Ahasuerus’ Royal Feast

1  וַיְהִ֖י (And it came to pass that) בִּימֵ֣י (in the days) אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ (of Ahasuerus)— ה֣וּא (he was) אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ (Ahasuerus) הַמֹּלֵךְ֙ (the one reigning) מֵהֹ֣דּוּ (from India) וְעַד־ (and as far as) כּ֔וּשׁ (Cush), שֶׁ֛בַע (seven) וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים (and twenty) וּמֵאָ֖ה (and a hundred) מְדִינָֽה׃ (provinces). 2  בַּיָּמִ֖ים (In the days) הָהֵ֑ם (those), כְּשֶׁ֣בֶת׀ (when sat) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (King) אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ (Ahasuerus) עַ֚ל (upon) כִּסֵּ֣א (the throne) מַלְכוּת֔וֹ (of his kingdom) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (which) בְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ן (was in Susa) הַבִּירָֽה׃ (the citadel), 3  בִּשְׁנַ֤ת (in the year) שָׁלוֹשׁ֙ (third) לְמָלְכ֔וֹ (of his reigning) עָשָׂ֣ה (he made) מִשְׁתֶּ֔ה (a feast) לְכָל־ (for all) שָׂרָ֖יו (his officials) וַעֲבָדָ֑יו (and his servants), חֵ֣יל׀ (the strength) פָּרַ֣ס (of Persia) וּמָדַ֗י (and Media), הַֽפַּרְתְּמִ֛ים (the nobles) וְשָׂרֵ֥י (and the officials) הַמְּדִינ֖וֹת (of the provinces) לְפָנָֽיו׃ (were before his face) 4  בְּהַרְאֹת֗וֹ (in his showing) אֶת־ (-) עֹ֙שֶׁר֙ (the riches) כְּב֣וֹד (of the glory) מַלְכוּת֔וֹ (of his kingdom) וְאֶ֨ת־ (and) יְקָ֔ר (the splendor) תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת (of the beauty) גְּדוּלָּת֑וֹ (of his greatness) יָמִ֣ים (days) רַבִּ֔ים (many) שְׁמוֹנִ֥ים (eighty) וּמְאַ֖ת (and a hundred) יֽוֹם׃ (days).

5  וּבִמְל֣וֹאת׀ (And in the fullness) הַיָּמִ֣ים (of the days) הָאֵ֗לֶּה (these) עָשָׂ֣ה (made) הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ (the king) לְכָל־ (for all) הָעָ֣ם (the people) הַנִּמְצְאִים֩ (the ones found) בְּשׁוּשַׁ֨ן (in Susa) הַבִּירָ֜ה (the citadel), לְמִגָּ֧דוֹל (from great) וְעַד־ (even to) קָטָ֛ן (small), מִשְׁתֶּ֖ה (a feast) שִׁבְעַ֣ת (for seven) יָמִ֑ים (days) בַּחֲצַ֕ר (in the court) גִּנַּ֥ת (of the garden) בִּיתַ֖ן (of the palace) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (of the king). 6  ח֣וּר׀ (White), כַּרְפַּ֣ס (linen), וּתְכֵ֗לֶת (and blue hangings), אָחוּז֙ (were fastened) בְּחַבְלֵי־ (with cords) ב֣וּץ (of fine linen) וְאַרְגָּמָ֔ן (and purple) עַל־ (on) גְּלִ֥ילֵי (rings) כֶ֖סֶף (of silver) וְעַמּ֣וּדֵי (and pillars) שֵׁ֑שׁ (of marble), מִטּ֣וֹת׀ (and couches) זָהָ֣ב (of gold) וָכֶ֗סֶף (and silver), עַ֛ל (were on) רִֽצְפַ֥ת (a pavement) בַּהַט־ (of porphyry), וָשֵׁ֖שׁ (and marble), וְדַ֥ר (and pearl), וְסֹחָֽרֶת׃ (and precious stone).

7  וְהַשְׁקוֹת֙ (And serving drinks) בִּכְלֵ֣י (in vessels) זָהָ֔ב (of gold), וְכֵלִ֖ים (and the vessels) מִכֵּלִ֣ים (were from vessels) שׁוֹנִ֑ים (varying), וְיֵ֥ין (and wine) מַלְכ֛וּת (of royalty) רָ֖ב (was abundant), כְּיַ֥ד (according to the hand) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (of the king). 8  וְהַשְּׁתִיָּ֥ה (And the drinking) כַדָּ֖ת (was according to the law) אֵ֣ין (there is no) אֹנֵ֑ס (compulsion), כִּי־ (for) כֵ֣ן׀ (so) יִסַּ֣ד (had established) הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (the king) עַ֚ל (upon) כָּל־ (every) רַ֣ב (overseer) בֵּית֔וֹ (of his house), לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת (to do) כִּרְצ֥וֹן (according to the pleasure) אִישׁ־ (of man) וָאִֽישׁ׃ (by man).

