Study Desk

In the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he said to Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who served before the face of Ahasuerus the king,

to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown, in order to make known to the people and the princes her beauty. For she was beautiful to look upon.

But Vashti the queen refused to come at the king's command by his eunuchs. And the king was very angry, and his fury burned within him.

And the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for so was the king's manner toward all who knew law and judgment;

and the ones next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven rulers of Persia and Media who saw the king's face, who sat first in the kingdom),

What shall be done with Queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the command of King Ahasuerus by the eunuchs?

And Memucan answered before the king and rulers, Vashti the queen has not only done wrong to the king, but also to all the rulers, and to all the people who are in all the provinces of Ahasuerus the king.

For the matter of the queen shall go out to all women, to make their husbands despised in their eyes, in their saying that King Ahasuerus said to bring in Vashti the queen before him, but she did not come.

And this day the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard the queen's word shall say the same to all the king's rulers and there shall be contempt and strife.

If it please the king, let there be a royal decree from him, and let it be written among the laws of Persia and Media so that it shall not pass away, that Vashti come no more before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal power to a neighbor who is better than she is.

And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, for it is great, all the wives shall give their husbands honor, both the small and the great.

And the saying pleased the king, and the rulers. And the king did according to the word of Memucan.