\NormalFont\ShortTitle{Esther}
{\MTB The Book of
\par }{\MT Esther

\par }\ChapOne{1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Now
in
the
days
of
Ahasuerus (this
is
Ahasuerus
who
reigned
from
India
even
to
Ethiopia,
over
one
hundred twenty-seven
provinces),
\VS{2}in
those
days,
when
the
King
Ahasuerus
sat
on
the
throne
of
his
kingdom,
which
was
in
Susa
the palace,
\VS{3}in
the
third
year
of
his
reign,
he
made
a
feast
for
all
his
princes
and
his
servants;
the
army
of
Persia
and
Media,
the
nobles
and
princes
of
the
provinces being
before
him.
\VS{4}He
displayed
the
riches
of
his
glorious
kingdom
and
the
honor
of
his excellent
majesty
many
days,
even
one
hundred
eighty
days.
\par }{\PP \VS{5}When
these
days
were
fulfilled,
the
king
made
a
seven
day
feast
for
all
the
people
who
were
present
in
Susa
the
palace,
both
great
and
small,
in
the
court
of
the
garden
of
the
king’s
palace.
\VS{6}There
were hangings
of
white
and
blue material,
fastened
with
cords
of
fine
linen
and
purple
to
silver
rings
and marble
pillars.
The
couches
were
of
gold
and
silver,
on
a
pavement
of red,
white, yellow,
and black marble.
\VS{7}They
gave
them
drinks
in
golden
vessels
of various
kinds,
including
royal
wine
in abundance,
according
to
the
bounty
of
the
king.
\VS{8}In
accordance
with
the
law,
the
drinking
was
not compulsory;
for
so
the
king
had instructed
all
the officials
of
his
house,
that
they
should
do
according
to
every
man’s
pleasure.
\par }{\PP \VS{9}Also
Vashti
the
queen
made
a
feast
for
the
women
in
the
royal
house
which belonged
to
King
Ahasuerus.
\par }{\PP \VS{10}On
the
seventh
day,
when
the
heart
of
the
king
was merry
with
wine,
he
commanded
Mehuman,
Biztha,
Harbona,
Bigtha,
and
Abagtha,
Zethar,
and Carcass,
the
seven
eunuchs
who
served
in
the
presence
of
Ahasuerus
the
king,
\VS{11}to
bring
Vashti
the
queen
before
the
king wearing
the
royal
crown,
to
show
the
people
and
the
princes
her
beauty;
for
she
was
beautiful.
\VS{12}But
the
queen
Vashti
refused
to
come
at
the
king’s
commandment
by
the
eunuchs.
Therefore
the
king
was
very
angry,
and
his
anger
burned
in
him.
\par }{\PP \VS{13}Then
the
king
said
to
the
wise
men,
who
knew
the
times (for
it
was
the
king’s
custom
to consult
those
who
knew
law
and
judgment;
\VS{14}and
next
to
him
were
Carshena,
Shethar,
Admatha,
Tarshish,
Meres,
Marsena,
and
Memucan,
the
seven
princes
of
Persia
and
Media,
who
saw
the
king’s
face,
and
sat
first
in
the
kingdom),
\VS{15}“What
shall
we
do
to
Queen
Vashti
according
to
law,
because
she
has
not
done
the bidding
of
the
King
Ahasuerus
by
the
eunuchs?”
\par }{\PP \VS{16}Memucan
answered
before
the
king
and
the
princes, “Vashti
the
queen
has
not
done wrong
to
just
the
king,
but
also
to
all
the
princes,
and
to
all
the
people
who
are
in
all
the
provinces
of
the
King
Ahasuerus.
\VS{17}For
this
deed
of
the
queen
will
become
known
to
all
women,
causing
them
to show
contempt
for
their
husbands
when
it
is
reported, ‘King
Ahasuerus
commanded
Vashti
the
queen
to
be
brought
in
before
him,
but
she
didn’t
come.’
\VS{18}Today,
the
princesses
of
Persia
and
Media
who
have
heard
of
the
queen’s
deed
will
tell
all
the
king’s
princes.
This
will
cause
much
contempt
and
wrath.
