Esther 1:1-2

Expanded Bible

Queen Vashti Disobeys the King

1 This is what happened during the ·time [days] of ·King Xerxes [^LAhasuerus; ^Cthe Persian king who reigned about 486–465 bc], the ·king [^LAhasuerus] who ruled the one hundred twenty-seven ·states [provinces] from India to Cush [^Cin present-day Sudan and Ethiopia]. ² In those days King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] ·ruled from his [^Lsat on his royal throne in the] ·capital city [or fortress; citadel; ^Cthe winter residence of Persian kings, separate from the city] of Susa.