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Esther 1
New Century Version
Esther 1
New Century Version
Queen Vashti Disobeys the King
1 This is what happened during the time of King Xerxes, the king who ruled the one hundred twenty-seven states from India to Cush. 2 In those days King Xerxes ruled from his capital city of Susa. 3 In the third year of his rule, he gave a banquet for all his important men and royal officers. The army leaders from the countries of Persia and Media and the important men from all Xerxes’ empire were there.
4 The banquet lasted one hundred eighty days. All during that time King Xerxes was showing off the great wealth of his kingdom and his own great riches and glory. 5 When the one hundred eighty days were over, the king gave another banquet. It was held in the courtyard of the palace garden for seven days, and it was for everybody in the palace at Susa, from the greatest to the least. 6 The courtyard had fine white curtains and purple drapes that were tied to silver rings on marble pillars by white and purple cords. And there were gold and silver couches on a floor set with tiles of white marble, shells, and gems. 7 Wine was served in gold cups of various kinds. And there was plenty of the king’s wine, because he was very generous. 8 The king commanded that the guests be permitted to drink as much as they wished. He told the wine servers to serve each man what he wanted.
9 Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
10 On the seventh day of the banquet, King Xerxes was very happy, because he had been drinking much wine. He gave a command to the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas. 11 He commanded them to bring him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown. She was to come to show her beauty to the people and important men, because she was very beautiful. 12 The eunuchs told Queen Vashti about the king’s command, but she refused to come. Then the king became very angry; his anger was like a burning fire.
13 It was a custom for the king to ask advice from experts about law and order. So King Xerxes spoke with the wise men who would know the right thing to do. 14 The wise men the king usually talked to were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, seven of the important men of Persia and Media. These seven had special privileges to see the king and had the highest rank in the kingdom. 15 The king asked them, “What does the law say must be done to Queen Vashti? She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes, which the eunuchs took to her.”
16 Then Memucan said to the king and the other important men, “Queen Vashti has not done wrong to the king alone. She has also done wrong to all the important men and all the people in all the empire of King Xerxes. 17 All the wives of the important men of Persia and Media will hear about the queen’s actions. Then they will no longer honor their husbands. They will say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought to him, but she refused to come.’ 18 Today the wives of the important men of Persia and Media have heard about the queen’s actions. So they will speak in the same way to their husbands, and there will be no end to disrespect and anger.
19 “So, our king, if it pleases you, give a royal order, and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be changed. The law should say Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her place as queen to someone who is better than she is. 20 And let the king’s order be announced everywhere in his enormous kingdom. Then all the women will respect their husbands, from the greatest to the least.”
21 The king and his important men were happy with this advice, so King Xerxes did as Memucan suggested. 22 He sent letters to all the states of the kingdom in the writing of each state and in the language of each group of people. These letters announced that each man was to be the ruler of his own family.
Ester 1
Svenska Folkbibeln 2015
Ester 1
Svenska Folkbibeln 2015
Vashti trotsar kung Ahasveros
1 (A) På Ahasveros[a] tid – den Ahasveros som regerade över hundratjugosju provinser från Indien till Nubien[b] – 2 då kung Ahasveros satt på sin kungatron i Susas borg[c], hände följande: 3 Under sitt tredje regeringsår[d] ordnade han ett gästabud för alla sina furstar och tjänare. Persiens och Mediens befälhavare, hans förnämsta män och furstarna i provinserna var samlade hos honom. 4 Under hundraåttio dagar lät han dem se sin kungliga härlighet och rikedom, sin stora glans och prakt.
5 När de dagarna var över ordnade kungen ett sju dagar långt gästabud för allt folk som fanns i Susas borg, från den störste till den minste, i den inhägnade trädgård som hörde till kungapalatset. 6 Draperier av linne, bomull och mörkblått tyg var uppsatta med vita och purpurröda snören i ringar av silver på vita marmorpelare. Soffor av guld och silver stod på ett golv med inläggningar av grön och vit marmor med pärlglänsande och svart sten. 7 (B) Dryckerna sattes fram i guldkärl. Inget var det andra likt, och kungligt vin fanns i mängd så som det anstår en kung. 8 När man drack gällde den regeln att ingen fick tvingas, för kungen hade befallt alla sina hovmästare att de skulle rätta sig efter vars och ens önskan. 9 Samtidigt ordnade också drottning Vashti[e] ett gästabud för kvinnorna i kung Ahasveros kungliga palats.
