8. The king commanded that each guest be permitted to drink as much as he wished. He had told the wine servers to serve each man what he wanted.
9. Queen Vashti also gave a banquet. It was for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
10. On the seventh day of the banquet, King Xerxes was very happy because he had been drinking much wine. He gave a command to the seven eunuchs who served him. They were Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carcas.
11. He commanded them to bring him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown. She was to come to show her beauty to the people and important men. She was very beautiful.
12. The eunuchs told Queen Vashti about the king’s command. But she refused to come. Then the king became very angry. His anger was like a burning fire.
13. It was a custom for the king to ask advice from experts about law and order. So King Xerxes spoke with the wise men. They would know the right thing to do.
14. The wise men the king usually talked to were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan. They were seven of the important men of Persia and Media. These seven had special privileges to see the king. They had the highest rank in the kingdom.