\par }{\PP \VS{19}“If
it
pleases
the
king,
let
a
royal
commandment
go
from
him,
and
let
it
be
written
among
the
laws
of
the Persians
and
the
Medes,
so
that
it
cannot
be altered,
that
Vashti
may
never
again
come
before
King
Ahasuerus;
and
let
the
king
give
her
royal estate
to
another
who
is
better
than
she.
\VS{20}When
the
king’s decree
which
he
shall
make
is published
throughout
all
his
kingdom (for
it
is
great),
all
the
wives
will
give
their
husbands
honor,
both
great
and
small.”
\par }{\PP \VS{21}This
advice
pleased
the
king
and
the
princes,
and
the
king
did according
to
the
word
of
Memucan:
\VS{22}for
he
sent
letters
into
all
the
king’s
provinces,
into
every
province
according
to
its
writing,
and
to
every
people
in
their
language,
that
every
man
should
rule
his
own
house,
speaking
in
the
language
of
his
own
people.

\par }\Chap{2}{\PP \VerseOne{1}After
these
things,
when
the
wrath
of
King
Ahasuerus
was pacified,
he
remembered
Vashti,
and
what
she
had
done,
and
what
was
decreed
against
her.
\VS{2}Then
the
king’s
servants
who
served
him
said, “Let
beautiful
young
virgins
be
sought
for
the
king.
\VS{3}Let
the
king
appoint
officers
in
all
the
provinces
of
his
kingdom,
that
they
may
gather
together
all
the
beautiful
young
virgins
to
the
citadel
of
Susa,
to
the women’s
house,
to
the
custody
of
Hegai
the
king’s
eunuch,
keeper
of
the
women.
Let
cosmetics
be
given
them;
\VS{4}and
let
the maiden
who
pleases
the
king
be queen
instead
of
Vashti.”
The
thing
pleased
the
king,
and
he
did
so.
\par }{\PP \VS{5}There
was
a
certain
Jew
in
the
citadel
of
Susa
whose
name
was
Mordecai,
the
son
of
Jair,
the
son
of
Shimei,
the
son
of
Kish,
a
Benjamite,
\VS{6}who
had
been
carried
away
from
Jerusalem
with
the
captives
who
had
been
carried
away
with
Jeconiah
king
of
Judah,
whom
Nebuchadnezzar
the
king
of
Babylon
had
carried
away.
\VS{7}He
brought
up
Hadassah,
that
is,
Esther,
his
uncle’s
daughter;
for
she
had
neither
father
nor
mother.
The maiden
was
fair
and
beautiful;
and
when
her
father
and
mother
were
dead,
Mordecai
took
her
for
his
own
daughter.
\par }{\PP \VS{8}So,
when
the
king’s
commandment
and
his
decree
was
heard,
and
when
many
maidens
were
gathered
together
to
the
citadel
of
Susa,
to
the
custody
of
Hegai,
Esther
was
taken
into
the
king’s
house,
to
the
custody
of
Hegai,
keeper
of
the
women.
\VS{9}The maiden
pleased
him,
and
she
obtained
kindness
from
him.
He
quickly
gave
her
cosmetics
and
her
portions
of
food,
and
the
seven
choice
maidens
who
were
to
be
given
her
out
of
the
king’s
house.
He moved
her
and
her
maidens
to
the
best
place
in
the women’s
house.
\VS{10}Esther
had
not
made
known
her
people
nor
her
relatives,
because
Mordecai
had
instructed
her
that
she
should
not
make
it
known.
\VS{11}Mordecai
walked
every
day
in
front
of
the
court
of
the women’s
house,
to
find
out
how
Esther
was
doing,
and
what
would
become
of
her.
\par }{\PP \VS{12}Each
young
woman’s
turn
came
to
go
in
to
King
Ahasuerus
after
her purification
for
twelve
months (for
so
were
the
days
of
their purification
accomplished,
six
months
with
oil
of
myrrh,
and
six
months
with
sweet fragrances
and
with preparations
for beautifying
women).
\VS{13}The
young
woman
then
came
to
the
king
like
this:
whatever
she
desired
was
given
her
to
go
with
her
out
of
the women’s
house
to
the
king’s
house.
