Esther 1
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Now it came to pass in the days of a Ahasuerus (this was the Ahasuerus who reigned b over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, c from India to Ethiopia),
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in those days when King Ahasuerus d sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in e Shushan the citadel,
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that in the third year of his reign he f made a feast for all his officials and servants - the powers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces being before him -
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when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days, one hundred and eighty days in all.
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And when these days were completed, the king made a feast lasting seven days for all the people who were present in Shushan the citadel, from great to small, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.
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There were white and blue linen curtains fastened with cords of fine linen and purple on silver rods and marble pillars; and the g couches were of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of alabaster, turquoise, and white and black marble.
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And they served drinks in golden vessels, each vessel being different from the other, with royal wine in abundance, h according to the generosity of the king.
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In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had ordered all the officers of his household, that they should do according to each man's pleasure.
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Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.
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On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, i Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,
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to bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing her royal crown, in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful to behold.
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But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command brought by his eunuchs; therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him.
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Then the king said to the j wise men k who understood the times (for this was the king's manner toward all who knew law and justice,
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those closest to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the l seven princes of Persia and Media, m who had access to the king's presence, and who ranked highest in the kingdom):
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"What shall we do to Queen Vashti, according to law, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus brought to her by the eunuchs?"
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And Memucan answered before the king and the princes: "Queen Vashti has not only wronged the king, but also all the princes, and all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
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"For the queen's behavior will become known to all women, so that they will n despise their husbands in their eyes, when they report, 'King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, but she did not come.'
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"This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media will say to all the king's officials that they have heard of the behavior of the queen. Thus there will be excessive contempt and wrath.
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"If it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him, and let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it will o not be altered, that Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.
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"When the king's decree which he will make is proclaimed throughout all his empire (for it is great), all wives will p honor their husbands, both great and small."
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And the reply pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan.
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Then he sent letters to all the king's provinces, q to each province in its own script, and to every people in their own language, that each man should r be master in his own house, and speak in the language of his own people.
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Cross References
Ezra 4:6
In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Daniel 9:1
In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans -
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Cross References
Esther 8:9
So the king's scribes were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day; and it was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded, to the Jews, the satraps, the governors, and the princes of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven provinces in all, to every province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language.
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Cross References
Daniel 6:1
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom.
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Cross References
1 Kings 1:46
Also Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom.
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Cross References
Nehemiah 1:1
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. It came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the citadel.
Daniel 8:2
I saw in the vision, and it so happened while I was looking, that I was in Shushan, the citadel, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision that I was by the River Ulai.
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Cross References
Genesis 40:20
Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.
Esther 2:18
Then the king made a great feast, the Feast of Esther, for all his officials and servants; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces and gave gifts according to the generosity of a king.
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Cross References
Esther 7:8
When the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the banquet of wine, Haman had fallen across the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, "Will he also assault the queen while I am in the house?" As the word left the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.
Ezekiel 23:41
You sat on a stately couch, with a table prepared before it, on which you had set My incense and My oil.
Amos 2:8
They lie down by every altar on clothes taken in pledge, And drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.
Amos 6:4
Who lie on beds of ivory, Stretch out on your couches, Eat lambs from the flock And calves from the midst of the stall.
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Cross References
Esther 2:18
Then the king made a great feast, the Feast of Esther, for all his officials and servants; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces and gave gifts according to the generosity of a king.
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Cross References
Esther 7:9
Now Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, "Look! The gallows, fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good on the king's behalf, is standing at the house of Haman." Then the king said, "Hang him on it!
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Cross References
Jeremiah 10:7
Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For this is Your rightful due. For among all the wise men of the nations, And in all their kingdoms, There is none like You.
Daniel 2:12
For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave the command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
Matthew 2:1
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem.
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Cross References
1 Chronicles 12:32
Of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command.
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Cross References
Ezra 7:14
And whereas you are being sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, with regard to the Law of your God which is in your hand.
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Cross References
2 Kings 25:19
He also took out of the city an officer who had charge of the men of war, five men of the king's close associates who were found in the city, the chief recruiting officer of the army, who mustered the people of the land, and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the city.
Matthew 18:10
Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
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Cross References
Ephesians 5:33
Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
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Cross References
Esther 8:8
"You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's signet ring; for whatever is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's signet ring no one can revoke."
Daniel 6:8
"Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter."
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Cross References
Ephesians 5:33
Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Colossians 3:18
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
1 Peter 3:1
Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives.
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Cross References
Esther 3:12
Then the king's scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and a decree was written according to all that Haman commanded - to the king's satraps, to the governors who were over each province, to the officials of all people, to every province according to its script, and to every people in their language. In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written, and sealed with the king's signet ring.
Esther 8:9
So the king's scribes were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day; and it was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded, to the Jews, the satraps, the governors, and the princes of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven provinces in all, to every province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language.
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Cross References
Ephesians 5:22 - 24
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
1 Timothy 2:12
And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.