1 Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over ^a127 provinces, 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in ^bSusa, the citadel, 3 in the third year of his reign ^che gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him, 4 while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days.