\VS{14}In
the
evening
she
went,
and
on
the
next
day
she
returned
into
the
second women’s
house,
to
the
custody
of
Shaashgaz,
the
king’s
eunuch,
who
kept
the
concubines.
She
came
in
to
the
king
no
more,
unless
the
king delighted
in
her,
and
she
was
called
by
name.
\par }{\PP \VS{15}Now
when
the
turn
of
Esther,
the
daughter
of
Abihail
the
uncle
of
Mordecai,
who
had
taken
her
for
his
daughter,
came
to
go
in
to
the
king,
she
required
nothing
but
what
Hegai
the
king’s
eunuch,
the
keeper
of
the
women,
advised.
Esther
obtained
favor
in
the
sight
of
all
those
who
looked
at
her.
\par }{\PP \VS{16}So
Esther
was
taken
to
King
Ahasuerus
into
his
royal
house
in
the
tenth
month,
which
is
the
month
Tebeth,
in
the
seventh
year
of
his
reign.
\VS{17}The
king
loved
Esther more
than
all
the
women,
and
she
obtained
favor
and
kindness
in
his
sight more
than
all
the
virgins;
so
that
he
set
the
royal
crown
on
her
head,
and
made
her queen
instead
of
Vashti.
\par }{\PP \VS{18}Then
the
king
made
a
great
feast
for
all
his
princes
and
his
servants,
even
Esther’s
feast;
and
he proclaimed
a
holiday
in
the
provinces,
and
gave
gifts
according
to
the
king’s
bounty.
\par }{\PP \VS{19}When
the
virgins
were
gathered
together
the
second
time,
Mordecai
was
sitting
in
the
king’s
gate.
\VS{20}Esther
had
not
yet
made
known
her
relatives
nor
her
people,
as
Mordecai
had
commanded
her;
for
Esther obeyed
Mordecai,
like
she
did
when
she
was
brought
up
by
him.
\VS{21}In
those
days,
while
Mordecai
was
sitting
in
the
king’s
gate,
two
of
the
king’s
eunuchs,
Bigthan
and
Teresh,
who
were
doorkeepers,
were
angry,
and
sought
to
lay
hands
on
the
King
Ahasuerus.
\VS{22}This
thing
became
known
to
Mordecai,
who
informed
Esther
the
queen;
and
Esther
informed
the
king
in
Mordecai’s
name.
\VS{23}When
this
matter
was
investigated,
and
it
was
found
to
be
so,
they
were
both
hanged
on
a
gallows;
and
it
was
written
in
the
book
of
the
chronicles
in
the
king’s
presence.

\par }\Chap{3}{\PP \VerseOne{1}After
these
things
King
Ahasuerus
promoted
Haman
the
son
of Hammedatha
the
Agagite,
and
advanced
him,
and
set
his
seat
above
all
the
princes
who
were
with
him.
\VS{2}All
the
king’s
servants
who
were
in
the
king’s
gate
bowed
down
and
paid
homage
to
Haman,
for
the
king
had
so
commanded
concerning
him.
But
Mordecai
didn’t
bow
down
or pay
him
homage.
\VS{3}Then
the
king’s
servants
who
were
in
the
king’s
gate
said
to
Mordecai, “Why do
you disobey
the
king’s
commandment?”
\VS{4}Now
it
came
to
pass,
when
they
spoke
daily
to
him,
and
he
didn’t
listen
to
them,
that
they
told
Haman,
to
see
whether
Mordecai’s
reason
would
stand;
for
he
had
told
them
that
he
was
a
Jew.
\VS{5}When
Haman
saw
that
Mordecai didn’t
bow
down
nor pay
him
homage,
Haman
was
full
of
wrath.
\VS{6}But
he scorned
the
thought
of laying
hands
on
Mordecai
alone,
for
they
had
made
known
to
him
Mordecai’s
people.
Therefore
Haman
sought
to
destroy
all
the
Jews
who
were
throughout
the
whole
kingdom
of
Ahasuerus,
even
Mordecai’s
people.
\par }{\PP \VS{7}In
the
first
month,
which
is
the
month
Nisan,
in
the twelfth
year
of
King
Ahasuerus,
they
cast
Pur,
that
is,
the
lot,
before
Haman
from
day
to
day,
and
from
month
to
month,
and chose
the twelfth
month,
which
is
the
month
Adar.
