Esther 1:1-9 ▼

1 NOW it came to pass in the days of Akhshirash, who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces,

2 In the days when King Akhshirash sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,

3 In the third year of his reign, he made a great feast for all his princes and his servants, the mighty men of Persia and Media and the king's nobles and the governors of the provinces being before him.

4 Then he showed them the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even a hundred and eighty days.

5 And when these days were completed, the king made a feast to all the people who were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;

6 There were curtains of white cotton and wool, and hangings of violet, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble; the couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of marble, and the carpets were of fine white linen and silk.

7 And they gave the guests drink in vessels of gold (the vessels being different one from another), and royal wine was in abundance, according to the generosity of the king.

8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel; for so the king had commanded to all the stewards of his household, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.

9 Also Vashti the queen made a great feast for all the women in the royal house which belonged to King Akhshirash.