Esther Commences With King Ahasuerus’ Lavish Celebration

The first chapter ends with the decree to replace Queen Vashti to her throne, due to her refusal to flaunt her beauty during the occasion.

Her character is a perfect example of modesty for women.

“The Royal Banquet”

And it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus — …
1:1
… he made a feast for all his officials and his servants; the army of Persia and Media; the nobles and officials of the provinces being present;
1:3
And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven-day feast for all the people who were present in Shushan the capita, great and small alike, …
:5
On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he told … to bring Queen Vashti… to show off to the people and the officials her beauty, for she was beautiful of appearance.
:10-11
But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command… the king therefore became very enraged and his wrath burned in him.
:12
If it pleases the king, … that Vashti never again appear before King Ahasuerus; …
:19
This proposal was favorable in the eyes of the king and the officials, …
:21

1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus — he was the Ahasuerus who reigned from Hodu to Cush, one hundred twenty-seven provinces.
2 In those days, when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the capital.
3 In the third year of his reign, he made a banquet for all his princes and his servants, the army of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces [who were] before him.
4 When he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom, and the splendor of his excellent majesty, many days, yea one hundred and eighty days.
5 And when these days were over, the king made for all the people present in Shushan the capital, for [everyone] both great and small, a banquet for seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s orchard.
6 [There were spreads of] white, fine cotton, and blue, embroidered with cords of linen and purple, on silver rods and marble columns; couches of gold and silver, on a pavement of green, white, shell, and onyx marble.
7 And they gave them to drink in golden vessels, and the vessels differed from one another, and royal wine was plentiful according to the bounty of the king.
8 And the drinking was according to the law [with] no one coercing, for so had the king ordained upon every steward of his house, to do according to every man’s wish.
9 Also, Vashti the queen made a banquet for the women, in the royal house of King Ahasuerus.
10 On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered Mehuman, Bizzetha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains who ministered in the presence of King Ahasuerus.
11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was of comely appearance.
12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s behest which was [brought] by the hand of the chamberlains, and the king became very wroth, and his anger burnt within him.
13 And the king said to the wise men who knew the times-for so was the king’s custom, [to present the case] before all who knew law and judgment.
14 And the nearest to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, who sat first in the kingdom.
15 “According to the law, what shall be done to Queen Vashti, inasmuch as she did not comply with the order of the king, [brought] by the hand of the chamberlains?”
16 Then Memucan declared before the king and the princes, “Not against the king alone has Vashti the queen done wrong, but against all the princes and all the peoples that are in all King Ahasuerus’s provinces.
17 For the word of the queen will spread to all the women, to make them despise their husbands in their eyes, when they say, ‘King Ahasuerus ordered to bring Vashti the queen before him, but she did not come.’
18 And this day, the princesses of Persia and Media who heard the word of the queen will say [the like] to all the princes of the king, and [there will be] much contempt and wrath.
19 If it please the king, let a royal edict go forth from before him, and let it be inscribed in the laws of Persia and Media, and let it not be revoked, that Vashti shall not come before King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to her peer who is better than she.
20 And let the verdict of the king be heard throughout his entire kingdom, although it is great, and all the women shall give honor to their husbands, both great and small.”
21 And the matter pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan.
22 And he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, to every province according to its script, and to every nationality according to its language, that every man dominate in his household and speak according to the language of his nationality.