1 Esdras 3:1

1 The Emperor Darius gave a great banquet for all those under him, all the members of his family and staff, all the leading officials of Persia and Media,

1 Esdras 3:1 In-Context

1 The Emperor Darius gave a great banquet for all those under him, all the members of his family and staff, all the leading officials of Persia and Media,

2 all his chief officers, administrators, and the governors of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia.

3 When everyone had enough to eat and drink, they left, and Darius went to bed. He fell asleep but soon awoke.

4 Then the three young men who served Emperor Darius as his personal bodyguard said to one another,

5 "Let each one of us name the one thing that he considers the strongest thing in the world. The emperor will decide who has given the wisest answer to this question and will give magnificent gifts and prizes to the winner.