1 ¶ Now it came to pass in the days of aAhasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned bover 127 provinces cfrom India to Ethiopia,
2 in those days when King Ahasuerus dsat on the throne of his kingdom that was in eShushan the palace,
3 in the third year of his reign, that he fmade a feast for all his princes and his servants, the powers of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces being before him,
4 when he showed the generosity of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty for many days, 180 days.
5 And when these days were completed, the king made a feast for seven days for all the people who were present in Shushan the palace, both for the great and small, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.
6 There were white, green and blue curtains fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble. The gcouches were of gold and silver on a pavement of red and blue and white and black marble.
7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold of various kinds, and royal wine in abundance haccording to the generosity of the king.
8 And the drinking was according to the law. The drinking was not compulsory, for the king had appointed to all the officers of his house that they should do according to every man’s desires.
9 Vashti the queen also made a feast for the women in the royal house that belonged to King Ahasuerus.
10 ¶ On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, iHarbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains who served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
11 to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown in order to show the people and the princes her beauty, for she was beautiful to look on.
12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command by his chamberlains. Therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him.
13 ¶ Then the king said to the jwise men kwho knew the times, for so was the king’s manner toward all who knew law and judgment 14 and were next to him: Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, the lseven princes of Persia and Media, mwho saw the king’s face and who sat in first place in the kingdom:
15 “What will we do to Queen Vashti according to law, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?”
16 Then Memucan answered before the king and the princes, “Vashti the queen has not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes and to all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
17 “For this deed of the queen will go abroad to all women so that they will ndespise their husbands in their eyes when it will be reported, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she did not come.’
18 “Likewise will the ladies of Persia and Media say this day to all the king’s princes who have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus will there arise much contempt and anger.
19 “If it please the king, let there go out a royal command from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it onot be altered, that Vashti come no more before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.
20 “And when the king’s decree that he will make is published throughout all his empire, for it is great, all the wives will give to their husbands phonor, both to great and small.”
21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes. So the king did according to the word of Memucan.
22 So he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, qto each province according to its script and to every people according to their language, that every man should rbe master in his own house, and should speak according to the language of his people.
Chapter-1 References: a Er 4:6 b Et 8:9 c Dn 6:1 d 1 Kg 1:46 e Ne 1:1 f Gn 40:20 g Am 2:8; 6:4 h Et 2:18 i Et 7:9 j Dn 2:12 k 1 Ch 12:32 l Er 7:14 m 2 Kg 25:19 n Ep 5:33 o Et 8:8 p Cl 3:18 q Et 3:12; 8:9 r Ep 5:22-24
1 ¶ After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti and awhat she had done, and what was decreed against her.
2 Then the king’s servants who ministered to him, said, “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king.
3 “And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom so that they may gather together all the beautiful young virgins to Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, to the custody of Hegai the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women. And let cosmetics be given them.
4 “And let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” And the thing pleased the king, and so he did.
5 ¶ Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of bKish, a Benjamite,
6 cwho had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity, who had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
7 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, dhis uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. And the young lady was fair and beautiful. And when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
8 ¶ So it came to pass when the king’s command and his decree was heard, and when many young women were egathered together to Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also to the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
9 And the young woman pleased him. And she obtained kindness from him. And he quickly fgave her cosmetics, besides her allowance. Then seven maidens were provided for her out of the king’s house. And he transferred her and her maidens to the best place in the house of the women.
10 gEsther had not revealed her people nor her kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her that she should not reveal it.
11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did and what was happening to her.
12 ¶ Now when every young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus, after she had completed twelve months’ preparation, for the days of their purification were completed as follows: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and the cosmetics for women,
13 then every young woman came to the king. Whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women to the king’s house.
14 In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain who kept the concubines. She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her and that she was called by name.
15 ¶ Now when the turn of Esther, hthe daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, had come to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther iobtained favor in the sight of all those who looked on her.
16 So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus into his royal house in the tenth month, that is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17 And the king loved Esther above all the women. And she obtained grace and favor in his sight, more than all the virgins, so that he set the jroyal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
18 Then the king kmade a great feast for all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast. And he made a holiday for the provinces and gave gifts according to the generosity of the king.
