1. Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even unto Ethiopia over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces)
2. That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan, the palace,
3. In the third year of his reign, he made a banquet unto all his princes and his slaves, having before him the power of Persia and Media, the governors and princes of the provinces,
4. to show them the riches of the glory of his kingdom and the honour of beauty of his greatness for many days, even one hundred and eighty days.
5. And when these days were expired, the king made a banquet unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, for seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.