Esther 1:1
Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:) Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)
The opening identifies Ahasuerus as the king whose reign extended from India even to Ethiopia over one hundred and seven and twenty provinces. The events belong to his reign and are centered at Shushan, where in the third year of his reign he made a feast for his officials and servants. That feast displayed the riches and majesty of his kingdom for one hundred and eighty days.
The indulgence and wine-driven conduct at the Persian court in this setting brought no honor to God. Yet God held restraint over events and worked through rulers who pursued wrong practices to carry out His own purposes. Those very events helped bring Esther to the throne and were made to work for the good of Israel.