1. [LXX text not in Heb. has been left out.] [Note. —In the Heb. and some copies of the LXX, Esther begins here;] And it came to pass after these [Gr. words] things in the days of Artaxerxes, —(this Artaxerxes ruled over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India)—
2. in those days, when king Artaxerxes was on the throne in the city of Susa,
3. in 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.
4. And after this, after he had shewn to them the wealth of his kingdom, and the abundant glory of his wealth during a hundred and eighty days,
5. when, 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,
6. which 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 [Lit. transparent] open-worked coverings variously flowered, having roses worked round about;
7. gold 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.
8. And 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.
9. Also Astin the queen made a banquet for the women in the palace where king Artaxerxes dwelt.
10. Now 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,
11. to bring in the queen to him, to [Gr. to make her queen] enthrone her, and crown her with the diadem, and to shew her to the princes, and her beauty to the nations: for she was beautiful.
12. But queen Astin hearkened not to him to come with the chamberlains: so the king was grieved and angered.
13. And he said to his friends, Thus hast Astin spoken: pronounce therefore upon this case law and judgement.
14. So 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,
15. and 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.
16. And 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:
17. for he has told them the words of the queen, and how she [Gr. contradicted] disobeyed the king. As then, said he, she refused to obey king Artaxerxes,
18. so 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.
19. If 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.
20. And 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.
21. And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did as Muchaeus had said,
22. and sent into all his kingdom through the several provinces, according to their language, [Gr. that there might be fear to them, etc.] in order that men might be feared in their own houses.