Queen Vashti’s Refusal

9  גַּ֚ם (Also) וַשְׁתִּ֣י (Vashti) הַמַּלְכָּ֔ה (the Queen) עָשְׂתָ֖ה (made) מִשְׁתֵּ֣ה (a feast) נָשִׁ֑ים (for the women) בֵּ֚ית (in the house) הַמַּלְכ֔וּת (of royalty) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (that) לַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (belonged to King) אֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃ס (Ahasuerus).

10  בַּיּוֹם֙ (On the day) הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י (seventh), כְּט֥וֹב (as was good) לֵב־ (the heart) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king) בַּיָּ֑יִן (with the wine), אָמַ֡ר (he said) לִ֠מְהוּמָן (to Mehuman), בִּזְּתָ֨א (Biztha), חַרְבוֹנָ֜א (Harbona), בִּגְתָ֤א (Bigtha), וַאֲבַגְתָא֙ (and Abagtha), זֵתַ֣ר (Zethar), וְכַרְכַּ֔ס (and Carcas), שִׁבְעַת֙ (the seven) הַסָּ֣רִיסִ֔ים (eunuchs) הַמְשָׁ֣רְתִ֔ים (ministering) אֶת־ (before) פְּנֵ֖י (the face) הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (of King) אֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃ (Ahasuerus), 11  לְ֠הָבִיא (to bring) אֶת־ (-) וַשְׁתִּ֧י (Vashti) הַמַּלְכָּ֛ה (the queen) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face of) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) בְּכֶ֣תֶר (in a crown) מַלְכ֑וּת (of royalty), לְהַרְא֨וֹת (to show) הָֽעַמִּ֤ים (the peoples) וְהַשָּׂרִים֙ (and the officials) אֶת־ (-) יָפְיָ֔הּ (her beauty), כִּֽי־ (for) טוֹבַ֥ת (beautiful) מַרְאֶ֖ה (of appearance) הִֽיא׃ (she was).

12  וַתְּמָאֵ֞ן (And refused) הַמַּלְכָּ֣ה (Queen) וַשְׁתִּ֗י (Vashti) לָבוֹא֙ (to come) בִּדְבַ֣ר (at the word) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (that was) בְּיַ֣ד (by the hand) הַסָּרִיסִ֑ים (of the eunuchs). וַיִּקְצֹ֤ף (And was angry) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) מְאֹ֔ד (very), וַחֲמָת֖וֹ (and his rage) בָּעֲרָ֥ה (burned) בֽוֹ׃ (within him).

Queen Vashti Deposed

13  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king) לַחֲכָמִ֖ים (to the wise men) יֹדְעֵ֣י (knowing) הָֽעִתִּ֑ים (the times)— כִּי־ (for) כֵן֙ (thus was) דְּבַ֣ר (the manner) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king) לִפְנֵ֕י (before the face) כָּל־ (of all) יֹדְעֵ֖י (those knowing) דָּ֥ת (law) וָדִֽין׃ (and judgment), 14  וְהַקָּרֹ֣ב (and those near) אֵלָ֗יו (to him) כַּרְשְׁנָ֤א (Carshena), שֵׁתָר֙ (Shethar), אַדְמָ֣תָא (Admatha), תַרְשִׁ֔ישׁ (Tarshish), מֶ֥רֶס (Meres), מַרְסְנָ֖א (Marsena), מְמוּכָ֑ן (and Memucan), שִׁבְעַ֞ת (seven) שָׂרֵ֣י׀ (officials) פָּרַ֣ס (of Persia) וּמָדַ֗י (and Media), רֹאֵי֙ (those seeing) פְּנֵ֣י (the face) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king), הַיֹּשְׁבִ֥ים (those sitting) רִאשֹׁנָ֖ה (first) בַּמַּלְכֽוּת׃ (in the kingdom)—

15  כְּדָת֙ (According to the law), מַֽה־ (what) לַּעֲשׂ֔וֹת (is to be done) בַּמַּלְכָּ֖ה (with Queen) וַשְׁתִּ֑י (Vashti), עַ֣ל׀ (upon) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) לֹֽא־ (not) עָשְׂתָ֗ה (she did perform) אֶֽת־ (-) מַאֲמַר֙ (the command) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (of King) אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ (Ahasuerus) בְּיַ֖ד (by the hand) הַסָּרִיסִֽים׃ס (of the eunuchs)?

