Mordecai was of high rank<n id="1" /> in the king&#8217;s palace, and word about him was spreading throughout all the provinces. His influence<n id="2" /> continued to become greater and greater.p>

And let the king&#8217;s decision which he will enact be disseminated<n id="1" /> throughout all his kingdom, vast though it is.<n id="2" /> Then all the women will give honor to their husbands, from the most prominent to the lowly.&#8221;p>

Then the king prepared a large banquet for all his officials and his servants &#8211; it was actually Esther&#8217;s banquet. He also set aside a holiday for the provinces, and he provided for offerings at the king&#8217;s expense.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="bodytext">Now Mordecai went out from the king&#8217;s presence in purple and white royal attire, with a large golden crown and a purple linen mantle. The city of Susa shouted with joy.<n id="1" />

Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus. He was the highest-ranking<n id="1" /> Jew, and he was admired by his numerous relatives.<n id="2" /> He worked enthusiastically<n id="3" /> for the good of his people and was an advocate for the welfare of<n id="4" /> all his descendants.<n id="5" />p>

When those days<n id="1" /> were completed, the king then provided a seven-day<n id="2" /> banquet for all the people who were present<n id="3" /> in Susa the citadel, for those of highest standing to the most lowly.<n id="4" /> It was held in the court located in the garden of the royal palace.

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now when Mordecai became aware of all that had been done, he<n id="1" /> tore his garments and put on sackcloth and ashes. He went out into the city, crying out in a loud<n id="2" /> and bitter voice.

Throughout each and every province where the king&#8217;s edict and law were announced<n id="1" /> there was considerable<n id="2" /> mourning among the Jews, along with fasting, weeping, and sorrow.<n id="3" /> Sackcloth and ashes were characteristic<n id="4" /> of many.