{ "url": "https://workbench-jerusalem-salt.thenewjew.org/siddur/koren-shalem/1452-1453-1280-1281-megillot-esther.json", "path": "/siddur/koren-shalem/1452-1453-1280-1281-megillot-esther", "format": "json", "type": "siddur-page", "title": "Esther", "summary": "Esther, pages 1280-1281, with pointed Hebrew, English, and transliteration.", "breadcrumbs": [ { "title": "The New Jew", "href": "/index.json" }, { "title": "Siddurim", "href": "/siddur.json" }, { "title": "Koren Shalem Siddur", "href": "/siddur/koren-shalem.json" }, { "title": "Esther", "href": "/siddur/koren-shalem/1452-1453-1280-1281-megillot-esther.json" } ], "alternates": { "html": "https://workbench-jerusalem-salt.thenewjew.org/siddur/koren-shalem/1452-1453-1280-1281-megillot-esther", "json": "https://workbench-jerusalem-salt.thenewjew.org/siddur/koren-shalem/1452-1453-1280-1281-megillot-esther.json", "xml": "https://workbench-jerusalem-salt.thenewjew.org/siddur/koren-shalem/1452-1453-1280-1281-megillot-esther.xml" }, "data": { "book": { "slug": "koren-shalem", "title": "Koren Shalem Siddur", "nusach": "Sepharad" }, "page": { "slug": "1452-1453-1280-1281-megillot-esther", "section": "Megillot", "topic": "Esther", "printPages": "1280-1281", "pdfPages": "1452-1453", "header": { "section": { "hebrew": "מגילות", "transliteration": { "israeli": "me|gi|LOT", "orthographic": "me|ghil|LOTH", "sephardic": "me|gil|LOT", "chabad": "m'gi|LOYS" }, "english": "Megillot" }, "topic": { "hebrew": "אסתר", "transliteration": { "israeli": "es|TER", "orthographic": "ʾes|TER", "sephardic": "es|TER", "chabad": "es|TEIR" }, "english": "Esther" }, "printPages": "1280-1281" }, "body": [ { "type": "heading", "hebrew": "אסתר", "transliteration": { "israeli": "es|TER", "orthographic": "ʾes|TER", "sephardic": "es|TER", "chabad": "es|TEIR" }, "english": "ESTHER" }, { "type": "Instructions", "text": "Custom is that the congregation say aloud the passages marked by arrows, the Reader then following." }, { "type": "Passage", "hebrew": "וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ הוּא אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ הַמֹּלֵךְ מֵהֹדּוּ וְעַד־כּוּשׁ שֶׁבַע\nוְעֶשְׂרִים וּמֵאָה מְדִינָה׃ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם כְּשֶׁבֶת ׀ הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ עַל\nכִּסֵּא מַלְכוּתוֹ אֲשֶׁר בְּשׁוּשַׁן הַבִּירָה׃ בִּשְׁנַת שָׁלוֹשׁ לְמָלְכוֹ עָשָׂה\nמִשְׁתֶּה לְכָל־שָׂרָיו וַעֲבָדָיו חֵיל ׀ פָּרַס וּמָדַי הַפַּרְתְּמִים וְשָׂרֵי הַמְּדִינוֹת\nלְפָנָיו׃ בְּהַרְאֹתוֹ אֶת־עֹשֶׁר כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ וְאֶת־יְקָר תִּפְאֶרֶת גְּדוּלָּתוֹ\nיָמִים רַבִּים שְׁמוֹנִים וּמְאַת יוֹם׃ וּבִמְלוֹאת ׀ הַיָּמִים הָאֵלֶּה עָשָׂה\nהַמֶּלֶךְ לְכָל־הָעָם הַנִּמְצְאִים בְּשׁוּשַׁן הַבִּירָה לְמִגָּדוֹל וְעַד־קָטָן\nמִשְׁתֶּה שִׁבְעַת יָמִים בַּחֲצַר גִּנַּת בִּיתַן הַמֶּלֶךְ׃ חוּר ׀ כַּרְפַּס וּתְכֵלֶת\nאָחוּז בְּחַבְלֵי־בוּץ וְאַרְגָּמָן עַל־גְּלִילֵי כֶסֶף וְעַמּוּדֵי שֵׁשׁ מִטּוֹת ׀\nזָהָב וָכֶסֶף עַל רִצְפַת בַּהַט־וָשֵׁשׁ וְדַר וְסֹחָרֶת׃ וְהַשְׁקוֹת בִּכְלֵי זָהָב\nוְכֵלִים מִכֵּלִים שׁוֹנִים וְיֵין מַלְכוּת רָב כְּיַד הַמֶּלֶךְ׃ וְהַשְּׁתִיָּה כַדָּת\nאֵין אֹנֵס כִּי־כֵן ׀ יִסַּד הַמֶּלֶךְ עַל כָּל־רַב בֵּיתוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת כִּרְצוֹן אִישׁ־\nוָאִישׁ׃ גַּם וַשְׁתִּי הַמַּלְכָּה עָשְׂתָה מִשְׁתֵּה נָשִׁים בֵּית\nהַמַּלְכוּת אֲשֶׁר לַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ׃ בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי כְּטוֹב לֵב־הַמֶּלֶךְ\nבַּיָּיִן אָמַר לִמְהוּמָן בִּזְּתָא חַרְבוֹנָא בִּגְתָא וַאֲבַגְתָא זֵתַר וְכַרְכַּס\nשִׁבְעַת הַסָּרִיסִים הַמְשָׁרְתִים אֶת־פְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ׃ לְהָבִיא\nאֶת־וַשְׁתִּי הַמַּלְכָּה לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּכֶתֶר מַלְכוּת לְהַרְאוֹת הָעַמִּים\nוְהַשָּׂרִים אֶת־יָפְיָהּ כִּי־טוֹבַת מַרְאֶה הִיא׃ וַתְּמָאֵן הַמַּלְכָּה וַשְׁתִּי\nלָבוֹא בִּדְבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר בְּיַד הַסָּרִיסִים וַיִּקְצֹף הַמֶּלֶךְ מְאֹד וַחֲמָתוֹ\nבָּעֲרָה בוֹ׃ וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ לַחֲכָמִים יֹדְעֵי הָעִתִּים כִּי־כֵן\nדְּבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ לִפְנֵי כָּל־יֹדְעֵי דָּת וָדִין׃ וְהַקָּרֹב אֵלָיו כַּרְשְׁנָא שֵׁתָר\nאַדְמָתָא תַרְשִׁישׁ מֶרֶס מַרְסְנָא מְמוּכָן שִׁבְעַת שָׂרֵי ׀ פָּרַס וּמָדַי רֹאֵי\nפְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ הַיֹּשְׁבִים רִאשֹׁנָה בַּמַּלְכוּת׃ כְּדָת מַה־לַּעֲשׂוֹת בַּמַּלְכָּה\nוַשְׁתִּי עַל ׀ אֲשֶׁר לֹא־עָשְׂתָה אֶת־מַאֲמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ בְּיַד", "transliteration": { "israeli": "va|ye|HI bi|MEI a|chash|ve|ROSH hu a|chash|ve|ROSH ha|mo|LECH me|ho|DU ve-ad-kush SHE|va\nve-es|RIM u|me-AH me|di|NAH. ba|ya|MIM ha|HEM k'SHE|vet ha|ME|lech a|chash|ve|ROSH al\nki|SEI mal|chu|TO a|SHER b'shu|SHAN ha|bi|RAH. bish|NAT sha|LOSH le|ma|le|CHO a|SAH\nmish|TEH le|chol-sa|RAV va-a|va|DAV cheil pa|RAS u|ma|DAI ha|par|te|MIM ve|sa|REI ha|me|di|NOT\nle|fa|NAV. be|har|o|TO et-O|sher k'VOD mal|chu|TO ve-et-ye|KAR tif|E|ret g'du|la|TO\nya|MIM ra|BIM sh'mo|NIM u|me-AT yom. u|vim|LOT ha|ya|MIM ha-e|LEH a|SAH\nha|ME|lech le|chol-ha-AM ha|nim|tze-IM b'shu|SHAN ha|bi|RAH le|mi|ga|DOL ve-ad-ka|TAN\nmish|TEH shiv|AT ya|MIM ba|cha|TZAR gi|NAT bi|TAN ha|ME|lech. chur kar|PAS ut|che|LET\na|CHUZ b'chav|lei-vutz