Esther 2:18

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Then the king prepared a large banquet for all his officials and his servants– it was actually Esther’s banquet. He also set aside a holiday for the provinces, and he provided for offerings at the king’s expense.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Gen 29:22 : 22 So Laban invited all the people of that place and prepared a feast.
  • Judg 14:10-17 : 10 Then Samson’s father accompanied him to Timnah for the marriage. Samson hosted a party there, for this was customary for bridegrooms to do. 11 When the Philistines saw he had no attendants, they gave him thirty groomsmen who kept him company. 12 Samson said to them,“I will give you a riddle. If you really can solve it during the seven days the party lasts, I will give you thirty linen robes and thirty sets of clothes. 13 But if you cannot solve it, you will give me thirty linen robes and thirty sets of clothes.” They said to him,“Let us hear your riddle.” 14 He said to them,“Out of the one who eats came something to eat; out of the strong one came something sweet.”They could not solve the riddle for three days. 15 On the fourth day they said to Samson’s bride,“Trick your husband into giving the solution to the riddle. If you refuse, we will burn up you and your father’s family. Did you invite us here to make us poor?” 16 So Samson’s bride cried on his shoulder and said,“You must hate me; you do not love me! You told the young men a riddle, but you have not told me the solution.” He said to her,“Look, I have not even told my father or mother. Do you really expect me to tell you?” 17 She cried on his shoulder until the party was almost over. Finally, on the seventh day, he told her because she had nagged him so much. Then she told the young men the solution to the riddle.
  • 1 Sam 25:8 : 8 Ask your own servants; they can tell you! May my servants find favor in your sight, for we have come at the time of a holiday. Please provide us– your servants and your son David– with whatever you can spare.”
  • Neh 8:11 : 11 Then the Levites quieted all the people saying,“Be quiet, for this day is holy. Do not grieve.”
  • Esth 1:3-5 : 3 in the third year of his reign he provided a banquet for all his officials and his servants. The army of Persia and Media was present, as well as the nobles and the officials of the provinces. 4 He displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his majestic greatness for a lengthy period of time– a hundred and eighty days, to be exact! 5 When those days were completed, the king then provided a seven-day banquet for all the people who were present in Susa the citadel, for those of highest standing to the most lowly. It was held in the court located in the garden of the royal palace.
  • Esth 1:7 : 7 Drinks were served in golden containers, all of which differed from one another. Royal wine was available in abundance at the king’s expense.
  • Esth 9:22 : 22 as the time when the Jews gave themselves rest from their enemies– the month when their trouble was turned to happiness and their mourning to a holiday. These were to be days of banqueting, happiness, sending gifts to one another, and providing for the poor.
  • Song 3:11 : 11 Come out, O maidens of Zion, and gaze upon King Solomon! He is wearing the crown with which his mother crowned him on his wedding day, on the most joyous day of his life!
  • Song 5:1 : 1 The Lover to His Beloved: I have entered my garden, O my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my balsam spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk!The Poet to the Couple: Eat, friends, and drink! Drink freely, O lovers!
  • Matt 22:2 : 2 “The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.
  • Luke 14:8 : 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, because a person more distinguished than you may have been invited by your host.
  • Rev 11:10 : 10 And those who live on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate, even sending gifts to each other, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
  • Rev 19:9 : 9 Then the angel said to me,“Write the following: Blessed are those who are invited to the banquet at the wedding celebration of the Lamb!” He also said to me,“These are the true words of God.”

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Esth 2:13-17
    5 verses
    80%

    13the woman would go to the king in the following way: Whatever she asked for would be provided for her to take with her from the harem to the royal palace.

    14In the evening she went, and in the morning she returned to a separate part of the harem, to the authority of Shaashgaz the king’s eunuch who was overseeing the concubines. She would not go back to the king unless the king was pleased with her and she was requested by name.

    15When it became the turn of Esther daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai(who had raised her as if she were his own daughter) to go to the king, she did not request anything except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who was overseer of the women, had recommended. Yet Esther met with the approval of all who saw her.

    16Then Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus at his royal residence in the tenth month(that is, the month of Tebeth) in the seventh year of his reign.

    17And the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she met with his loving approval more than all the other young women. So he placed the royal high turban on her head and appointed her queen in place of Vashti.

  • Esth 1:2-5
    4 verses
    80%

    2In those days, as King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa the citadel,

    3in the third year of his reign he provided a banquet for all his officials and his servants. The army of Persia and Media was present, as well as the nobles and the officials of the provinces.

    4He displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his majestic greatness for a lengthy period of time– a hundred and eighty days, to be exact!

    5When those days were completed, the king then provided a seven-day banquet for all the people who were present in Susa the citadel, for those of highest standing to the most lowly. It was held in the court located in the garden of the royal palace.

  • Esth 2:19
    78%

    19Mordecai Learns of a Plot against the King Now when the young women were being gathered again, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.

  • Esth 8:1-2
    2 verses
    78%

    1The King Acts to Protect the Jews On that same day King Ahasuerus gave the estate of Haman, that adversary of the Jews, to Queen Esther. Now Mordecai had come before the king, for Esther had revealed how he was related to her.

    2The king then removed his signet ring(the very one he had taken back from Haman) and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther designated Mordecai to be in charge of Haman’s estate.

  • Esth 7:1-2
    2 verses
    78%

    1The King Has Haman Executed So the king and Haman came to dine with Queen Esther.