\VS{8}Haman
said
to
King
Ahasuerus, “There
is
a
certain
people
scattered abroad
and
dispersed
among
the
peoples
in
all
the
provinces
of
your
kingdom,
and
their
laws
are different
from
other
people’s.
They
don’t
keep
the
king’s
laws. Therefore
it
is
not
for
the
king’s profit
to
allow
them
to remain.
\VS{9}If
it
pleases
the
king, let
it
be
written
that
they
be
destroyed;
and
I
will
pay
ten
thousand
talents\FTNT{*}{{\FR 3:9 }
A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds or 965 Troy ounces}
of
silver
into
the
hands
of
those
who
are
in
charge
of
the
king’s
business,
to
bring
it
into
the
king’s
treasuries.”
\par }{\PP \VS{10}The
king
took
his
ring
from
his
hand,
and
gave
it
to
Haman
the
son
of Hammedatha
the
Agagite,
the
Jews’
enemy.
\VS{11}The
king
said
to
Haman, “The
silver
is
given
to
you,
the
people
also,
to
do
with
them
as
it
seems
good
to
you.”
\par }{\PP \VS{12}Then
the
king’s
scribes
were
called
in
on
the
first
month,
on
the thirteenth
day
of
the
month;
and
all
that
Haman
commanded
was
written
to
the
king’s local
governors,
and
to
the
governors
who
were
over
every
province,
and
to
the
princes
of
every
people,
to
every
province
according
to
its
writing,
and
to
every
people
in
their
language.
It
was
written
in
the
name
of
King
Ahasuerus,
and
it
was
sealed
with
the
king’s
ring.
\VS{13}Letters
were
sent
by
couriers
into
all
the
king’s
provinces,
to
destroy,
to
kill,
and
to cause
to
perish,
all
Jews,
both
young
and
old,
little
children
and
women,
in
one
day,
even
on
the thirteenth
day
of
the twelfth
month,
which
is
the
month
Adar,
and
to
plunder
their
possessions.
\VS{14}A
copy
of
the
letter,
that
the
decree
should
be
given
out
in
every
province,
was
published
to
all
the
peoples,
that
they
should
be
ready
against
that
day.
\VS{15}The
couriers
went
out
in haste
by
the
king’s
commandment,
and
the
decree
was
given
out
in
the
citadel
of
Susa.
The
king
and
Haman
sat
down
to
drink;
but
the
city
of
Susa
was perplexed.

\par }\Chap{4}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Now
when
Mordecai
found
out
all
that
was
done,
Mordecai
tore
his
clothes
and
put
on
sackcloth
with
ashes,
and
went
out
into
the
middle
of
the
city,
and
wailed
loudly
and
bitterly.
\VS{2}He
came
even
before
the
king’s
gate,
for
no
one
is allowed
inside
the
king’s
gate
clothed
with
sackcloth.
\VS{3}In
every
province,
wherever
the
king’s
commandment
and
his
decree
came,
there
was
great
mourning among
the
Jews,
and
fasting,
and
weeping,
and
wailing;
and
many
lay
in
sackcloth
and
ashes.
\par }{\PP \VS{4}Esther’s
maidens
and
her
eunuchs
came
and
told
her
this,
and
the
queen
was
exceedingly grieved.
She
sent
clothing
to
Mordecai,
to replace
his
sackcloth,
but
he
didn’t
receive
it.
\VS{5}Then
Esther
called
for
Hathach,
one
of
the
king’s
eunuchs,
whom
he
had
appointed
to
attend
her,
and
commanded
him
to go
to
Mordecai,
to
find
out
what
this
was,
and
why
it
was.
\VS{6}So
Hathach
went
out
to
Mordecai,
to the
city
square
which
was
before
the
king’s
gate.
\VS{7}Mordecai
told
him
of
all
that
had
happened
to
him,
and
the
exact sum
of
the
money
that
Haman
had
promised
to
pay
to
the
king’s
treasuries
for
the
destruction
of
the
Jews.
