1 Now it came to pass in the days of ^aAhasuerus (this was the Ahasuerus who reigned ^bover one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, ^cfrom India to Ethiopia),  ‡

3 that in the third year of his reign he ^amade a feast for all his officials and servants—the powers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces being before him—  ‡

4 when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days, one hundred and eighty days in all.