And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace;
When those days were over, the king threw another feast for everyone who was in the royal city of Shushan—both important people and ordinary citizens. This celebration lasted seven days and took place in the courtyard of the king's palace garden.
King Xerxes hosted a second, week-long celebration that was open to all people in his capital city, regardless of their social status.
📚 Historical Context
This verse describes the second of two grand feasts thrown by King Xerxes (Ahasuerus) of Persia around 483 BC. The first feast lasted 180 days for nobles and officials, while this seven-day feast was for all residents of Susa, the winter capital of the Persian Empire. These extravagant celebrations demonstrated the king's wealth and power to his subjects.
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