Destitución de la reina Vasti

El rey Asuero,[a] que reinó sobre ciento veintisiete provincias que se extendían desde la India hasta Cus, estableció su trono real en la ciudad de Susa.

En el tercer año de su reinado ofreció un banquete para todos sus nobles y oficiales, al que asistieron los líderes militares de Persia y Media, y también los príncipes y los nobles de las provincias.

Durante ciento ochenta días les mostró la enorme riqueza de su reino y la esplendorosa gloria de su majestad. Pasado este tiempo, el rey ofreció otro banquete, que duró siete días, para todos los que se encontraban en la ciudad de Susa, tanto los más importantes como los de menor importancia. Este banquete tuvo lugar en el jardín interior de su palacio, el cual lucía cortinas blancas y azules, sostenidas por cordones de hilo de lino blanco y lana color púrpura que pasaban por anillos de plata sujetos a columnas de mármol. También había sofás de oro y plata sobre un piso de mosaicos de pórfido, mármol, madreperla y otras piedras preciosas. En copas de oro de las más variadas formas se servía el vino real, el cual corría a raudales, como era de esperarse del rey. Todos los invitados podían beber cuanto quisieran, pues los camareros habían recibido instrucciones del rey de servir a cada uno lo que deseara.

La reina Vasti, por su parte, ofreció también un banquete para las mujeres en el palacio del rey Asuero.

10 Al séptimo día, como a causa del vino el rey Asuero estaba muy alegre, ordenó a los siete eunucos que le servían —Meumán, Biztá, Jarboná, Bigtá, Abagtá, Zetar y Carcás— 11 que llevaran a su presencia a la reina, ceñida con la corona real, a fin de exhibir su belleza ante los pueblos y sus nobles, pues realmente era muy hermosa. 12 Pero, cuando los eunucos comunicaron la orden del rey, la reina se negó a ir. Esto contrarió mucho al rey y se enfureció.

13 De inmediato el rey consultó a los sabios conocedores de los tiempos, porque era costumbre que, en cuestiones de ley y justicia, el rey consultara a los expertos. 14 Los más allegados a él eran: Carsena, Setar, Admata, Tarsis, Meres, Marsená y Memucán, los siete nobles de Persia y Media que tenían acceso especial a la presencia del rey y ocupaban los puestos más altos en el reino.

15 —Según la ley, ¿qué se debe hacer con la reina Vasti por haber desobedecido la orden del rey transmitida por los eunucos? —preguntó el rey.

16 En presencia del rey y de los nobles, Memucán respondió:

—La reina Vasti no solo ha ofendido a Su Majestad, sino también a todos los nobles y a todos los pueblos de todas las provincias del rey Asuero. 17 Porque todas las mujeres se enterarán de la conducta de la reina, y esto hará que desprecien a sus esposos, pues dirán: “El rey Asuero mandó que la reina Vasti se presentara ante él, pero ella no fue”. 18 El día en que las mujeres de la nobleza de Persia y de Media se enteren de la conducta de la reina, responderán de la misma manera a todos los nobles de Su Majestad. ¡Entonces no habrá fin al desprecio y a la discordia!

19 »Por lo tanto, si le parece bien a Su Majestad, emita un decreto real, el cual se inscribirá con carácter irrevocable en las leyes de Persia y Media: que Vasti nunca vuelva a presentarse ante Su Majestad y que el título de reina se lo otorgue a otra mejor que ella. 20 Así, cuando el edicto real se dé a conocer por todo su inmenso reino, todas las mujeres respetarán a sus esposos, desde los más importantes hasta los menos importantes».

21 Al rey y a sus nobles les pareció bien ese consejo, de modo que el rey hizo lo que había propuesto Memucán: 22 envió cartas por todo el reino, a cada provincia en su propia escritura y a cada pueblo en su propio idioma, proclamando en la lengua de cada pueblo que todo hombre debe ejercer autoridad sobre su familia.

Footnotes

  1. 1:1 Asuero. Variante hebrea de Jerjes, nombre persa; así en el resto de este libro.