16  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) מוּמְכָן (Memucan) לִפְנֵ֤י (before the faces of) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) וְהַשָּׂרִ֔ים (and the officials), לֹ֤א (Not) עַל־ (against) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) לְבַדּ֔וֹ (alone) עָוְתָ֖ה (done perversely) וַשְׁתִּ֣י (Vashti) הַמַּלְכָּ֑ה (the Queen), כִּ֤י (but) עַל־ (against) כָּל־ (all) הַשָּׂרִים֙ (the officials) וְעַל־ (and against) כָּל־ (all) הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים (the peoples) אֲשֶׁ֕ר (who) בְּכָל־ (are in all) מְדִינ֖וֹת (the provinces) הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (of King) אֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃ (Ahasuerus). 17  כִּֽי־ (For) יֵצֵ֤א (will go forth) דְבַר־ (the matter) הַמַּלְכָּה֙ (of the queen) עַל־ (upon) כָּל־ (all) הַנָּשִׁ֔ים (the women), לְהַבְז֥וֹת (to despise) בַּעְלֵיהֶ֖ן (their husbands) בְּעֵינֵיהֶ֑ן (in their eyes) בְּאָמְרָ֗ם (when they say), הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (King) אֲחַשְׁוֵר֡וֹשׁ (Ahasuerus) אָמַ֞ר (said) לְהָבִ֨יא (to bring) אֶת־ (-) וַשְׁתִּ֧י (Vashti) הַמַּלְכָּ֛ה (the queen) לְפָנָ֖יו (before his face), וְלֹא־ (and not) בָֽאָה׃ (did she come).

18  וְֽהַיּ֨וֹם (And the day) הַזֶּ֜ה (this) תֹּאמַ֣רְנָה׀ (will speak) שָׂר֣וֹת (the noblewomen) פָּֽרַס־ (of Persia) וּמָדַ֗י (and Media) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (who) שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ (they have heard) אֶת־ (-) דְּבַ֣ר (the matter) הַמַּלְכָּ֔ה (of the queen) לְכֹ֖ל (to all) שָׂרֵ֣י (the officials) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (of the king), וּכְדַ֖י (and there will be enough) בִּזָּי֥וֹן (contempt) וָקָֽצֶף׃ (and anger).

19  אִם־ (So if) עַל־ (upon) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (the king) ט֗וֹב (it is good), יֵצֵ֤א (let go out) דְבַר־ (a word) מַלְכוּת֙ (of royalty) מִלְּפָנָ֔יו (from before his face), וְיִכָּתֵ֛ב (and let it be written) בְּדָתֵ֥י (in the laws) פָֽרַס־ (of Persia) וּמָדַ֖י (and Media) וְלֹ֣א (and not) יַעֲב֑וֹר (shall it pass away), אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) לֹֽא־ (not) תָב֜וֹא (shall come) וַשְׁתִּ֗י (Vashti) לִפְנֵי֙ (before the face of) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (King) אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ (Ahasuerus), וּמַלְכוּתָהּ֙ (and her royalty) יִתֵּ֣ן (let give) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king) לִרְעוּתָ֖הּ (to her female neighbor) הַטּוֹבָ֥ה (the one better) מִמֶּֽנָּה׃ (than she). 20  וְנִשְׁמַע֩ (Will be heard) פִּתְגָ֨ם (the edict) הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ (of the king) אֲשֶֽׁר־ (that) יַעֲשֶׂה֙ (he makes) בְּכָל־ (in all) מַלְכוּת֔וֹ (his kingdom), כִּ֥י (for) רַבָּ֖ה (great) הִ֑יא (it is), וְכָל־ (and all) הַנָּשִׁ֗ים (the women) יִתְּנ֤וּ (will give) יְקָר֙ (honor) לְבַעְלֵיהֶ֔ן (to their husbands), לְמִגָּד֖וֹל (from the great) וְעַד־ (even to) קָטָֽן׃ (the small).

21  וַיִּיטַב֙ (And was good) הַדָּבָ֔ר (the word) בְּעֵינֵ֥י (in the eyes) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king) וְהַשָּׂרִ֑ים (and the officials), וַיַּ֥עַשׂ (and did) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) כִּדְבַ֥ר (according to the word) מְמוּכָֽן׃ (of Memucan), 22  וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח (and he sent) סְפָרִים֙ (letters) אֶל־ (to) כָּל־ (all) מְדִינ֣וֹת (the provinces) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king), אֶל־ (to) מְדִינָ֤ה (province) וּמְדִינָה֙ (by province) כִּכְתָבָ֔הּ (according to its writing), וְאֶל־ (and to) עַ֥ם (people) וָעָ֖ם (by people) כִּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ (according to its tongue), לִהְי֤וֹת (that should be) כָּל־ (every) אִישׁ֙ (man) שֹׂרֵ֣ר (ruling) בְּבֵית֔וֹ (in his house), וּמְדַבֵּ֖ר (and speaking) כִּלְשׁ֥וֹן (according to the tongue) עַמּֽוֹ׃פ (of his people).