Esther 1

1 This is what happened [came to pass, took place] in the days [a period of time, an era] of Xerxes [Ahasuerus, a powerful king], who reigned [ruled, was in power] over 127 provinces [regions, districts] from India [a country to the east] to Cush [Ethiopia, the region south of Egypt]. word study 2 In those days [at that specific time, in the course of history] King [the ruler, monarch] Xerxes [Ahasuerus, a powerful Persian king] sat [dwelled, remained] on his royal [kingly, sovereign] throne [seat of power, authority] in the citadel [stronghold, fortified city] of Susa [Shushan, the palace]. word study 3 In the third [specific, appointed] year of his reign [rule, kingdom], Xerxes [the king, ruler] held [organized, hosted] a feast [banquet, celebration] for all [every, entire] his officials [administrators, servants] and servants [attendants, slaves]. The military leaders [commanders, chiefs] of Persia [the Persian empire] and Media [the Mede kingdom] were there, along with the nobles [grandees, high-ranking officials] and princes [rulers, governors] of the provinces [regions, districts]. word study 4 And for a full [one hundred and eighty, six months] 180 days he displayed [showed, put on display] the glorious [magnificent, splendid] riches [wealth, treasures] of his kingdom [royal power, dominion] and the magnificent [excellent, precious] splendor [glory, honor] of his greatness [majesty, dignity]. word study 5 At the end [completion, fulfillment] of this time [period, season], in the garden [enclosed area, paradise] court [outer square, open space] of the royal [king’s, sovereign] palace [grand residence, official dwelling], the king [ruler, monarch] held [organized, hosted] a seven-day [week-long, complete] feast [banquet, celebration] for all [every, entire] the people [nation, community] in the citadel [fortress, stronghold] of Susa [Shushan, royal city], from the least [smallest, humblest] to the greatest [most prominent, noblest]. word study 6 Hangings of white [fine linen, pure] and blue [violet, from the mussel dye] linen were fastened with cords of fine white [cotton, luxurious] and purple [royal, richly dyed] material to silver [valuable, highly prized] rings on the marble [polished, costly] pillars. Gold [precious, highly valued] and silver [wealth, treasure] couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement [decorative, intricately designed] of porphyry [red, costly stone], marble [fine, white], mother-of-pearl [shiny, pearl-like], and other costly [expensive, highly prized] stones. word study 7 Beverages [drinks, royal wine] were served in an array of goblets [vessels, utensils] of gold [valuable metal], each with a different design [unique, diverse], and the royal wine [wine of the kingdom, abundant] flowed freely [in abundance, according to the king’s bounty], according to the king’s [the monarch’s, sovereign’s] bounty [generosity, liberality]. word study 8 By order [according to the law, by royal command] of the king [the monarch, ruler], no limit [no compulsion, no restraint] was placed on the drinking [the act of drinking, the manner of consumption], and every official [chief servant, high-ranking officer] of his household [his royal court, his palace] was to serve [to give, to provide] each man [individual, person] whatever [according to every man’s pleasure, as he desired] he desired [wished, wanted]. word study 9 Queen [the royal consort] Vashti also [too, even] gave a banquet [feast, celebration] for the women [wives, females] in the royal [king’s] palace [house, dwelling] of King [ruler, sovereign] Xerxes [Ahasuerus, the Persian king]. word study 10 On the seventh [final] day, when the king’s [Ahasuerus, ruler of Persia] heart [mind, emotions, and will] was merry [cheerful, joyful, and intoxicated] with wine [fermented drink], he ordered [commanded, instructed] the seven eunuchs [high-ranking officials, attendants] who served [ministered, attended to] him—Mehuman [faithful one], Biztha [booty], Harbona [noble-born], Bigtha [in the wine press], Abagtha [father of abundance], Zethar [star], and Carkas [servant, attendant]— word study 11 to bring Queen [Vashti, the beautiful queen of Xerxes] Vashti before him, wearing her royal crown, to display [show, reveal, make visible] her beauty [physical attractiveness, pleasing appearance] to the people [nations, groups of individuals] and officials [leaders, rulers, those in charge] [for the purpose of showcasing her beauty]. For she was [truly, indeed] beautiful [pleasant, delightful, a