8. By edict of the king, no limits were placed on the drinking, for the king had instructed all his palace officials to serve each man as much as he wanted.
9. At the same time, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
10. On the seventh day of the feast, when King Xerxes was in high spirits because of the wine, he told the seven eunuchs who attended him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas—
11. to bring Queen Vashti to him with the royal crown on her head. He wanted the nobles and all the other men to gaze on her beauty, for she was a very beautiful woman.
12. But when they conveyed the king’s order to Queen Vashti, she refused to come. This made the king furious, and he burned with anger.
13. He immediately consulted with his wise advisers, who knew all the Persian laws and customs, for he always asked their advice.
14. The names of these men were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan—seven nobles of Persia and Media. They met with the king regularly and held the highest positions in the empire.