\VS{8}He
also
gave
him
the
copy
of
the
writing
of
the
decree
that
was
given
out
in
Susa
to
destroy
them,
to
show
it
to
Esther,
and
to
declare
it
to
her,
and
to urge
her
to
go
in
to
the
king
to
make supplication
to
him,
and
to
make
request
before
him
for
her
people.
\par }{\PP \VS{9}Hathach
came
and
told
Esther
the
words
of
Mordecai.
\VS{10}Then
Esther
spoke
to
Hathach,
and
gave
him
a message
to
Mordecai:
\VS{11}“All
the
king’s
servants
and
the
people
of
the
king’s
provinces
know
that
whoever, whether
man
or
woman,
comes
to
the
king
into
the
inner
court
without being
called,
there
is
one
law
for
him,
that
he
be
put
to
death,
except
those
to
whom
the
king
might hold
out
the
golden
scepter,
that
he
may
live.
I
have
not
been
called
to
come
in
to
the
king
these
thirty
days.”
\par }{\PP \VS{12}They
told
Esther’s
words
to
Mordecai.
\VS{13}Then
Mordecai
asked
them
to
return
this
answer
to
Esther: “Don’t
think
to
yourself
that
you
will
escape
in
the
king’s
house
any
more
than
all
the
Jews.
\VS{14}For
if
you
remain
silent
now,
then
relief
and
deliverance
will
come
to
the
Jews
from
another
place,
but
you
and
your
father’s
house
will
perish.
Who
knows
if
you haven’t
come
to
the
kingdom
for
such
a
time
as
this?”
\par }{\PP \VS{15}Then
Esther
asked
them
to
answer
Mordecai,
\VS{16}“Go,
gather
together
all
the
Jews
who
are
present
in
Susa,
and
fast
for
me,
and
neither
eat
nor
drink
three
days,
night
or
day.
I
and
my
maidens
will
also
fast
the
same
way.
Then
I
will
go
in
to
the
king,
which
is
against
the
law;
and
if
I
perish,
I
perish.”
\VS{17}So
Mordecai went
his
way,
and
did
according
to
all
that
Esther
had
commanded
him.

\par }\Chap{5}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Now
on
the
third
day,
Esther
put
on
her
royal
clothing
and
stood
in
the
inner
court
of
the
king’s
house,
next
to
the
king’s
house.
The
king
sat
on
his
royal
throne
in
the
royal
house,
next
to
the
entrance
of
the
house.
\VS{2}When
the
king
saw
Esther
the
queen
standing
in
the
court,
she
obtained
favor
in
his
sight;
and
the
king
held
out
to
Esther
the
golden
scepter
that
was
in
his
hand.
So
Esther
came
near
and
touched
the
top
of
the
scepter.
\par }{\PP \VS{3}Then
the
king
asked
her, “What
would
you
like,
queen
Esther?
What
is
your
request?
It
shall
be
given
you
even
to
the
half
of
the
kingdom.”
\par }{\PP \VS{4}Esther
said, “If
it seems
good
to
the
king, let
the
king
and
Haman
come
today
to
the
banquet
that
I
have
prepared
for
him.”
\par }{\PP \VS{5}Then
the
king
said, “Bring
Haman
quickly,
so
that
it
may
be
done
as
Esther
has
said.”
So
the
king
and
Haman
came
to
the
banquet
that
Esther
had
prepared.
\par }{\PP \VS{6}The
king
said
to
Esther
at
the
banquet
of
wine, “What
is
your
petition?
It
shall
be
granted
you.
What
is
your
request?
Even
to
the
half
of
the
kingdom
it
shall
be
performed.”
\par }{\PP \VS{7}Then
Esther
answered
and
said, “My
petition
and
my
request
is this.
\VS{8}If
I
have
found
favor
in
the
sight
of
the
king,
and
if
it
pleases
the
king
to
grant
my
petition
and
to
perform
my
request,
let
the
king
and
Haman
come
to
the
banquet
that
I
will
prepare
for
them,
and
I
will
do
tomorrow
as
the
king
has
said.”
\par }{\PP \VS{9}Then
Haman
went
out
that
day
joyful
and
glad
of
heart,
but
when
Haman
saw
Mordecai
in
the
king’s
gate,
that
he
didn’t
stand
up
nor move
for
him,
he
was
filled
with
wrath
against
Mordecai.
