Book 34 : KETUVIM - MEGILOT - ESTHER - Chapter 001
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NOW IT came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus--this is
Ahasuerus who reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven
and twenty provinces-
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that in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the
throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the castle
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in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all
his princes and his servants; the army of Persia and Media, the nobles and
princes of the provinces, being before him
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when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the
honour of his excellent majesty, many days, even a hundred and fourscore days
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And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast
unto all the people that were present in Shushan the castle, both great and
small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace
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there were hangings of white, fine cotton, and blue,
bordered with cords of fine linen and purple, upon silver rods and pillars of
marble; the couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of green, and
white, and shell, and onyx marble
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And they gave them drink in vessels of gold--the vessels
being diverse one from another--and royal wine in abundance, according to the
bounty of the king
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And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel;
for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should
do according to every man's pleasure
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Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the
royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus
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On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry
with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Bizzetha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar,
and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that ministered in the presence of Ahasuerus
the king
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to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown
royal, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look
on
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But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's
commandment by the chamberlains; therefore was the king very wroth, and his
anger burned in him
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Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the
times--for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment
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and the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha,
Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media,
who saw the king's face, and sat the first in the kingdom
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'What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law,
forasmuch as she hath not done the bidding of the king Ahasuerus by the
chamberlains?
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And Memucan answered before the king and the princes: 'Vashti
the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and
to all the peoples, that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus
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For this deed of the queen will come abroad unto all
women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it will be said:
The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but
she came not
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And this day will the princesses of Persia and Media who
have heard of the deed of the queen say the like unto all the king's princes. So
will there arise enough contempt and wrath
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If it please the king, let there go forth a royal
commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and
the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before king
Ahasuerus, and that the king give her royal estate unto another that is better
than she
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And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be
published throughout all his kingdom, great though it be, all the wives will
give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.
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And the word pleased the king and the princes; and the
king did according to the word of Memucan
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for he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into
every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their
language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and speak according
to the language of his people
Book 34 : KETUVIM - MEGILOT - ESTHER - Chapter 001
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