    2On the second day of the banquet of wine the king asked Esther,“What is your request, Queen Esther? It shall be granted to you. And what is your petition? Ask up to half the kingdom, and it shall be done!”

  • Esth 1:8-10
    3 verses
    78%

    8There were no restrictions on the drinking, for the king had instructed all of his supervisors that they should do as everyone so desired.

    9Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in King Ahasuerus’ royal palace.

    10Queen Vashti is Removed from Her Royal Position On the seventh day, as King Ahasuerus was feeling the effects of the wine, he ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who attended him,

  • Esth 2:8-9
    2 verses
    77%

    8It so happened that when the king’s edict and his law became known many young women were taken to Susa the citadel to be placed under the authority of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the royal palace to be under the authority of Hegai, who was overseeing the women.

    9This young woman pleased him, and she found favor with him. He quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her rations; he also provided her with the seven specially chosen young women who were from the palace. He then transferred her and her young women to the best quarters in the harem.

  • Esth 5:1-6
    6 verses
    76%

    1Esther Appeals to the King for Help It so happened that on the third day Esther put on her royal attire and stood in the inner court of the palace, opposite the king’s quarters. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the palace, opposite the entrance.

    2When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she met with his approval. The king extended to Esther the gold scepter that was in his hand, and Esther approached and touched the end of the scepter.

    3The king said to her,“What is on your mind, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even as much as half the kingdom will be given to you!”

    4Esther replied,“If the king is so inclined, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”

    5The king replied,“Find Haman quickly so that we can do as Esther requests.”So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

    6While at the banquet of wine, the king said to Esther,“What is your request? It shall be given to you. What is your petition? Ask for as much as half the kingdom, and it shall be done!”

  • Esth 2:4
    76%

    4Let the young woman whom the king finds most attractive become queen in place of Vashti.” This seemed like a good idea to the king, so he acted accordingly.

  • Esth 6:14
    75%

    14While they were still speaking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived. They quickly brought Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

  • Esth 2:1-2
    2 verses
    75%

    1Esther Becomes Queen in Vashti’s Place When these things had been accomplished and the rage of King Ahasuerus had diminished, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decided against her.

    2The king’s servants who attended him said,“Let a search be conducted on the king’s behalf for attractive young women.

  • Esth 1:19-21
    3 verses
    74%

    19If the king is so inclined, let a royal edict go forth from him, and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media that cannot be repealed, that Vashti may not come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king convey her royalty to another who is more deserving than she.

    20And let the king’s decision which he will enact be disseminated throughout all his kingdom, vast though it is. Then all the women will give honor to their husbands, from the most prominent to the lowly.”

    21The matter seemed appropriate to the king and the officials. So the king acted on the advice of Memucan.

  • Esth 5:8
    74%

    8If I have found favor in the king’s sight and if the king is inclined to grant my request and perform my petition, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet that I will prepare for them. At that time I will do as the king wishes.”

  • Esth 8:7
    73%

    7King Ahasuerus replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew,“Look, I have already given Haman’s estate to Esther, and he has been hanged on the gallows because he took hostile action against the Jews.

  • Esth 9:22
    73%

    22as the time when the Jews gave themselves rest from their enemies– the month when their trouble was turned to happiness and their mourning to a holiday. These were to be days of banqueting, happiness, sending gifts to one another, and providing for the poor.

  • Esth 8:4
    73%

    4When the king extended to Esther the gold scepter, she arose and stood before the king.

  • Esth 5:11-12
    2 verses
    73%

    11Haman then recounted to them his fabulous wealth, his many sons, and how the king had magnified him and exalted him over the king’s other officials and servants.

    12Haman said,“Furthermore, Queen Esther invited only me to accompany the king to the banquet that she prepared! And also tomorrow I am invited along with the king.

  • Esth 2:22
    72%

    22When Mordecai learned of the conspiracy, he informed Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in Mordecai’s name.

  • Esth 7:7-8
    2 verses
    72%

    7In rage the king arose from the banquet of wine and withdrew to the palace garden. Meanwhile, Haman stood to beg Queen Esther for his life, for he realized that the king had now determined a catastrophic end for him.

    8When the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet of wine, Haman was throwing himself down on the couch where Esther was lying. The king exclaimed,“Will he also attempt to rape the queen while I am still in the building!”As these words left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.

  • Esth 9:29
    72%

    29So Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter about Purim.

  • Esth 9:31-32
    2 verses
    72%

    31to establish these days of Purim in their proper times, just as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had established, and just as they had established both for themselves and their descendants, matters pertaining to fasting and lamentation.

    32Esther’s command established these matters of Purim, and the matter was officially recorded.

  • Esth 4:15
    72%

    15Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:

  • Esth 4:12
    72%

    12When Esther’s reply was conveyed to Mordecai,

  • Esth 1:16
    72%

    16Memucan then replied to the king and the officials,“The wrong of Queen Vashti is not against the king alone, but against all the officials and all the people who are throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

  • Esth 4:8
    71%

    8He also gave him a written copy of the law that had been disseminated in Susa for their destruction so that he could show it to Esther and talk to her about it. He also gave instructions that she should go to the king to implore him and petition him on behalf of her people.

  • Esth 9:19
    71%

    19This is why the Jews who are in the rural country– those who live in rural cities– set aside the fourteenth day of the month of Adar for happiness, banqueting, a holiday, and sending gifts to one another.

  • Esth 8:15
    71%

    15Now Mordecai went out from the king’s presence in blue and white royal attire, with a large golden crown and a purple linen mantle. The city of Susa shouted with joy.