1
King Xerxes imposed taxes on the people of the coastal regions of his empire as well as on those of the interior.
2
His power and virtue, as well as the wealth and splendor of his empire, are recorded in the official records of the kings of Persia and Media.
3
Mordecai was second in rank only to King Xerxes himself. He was a great man in the empire and was honored by his fellow Jews. He was greatly loved, for he sought the welfare of his people.
4
Then Mordecai said, "God has caused all these things to happen!
5
And I am reminded of the dream I had about all of this. Every detail of the dream has come true:
6
the small spring that became a river, the dawn that turned into sunlight, and the abundance of water. The river is Esther, whom the king married and made his queen.