ve-ar|ga|MAN al-g'li|LEI CHE|sef ve-a|mu|DEI shesh mi|TOT \nza|HAV va|CHE|sef al ritz|FAT ba|hat-va|SHESH ve|DAR ve|so|cha|RET. ve|hash|KOT bich|LEI za|HAV\nve|che|LIM mi|ke|LIM sho|NIM ve|YEIN mal|CHUT rav k'YAD ha|ME|lech. ve|hash|ti|YAH cha|DAT\nein o|NES ki-chen yi|SAD ha|ME|lech al kol-rav bei|TO la-a|SOT kir|TZON ish-\nva-ISH. gam VASH|ti ha|mal|KAH as|TAH mish|TEH na|SHIM beit\nha|mal|CHUT a|SHER la|ME|lech a|chash|ve|ROSH. ba|YOM hash|vi-I k'TOV lev-ha|ME|lech\nba|ya|YIN a|MAR lim|hu|MAN biz|TA char|vo|NA big|TA va-a|vag|TA ze|TAR ve|char|KAS\nshiv|AT ha|sa|ri|SIM ha|me|sha|re|TIM et-p'NEI ha|ME|lech a|chash|ve|ROSH. le|ha|VI\net-VASH|ti ha|mal|KAH lif|NEI ha|ME|lech b'CHE|ter mal|CHUT le|har|OT ha-a|MIM\nve|ha|sa|RIM et-yof|YAH ki-to|VAT mar|EH hi. vat|ma-EN ha|mal|KAH VASH|ti\nla|VO bid|VAR ha|ME|lech a|SHER b'YAD ha|sa|ri|SIM va|yik|TZOF ha|ME|lech me-OD va|cha|ma|TO\nba-a|RAH vo. va|YO|mer ha|ME|lech la|cha|cha|MIM yo|de-EI ha-i|TIM ki-chen\nd'VAR ha|ME|lech lif|NEI kol-yo|de-EI dat va|DIN. ve|ha|ka|ROV e|LAV kar|she|NA she|TAR\nad|ma|TA tar|SHISH ME|res mar|se|NA me|mu|CHAN shiv|AT sa|REI pa|RAS u|ma|DAI ro-EI\np'NEI ha|ME|lech ha|yosh|VIM ri|sho|NAH ba|mal|CHUT. k'DAT mah-la-a|SOT ba|mal|KAH\nVASH|ti al a|SHER lo-as|TAH et-ma-a|MAR ha|ME|lech a|chash|ve|ROSH b'YAD", "orthographic": "va|ye|HI bi|ME ʾa|ḥash|ve|ROSH huʾ ʾa|ḥash|ve|ROSH ham|mo|LEKH me|hod|DU ve|ʿadh-kush SHE|vaʿ\nve|ʿeś|RIM u|me|ʾAH me|dhi|NAH. bay|ya|MIM ha|HEM ke|SHE|veth ham|ME|lekh ʾa|ḥash|ve|ROSH ʿal\nkis|SEʾ mal|khu|THO ʾa|SHER be|shu|SHAN hab|bi|RAH. bish|NATH sha|LOSH le|ma|le|KHO ʿa|śAH\nmish|TEH le|khol-śa|RAV va|ʿa|va|DHAV ḥel pa|RAS u|ma|DHAI hap|par|te|MIM ve|śa|RE ham|me|dhi|NOTH\nle|fa|NAV. be|har|ʾo|THO ʾeth-ʿO|sher ke|VODH mal|khu|THO ve|ʾeth-ye|QAR tif|ʾE|reth ge|dhul|la|THO\nya|MIM rab|BIM she|mo|NIM u|me|ʾATH yom. u|vim|LOʾTH hay|ya|MIM ha|ʾel|LEH ʿa|śAH\nham|ME|lekh le|khol-ha|ʿAM han|nim|tze|ʾIM be|shu|SHAN hab|bi|RAH le|mig|ga|DHOL ve|ʿadh-qa|ṭAN\nmish|TEH shiv|ʿATH ya|MIM ba|ḥa|TZAR gin|NATH bi|THAN ham|ME|lekh. ḥur kar|PAS u|the|khe|LETH\nʾa|ḥUZ be|ḥav|le-vutz ve|ʾar|ga|MAN ʿal-ge|li|LE KHE|sef ve|ʿam|mu|DHE shesh miṭ|ṭOTH \nza|HAV va|KHE|sef ʿal ritz|FATH ba|haṭ-va|SHESH ve|DHAR ve|so|ḥa|RETH. ve|hash|QOTH bikh|LE za|HAV\nve|khe|LIM mik|ke|LIM sho|NIM ve|YEN mal|KHUTH rav ke|YADH ham|ME|lekh. ve|has|she|thiy|YAH khad|DATH\nʾen ʾo|NES ki-khen yis|SADH ham|ME|lekh ʿal kol-rav be|THO la|ʿa|śOTH kir|TZON ʾish-\nva|ʾISH. gam VASHT|ti ham|mal|KAH ʿa|śe|THAH mish|TEH na|SHIM beth\nham|mal|KHUTH ʾa|SHER lam|ME|lekh ʾa|ḥash|ve|ROSH. bay|YOM has|she|vi|ʿI ke|ṭOV lev-ham|ME|lekh\nbay|ya|YIN ʾa|MAR lim|hu|MAN