1King Ahasu-e'rus laid tribute on the land and on the coastlands of the sea. 2And all the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honour of Mor'decai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? 3For Mor'decai the Jew was next in rank to King Ahasu-e'rus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brethren, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.