Esther 1:1-9
The Feasts of the King and Queen
1Now it happened in the days of aAhasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned bfrom India to 1Ethiopia over c127 provinces, 2in those days as King Ahasuerus asat on his royal throne which was at the citadel in bSusa, 3in the third year of his reign, ahe held a feast for all his princes and servants, the military officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of his provinces being in his presence, 41while he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days.
5And when these days were fulfilled, the king held a feast lasting seven days for all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the court of athe garden of the king’s palace. 6There were hangings of fine white and 1blue linen held by cords of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble pillars, and acouches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones. 7And drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was plentiful aaccording to the king’s hand. 8And the drinking was done according to the law; there was no compulsion, for so the king had established it for each official of his household—that he should do according to what pleased each person. 9Queen Vashti also held a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to King Ahasuerus.