biz|ze|THAʾ ḥar|vo|NAʾ bigh|THAʾ va|ʾa|vagh|THAʾ ze|THAR ve|khar|KAS\nshiv|ʿATH has|sa|ri|SIM ha|me|sha|re|THIM ʾeth-pe|NE ham|ME|lekh ʾa|ḥash|ve|ROSH. le|ha|VIʾ\nʾeth-VASHT|ti ham|mal|KAH lif|NE ham|ME|lekh be|KHE|ther mal|KHUTH le|har|ʾOTH ha|ʿam|MIM\nve|haś|śa|RIM ʾeth-yof|YAH ki-ṭo|VATH mar|ʾEH hiʾ. vat|te|ma|ʾEN ham|mal|KAH VASHT|ti\nla|VOʾ bidh|VAR ham|ME|lekh ʾa|SHER be|YADH has|sa|ri|SIM vay|yiq|TZOF ham|ME|lekh me|ʾODH va|ḥa|ma|THO\nba|ʿa|RAH vo. vay|YOʾ|mer ham|ME|lekh la|ḥa|kha|MIM yo|dhe|ʿE ha|ʿit|TIM ki-khen\nde|VAR ham|ME|lekh lif|NE kol-yo|dhe|ʿE dath va|DHIN. ve|haq|qa|ROV ʾe|LAV kar|she|NAʾ she|THAR\nʾadh|ma|THAʾ thar|SHISH ME|res mar|se|NAʾ me|mu|KHAN shiv|ʿATH śa|RE pa|RAS u|ma|DHAI ro|ʾE\npe|NE ham|ME|lekh hay|yo|she|VIM riʾ|sho|NAH bam|mal|KHUTH. ke|DHATH mah-la|ʿa|śOTH bam|mal|KAH\nVASHT|ti ʿal ʾa|SHER loʾ-ʿa|śe|THAH ʾeth-ma|ʾa|MAR ham|ME|lekh ʾa|ḥash|ve|ROSH be|YADH", "sephardic": "va|ye|HI bi|ME a|ḥash|ve|ROSH hu a|ḥash|ve|ROSH ham|mo|LEKH me|hod|DU ve|ʿad-kush SHE|vaʿ\nve|ʿes|RIM u|me|AH me|di|NAH. bay|ya|MIM ha|HEM ke|SHE|vet ham|ME|lekh a|ḥash|ve|ROSH ʿal\nkis|SE mal|khu|TO a|SHER be|shu|SHAN hab|bi|RAH. bish|NAT sha|LOSH le|ma|le|KHO ʿa|SAH\nmish|TEH le|khol-sa|RAV va|ʿa|va|DAV ḥel pa|RAS u|ma|DAI hap|par|te|MIM ve|sa|RE ham|me|di|NOT\nle|fa|NAV. be|har|o|TO et-ʿO|sher ke|VOD mal|khu|TO ve|et-ye|QAR tif|E|ret ge|dul|la|TO\nya|MIM rab|BIM she|mo|NIM u|me|AT yom. u|vim|LOT hay|ya|MIM ha|el|LEH ʿa|SAH\nham|ME|lekh le|khol-ha|ʿAM han|nim|tze|IM be|shu|SHAN hab|bi|RAH le|mig|ga|DOL ve|ʿad-qa|TAN\nmish|TEH shiv|ʿAT ya|MIM ba|ḥa|TZAR gin|NAT bi|TAN ham|ME|lekh. ḥur kar|PAS u|te|khe|LET\na|ḥUZ be|ḥav|le-vutz ve|ar|ga|MAN ʿal-ge|li|LE KHE|sef ve|ʿam|mu|DE shesh mit|TOT \nza|HAV va|KHE|sef ʿal ritz|FAT ba|hat-va|SHESH ve|DAR ve|so|ḥa|RET. ve|hash|QOT bikh|LE za|HAV\nve|khe|LIM mik|ke|LIM sho|NIM ve|YEN mal|KHUT rav ke|YAD ham|ME|lekh. ve|has|she|tiy|YAH khad|DAT\nen o|NES ki-khen yis|SAD ham|ME|lekh ʿal kol-rav be|TO la|ʿa|SOT kir|TZON ish-\nva|ISH. gam VASHT|ti ham|mal|KAH ʿa|se|TAH mish|TEH na|SHIM bet\nham|mal|KHUT a|SHER lam|ME|lekh a|ḥash|ve|ROSH. bay|YOM has|she|vi|ʿI ke|TOV lev-ham|ME|lekh\nbay|ya|YIN a|MAR lim|hu|MAN biz|ze|TA ḥar|vo|NA big|TA va|a|vag|TA ze|TAR ve|khar|KAS\nshiv|ʿAT has|sa|ri|SIM ha|me|sha|re|TIM et-pe|NE ham|ME|lekh a|ḥash|ve|ROSH. le|ha|VI\net-VASHT|ti ham|mal|KAH lif|NE ham|ME|lekh be|KHE|ter mal|KHUT le|har|OT ha|ʿam|MIM\nve|has|sa|RIM et-yof|YAH ki-to|VAT mar|EH hi. vat|te|ma|EN ham|mal|KAH VASHT|ti\nla|VO bid|VAR ham|ME|lekh a|SHER be|YAD has|sa|ri|SIM vay|yiq|TZOF ham|ME|lekh me|OD va|ḥa|ma|TO\nba|ʿa|RAH vo. vay|YO|mer ham|ME|lekh la|ḥa|kha|MIM yo|de|ʿE ha|ʿit|TIM