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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Esther 1 Christian Standard Bible</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var 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frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../nehemiah/13.htm" title="Nehemiah 13">◄</a> Esther 1 <a href="../esther/2.htm" title="Esther 2">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">Christian Standard Bible</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/csb/esv/esther/1.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Verses"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><section epub:type="chapter" id="csb-Esther.1" /><h3 class="head1">Vashti Angers the King</h3><p class="noind"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.1" /><A name="2"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>These events took place during the days of Ahasuerus,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.1.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> who ruled 127 provinces<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.1.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> from India to Cush. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.2" /> <A name="3"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>In those days King Ahasuerus reigned from his royal throne<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.2.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> in the fortress at Susa.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.2.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.3" /> <A name="4"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>He held a feast<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.3.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> in the third year of his reign for all his officials and staff, the army of Persia and Media,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.3.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> the nobles,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.3.3"><span class="xrfAlphabet">c</span></a> and the officials from the provinces. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.4" /> <A name="5"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>He displayed the glorious wealth of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.4.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> for a total of 180 days.</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.5" /> <A name="6"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>At the end of this time, the king held a week-long banquet<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.5.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> in the garden courtyard<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.5.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> of the royal palace<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.5.3"><span class="xrfAlphabet">c</span></a> for all the people, from the greatest to the least,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.5.4"><span class="xrfAlphabet">d</span></a> who were present in the fortress of Susa.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.5.5"><span class="xrfAlphabet">e</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.6" /> <A name="7"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>White and blue linen hangings were fastened with fine white and purple linen cords to silver rods on marble<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Esther.1.6.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> columns. Gold and silver couches<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.6.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> were arranged on a mosaic pavement of red feldspar,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Esther.1.6.2"><span class="fnAlphabet">B</span></a> marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones.</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.7" /> <A name="8"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>Drinks were served in an array of gold goblets,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.7.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> each with a different design. Royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.7.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.8" /> <A name="9"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>The drinking was according to royal decree: “There are no restrictions.” The king had ordered every wine steward in his household to serve whatever each person wanted. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.9" /> <A name="10"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women of King Ahasuerus’s palace.</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.10" /> <A name="11"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>On the seventh day, when the king was feeling good from the wine,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.10.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> Ahasuerus commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.10.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas — the seven eunuchs<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.10.3"><span class="xrfAlphabet">c</span></a> who personally served him —  <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.11" /> <A name="12"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>to bring Queen Vashti before him with her royal crown. He wanted to show off her beauty to the people and the officials, because she was very beautiful.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.11.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.12" /> <A name="13"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command that was delivered by his eunuchs. The king became furious and his anger burned within him.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.12.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><h3 class="head1">The King’s Decree</h3><p class="noind"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.13" /> <A name="14"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>The king consulted the wise men<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.13.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> who understood the times,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Esther.1.13.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">a</span></a> <a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.13.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> for it was his normal procedure to confer with experts in law and justice. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.14" /> <A name="15"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>The most trusted ones<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Esther.1.14.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. They were the seven officials<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.14.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> of Persia and Media<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.14.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> who had personal access to the king<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.14.3"><span class="xrfAlphabet">c</span></a> and occupied the highest positions in the kingdom.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.14.4"><span class="xrfAlphabet">d</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.15" /> <A name="16"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>The king asked, “According to the law, what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey King Ahasuerus’s command that was delivered by the eunuchs? ”</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.16" /> <A name="17"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>Memucan said in the presence of the king and his officials, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the officials and the peoples who are in every one of King Ahasuerus’s provinces.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.16.