Midrasch zu Esther 1:3

“In the third year of his reign, he made a banquet for all his princes and his servants, the elite of Persia and Media, the nobles and governors of the provinces before him” (Esther 1:3).
Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya: Rabbi Yehuda said: In the third year of the crafting of the throne. Once he completed the crafting of the throne, “he made a banquet for all his princes and his servants.” Rabbi Neḥemya said: In the third year of the cancellation of the construction of the Temple; once three years since the cancellation of the construction of the Temple were completed, “he made a banquet for all his princes and his servants.” Rabbi Shmuel bar Eimi said: There were four good attributes in that man: He went three years without a crown and without a throne; he waited four years until he found a wife appropriate for him; and he would not do anything without consulting. Rabbi Pinḥas said: And anyone who did him a favor, he would record it; that is what is written: “It was found written that Mordekhai had told...” (Esther 6:2).

“He made a banquet for all his princes and his servants.” Antoninus made a feast for Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, who said to him: Perhaps you have not fulfilled your obligation to the lamplighters? He said to him: Of what significance are they to me? He said to him: Perhaps they will put murky oil in the lamps and ruin the feast. He said to him: From where do you know this? He said to him: From Aḥashverosh, about whom it is written: “He made a banquet for all his princes and his servants.”

“The elite of Persia and Media:” It is taught in the name of Rabbi Natan about these ten measures: There are ten portions of licentiousness in the world, nine in Alexandria and one in the rest of the world. There are ten portions of wealth in the world, nine in Rome and one in the rest of the world. There are ten portions of poverty in the world, nine in Lydia²⁰‘Lydia’ refers to the district in Asia Minor. Alternatively, this could be Lod, the town in Judea. and one in the rest of the world. There are ten portions of sorcery in the world, nine in Egypt and one in the rest of the world. There are ten portions of foolishness in the world, nine among the Ishmaelites and one in the rest of the world. There are ten portions of vigor in the world, nine among the Ishmaelites and one in the rest of the world. There are ten portions of lice in the world, nine among the Persians and one in the rest of the world. There are ten portions of attractiveness in the world, nine in Media and one in the rest of the world. There are ten portions of ugliness in the world, nine in the East and one in the rest of the world. There are ten portions of power in the world, nine among the Chaldeans and one in the rest of the world. There are ten portions of courage in the world, nine in Judah and one in the rest of the world. There are ten portions of beauty in the world, nine in Jerusalem and one in the rest of the world. There are ten portions of wisdom in the world, nine in the Land of Israel and one in the rest of the world. There are ten portions of Torah in the world, nine in the Land of Israel and one in the rest of the world. There are ten portions of hypocrisy in the world, nine in Jerusalem and one in the rest of the world; that is what is written: “…for from the prophets of Jerusalem hypocrisy has gone out to all the land” (Jeremiah 23:15).