ki-khen\nde|VAR ham|ME|lekh lif|NE kol-yo|de|ʿE dat va|DIN. ve|haq|qa|ROV e|LAV kar|she|NA she|TAR\nad|ma|TA tar|SHISH ME|res mar|se|NA me|mu|KHAN shiv|ʿAT sa|RE pa|RAS u|ma|DAI ro|E\npe|NE ham|ME|lekh hay|yo|she|VIM ri|sho|NAH bam|mal|KHUT. ke|DAT mah-la|ʿa|SOT bam|mal|KAH\nVASHT|ti ʿal a|SHER lo-ʿa|se|TAH et-ma|a|MAR ham|ME|lekh a|ḥash|ve|ROSH be|YAD", "chabad": "vay'|HI bi|MEI a|chash|vei|ROYSH hu a|chash|vei|ROYSH ha|moy|LEICH mei|hoy|DU v'ad-kush SHE|va\nv'es|RIM u|mei-OH m'di|NOH. ba|yo|MIM ho|HEIM k'SHE|ves ha|ME|lech a|chash|vei|ROYSH al\nki|SEI mal|chu|SOY a|SHER b'shu|SHAN ha|bi|ROH. bish|NAS sho|LOYSH l'mol'|CHOY o|SOH\nmish|TEH l'chol-so|ROV va-a|vo|DOV cheil po|RAS u|mo|DAI ha|par|t'MIM v'so|REI ham'|di|NOYS\nl'fo|NOV. b'har|oy|SOY es-OY|sher k'VOYD mal|chu|SOY v'es-y'KOR tif|E|res g'du|lo|SOY\nyo|MIM ra|BIM sh'moy|NIM um'-AS yoym. u|vim|LOYS ha|yo|MIM ho-ei|LEH o|SOH\nha|ME|lech l'chol-ho-OM ha|nim|tz'IM b'shu|SHAN ha|bi|ROH l'mi|go|DOYL v'ad-ko|TON\nmish|TEH shiv|AS yo|MIM ba|cha|TZAR gi|NAS bi|SAN ha|ME|lech. chur kar|PAS us'|chei|LES\no|CHUZ b'chav|lei-vutz v'ar|go|MON al-g'li|LEI CHE|sef v'a|mu|DEI sheish mi|TOYS \nzo|HOV vo|CHE|sef al ritz|FAS ba|hat-vo|SHEISH v'DAR v'soy|cho|RES. v'hash|KOYS bich|LEI zo|HOV\nv'chei|LIM mi|kei|LIM shoy|NIM v'YEIN mal|CHUS rov k'YAD ha|ME|lech. v'hash'|si|YOH cha|DOS\nein oy|NEIS ki-chein yi|SAD ha|ME|lech al kol-rav bei|SOY la-a|SOYS kir|TZOYN ish-\nvo-ISH. gam VASH|ti ha|mal|KOH os'|SOH mish|TEIH no|SHIM beis\nha|mal|CHUS a|SHER la|ME|lech a|chash|vei|ROYSH. ba|YOYM hash'|vi-I k'TOYV leiv-ha|ME|lech\nba|yo|YIN o|MAR lim|hu|MON biz'|SO char|voy|NO big|SO va-a|vag|SO zei|SAR v'char|KAS\nshiv|AS ha|so|ri|SIM ham'|shor'|SIM es-p'NEI ha|ME|lech a|chash|vei|ROYSH. l'ho|VI\nes-VASH|ti ha|mal|KOH lif|NEI ha|ME|lech b'CHE|ser mal|CHUS l'har|OYS ho-a|MIM\nv'ha|so|RIM es-yof|YOH ki-toy|VAS mar|EH hi. vat'|mo-EIN ha|mal|KOH VASH|ti\nlo|VOY bid|VAR ha|ME|lech a|SHER b'YAD ha|so|ri|SIM va|yik|TZOYF ha|ME|lech m'OYD va|cha|mo|SOY\nbo-a|ROH voy. va|YOY|mer ha|ME|lech la|cha|cho|MIM yoyd'-EI ho-i|TIM ki-chein\nd'VAR ha|ME|lech lif|NEI kol-yoyd'-EI dos vo|DIN. v'ha|ko|ROYV ei|LOV kar|sh'NO shei|SOR\nad|mo|SO sar|SHISH ME|res mar|s'NO m'mu|CHON shiv|AS so|REI po|RAS u|mo|DAI roy-EI\np'NEI ha|ME|lech ha|yoysh'|VIM ri|shoy|NOH ba|mal|CHUS. k'DOS mah-la-a|SOYS ba|mal|KOH\nVASH|ti al a|SHER loy-os'|SOH es-ma-a|MAR ha|ME|lech a|chash|vei|ROYSH b'YAD" }, "english": "It came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus; Ahasuerus who held sway over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces – from India to Ethiopia. In those