Open English Translation ESG Chapter 8

8 On that day, King Ahashverosh (Ahasuerus) gave to Ester all that belonged to Haman the slanderer. The king called Mordekai, for Ester had told that he was related to her. 2 The king took the ring which he’d taken away from Haman and gave it to Mordekai. Ester appointed Mordekai over all that’d been Haman’s. 3 She spoke yet again to the king, and fell at his feet, and implored him to undo Haman’s mischief and all that he’d done against the Yehudim. 4 Then the king extended the golden sceptre to Ester; and Ester arose to stand near the king. 5 Ester said, “If it seems good to you, and I’ve found favour in your sight, let an order be sent that the letters sent by Haman may be reversed—letters that were written for the destruction of the Yehudim who are in your kingdom. 6 Because how could I see the affliction of my people, and how could I survive the destruction of my[fn] kindred?”

7 Then the king said to Ester, “If I’ve given and freely granted you all that was Haman’s, and hanged him on a gallows because he laid his hands on the Yehudim (Jews), what more do you seek? 8 Write in my name whatever seems good to you, and seal it with my ring; for whatever is written at the king’s command, and sealed with my ring, can’t be countermanded. 9 So the scribes were called in the first month, which is Nisan, on the twenty-third day of the same year; and orders were written to the Yehudim, whatever the king had commanded to the[fn] local governors and chiefs of the local governors, from Hodu even to Kush—one hundred and twenty-seven local governors, according to the several provinces, in their own languages. 10 They were written by order of the king, sealed with his ring, and the letters were sent by the couriers. 11 In them, he charged them to use their own laws in every city, to help each other, and to treat their adversaries and those who attacked them as they pleased, 12 on one day in all Ahashverosh’s kingdom, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is Adar.

13 Let the copies be posted in conspicuous places throughout the kingdom. Let all the Yehudim be ready against this day, to fight against their enemies. The following is a copy of the letter containing orders:

[The great King Ahashverosh (Ahasuerus) sends greetings to the rulers of provinces in one hundred and twenty-seven local governance regions, from Hodu to Kush (Ethiopia), even to those who are faithful to our interests. Many who’ve been frequently honoured by the most abundant kindness of their[fn] benefactors have conceived ambitious designs, and not only endeavour to hurt our subjects, but moreover, not being able to bear prosperity, they also endeavour to plot against their own benefactors. They not only would utterly abolish gratitude from among men, but also, elated by the boastings of men who are strangers to all that’s good, they supposed that they’d escape the sin-hating vengeance of the ever-seeing God. And often evil exhortation has made partakers of the guilt of shedding innocent blood, and has involved in irremediable calamities many of those who’d been appointed to offices of authority, who’d been entrusted with the management of their friends’ affairs; while men, by the false sophistry of an evil disposition, have deceived the simple goodwill of the ruling powers. And it’s possible to see this, not so much from more ancient traditional accounts, as it’s immediately in your power to see it by examining what things have been wickedly[fn] perpetrated by the baseness of men unworthily holding power. It’s right to take heed with regard to the future, that we may maintain the government in undisturbed peace for all men, adopting needful changes, and ever judging those cases which come under our notice with truly equitable decisions. Because whereas Haman, a person from Makedonia, the son of Hamedata, in reality an alien from the blood of the Persians, and differing widely from our mild course of government, having been hospitably entertained by us, obtained so large a share of our universal kindness as to be called our father, and to continue the person next to the royal throne, reverenced of all; he however, overcome by[fn] pride, endeavoured to deprive us of our dominion, and our life;[fn] having by various and subtle artifices demanded for destruction both Mordekai our deliverer and perpetual benefactor, and Ester the blameless consort of our kingdom, along with their whole nation. Because by these methods he thought, having surprised us in a defenceless state, to transfer the dominion of the Persians to the people from Makedonia. But we find that the Yehudim, who’ve been consigned to destruction by the[fn] most abominable of men, aren’t malefactors, but living according to the most just laws, and being the sons of the living god, the most high and[fn] mighty, who maintains the kingdom, to us as well as to our forefathers, in the most excellent order. You’ll therefore do well in refusing to obey the letter sent by Haman the son of Hamedata, because he who’s done these things has been hanged with his whole family at Shushan’s (Susa’s) gates, Almighty God having swiftly returned to him a worthy punishment. We enjoin you then, having openly published a copy of this letter in every place, to give the Yehudim permission to use their own lawful customs and to strengthen them, that on the thirteenth of the twelfth month Adar, on the self-same day, they may defend themselves against those who attack them in a time of affliction. Because in the place of the destruction of the chosen race, Almighty God has granted them this time of gladness. Therefore you also, among your notable feasts, must keep a distinct day with all festivity, that both now and in the future it may be a day of deliverance to us and who are well disposed towards the Persians, but to those that plotted against us a memorial of destruction. And every city and province collectively, which won’t do accordingly, will be consumed with vengeance by spear and fire. It’ll be made not only inaccessible to men, but most hateful to wild animals and birds forever.][fn] Let the copies be posted in conspicuous places throughout the kingdom and let all the Yehudim be ready against this day, to fight against their enemies. 14 So the horsemen went forth quickly to perform the king’s commands. The ordinance was also published in Shushan.

15 Mordekai went out robed in royal clothing, wearing a golden crown and a diadem of fine purple linen. The people in Shushan saw it and rejoiced. 16 The Yehudim had light and gladness 17 in every city and province where the ordinance was published. Wherever the official announcement took place, the Yehudim had joy and gladness, feasting and mirth. Many of the Gentiles were circumcised and became Yehudim for fear of the Yehudim.