Esther 1:2-4

Contemporary English Version

Queen Vashti Disobeys King Xerxes

1 ^1-2^(A) King Xerxes^[a] of Persia lived in his capital city of Susa^[b] and ruled 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia.^[c] ³During the third year of his rule, Xerxes gave a big dinner for all his officials and officers. The governors and leaders of the provinces were also invited, and even the commanders of the Persian and Median armies came. ⁴For 180 days he showed off his wealth and spent a lot of money to impress his guests with the greatness of his kingdom.

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Footnotes

1.1,2 Xerxes: The Hebrew text has “Ahasuerus,” who was better known as King Xerxes I (485–465 b.c.).
1.1,2 in his capital city of Susa: Or “in his royal fortress in the city of Susa.” Susa was a city east of Babylon and a winter home for Persian kings.
1.1,2 Ethiopia: The Hebrew text has “Cush,” which was a region south of Egypt that included parts of the present countries of Ethiopia and Sudan.