1. This is what happened during the time of King Xerxes. He was the king who ruled the 127 areas from India to Cush.
2. In those days King Xerxes ruled from his capital city of Susa.
3. In the third year of his rule, he gave a banquet. It was for all his important men and royal officers. The army leaders from the countries of Persia and Media were there. And the important men from all Xerxes’ empire were there.
4. The banquet lasted 180 days. All during that time King Xerxes was showing off the great wealth of his kingdom. And he was showing his own honor and greatness.
5. When the 180 days were over, the king gave another banquet. It was held in the courtyard of the palace garden for 7 days. It was for everybody in the palace at Susa, from the greatest to the least important.