Esther

3 King Ahasuerus maketh a royal feast. 12 Whereunto the Queen Vashti will not come. 19 For which cause she is divorced. 20 The King’s decree touching the pre-eminence of man.

In the days of [a]Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus that reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over an [b]hundred, and seven and twenty provinces.)

In those days when the king Ahasuerus [c]sat on his throne, which was in the palace of (A)Shushan,

In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants, even the power of Persia and Media, and to the captains and governors of the provinces which were before him,

That he might show the riches and glory of his kingdom, and the honor of his great majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.

And when these days were expired, the king made a feast to all the people that were found in the palace of Shushan, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace,

Under an hanging of white, green, and blue cloths, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple, in silver rings, and pillars of marble: the [d]beds were of gold and of silver upon a pavement of porphyry, and marble and alabaster, and blue color.

And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, and changed vessel after vessel, and royal wine in abundance, according to the [e]power of the king.

And the drinking was by an order, none might [f]compel: for so the king had appointed unto all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.

¶ The Queen Vashti made a feast also for the women in the royal house of King Ahasuerus.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Esther 1:1 Called also Darius, who was now the sovereign Monarch and had the government of the Medes, Persians, and Chaldeans, some think he was Darius Hystaspis’ son called also Artaxerxes.
  2. Esther 1:1 Dan. 6:1, maketh mention but of sixscore, leaving out the number that is unprecise as the Scripture in divers places useth.
  3. Esther 1:2 That is, had rest and quietness.
  4. Esther 1:6 Which they used in those countries instead of tables.
  5. Esther 1:7 As was beseeming for so magnificent a king.
  6. Esther 1:8 None might be compelled to drink more than it pleased him.

Bible Gateway Recommends