biblical text
The Banquet of Ahasuerus
was the time of Ahasuerus, of the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia hundred and twenty-seven provinces and King Ahasuerus was sitting on his royal throne in Susa, the capital. The third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants, the army commanders of the Persians and Medes, and the great leaders of the provinces were united in his presence. He showed the splendid riches of his kingdom and the brilliant magnificence of his greatness for many days, for one hundred eighty days. When these days were expired, the king for all the people who was in Shushan the capital, from the highest to the lowest, a feast that lasted seven days, in the courtyard garden of the royal house. Drapes white, green and blue, were fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble columns. Beds of gold and silver based upon a pavement of porphyry, marble, pearl and black stones. We gave them drink in vessels of gold, of various species, and there was plenty of royal wine, thanks the liberality of the king. But no one forced anyone to drink because the king had ordered all his household to comply with the will of each. Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the house of King Ahasuerus.
Revolt and disgrace Vashti
the seventh day as the king's heart was merry with wine, he ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carcass, seven eunuchs who served before King Ahasuerus, to bring in his presence Vashti the queen with the crown royal, to show its beauty to the peoples and large, because it was beautiful figure. But the queen Vashti refused to come, when she received the order by the eunuchs of the king. And the king was very angry, he was inflamed with anger. Then the king said to the sages who had knowledge of the time. Because so was the king's business, before anyone knew the laws and the law. He had with him Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, Memucan seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, which ranked first in the kingdom. What law, he said, should apply to Queen Vashti for not having performed what King Ahasuerus has ordered by the eunuchs?
The council Memucan
Memucan answered before the king and princes: It is not only against the king that Queen Vashti has done wrong, but also to all the princes and all peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. Because the action of the queen will come to the knowledge of all women, and they shall despise their husbands, they say, The king Ahasuerus commanded to be brought before him Queen Vashti, and she is not driveway. And from that day the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the deed the queen relate to all heads of the king of this much contempt and wrath. If the king's pleasure, which publishes his part and let it be written among the laws of the Medes and Persians, forbidden to break it, a royal decree by which Vashti no longer appear before King Ahasuerus and the king give dignity to another queen that she is better. The king's edict will be known throughout his kingdom, it is great, and all women will give honor to their husbands, since the largest to the smallest. This advice was approved of the king and princes and the king acts from the floor of Memucan. He sent letters to all provinces of the kingdom, every province in its own script and to every people after their language, they were that every man should be master in his house, and he would speak the language of his people.
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