The Feasts of the King and Queen

Now it happened in the days of (A)Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned (B)from India to [a]Ethiopia over (C)127 provinces, in those days as King Ahasuerus (D)sat on his royal throne which was at the citadel in (E)Susa, in the third year of his reign, (F)he held a feast for all his princes and servants, the military officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of his provinces being in his presence, [b]while he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days.

And when these days were fulfilled, the king held a feast lasting seven days for all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the court of (G)the garden of the king’s palace. There were hangings of fine white and [c]blue linen held by cords of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble pillars, and (H)couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones. And drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was plentiful (I)according to the king’s hand. And the drinking was done according to the law; there was no compulsion, for so the king had established it for each official of his household—that he should do according to what pleased each person. Queen Vashti also held a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to King Ahasuerus.

Queen Vashti’s Refusal

10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was (J)merry with wine, he said for Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who attended to the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal (K)crown in order to display her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was [d]beautiful in appearance. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the word of the king which was delivered by the hand of the eunuchs. Then the king became exceedingly furious, and his wrath burned within him.

13 Then the king said to (L)the wise men (M)who knew the times—for it was the custom of the king thus to speak before all who knew law and justice 14 and were close to him: Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media (N)who [e]had access to the king’s presence and sat in the first place in the kingdom— 15 “According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she did not do the declaration of King Ahasuerus delivered by the hand of the eunuchs?” 16 Then in the presence of the king and the princes, Memucan said, “Queen Vashti has committed iniquity against not only the king but also against all the princes and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the word about the queen will get out to all the women causing them to despise their husbands in their eyes by saying, ‘King Ahasuerus said for Queen Vashti to be brought in to his presence, but she did not come.’ 18 This day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the word about the queen will speak in the same way to all the king’s princes, and there will be plenty of spite and indignation. 19 If it seems good to the king, let a royal word go forth from him, and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so (O)that it cannot [f]be repealed, that Vashti may no longer come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to [g]another who is better than she. 20 And the king’s sentence, which he will make, will be heard throughout all his kingdom, for it is [h]vast, and (P)all women will give respect to their husbands, great and small.”

21 And this word was good in the eyes of the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan. 22 So he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, (Q)to each province according to its script and to every people according to their tongue, that every man should (R)be the ruler in his own house and the one who speaks in the tongue of his own people.

Footnotes

  1. Esther 1:1 Or Cush, cf. Gen 10:6
  2. Esther 1:4 Lit when
  3. Esther 1:6 Or violet
  4. Esther 1:11 Lit good, so in Esth
  5. Esther 1:14 Lit saw the face of the king
  6. Esther 1:19 Lit pass away
  7. Esther 1:19 Lit her neighbor
  8. Esther 1:20 Lit great

Queen Vashti Deposed

This is what happened during the time of Xerxes,[a](A) the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces(B) stretching from India to Cush[b]:(C) At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa,(D) and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet(E) for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present.

For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty. When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days,(F) in the enclosed garden(G) of the king’s palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest who were in the citadel of Susa. The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches(H) of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones. Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king’s liberality.(I) By the king’s command each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished.

Queen Vashti also gave a banquet(J) for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.

10 On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits(K) from wine,(L) he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona,(M) Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas— 11 to bring(N) before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty(O) to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. 12 But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.(P)

13 Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times(Q) 14 and were closest to the king—Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan, the seven nobles(R) of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom.

15 “According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?” he asked. “She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her.”

16 Then Memukan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, “Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes. 17 For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.’ 18 This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen’s conduct will respond to all the king’s nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord.(S)

19 “Therefore, if it pleases the king,(T) let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed,(U) that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she. 20 Then when the king’s edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.”

21 The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memukan proposed. 22 He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language,(V) proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own household, using his native tongue.

Footnotes

  1. Esther 1:1 Hebrew Ahasuerus; here and throughout Esther
  2. Esther 1:1 That is, the upper Nile region