joy to behold] to behold. word study 12 Queen [the royal female ruler] Vashti, however, refused [to say no, reject the command] to come at the king’s [the supreme ruler, monarch] command brought by his eunuchs [high-ranking officials, attendants]. And the king became furious [very angry, extremely wrathful], and his anger [intense rage, burning fury] burned within him [was kindled, deeply stirred]. word study 13 Then the king [ruler, sovereign] consulted [spoke with, sought advice from] the wise men [experts, skilled counselors] who knew [were familiar with, understood] the times [seasons, occasions], for it was customary [usual, traditional] for him to confer [discuss, consult] with the experts [authorities, specialists] in law [regulations, decrees] and justice [righteousness, fairness]. word study 14 His closest advisors [most trusted officials, nearest to him] were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes [rulers, leaders] of Persia [an ancient empire] and Media [a region northwest of Persia] who had personal access [saw the king’s face, were in his presence] to the king [the monarch, ruler] and ranked highest [sat first, held the most power] in the kingdom [the realm, the royal domain]. word study 15 “According to [the royal decree] law,” he asked, “what [shall we do, how should we proceed] should be done with Queen [the female ruler] Vashti, since she refused [did not obey, disobeyed] to obey the command [edict, authoritative order] of King Xerxes [Ahasuerus, the king of Persia] delivered by the eunuchs [royal officials, attendants]?” word study 16 And in the presence [face to face, before] of the king [ruler, monarch] and his princes [nobles, high-ranking officials], Memucan replied, “Queen [female ruler, monarch] Vashti has wronged [done injury to, acted unjustly against] not only the king [alone, by herself], but all the princes [leaders, captains] and the peoples [nations, communities] in all the provinces [regions, districts] of King [ruler, sovereign] Xerxes [Ahasuerus, king of Persia]. word study 17 For the conduct [deed, act] of the queen [female ruler, monarch] will become known [go forth, be reported] to all [every, the whole] women, causing them to despise [hold in contempt, disregard] their husbands [masters, lords] and say, ‘King [ruler, monarch] Xerxes [Ahasuerus, king of Persia] ordered [commanded, instructed] Queen Vashti [the queen] to be brought [come, appear] before him, but she did not come [refused, disobeyed].’ word study 18 This very [same] day the noble [high-ranking, esteemed] women of Persia [a vast ancient empire] and Media [a land northwest of Persia] who have heard about the queen’s [female ruler, monarch] conduct [behavior, actions] will say the same thing [similar words, identical statement] to all the king’s [royal, sovereign] officials [princes, leaders], resulting in much [abundant, excessive] contempt [disrespect, scorn] and wrath [anger, indignation]. word study 19 So if it pleases [is good in the eyes of] the king, let him issue a royal decree [a law that cannot be changed], and let it be recorded [written down, inscribed] in the laws [customs, traditions] of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed [altered, changed], that Vashti shall never again enter the presence [face, be in front of] of King Xerxes [Ahasuerus, the ruler of Persia], and that her royal position [royalty, authority] shall be given to a woman better [more worthy, superior] than she. word study 20 The edict [official decree, royal command] the king [ruler, monarch] issues will be heard [listened to, obeyed] throughout his vast kingdom [extensive dominion, royal power]—and so all women [wives, females], from the least [smallest, humblest] to the greatest [most important, noblest], will honor [show respect, give dignity to] their husbands [masters, lords].” word study 21 The king [ruler, royal person] and his princes [leaders, captains] were pleased [found joy, approved] with this counsel [advice, suggestion]; so the king did [acted, carried out] as Memucan [a high-ranking official] had advised [recommended, suggested]. word study 22 He sent letters [to all divisions of the kingdom] to all the provinces of the kingdom, to each province [according to the writing thereof] in its own script and to each people [after their language] in their own language, proclaiming that every man [male person, individual] should be [have authority as] master [ruler, one in control] of his own household [family, dwelling place]. word study