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.17" /> <A name="18"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>For the queen’s action will become public knowledge to all the women and cause them to despise their husbands and say, ‘King Ahasuerus ordered Queen Vashti brought before him, but she did not come.’ <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.18" /> <A name="19"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>Before this day is over, the noble women of Persia and Media who hear about the queen’s act will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in more contempt and fury.</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.19" /> <A name="20"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>“If it meets the king’s approval, he should personally issue a royal decree. Let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be revoked:<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.19.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> Vashti is not to enter King Ahasuerus’s presence, and her royal position is to be given to another woman who is more worthy than she.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.19.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.20" /> <A name="21"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>The decree the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.20.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> so all women will honor their husbands,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.20.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> from the greatest to the least.”<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.20.3"><span class="xrfAlphabet">c</span></a></p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.21" /> <A name="22"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>The king and his counselors approved the proposal, and he followed Memucan’s advice. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.1.22" /> <span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own script and to each ethnic group in its own language,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.1.22.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> that every man should be master of his own house and speak in the language of his own people.</p><br /><section id="footnotes-Esther.1" class="fnSection"><aside id="fn.Esther.1.6.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.6">1:6</a></span> Or <span class="italic">alabaster</span></aside><aside id="fn.Esther.1.6.2"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.6">1:6</a></span> Or <span class="italic">of porphyry</span></aside><aside id="fn.Esther.1.13.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.13">1:13</a></span> Or <span class="italic">understood propitious times</span></aside><aside id="fn.Esther.1.14.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.14">1:14</a></span> Lit <span class="italic">Those near him</span></aside><br /><section id="cross-references-Esther.1" class="xrfSection"><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.1.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.1">1:1</a></span> Ezr 4:6; Dn 9:1</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.1.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.1">1:1</a></span> Est 8:9; 9:30</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.2.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.2">1:2</a></span> 1Kg 1:46</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.2.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.2">1:2</a></span> Ezr 4:9; Neh 1:1; Dn 8:2</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.3.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.3">1:3</a></span> Gn 40:20; 1Kg 3:15; Est 2:18</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.3.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.3">1:3</a></span> Dn 5:28</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.3.3"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.3">1:3</a></span> Est 6:9; Dn 1:3</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.4.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.4">1:4</a></span> Dn 4:28–30</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.5.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.5">1:5</a></span> Est 2:18</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.5.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.5">1:5</a></span> 2Kg 21:18; Est 7:7–8</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.5.3"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.5">1:5</a></span> Est 2:8</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.5.4"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.5">1:5</a></span> Est 1:20</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.5.5"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.5">1:5</a></span> Ezr 4:9</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.6.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.6">1:6</a></span> Est 7:8; Ezk 23:41; Am 6:4</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.7.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.7">1:7</a></span> Dn 5:1–3</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.7.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.7">1:7</a></span> Est 2:18</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.10.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.10">1:10</a></span> 2Sm 13:28</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.10.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.10">1:10</a></span> Est 7:9</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.10.3"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.10">1:10</a></span> 2Kg 20:18; Est 2:21; 6:14; Mt 19:12</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.11.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.11">1:11</a></span> Est 2:7</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.12.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.12">1:12</a></span> Est 7:7; Pr 19:12</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.13.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.13">1:13</a></span> Jr 10:7; Dn 2:2,12; Mt 2:1</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.13.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.13">1:13</a></span> 1Ch 12:32</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.14.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.14">1:14</a></span> Ezr 7:14</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.14.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.14">1:14</a></span> Dn 5:28</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.14.3"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.14">1:14</a></span> 2Kg 25:19</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.14.4"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.14">1:14</a></span> Dn 2:48–49</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.16.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.16">1:16</a></span> Est 1:1,3,5; 9:30</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.19.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.19">1:19</a></span> Est 8:8; Dn 6:8,15</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.19.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.19">1:19</a></span> Est 2:2,4,17</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.20.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.20">1:20</a></span> Est 1:1; 8:9</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.20.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.20">1:20</a></span> Est 1:10–12; Eph 5:22,24,33; Col 3:18; 1Tm 2:12; 1Pt 3:1</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.20.3"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.20">1:20</a></span> Est 1:5</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.1.22.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.1.22">1:22</a></span> Neh 13:24; Est 3:12; 8:9</aside><br /><section id="study-notes-Esther.1" class="snSection"><br /></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Christian Standard Bible. 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