The King's Banquets

Esther 1

1 Now it came to pass in the days of a Ahasuerus 1 1 (this was the Ahasuerus who reigned b over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, c from India to Ethiopia), 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus d sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in e Shushan 3 the 4 citadel, 3 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 - 4 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. 5 And when these days were completed, the king made a feast lasting seven days for all the people who were present in 5 Shushan the 6 citadel, from great to small, in the court of the garden of the king's palace. 6 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. 7 And they served drinks in golden vessels, each vessel being different from the other, with royal wine in abundance, h according to the 7 generosity of the king. 8 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. 9 Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.

  1. 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 -
  2. 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.
  3. Cross References
    Daniel 6:1
    It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom.
  4. Cross References
    1 Kings 1:46
    Also Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Next Book Next Book