19 ¶ And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat at the king’s gate.
20 Esther had not yet revealed her kindred nor her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther followed the command of Mordecai as when she was brought up with him.
21 ¶ lIn those days, while Mordecai sat at the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those who kept the door, were angry. And they sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.
22 Now the thing was known to Mordecai, mwho told it to Esther the queen. And Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name.
23 And when an inquiry was made of the matter, it was found to be true. Therefore, they were both hanged on a tree. And it was written in the nbook of the chronicles before the king.
Chapter-2 References: a Et 1:19,20 b 1 Sm 9:1 c 2 Kg 24:14,15 d Et 2:15 e Et 2:3 f Et 2:3,12 g Et 2:20 h Et 2:7; 9:29 i Et 5:2,8 j Et 1:11 k Et 1:3 l Et 2:10 m Et 6:1,2 n Et 6:1
1 ¶ After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the aAgagite, and badvanced him. And he set his seat above all the princes who were with him.
2 Then all the king’s servants who were cat the king’s gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. dBut Mordecai did not bow, nor pay homage.
3 Then the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the eking’s command?”
4 Now it came to pass when they spoke daily to him, and he did not hearken to them, that they told Haman in order to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew.
5 So when Haman saw that Mordecai fdid not bow, nor give homage, then Haman was gfull of wrath.
6 But he scorned the idea of laying hands on Mordecai alone, for they had shown him the people of Mordecai. Therefore, Haman hsought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
7 ¶ In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, ithey cast Pur, that is the lot, before Haman to select a month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, that is the month Adar.
8 ¶ And Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom. And jtheir laws are different from all people, neither do they keep the king’s laws. Therefore, it is not fitting for the king to allow them to remain.
9 “If it please the king, let it be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver to the hands of those who carry out the king’s business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.”
10 And the king ktook his lring from his hand and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the mJews’ enemy.
11 And the king said to Haman, “The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as you please.”
12 ¶ nThen the king’s scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month. And it was written according to all that Haman had commanded the king’s lieutenants and the governors who were over every province, and the rulers of every people of every province oaccording to its script, and to every people after their language. pIn the name of King Ahasuerus it was written and sealed with the king’s ring.
13 Then the letters were qsent by couriers to all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill and to cause to perish all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, rin one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, that is the month Adar, and to seize their spossessions as plunder.
14 tThe copy of the edict to be issued as law in every province was published to all people so that they should be ready for this day.
15 The couriers went out, being hastened by the king’s command. And the edict was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the ucity of Shushan was bewildered.
Chapter-3 References: a Nm 24:7 b Et 5:11 c Et 2:19,21; 5:9 d Ps 15:4 e Et 3:2 f Et 3:2; 5:9 g Dn 3:19 h Ps 83:4 i Et 9:24-26 j At 16:20,21 k Gn 41:42 l Et 8:2,8 m Et 7:6 n Et 8:9 o Et 1:22 p Et 8:8-10 q Et 8:10,14 r Et 8:12 s Et 8:11; 9:10 t Et 8:13,14 u Et 8:15
1 ¶ When Mordecai perceived all that was done, he atore his clothes and put on sackcloth with bashes. And he went out into the middle of the city and ccried out with a loud and bitter cry.
2 Then he came before the king’s gate, for no one was to enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.
3 And in every province where the king’s command and decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting and weeping and wailing. And many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4 ¶ So Esther’s maidens and her assistants came and told her. Then the queen was exceedingly grieved. And she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and to take away his sackcloth from him. But he did not accept them.
5 Then Esther called for Hatach, one of the king’s assistants whom he had appointed to attend to her. And she gave him a command concerning Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.
6 So Hatach went out to Mordecai to the street of the city that was before the king’s gate.
7 Then Mordecai told him of all that had happened to him, and of the dsum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews in order to destroy them.
8 Also he gave him a ecopy of the text of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, in order to show it to Esther, and explain it to her, and to command her that she should go in to the king in order to implore him and to plead with him for her people.
