Esther 1:7-8

1:7 Drinks ¹  were served in golden containers, all of which differed from one another. Royal wine was available in abundance at the king’s expense. 1:8 There were no restrictions on the drinking, ²  for the king had instructed all of his supervisors ³  that they should do as everyone so desired. ⁴ 

¹ tn Heb “to cause to drink” (Hiphil infinitive construct of שָׁקָה, shaqah). As the etymology of the Hebrew word for “banquet” (מִשְׁתֶּה, mishteh, from שָׁתָה, shatah, “to drink”) hints, drinking was a prominent feature of ancient Near Eastern banquets.

² tn Heb “the drinking was according to law; there was no one compelling.”

³ tn Heb “every chief of his house”; KJV “all the officers of his house”; NLT “his staff.”

⁴ tn Heb “according to the desire of man and man.”