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Esther 1 :: New King James Version (NKJV)

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The King Dethrones Queen Vashti
The King Dethrones Queen Vashti
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:1 - Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus[fn] (this was the Ahasuerus who reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India to Ethiopia),
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:2 - in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan[fn] the citadel,
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:3 - that in the third year of his reign he made a feast for all his officials and servants—the powers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces being before him—
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:4 - when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days, one hundred and eighty days in all.
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:5 - And when these days were completed, the king made a feast lasting seven days for all the people who were present in Shushan the citadel, from great to small, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:6 - There were white and blue linen curtains fastened with cords of fine linen and purple on silver rods and marble pillars; and the couches were of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of alabaster, turquoise, and white and black marble.
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:7 - And they served drinks in golden vessels, each vessel being different from the other, with royal wine in abundance, according to the generosity of the king.
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:8 - In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had ordered all the officers of his household, that they should do according to each man’s pleasure.
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:9 - Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:10 - On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:11 - to bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing her royal crown, in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful to behold.
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:12 - But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs; therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him.
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:13 - Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times (for this was the king’s manner toward all who knew law and justice,
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:14 - those closest to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who had access to the king’s presence, and who ranked highest in the kingdom):
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:15 - “What shall we do to Queen Vashti, according to law, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus brought to her by the eunuchs?”
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:16 - And Memucan answered before the king and the princes: “Queen Vashti has not only wronged the king, but also all the princes, and all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:17 - “For the queen’s behavior will become known to all women, so that they will despise their husbands in their eyes, when they report, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, but she did not come.’
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:18 - “This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media will say to all the king’s officials that they have heard of the behavior of the queen. Thus there will be excessive contempt and wrath.
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:19 - “If it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him, and let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it will not be altered, that Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:20 - “When the king’s decree which he will make is proclaimed throughout all his empire (for it is great), all wives will honor their husbands, both great and small.”
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:21 - And the reply pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan.
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 1:22 - Then he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, to each province in its own script, and to every people in their own language, that each man should be master in his own house, and speak in the language of his own people.
NKJV Footnotes
Generally identified with Xerxes I (485–464 B.C.)
Or Susa, and so throughout this book
NKJV

New King James Version, © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

The text of the New King James Version (NKJV) appearing on or deriving from this or any other web page is for personal use only. Any other use of the NKJV must be in conformity with the Quotation Policy for the New King James Version. For more information about the New King James Version, the Quotation Policy, and for inquiries about permission to use the New King James Version, go to Thomas Nelson, Inc..

For more information on this translation, see the NKJV Preface.

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