9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
10 ¶ Again Esther spoke to Hatach and gave him a command for Mordecai:
11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that whoever, whether man or woman, would come to the king into the finner court, who is not called, there is gone law of his to put him to death, except such hto whom the king will hold out the golden sceptre so that he may live. But I have not been icalled to come in to the king these thirty days.”
12 And they told Mordecai Esther’s words.
13 ¶ Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, “Do not think that you will escape in the king’s house more than all the Jews.
14 “For if you hold your peace at this time, then relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther told them to return to Mordecai this answer,
16 “Go. Gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me. And do not eat or drink jthree days, night or day. I also and my maidens will fast likewise, and so I will go in to the king that is not according to the law. And kif I perish, I perish.”
17 So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
Chapter-4 References: a 2 Sm 1:11 b Ja 7:6 c Gn 27:34 d Et 3:9 e Et 3:14,15 f Et 5:1; 6:4 g Dn 2:9 h Et 5:2; 8:4 i Et 2:14 j Et 5:1 k Gn 43:14
1 ¶ Now it came to pass aon the third day that Esther put on her royal apparel and stood in the binner court of the king’s palace across from the king’s house. And the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, across from the gate of the house.
2 Then it was so that when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she cobtained favor in his sight. And the dking held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near and touched the top of the sceptre.
3 Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is your request? eIt will be given to you to half of the kingdom.”
4 Then Esther answered, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”
5 Then the king said, “Cause Haman to make haste so that he may do as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6 ¶ And the fking said to Esther at the banquet of wine, g“What is your petition? And it will be granted to you. And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it will be done.”
7 Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and my request is:
8 “If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to do what I request, let the king and Haman come to the hbanquet that I will prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.”
9 ¶ Then Haman went out that day ijoyful and with a glad heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai at the king’s gate, jthat he did not stand up or tremble before him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
10 Nevertheless, Haman kcontrolled himself. And when he came home he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches and the lmultitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had madvanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
12 Haman also said, “Yes, Esther the queen did not let any man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself. And tomorrow I am invited to her also with the king.
13 “Yet all this has availed me nothing so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
14 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Let a ngallows be made fifty cubits high, and tomorrow ospeak to the king so that Mordecai may be hanged on it. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet.” And the thing pleased Haman, and he had the pgallows made.
Chapter-5 References: a Et 4:16 b Et 4:11; 6:4 c Pv 21:1 d Et 4:11; 8:4 e Mk 6:23 f Et 7:2 g Et 9:12 h Et 6:14 i Jb 20:5 j Et 3:5 k 2 Sm 13:22 l Et 9:7-10 m Et 3:1 n Et 7:9 o Et 6:4 p Et 7:10
1 ¶ On that night the king could not sleep. And he commanded to bring the abook of records of the chronicles. And they were read before the king.
2 And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.
3 And the king said, “What honor and dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” Then the king’s servants who ministered to him, said, “Nothing has been done for him.”
4 ¶ Then the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had come into the bouter court of the king’s house in order cto speak to the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
5 And the king’s servants said to him, “Behold, Haman stands in the court.” And the king said, “Allow him to come in.”
6 So Haman came in. And the king said to him, “What will be done to the man whom the king desires to honor?” Now Haman thought in his heart, “To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to dme?”
7 So Haman answered the king, “For the man whom the king desires to honor,
8 “let the royal apparel be brought that the king uses to wear, and the ehorse that the king rides upon, and the royal crown that is set upon his head.
9 “And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes so that they may array the man whom the king desires to honor. And bring him on horseback through the street of the city and fproclaim before him, ‘Thus will it be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.’”
10 Then the king said to Haman, “Make haste and take the apparel and the horse as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew who sits at the king’s gate. Let nothing fail of all that you have spoken.”
11 Then Haman took the apparel and the horse and adorned Mordecai. And he brought him on horseback through the street of the city. And he proclaimed before him, “Thus will it be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.”
12 ¶ Then Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman gquickly went to his house mourning, and hhaving his head covered.
13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, “If Mordecai is of the seed of the Jews, before whom you have begun to fall, you will not prevail iagainst him, but will surely fall before him.”
14 And while they were still talking with him, the king’s assistants came and quickly brought Haman to the jbanquet that Esther had prepared.
