Esther 1:1-9
A Hundred and Eighty Days
Read the passage
1This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.
2In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.
3In 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.
4And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.
5At 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.
6Hangings 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.
7Beverages 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.
8By 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.
9Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
The book opens with a king and an empire. Xerxes rules 127 provinces, from India to Cush, and sits on his throne in the citadel of Susa. In the third year of his reign, he holds a feast for his officials, military leaders, and provincial nobles.
And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.
Then comes a seven-day feast for everyone in the citadel, from the least to the greatest. White and blue linen hangs from marble pillars. Gold and silver couches stand on a floor of costly stones. Even the gold drinking cups have different designs. The details let us see the wealth that surrounds this king.
Royal generosity reaches the wine as well: every guest is to receive whatever he desires. Queen Vashti holds a banquet for the women in the palace.
For now, the king's splendor fills the scene. We have not yet met Esther or heard of the danger to her people. This opening helps us feel the scale of the power they will face. Yet power and wealth alone tell us nothing about whether a ruler will act justly. That question will matter much more than the furnishings.
Questions
1 How large is the kingdom described here?
AnswerXerxes rules 127 provinces, from India to Cush, with his royal throne at Susa.
2 What does the king display for 180 days?
AnswerThe riches of his kingdom and the splendor of his greatness. His officials and leaders are invited to the feast.
3 Who is invited to the seven-day feast?
AnswerAll the people in the citadel of Susa, from the least to the greatest. Vashti also holds a banquet for the women.
4 What do the furnishings and drinking cups help us understand?
AnswerThey make the wealth of the court visible. They do not establish that the king is wise or good.
What This Means for Us
Beautiful things can be enjoyed without making them a measure of someone's worth. When your family admires a house, an achievement, or something new, also notice kindness, honesty, and generosity. Ask God to help you value what is good even when it is much less impressive to look at.
Prayer
Father, help us enjoy good gifts without making a display of ourselves. Keep us from judging people by what they own, and teach us to recognize goodness beyond appearances. Amen.