days, when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Shushan the imperial city, in the third year of his reign, he held a feast for all his ministers and courtiers, Persia and Medea's military men, the noblemen and the provincial ministers, all coming before him. And there, through many days together, one hundred and eighty days in all, he displayed the whole wealth of his noble reign, and the splendor of his dazzling greatness. Once that span had passed, the king held a feast for every man of Shushan the imperial city, high and low alike, in the courtyard of the king's palace garden. There hung swathes of fine white fabric, of precious cotton and sky blue wool, corded with strands of the finest linen and scarlet, draped over silver bars and columns of marble; couches of gold and silver stood there as well, set on a terrace whose pavement was alabaster and marble, mother of pearl and black onyx. Drink was served the guests in golden vessels – vessels unlike any other – royal wine, as plentiful as the king's largesse. And they drank under no compulsion whatever; for the king had so charged all the overseers of his home: to honor the wishes of each and every man. Meanwhile Vashti the queen held a feast of her own; a feast for women, in King Ahasuerus' royal palace. And on the seventh day of the feasts, the king having grown merry with wine, he charged the seven eunuchs who attended King Ahasuerus – Mehuman, Bizta, Ḥarvona, Bigta and Avagta, Zeitar and Karkas – to bring Queen Vashti before him wearing her royal crown, that the peoples and the ministers might see her charms, for she was beautiful indeed. But Queen Vashti would not come at the king's word, sent through the eunuchs. Wrath engulfed the king, and his rage blazed up within him. Then the king spoke to the wise men, who knew how to read the times – for the king was accustomed to consult those versed in the statutes and the law. And those of his closest circle, who entered freely into the king's presence and held the first rank in the realm, were seven ministers of Persia and Media: Karshena, Shetar, Admata, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukhan. “What,” he asked, “does the law require of us concerning Queen Vashti, who would not obey the king's word, conveyed to her by the eunuchs?”" } ], "footer": [] } }, "links": [ { "rel": "parent", "title": "Koren Shalem Siddur", "href": "/siddur/koren-shalem.json" }, { "rel": "prev", "title": "Ecclesiastes (Kohelet)", "href": "/siddur/koren-shalem/1450-1451-1278-1279-megillot-ecclesiastes-kohelet.json" }, { "rel": "next", "title": "Esther", "href": "/siddur/koren-shalem/1454-1455-1282-1283-megillot-esther.json" } ] }