And it happened after these things[fn] in the days of Ahashverosh, —(this Ahashverosh ruled over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces from Hodu)—2 in those days, when King Ahashverosh was on the throne in the city of Shushan, 3 in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for his friends, for people from the rest of the nations, for the leading citizens of the Persians and Madim (Medes), and for the chief of the local governors. 4 After this—after he’d shown them the wealth of his kingdom and the abundant glory of his wealth during one hundred and eighty days—5 when the days of the wedding feast were completed, the king made a banquet lasting six days for the people of the nations who were present in the city, in the courtyard of the king’s house, 6 which was adorned with fine linen and flax on cords of fine linen and purple, fastened to golden and silver studs on pillars of white marble and stone. There were golden and silver couches on a pavement of emerald stone, and of mother-of-pearl, and of white marble, with transparent coverings variously flowered, having roses arranged around it. 7 There were gold and silver cups, and a small cup of carbuncle set out, of the value of thirty thousand talents, with abundant and sweet wine, which the king himself drank. 8 This banquet wasn’t according to the appointed law, but as the king desired to have it. He charged the stewards to perform his will and that of the company.