Chapter-6 References: a Et 2:23; 10:2 b Et 5:1 c Et 5:14 d Pv 16:18; 18:12 e 1 Kg 1:33 f Gn 41:43 g 2 Ch 26:20 h 2 Sm 15:30 i Zc 2:8 j Et 5:8
1 ¶ So the king and Haman came to the banquet with Esther the queen.
2 And the king said again to Esther on the second day aat the banquet of wine, “What is your petition, Queen Esther? And it will be granted to you. And what is your request? And it will be performed, even to half of the kingdom.”
3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given to me as my petition, and my people as my request,
4 “for we are bsold, I and my people to be destroyed, to be slain and to be annihilated. But if we had been sold for cbondmen and bondwomen, I would have held my tongue, although the enemy could never compensate for the king’s damage.”
5 ¶ Then King Ahasuerus answered and said to Esther the queen, “Who is he, and where is he, who presumes in his heart to do such a thing?”
6 And Esther said, “The adversary and denemy is this wicked Haman.” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.
7 ¶ Then the king, arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath, went into the palace garden. And Haman stood up to beg for his life from Esther the queen, for he saw that there was harm determined against him by the king.
8 Then the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the banquet of wine. And Haman had fallen on the ecouch whereon Esther was. Then the king said, “Will he force the queen also before me in the house?” As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they fcovered Haman’s face.
9 And gHarbonah, one of the assistants said before the king, “Behold also, the hgallows fifty cubits high that Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken igood for the king, stands at the house of Haman.” Then the king said, “Hang him on it.”
10 So jthey khanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath was pacified.
Chapter-7 References: a Et 5:6 b Et 3:9; 4:7 c Dt 28:68 d Et 3:10 e Et 1:6 f Jb 9:24 g Et 1:10 h Et 5:14 i Et 6:2 j Ps 7:16; 94:23 k Dn 6:24
1 ¶ On that day King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman the aJews’ enemy to Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told bwhat he was to her.
2 Then the king took off his cring that he had taken from Haman and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
3 ¶ Then Esther spoke again before the king, and fell down at his feet. And she implored him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his scheme that he had devised against the Jews.
4 Then dthe king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose and stood before the king.
5 And she said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the eletters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, that he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces.
6 “For how can I endure to see the fharm that will come to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?”
7 ¶ Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, gI have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hhanged on the gallows because he laid his hand on the Jews.
8 “Write also for the Jews as you see fit, in the king’s name and seal it with the king’s ring. For the writing that is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s ring hmay not be reversed.”
9 ¶ iThen the king’s scribes were called at that time in the third month, that is the month Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews and to the lieutenants and the deputies and rulers of the provinces that are from jIndia to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to every province according kto its writing, and to every people according to their language, and to the Jews according to their script and according to their language.
10 lAnd he wrote in King Ahasuerus’ name and sealed it with the king’s ring. And he sent letters by couriers on horseback, and riders on royal horses bred from swift steeds.
11 In them the king granted the Jews who were in every city to mgather themselves together and to stand for their lives, to destroy, to slay and to nperish all the power of the people and province who would assault them, both little ones and women, and to plunder their spoil,
12 oon one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, that is the month Adar.
13 pA copy of the document was issued as law in each and every province and was published to all the people that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
14 So the couriers who rode on royal horses went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king’s command. And the decree was issued at Shushan the palace.
15 ¶ And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple. And the qcity of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
16 The Jews had rlight and gladness and joy and honor.
17 And in every province, and in every city, wherever the king’s command and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a sholiday. And many of the people of the land tbecame Jews, for the ufear of the Jews fell on them.
Chapter-8 References: a Et 7:6 b Et 2:7,15 c Et 3:10 d Et 4:11; 5:2 e Et 3:13 f Ne 2:3 g Pv 13:22 h Dn 6:8,12,15 i Et 3:12 j Et 1:1 k Et 1:22; 3:12 l 1 Kg 21:8 m Et 9:2 n Et 9:10,15,16 o Et 3:13; 9:1 p Et 3:14,15 q Pv 29:2 r Ps 97:11; 112:4 s Et 9:19 t Ps 18:43 u Gn 35:5
1 ¶ Now ain the twelfth month, that is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day bwhen the king’s command and his decree drew near to be put into execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, though it was turned to the contrary that the Jews chad rule over them who hated them,
2 the Jews dgathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, to lay hands on those who esought their harm. And no man could withstand them, ffor the fear of them fell on all people.
