The Three Young Guards
1 Ezra 3, verse 1. Now King Darius put on a great banquet for all his subjects, for his entire household, and for all the nobles of Media and Persia. 1 Ezra 3, verse 2. He also invited all the satraps, commanders, and governors under him throughout the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces extending from India to Ethiopia. 1 Ezra 3, verse 3. They ate and drank, and when they were satisfied they returned home. As for King Darius, he returned to his bedchamber and slept, but awoke. 1 Ezra 3, verse 4. Then the three young men who were attending the king as bodyguards said one to the other, 1 Ezra 3, verse 5. “Let each of us speak one strong saying, and whichever saying of ours seems to be the strongest, King Darius will give him great gifts and a feast in his honor. 1 Ezra 3, verse 6. He will be dressed in purple, drink from gold cups, and sleep in a gold bed. He will have a chariot with a gold-studded bridle, a turban of fine linen, and a gold necklace around his neck. 1 Ezra 3, verse 7. Because of his wisdom he will sit second to Darius and will be addressed as kinsman of Darius.” 1 Ezra 3, verse 8. So each one then wrote down his saying, sealed it, and placed it under the pillow of King Darius. They said, 1 Ezra 3, verse 9. “When the king awakens, they will give the writings to him and the one whose saying the king and the three nobles of Persia may judge the wisest, the victory shall be given to him, as it is written.”
Which Is Strongest?
1 Ezra 3, verse 10. The first one wrote, “Wine is the strongest.” 1 Ezra 3, verse 11. The second wrote, “The king is the strongest.” 1 Ezra 3, verse 12. The third wrote, “Women are the strongest, but above all things the truth conquers.” 1 Ezra 3, verse 13. So when the king was awakened, he took the writings they gave to him, and he read them. 1 Ezra 3, verse 14. Then he sent forth and invited all the nobles of Persia and Media and the satraps, commanders, governors, and highest officials. He took his place in the seat of judgment, and the writings were read in their presence. 1 Ezra 3, verse 15. He said, “Call the young men, and they will clarify their sayings.” So they were summoned and came in. 1 Ezra 3, verse 16. They said to them, “Interpret for us the sayings you wrote.”
The Strength of Wine
1 Ezra 3, verse 17. So the first, who spoke about the strength of wine, began and said thus: 1 Ezra 3, verse 18. “Men, how is wine the strongest? It leads astray the mind of all who drink it. 1 Ezra 3, verse 19. It makes a single mind of both the king and the orphan, of the servant and the freeman, and of the poor man and the rich man. 1 Ezra 3, verse 20. It turns every mind to feasting and gladness, and it does not remember any pain or any debt. 1 Ezra 3, verse 21. Wine makes all hearts rich, does not remember a king or satrap, and makes everyone talk in big money terms. 1 Ezra 3, verse 22. When men drink, they do not remember to act as a friend to friends, and after a short while they draw swords. 1 Ezra 3, verse 23. But when they become sober, they do not remember what they did. 1 Ezra 3, verse 24. O men, is not wine the strongest because it forces us to do such things?” So he spoke in this way and then became silent.