in the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all the officials and courtiers—the administration of Persia and Media, the nobles and the governors of the provinces in his service.
At the end of this period, the king gave a banquet for seven days in the court of the king’s palace garden for all the people who lived in the fortress Shushan, high and low alike.
bMeaning of part of this verse uncertain. [There were hangings of] white cotton and blue wool, caught up by cords of fine linen and purple wool to silver rods and alabaster columns; and there were couches of gold and silver on a pavement of marble, alabaster, mother-of-pearl, and mosaics.
Word-by-Word Analysis
חור
214
כרפס
360
ותכלת
856
אחוז
22
בחבליבוץ
150
וארגמן
300
עלגלילי
183
כסף
160
ועמודי
136
שש
600
מטות
455
זהב
14
וכסף
166
על
100
רצפת
770
בהטושש
622
ודר
210
וסחרת
674
Esther 1:7
Gematria: 2448
והשקותבכליזהבוכליםמכליםשוניםוייןמלכותרבכידהמלך
Royal wine was served in abundance, as befits a king, in golden beakers, beakers of varied design.
And the rule for the drinking was, “No restrictions!”cAnd the rule for the drinking was, “No restrictions!” Or “As for drinking according to the rule—no one enforced it.” For the king had given orders to every palace steward to comply with each man’s wishes.
Word-by-Word Analysis
והשתיה
726
כדת
424
אין
61
אנס
111
כיכן
100
יסד
74
המלך
95
על
100
כלרב
252
ביתו
418
לעשות
806
כרצון
366
אישואיש
628
Esther 1:9
Gematria: 5194
גםושתיהמלכהעשתהמשתהנשיםביתהמלכותאשרלמלךאחשורושס
In addition, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for women, in the royal palacedpalace Or “hall”; cf. 5.1. of King Ahasuerus.
On the seventh day, when the king was merry with wine, he ordered Mehuman, Bizzetha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs in attendance on King Ahasuerus,
Then the king consulted the sages learned in procedure.eprocedure Lit. “the times.” (For it was the royal practice [to turn] to all who were versed in law and precedent.
His closest advisers were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven ministers of Persia and Media who had access to the royal presence and occupied the first place in the kingdom.)
Thereupon Memucan declared in the presence of the king and the ministers: “Queen Vashti has committed an offense not only against Your Majesty but also against all the officials and against all the peoples in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
For the queen’s behavior will make all wives despise their husbands, as they reflect that King Ahasuerus himself ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.
This very day the ladies of Persia and Media, who have heard of the queen’s behavior, will cite it to all Your Majesty’s officials, and there will be no end of scorn and provocation!
“If it please Your Majesty, let a royal edict be issued by you, and let it be written into the laws of Persia and Media, so that it cannot be abrogated, that Vashti shall never enter the presence of King Ahasuerus. And let Your Majesty bestow her royal state upon another who is more worthy than she.
Then will the judgment executed by Your Majesty resound throughout your realm, vast though it is; and all wives will treat their husbands with respect, high and low alike.”
Word-by-Word Analysis
ונשמע
466
פתגם
523
המלך
95
אשריעשה
886
בכלמלכותו
554
כי
30
רבה
207
היא
16
וכלהנשים
461
יתנו
466
יקר
310
לבעליהן
197
למגדול
113
ועדקטן
239
Esther 1:21
Gematria: 1909
וייטבהדברבעיניהמלךוהשריםויעשהמלךכדברממוכן
The proposal was approved by the king and the ministers, and the king did as Memucan proposed.
Dispatches were sent to all the provinces of the king, to every province in its own script and to every nation in its own language, that every man should wield authority in his home and speak the language of his own people.