10 Den sjunde dagen, när kungens hjärta var glatt av vinet, befallde han Mehuman, Bizzeta, Harbona, Bigta, Abagta, Zetar och Karkas, de sju hovmän som tjänstgjorde hos kung Ahasveros, 11 att de skulle föra in drottning Vashti inför kungen med kunglig krona på huvudet. Han ville låta folken och furstarna se hennes skönhet, för hon var vacker att se. 12 Men drottning Vashti vägrade komma när kungen genom sina hovmän befallde henne det. Då blev kungen mycket vred, och vreden brann inom honom.
13 (C) Kungen frågade då de vise män som förstod sig på tiderna. Kungens ärenden brukade nämligen läggas fram för alla som var kunniga i lag och rätt. 14 Vid sin sida hade han Karsena, Setar, Admata, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena och Memukan, de sju furstar i Persien och Medien som var kungens närmaste män och som hade främsta platsen i riket. 15 Han frågade dem: ”Vad ska man enligt lagen göra med drottning Vashti, eftersom hon inte har gjort som kung Ahasveros befallde genom hovmännen?”
16 Memukan svarade inför kungen och furstarna: ”Det är inte bara mot kungen som drottning Vashti har handlat illa, utan mot alla furstar och alla folk i alla kung Ahasveros provinser. 17 Det drottningen har gjort kommer att sprida sig till alla kvinnor och leda till att de föraktar sina män och säger: Kung Ahasveros befallde att man skulle föra in drottning Vashti inför honom, men hon kom inte. 18 Redan idag kommer furstinnorna i Persien och Medien, när de får höra vad drottningen har gjort, att säga samma sak till alla kungens furstar, och det kommer att bli förakt och förbittring utan ände. 19 (D) Om kungen finner för gott, låt då ett kungligt påbud gå ut och låt det skrivas in i Persiens och Mediens lagar så att det inte kan ändras, att Vashti aldrig mer får komma inför kung Ahasveros. Och kungen bör ge hennes kungliga värdighet åt någon annan som är bättre än hon. 20 När kungens förordning som han utfärdar blir känd i hela hans rike, så stort det är, kommer alla kvinnor att visa aktning för sina män, från den störste till den minste.”
21 Kungen och furstarna tyckte förslaget var gott, och kungen gjorde som Memukan hade sagt. 22 (E) Skrivelser sändes till alla kungens provinser, till varje provins med dess egen skrift och till varje folk på dess eget språk, med innebörden att varje man skulle vara herre i sitt hus och tala sitt folks språk.
Footnotes
- 1:1 Ahasveros På persiska Kshayarshan, ”hjältars härskare”. På grekiska Xerxes.
- 1:1 Nubien Området söder om Egypten, dagens Sudan (jfr Ps 68:32).
- 1:2 Susas borg Perserrikets huvudstad under vintermånaderna, ca 25 mil norr om spetsen på Persiska viken. Tronsalen, som är utgrävd, mätte över 100x100 m och hade 72 pelare som var över 20 m höga.
- 1:3 tredje regeringsår Ca 483 f Kr. Kanske hade kungen samlat sina befälhavare för att planera sin stora invasion av Grekland som genomfördes 481-480 f Kr.
- 1:9 Vashti Betyder ”vackrast”, troligen ett smeknamn. Kanske den drottning som hos grekiska historiker kallas Amestris (”stark”). Amestris, som av grekerna beskrivs som grym, var jämnårig med Xerxes och hade senare en maktposition efter hans död (se not till 10:3).
Esther 1
New International Version
Esther 1
New International Version
Queen Vashti Deposed
1 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) 2 At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa,(D) 3 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.
4 For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty. 5 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. 6 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. 7 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) 8 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.
9 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
- Esther 1:1 Hebrew Ahasuerus; here and throughout Esther
- Esther 1:1 That is, the upper Nile region
New Century Version (NCV) 
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Svenska Folkbibeln 2015 (SFB15)
Svenska Folkbibeln 2015, Copyright © 2015 by Svenska Folkbibeln Foundation
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.