Esther 1:12-14

Expanded Bible

¹² The eunuchs told Queen Vashti about the king’s ·command [^Lword], but she refused to come [^Cpossibly because she felt it would be humiliating; a dangerous decision]. Then the king became very angry; his anger ·was like a burning fire [^Lburned in him; ^Cbecause it undermined his authority].

¹³ It was customary for the king to ·ask advice from [confer with] ·experts [wise men] about law and ·order [justice; custom; ^Ljudgment]. So King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] spoke with ·the wise men who would know the right thing to do [^Lthose who understood the times]. ¹⁴ The wise men ·the king usually talked to [closest to the king] were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, seven of the ·important men [nobles] of Persia and Media. These seven had ·special privileges to see [access to] the king and had the highest ·rank [offices] in the kingdom.