Esther 1:1-9 - The King's Banquets

¹ Now it came about in the days of Ahasuerus, that Ahasuerus who was ruler of a hundred and twenty-seven divisions of the kingdom, from India as far as Ethiopia: ² When King Ahasuerus was ruling in Shushan, his strong town, ³ In the third year of his rule he gave a feast to all his captains and his servants. The captains of the army of Persia and Media, the great men and the rulers of the divisions of his kingdom, were present before him. ⁴ For a long time, even a hundred and eighty days, he let them see all the wealth and the glory of his kingdom and the great power and honor that was his.

⁵ At the end of that time, the king gave a feast for all the people who were present in Shushan, the king's town, small as well as great, for seven days, in the outer square of the garden of the king's house. ⁶ There were hangings of white and green and blue, fixed with cords of purple and the best (cotton) linen to silver rings and pillars of polished stone. The seats were of gold and silver on a floor of red and white and yellow and black stone.

⁷ They served drinks in gold vessels. Every vessel was different. The king freely gave wine from the kingdom. ⁸ The drinking was in keeping with the law. No one was forced: for the king gave orders to all the chief servants of his house to do as was pleasing to every man. ⁹ Vashti the queen gave a feast for the women in the house of King Ahasuerus.