1 Now King Darius gave a great banquet for all his subjects, everyone born in his house, all the officials of Media and Persia,
2 and all the chief administrators, generals, and district governors who were under him in the one hundred twenty-seven administrative districts from India to Ethiopia.
3 They ate and drank, and they left after they had enough. King Darius retired to his bedroom and went to sleep, but he eventually woke up again.
4 Then the three young men, the bodyguards who protected the king, said to each other:
5 "Let’s each offer one word that we think is the most superior thing in the world. To the one whose statement seems wisest, King Darius will give expensive gifts and great prizes as a reward.