²² It was the ninth month and the king was sitting in the winter apartment,^(A) with a fire burning in the firepot in front of him. ²³ Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll,^(B) the king cut them off with a scribe’s knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire.^{(C) 24} The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear,^(D) nor did they tear their clothes.^(E)