Esther 1:1-9
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Vashti Angers the King
1 These events took place during the days of Ahasuerus,[a](A) who ruled 127 provinces(B) from India[b] to Cush. 2 In those days King Ahasuerus reigned from his royal throne(C) in the fortress at Susa.(D) 3 He held a feast(E) in the third year of his reign for all his officials and staff, the army of Persia and Media,(F) the nobles,(G) and the officials from the provinces. 4 He displayed the glorious wealth of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness(H) for a total of 180 days.
5 At the end of this time, the king held a week-long banquet(I) in the garden courtyard(J) of the royal palace(K) for all the people, from the greatest to the least,(L) who were present in the fortress of Susa.(M) 6 White and violet linen hangings were fastened with fine white and purple linen cords to silver rods on marble[c] columns. Gold and silver couches(N) were arranged on a mosaic pavement of red feldspar,[d] marble,[e] mother-of-pearl, and precious stones.
7 Beverages were served in an array of gold goblets,(O) each with a different design. Royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty(P) 8 and no restraint was placed on the drinking. The king had ordered every wine steward in his household to serve as much as each person wanted. 9 Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women of King Ahasuerus’s palace.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Esther 1:1 = Xerxes; he reigned 486-465 b.c.
- Esther 1:1 = modern Pakistan
- Esther 1:6 Or alabaster
- Esther 1:6 Or of porphyry
- Esther 1:6 Or alabaster
Esther 1:1-9
International Standard Version
The Wealth of King Ahasuerus
1 This is a record of[a] what happened during the reign[b] of Ahasuerus,[c] the Ahasuerus who ruled over 127 provinces from India to Cush.[d] 2 At that time King Ahasuerus was ruling from[e] Susa the capital.[f] 3 In the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his officials and ministers,[g] and the military leaders[h] of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the provincial officials were present.[i] 4 He displayed the enormous wealth of his kingdom, along with its splendid beauty and greatness for many days—for 180 days in all.[j]
The Banquet of King Ahasuerus
5 When those days were over, the king held a seven-day banquet in the courtyard of the garden of his[k] palace for all the people who were present in Susa the capital, from the greatest to the least important. 6 There were curtains of white and blue linen tied with cords of fine linen and purple material[l] to silver rings on[m] marble columns. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other precious stones. 7 Drinks were served in gold vessels of various kinds, and there was plenty of royal wine because the king was generous.[n] 8 According to the king’s[o] decree the drinking was not compulsory because the king instructed[p] every steward in his house to serve each individual what he desired. 9 Queen Vashti also held a banquet in the royal palace of King Ahasuerus for the women.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Esther 1:1 The Heb. lacks a record of
- Esther 1:1 Lit. days
- Esther 1:1 Or possibly Xerxes, and so throughout the book
- Esther 1:1 I.e. the upper Nile region
- Esther 1:2 Lit. was sitting on his royal throne in
- Esther 1:2 Or Susa the fortress, and so throughout the book
- Esther 1:3 Or his servants
- Esther 1:3 Lit. army
- Esther 1:3 Lit. before him
- Esther 1:4 The Heb. lacks in all
- Esther 1:5 Lit. the king’s
- Esther 1:6 The Heb. lacks material
- Esther 1:6 Lit. and
- Esther 1:7 Lit. wine according to the hand of the king
- Esther 1:8 The Heb. lacks king’s
- Esther 1:8 Lit. established
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