1 Darius the emperor 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 Sudan.
3 When everyone had 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,