<p class="bodytext">The king commanded<n id="1" /> Ashpenaz,<n id="2" /> who was in charge of his court officials,<n id="3" /> to choose<n id="4" /> some of the Israelites who were of royal and noble descent<n id="5" /> &#8211;

in the third<n id="1" /> year of his reign he provided a banquet for all his officials and his servants. The army<n id="2" /> of Persia and Media<n id="3" /> was present,<n id="4" /> as well as the nobles and the officials of the provinces.p>

Then let this clothing and this horse be given to one of the king&#8217;s noble officials. Let him<n id="1" /> then clothe the man whom the king wishes to honor, and let him lead him about through the plaza of the city on the horse, calling<n id="2" /> before him, &#8216;So shall it be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!&#8217;&#8221;p>