Xerxes’ Royal Feast

1(11:2) In the second yere of the reigne of great Artaxerxes in the first day of the moneth Nisan, Mardocheus the sonne of Iarus, the sonne of Semei, thesonne of Cis of the tribe of Beniamin had a dreame,(11:3) A Iewe dwelling in the citie of Susis, a noble man, that bare office in the Kings court.(11:4) Hee was also one of the captiuitie which Nabuchodonosor the King of Babylon brought from Ierusalem with Iechonias.(11:5) And this was his dreame, Beholde a noyse of a tempest with thunders, and earthquakes, and vproare in the land.(11:6) Beholde two great dragons came foorth ready to fight one against another.(11:7) Their cry was great, whereby all the heathen were ready to fight against the righteous people.(11:8) And the same day was full of darkenes and obscuritie, and trouble, and anguish: yea, aduersitie, and great affliction was vpon the earth.(11:9) For then ye righteous fearing their afflictions, were amased, & being ready to die, cried vnto God.(11:10) And while they were crying, ye litle well grew into a great riuer, and flowed ouer with great waters.(11:11) The light and the sunne rose vp, and the lowly were exalted, and deuoured the glorious.(11:12) Nowe when Mardocheus had seene this dreame, hee awoke and rose vp and thought in his heart vntill the night, what God would doe, and so he desired to knowe all the matter.(12:1) At the same time dwelt Mardocheus in the kings court with Bagathas, and Thara, the Kings eunuches and keepers of the palace.(12:2) But when hee heard their purpose, and their imaginations, he perceiued that they went about to laye their handes vpon the King Artaxerxes, and so he certified the King thereof.(12:3) Then caused the King to examine the two eunuches with torments, and when they had confessed it, they were put to death.(12:4) This the King caused to be put in the Chronicles. Mardocheus also wrote the same thing.(12:5) So the King commaunded that Mardocheus shoulde remaine in the court, and for the aduertisement, he gaue him a reward.(12:6) But Aman the sonne of Amadathus the Agagite, which was in great honour and reputation with the King, went about to hurt Mardocheus and his people, because of the two eunuches of the King that were put to death.In the dayes of Ahashuerosh (this is Ahashuerosh that reigned, from India euen vnto Ethiopia, ouer an hundreth, and seuen and twentie prouinces) 2In those dayes when the King Ahashuerosh sate on his throne, which was in the palace of Shushan, 3In the third yeere of his reigne, he made a feast vnto all his princes and his seruants, euen the power of Persia and Media, and to the captaines and gouernours of the prouinces which were before him, 4That he might shewe the riches & glorie of his kingdome, and the honour of his great maiestie many dayes, euen an hundreth and foure score dayes.

5And when these dayes were expired, the King made a feast to all the people that were founde in the palace of Shushan, both vnto great and small, seuen dayes, in the court of the garden of the Kings palace, 6Vnder an hanging of white, greene, & blue clothes, fastened with cordes of fine linen & purple, in siluer rings, & pillars of marble: the beds were of golde, and of siluer vpon a pauement of porphyre, & marble & alabaster, & blue colour. 7And they gaue them drinke in vessels of golde, and changed vessel after vessel, and royall wine in abundance according to the power of the King. 8And the drinking was by an order, none might compel: for so the King had appoynted vnto all the officers of his house, that they should do according to euery mans pleasure.

Queen Vashti’s Refusal

9The Queene Vashti made a feast also for the women in the royall house of King Ahashuerosh.

10Vpon the seuenth daye when the King was merie with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, & Carcas, the seuen eunuches, (that serued in the presence of King Ahashuerosh) 11To bring Queene Vashti before the King with the crowne royall, that he might shewe the people and the princes her beautie: for shee was fayre to looke vpon. 12But the Queene Vashti refused to come at the Kings worde, which he had giuen in charge to the eunuches: therefore the King was very angry, and his wrath kindled in him.

Queen Vashti Deposed

13Then the King said to the wise men, that knew the times (for so was the Kings maner towards all that knew the law and the iudgement: 14And the next vnto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan the seuen princes of Persia and Media, which sawe the Kings face, and sate the first in the kingdome) 15What shal we do vnto the Queene Vashti according to the law, because she did not according to the worde of the King Ahashuerosh by the commission of the eunuches? 16Then Memucan answered before the King & the Princes, The Queene Vashti hath not only done euill against the King, but against all the princes, and against all the people that are in all the prouinces of King Ahashuerosh. 17For the acte of the Queene shall come abroade vnto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their owne eyes, & shal say, The King Ahashuerosh comanded Vashti the Queene to be brought in before him, but she came not. 18So shall the princesses of Persia and Media this day say vnto all the Kings Princes, when they heare of the acte of the Queene: thus shall there be much despitefulnesse and wrath. 19If it please the King, let a royal decree proceede from him, and let it be written among the statutes of Persia, & Media, (& let it not be transgressed) that Vashti come no more before King Ahashuerosh: & let the King giue her royal estate vnto her companion that is better then she. 20And when the decree of the King which shalbe made, shalbe published throughout all his kingdome (though it be great) all the women shall giue their husbands honour, both great and small.

21And this saying pleased the King and the princes, and the King did according to the worde of Memucan. 22For he sent letters into all the prouinces of the King, into euery prouince according to the writing thereof, and to euery people after their language, that euery man should beare rule in his owne house, and that he should publish it in the language of that same people.