is better than she.
20 And when the edict that the king makes is heard throughout his kingdom (for it is great), all the women will give honor to their husbands, from the greatest to the least.
21 And these words pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan.
22 Then he sent letters to all the king's provinces, to each province according to its writing, and to each people according to their language, saying that every man should be lord in his own house; and that this should be published among all the peoples according to their language.