³ and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet^(A) for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present.

⁹ Queen Vashti also gave a banquet^(A) for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.

¹⁸ And the king gave a great banquet,^(A) Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials.^(B) He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.^(C)

⁸ If the king regards me with favor^(A) and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet^(B) I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”

¹⁴ While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet^(A) Esther had prepared.

¹⁷ This happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting^(A) and joy.

The Writing on the Wall

5 King Belshazzar^(A) gave a great banquet^(B) for a thousand of his nobles^(C) and drank wine with them.