Esther 1:1-9 ▼

1 This is what happened in the days of Xerxes {Ahasuerus}, (I will be silent and poor) who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush (the upper Nile region).

2 In those days King Xerxes (I will be silent and poor) sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa (lily).

3 In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia (pure / splendid) and Media (middle land) were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces.

4 And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.

5 At the end of this time, in the garden court of the royal palace, the king held a seven-day feast for all the people in the citadel of Susa (lily), from the least to the greatest.

6 Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.

7 Beverages were served in an array of goblets of gold, each with a different design, and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty.

8 By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired.

9 Queen Vashti (beautiful) also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes (I will be silent and poor).