3 And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants and the deputies and officers of the king, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell on them.
4 For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went throughout all the provinces. For this man Mordecai gbecame greater and greater.
5 Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction, and did what they desired to those who hated them.
6 And in hShushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed 500 men,
7 and Parshandatha and Dalphon and Aspatha
8 and Poratha and Adalia and Aridatha
9 and Parmashta and Arisai and Aridai and Vajezatha,
10 ithe ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. Them they slew. jBut they did not lay their hand on the plunder.
11 ¶ On that day the number of those who were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.
12 And the king said to Esther the queen, “The Jews have slain and destroyed 500 men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? kNow what is your petition? It will be granted to you. Or what is your further request? And it will be done.”
13 Then Esther said, “If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews that are in Shushan to do tomorrow also laccording to this day’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons mbe hanged on the gallows.”
14 And the king commanded it to be done. And the decree was given at Shushan and they hanged Haman’s ten sons.
15 ¶ For the Jews who were in Shushan ngathered themselves together on the fourteenth day, also of the month Adar, and slew 300 men at Shushan. oBut they did not lay their hand on the plunder.
16 ¶ But the other Jews who were in the king’s provinces pgathered themselves together and stood for their lives. And they had rest from their enemies, and slew 75,000 of their foes. qBut they did not lay their hand on the plunder.
17 On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same they rested. And they made it a day of feasting and rejoicing.
18 ¶ But the Jews who were at Shushan assembled together ron the thirteenth day, and on the fourteenth of the same month. And they rested on the fifteenth day and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing.
19 Therefore, the Jews of the villages who dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of srejoicing and feasting, and a tholiday of usending presents to one another.
20 ¶ And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,
21 obliging this holiday among them so that they should annually keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same,
22 as the days in which the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month that was turned to them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day, so that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of vsending presents to one another and gifts to the wpoor.
23 And the Jews undertook to do what they started and as Mordecai had written to them.
24 For Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had xschemed against the Jews to destroy them. And he had cast Pur, that is the lot, to consume them and to destroy them.
25 But ywhen Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked scheme that he devised against the Jews should zreturn on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.
26 ¶ Therefore, they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. And because of all the words of athis letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter and what had come to them,
27 the Jews ordained and took on them and on their bseed, and on all those who joined themselves to them, so that they should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing and according to their appointed time every year.
28 And these days were to be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province and every city. And these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.
29 ¶ Then Esther the queen, cthe daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority to confirm this dsecond letter of Purim.
30 And he sent the letters to all the Jews, to the e127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,
31 to confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had established them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the ffastings and their lamenting.
32 And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim, and it was written in the book.
Chapter-9 References: a Et 8:12 b Et 3:13 c 2 Sm 22:41 d Et 8:11; 9:15-18 e Ps 71:13,14 f Et 8:17 g 2 Sm 3:1 h Et 1:2; 3:15; 4:16 i Et 5:11; 9:7-10 j Et 8:11 k Et 5:6; 7:2 l Et 8:11; 9:15 m 2 Sm 21:6,9 n Et 8:11; 9:2 o Et 9:10 p Et 9:2 q Et 8:11 r Et 9:11,15 s Dt 16:11,14 t Et 8:16,17 u Ne 8:10,12; 9:22 v Ne 8:10 w Dt 15:7-11 x Et 3:6,7; 9:26 y Et 7:4-10; 8:3; 9:13,14 z Et 7:10 a Et 9:20 b Et 8:17 c Et 2:15 d Et 8:10; 9:20,21 e Et 1:1 f Et 4:3,16
1 ¶ Then King Ahasuerus laid a tribute on the land and upon the aislands of the sea.
2 And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai bto which the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the cchronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?
3 For Mordecai the Jew was dnext to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews. And he was accepted by the multitude of his brethren, eseeking the wealth of his people and speaking peace to all his seed.