\VS{10}Nevertheless
Haman
restrained
himself,
and
went
home. There,
he
sent
and called
for
his
friends
and
Zeresh
his
wife.
\VS{11}Haman
recounted
to
them
the
glory
of
his
riches,
the
multitude
of
his
children,
all
the
things
in
which
the
king
had
promoted
him,
and
how
he
had
advanced
him
above
the
princes
and
servants
of
the
king.
\par }{\PP \VS{12}Haman
also
said, “Yes,
Esther
the
queen
let
no man
come
in
with
the
king
to
the
banquet
that
she
had
prepared
but
myself;
and
tomorrow
I
am
also
invited
by
her
together
with
the
king.
\VS{13}Yet
all
this avails
me
nothing,
so long
as
I
see
Mordecai
the
Jew
sitting
at
the
king’s
gate.”
\par }{\PP \VS{14}Then
Zeresh
his
wife
and
all
his
friends
said
to
him, “Let
a
gallows
be
made
fifty
cubits\FTNT{*}{{\FR 5:14 }
A cubit is the length from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow on a man’s arm, or about 18 inches or 46 centimeters.}
high,
and
in
the
morning
speak
to
the
king
about
hanging
Mordecai
on
it.
Then
go
in merrily
with
the
king
to
the
banquet.”
This
pleased
Haman,
so
he
had
the
gallows
made.

\par }\Chap{6}{\PP \VerseOne{1}On
that
night,
the
king couldn’t
sleep.
He
commanded
the
book
of
records
of
the
chronicles
to
be
brought,
and
they
were
read
to
the
king.
\VS{2}It
was
found
written
that
Mordecai
had
told
of
Bigthana
and
Teresh,
two
of
the
king’s
eunuchs,
who
were
doorkeepers,
who
had
tried
to
lay
hands
on
the
King
Ahasuerus.
\VS{3}The
king
said, “What
honor
and
dignity
has
been given
to
Mordecai
for
this?”
\par }{\PP Then
the
king’s
servants
who
attended
him
said, “Nothing
has
been
done
for
him.”
\par }{\PP \VS{4}The
king
said, “Who
is
in
the
court?”
Now
Haman
had
come
into
the
outer
court
of
the
king’s
house,
to
speak
to
the
king
about
hanging
Mordecai
on
the
gallows
that
he
had
prepared
for
him.
\par }{\PP \VS{5}The
king’s
servants
said
to
him, “Behold,\FTNT{*}{{\FR 6:5 }
“Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.}
Haman
stands
in
the
court.”
\par }{\PP The
king
said, “Let
him
come
in.”
\VS{6}So
Haman
came
in.
The
king
said
to
him, “What
shall
be
done
to
the
man
whom
the
king
delights
to
honor?”
\par }{\PP Now
Haman
said
in
his
heart, “Who
would
the
king
delight
to
honor
more
than
myself?”
\VS{7}Haman
said
to
the
king, “For
the
man
whom
the
king
delights
to
honor,
\VS{8}let
royal
clothing
be
brought
which
the
king uses
to
wear,
and
the
horse
that
the
king
rides
on,
and
on
the
head
of
which
a
royal
crown
is
set.
\VS{9}Let
the
clothing
and
the
horse
be
delivered
to
the
hand
of
one
of
the
king’s
most
noble
princes,
that
they
may
array
the
man
whom
the
king
delights
to
honor
with
them,
and
have
him
ride
on
horseback
through
the
city
square,
and
proclaim
before
him, ‘Thus
it
shall
be
done
to
the
man
whom
the
king
delights
to
honor!’ ”
\par }{\PP \VS{10}Then
the
king
said
to
Haman, “Hurry
and
take
the
clothing
and
the
horse,
as
you
have
said,
and
do
this
for
Mordecai
the
Jew,
who
sits
at
the
king’s
gate.
Let
nothing
fail
of
all
that
you
have
spoken.”
\par }{\PP \VS{11}Then
Haman
took
the
clothing
and
the
horse,
and
arrayed
Mordecai,
and
had
him
ride through
the
city
square,
and
proclaimed
before
him, “Thus
it
shall
be
done
to
the
man
whom
the
king
delights
to
honor!”
