Now in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces),
The whole story turns on two people who begin with no standing in it
Ahasuerus rules a hundred twenty-seven provinces and spends the first chapter displaying what that is worth (Esther 1:4).
The two the book is about are a Benjamite living in Susa and the orphaned cousin he raised (Esther 2:5–7).
Verses containing “hundred twenty-seven”: Esther 1:1, 8:9, 9:30. Found in the text at build time, not typed — the list is in src/data/derived/esther.json.
in those days, when the King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Susa the palace,
in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants; the army of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces being before him.
He displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even one hundred eighty days.
Susa, from India even to Ethiopia
Esther 1:1 – 2:6
Map of places named in Esther; Susa, India, Ethiopia, Persia and Media, Jerusalem and Babylon are drawn.
- a place the text names, at the dataset's point
- a region: its name only, no border drawn
- Persia and Media is also named “Media” (1:3): the dataset puts it on the same point
Places on this map
- Susa Esther 1:2 · drawn as a point OpenBible “Susa” 32.189, 48.258; cross-check: places.txt has no numeric coordinate for this row
- India Esther 1:1 · drawn as a region: its name only, no border drawn OpenBible “India” 22.000, 77.000; flag “>” (the point stands for a surrounding area); cross-check: agrees with places.txt
- Ethiopia Esther 1:1 · drawn as a region: its name only, no border drawn OpenBible “Ethiopia” 21.960, 31.344; flag “>” (the point stands for a surrounding area); row comment “region”; cross-check: agrees with places.txt
- Persia and Media Esther 1:3 · drawn as a region: its name only, no border drawn OpenBible “Persia” 34.798, 48.515; flag “>” (the point stands for a surrounding area); cross-check: places.txt has no numeric coordinate for this row Also named here: Media Esther 1:3 (the dataset's “Media” row gives the same point)
- Jerusalem Esther 2:6 · drawn as a point OpenBible “Jerusalem” 31.777, 35.235; cross-check: agrees with places.txt
- Babylon Esther 2:6 · drawn as a point OpenBible “Babylon” 32.537, 44.421; cross-check: places.txt has no numeric coordinate for this row
Coast: Natural Earth (public domain) · Places: OpenBible.info geocoding (CC BY)
When these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven day feast for all the people who were present in Susa the palace, both great and small, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.
There were hangings of white and blue material, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars. The couches were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red, white, yellow, and black marble.
They gave them drinks in golden vessels of various kinds, including royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.
In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had instructed all the officials of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.
Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to King Ahasuerus.
On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcass, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
to bring Vashti the queen before the king wearing the royal crown, to show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was beautiful.
But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him.
Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times (for it was the king’s custom to consult those who knew law and judgment;
and next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom),
“What shall we do to Queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the King Ahasuerus by the eunuchs?”
Memucan answered before the king and the princes, “Vashti the queen has not done wrong to just the king, but also to all the princes, and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus.
For this deed of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to show contempt for their husbands when it is reported, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she didn’t come.’
Today, the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s deed will tell all the king’s princes. This will cause much contempt and wrath.
“If it pleases the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be altered, that Vashti may never again come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.
The first unalterable law in the book settles a dinner party
The first unalterable law settles a quarrel about a wife who would not come when called (Esther 1:12, 1:19).
The second is a death sentence, and the rule now protects it: Esther asks for a reversal and is refused (Esther 8:5, 8:8).
Read 1:19 and Esther 8:8. Both are on this site; the phrases are quoted from them exactly.
When the king’s decree which he shall make is published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give their husbands honor, both great and small.”
This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
for he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, that every man should rule his own house, speaking in the language of his own people.
let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be altered
Vashti declines one summons. The answer is a law written into the code of the Persians and Medes, and posted to every province.
How do you react when someone refuses you?