Esther 11EstherEsther becomes queenBritish English Septuagint 2012

British English Septuagint 2012Berean Standard Bible

1. Xerxes’ Royal Feast

2. 1ENGUKLXXIn the second year of the reign of Artaxerxes the great king, on the first day of Nisan, Mardochaeus the son of Jarius, the son of Semeias, the son of Cisaus, of the tribe of Benjamine, a Jew dwelling in the city Susa, a great man, serving in the king's palace, saw a vision. Now he was of the captivity which Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried captive from Jerusalem, with Jachonias the king of Judea. And this was his dream: Behold, voices and a noise, thunders and earthquake, tumult upon the earth. And, behold, two great serpents came forth, both ready for conflict, and there came from them a great voice, and by their voice every nation was prepared for battle, even to fight against the nation of the just. And, behold, a day of darkness and blackness, tribulation and anguish, affection and tumult upon the earth. And all the righteous nation was troubled, fearing their own afflictions; and they prepared to die, and cried to God: and from their cry there came as it were a great river from a little fountain, even much water. And light and the sun arose, and the lowly were exalted, and devoured the honourable. And Mardochaeus who had seen this vision and what God desired to do, having awoke, kept it in his heart, and desired by all means to interpret it, even till night. And Mardochaeus rested quiet in the palace with Gabatha and Tharrha the king's two chamberlains, eunuchs who guarded the palace. And he heard their reasoning and searched out their plans, and learnt that they were preparing to lay hands on king Artaxerxes: and he informed the king concerning them. And the king examined the two chamberlains, and they confessed, and were executed. And the king wrote these things for a memorial: also Mardochaeus wrote concerning these matters. And the king commanded Mardochaeus to attend in the palace, and gave gifts for this service. And Aman the son of Amadathes the Bugean was honourable in the sight of the king, and he endeavored to hurt Mardochaeus and his people, because of the two chamberlains of the king. And it came to pass after these things in the days of Artaxerxes, —(this Artaxerxes ruled over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India)—BSBBSB: This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.
3. 2ENGUKLXXin those days, when king Artaxerxes was on the throne in the city of Susa,BSBBSB: In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.
4. 3ENGUKLXXin the third year of his reign, he made a feast to his friends, and the other nations, and to the nobles of the Persians and Medes, and the chief of the satraps.BSBBSB: In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces.
5. 4ENGUKLXXAnd after this, after he had shown to them the wealth of his kingdom, and the abundant glory of his wealth during one hundred and eighty days,BSBBSB: And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.
6. 5ENGUKLXXwhen, I say, the days of the marriage feast were completed, the king made a banquet to the nations who were present in the city six days, in the court of the king's house,BSBBSB: At the end of this time, in the garden court of the royal palace, the king held a seven-day feast for all the people in the citadel of Susa, from the least to the greatest.
7. 6ENGUKLXXwhich was adorned with hangings of fine linen and flax on cords of fine linen and purple, fastened to golden and silver studs, on pillars of Parian marble and stone: there were golden and silver couches on a pavement of emerald stone, and of pearl, and of Parian stone, and open-worked coverings variously flowered, having roses worked round about;BSBBSB: Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.
8. 7ENGUKLXXgold and silver cups, and a small cup of carbuncle set out of the value of thirty thousand talents, abundant and sweet wine, which the king himself drank.BSBBSB: Beverages were served in an array of goblets of gold, each with a different design, and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty.
9. 8ENGUKLXXAnd this banquet was not according to the appointed law; but so the king would have it: and he charged the stewards to perform his will and that of the company.BSBBSB: By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired.

10. Queen Vashti’s Refusal

11. 9ENGUKLXXAlso Astin the queen made a banquet for the women in the palace where king Artaxerxes lived.BSBBSB: Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
12. 10ENGUKLXXNow on the seventh day the king, being merry, told Aman, and Bazan, and Tharrha, and Barazi, and Zatholtha, and Abataza, and Tharaba, the seven chamberlains, servants of king Artaxerxes,BSBBSB: On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas—
13. 11ENGUKLXXto bring in the queen to him, to enthrone her, and crown her with the diadem, and to show her to the princes, and her beauty to the nations: for she was beautiful.BSBBSB: to bring Queen Vashti before him, wearing her royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and officials. For she was beautiful to behold.
14. 12ENGUKLXXBut queen Astin listened not to him to come with the chamberlains: so the king was grieved and angered.BSBBSB: Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became furious, and his anger burned within him.

15. Queen Vashti Deposed

16. 13ENGUKLXXAnd he said to his friends, Thus have Astin spoken: pronounce therefore upon this case law and judgement.BSBBSB: Then the king consulted the wise men who knew the times, for it was customary for him to confer with the experts in law and justice.
17. 14ENGUKLXXSo Arkesaeus, and Sarsathaeus, and Malisear, the princes of the Persians and Medes, who were near the king, who sat chief in rank by the king, drew near to him,BSBBSB: His closest advisors were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and ranked highest in the kingdom.
18. 15ENGUKLXXand reported to him according to the laws how it was proper to do to queen Astin, because she had not done the things commanded of the king by the chamberlains.BSBBSB: “According to law,” he asked, “what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey the command of King Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs?”
19. 16ENGUKLXXAnd Muchaeus said to the king and to the princes, Queen Astin has not wronged the king only, but also all the king's rulers and princes:BSBBSB: And in the presence of the king and his princes, Memucan replied, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the princes and the peoples in all the provinces of King Xerxes.
20. 17ENGUKLXXfor he has told them the words of the queen, and how she disobeyed the king. As then, said he, she refused to obey king Artaxerxes,BSBBSB: For the conduct of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’
21. 18ENGUKLXXso this day shall the other ladies of the chiefs of the Persians and Medes, having heard what she said to the king, dare in the same way to dishonour their husbands.BSBBSB: This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in much contempt and wrath.
22. 19ENGUKLXXIf then it seem good to the king, let him make a royal decree, and let it be written according to the laws of the Medes and Persians, and let him not alter it: and let not the queen come in to him any more; and let the king give her royalty to a woman better than she.BSBBSB: So if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree, and let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti shall never again enter the presence of King Xerxes, and that her royal position shall be given to a woman better than she.
23. 20ENGUKLXXAnd let the law of the king which he shall have made, be widely proclaimed, in his kingdom: and so shall all the women give honour to their husbands, from the poor even to the rich.BSBBSB: The edict the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom—and so all women, from the least to the greatest, will honor their husbands.”
24. 21ENGUKLXXAnd the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did as Muchaeus had said,BSBBSB: The king and his princes were pleased with this counsel; so the king did as Memucan advised.
25. 22ENGUKLXXand sent into all his kingdom through the several provinces, according to their language, in order that men might be feared in their own houses.BSBBSB: He sent letters to all the provinces of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be master of his own household.

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