1The king levied a tax upon his kingdom both by land and sea. 2And as for his power and bravery, and the wealth and glory of his kingdom, they were recorded in the annals of the kings of the Persians and the Medes. 3Mordecai acted with authority on behalf of King Artaxerxes and was great in the kingdom, as well as honoured by the Jews. His way of life was such as to make him beloved by his whole nation.