\par }{\PP \VS{12}Mordecai
came
back
to
the
king’s
gate,
but
Haman
hurried
to
his
house,
mourning
and
having
his
head
covered.
\VS{13}Haman
recounted
to
Zeresh
his
wife
and
all
his
friends
everything
that
had
happened
to
him.
Then
his
wise
men
and
Zeresh
his
wife
said
to
him, “If
Mordecai,
before
whom
you
have
begun
to
fall,
is
of
Jewish
descent,
you
will
not
prevail
against
him,
but
you
will
surely
fall
before
him.”
\VS{14}While
they
were
yet
talking
with
him,
the
king’s
eunuchs
came,
and
hurried
to
bring
Haman
to
the
banquet
that
Esther
had
prepared.

\par }\Chap{7}{\PP \VerseOne{1}So
the
king
and
Haman
came
to banquet
with
Esther
the
queen.
\VS{2}The
king
said
again
to
Esther
on
the
second
day
at
the
banquet
of
wine, “What
is
your
petition,
queen
Esther?
It
shall
be
granted
you.
What
is
your
request?
Even
to
the
half
of
the
kingdom
it
shall
be
performed.”
\par }{\PP \VS{3}Then
Esther
the
queen
answered, “If
I
have
found
favor
in
your
sight,
O
king,
and
if
it
pleases
the
king,
let
my
life
be
given
me
at
my
petition,
and
my
people
at
my
request.
\VS{4}For
we
are
sold,
I
and
my
people,
to
be
destroyed,
to
be
slain,
and
to
perish.
But
if
we
had
been
sold
for
male
and
female
slaves,
I
would
have held
my peace,
although
the adversary
could
not
have compensated
for
the
king’s loss.”
\par }{\PP \VS{5}Then
King
Ahasuerus
said
to
Esther
the
queen, “Who
is
he,
and
where
is
he
who dared presume
in
his
heart
to
do
so?”
\par }{\PP \VS{6}Esther
said, “An adversary
and
an
enemy, even
this
wicked
Haman!”
\par }{\PP Then
Haman
was afraid
before
the
king
and
the
queen.
\VS{7}The
king
arose
in
his
wrath
from
the
banquet
of
wine
and
went
into
the
palace
garden.
Haman
stood
up
to
make
request
for
his
life
to
Esther
the
queen,
for
he
saw
that
there
was
evil
determined
against
him
by
the
king.
\VS{8}Then
the
king
returned
out
of
the
palace
garden
into
the
place
of
the
banquet
of
wine;
and
Haman
had
fallen
on
the
couch
where
Esther
was.
Then
the
king
said, “Will
he
even
assault
the
queen
in
front
of
me
in
the
house?”
As
the
word
went
out
of
the
king’s
mouth,
they
covered
Haman’s
face.
\par }{\PP \VS{9}Then
Harbonah,
one
of
the
eunuchs
who
were
with
the
king,
said, “Behold,
the
gallows
fifty
cubits\FTNT{*}{{\FR 7:9 }
A cubit is the length from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow on a man’s arm, or about 18 inches or 46 centimeters.}
high,
which
Haman
has
made
for
Mordecai,
who
spoke
good
for
the
king,
is
standing
at
Haman’s
house.”
\par }{\PP The
king
said, “Hang
him
on
it!”
\par }{\PP \VS{10}So
they
hanged
Haman
on
the
gallows
that
he
had
prepared
for
Mordecai.
Then
the
king’s
wrath
was pacified.

\par }\Chap{8}{\PP \VerseOne{1}On
that
day,
King
Ahasuerus
gave
the
house
of
Haman,
the
Jews’
enemy,
to
Esther
the
queen.
Mordecai
came
before
the
king;
for
Esther
had
told
what
he
was
to
her.
\VS{2}The
king
took
off
his
ring,
which
he
had
taken
from
Haman,
and
gave
it
to
Mordecai.
Esther
set
Mordecai
over
the
house
of
Haman.
\par }{\PP \VS{3}Esther
spoke
yet
again
before
the
king,
and
fell
down
at
his
feet
and begged
him
with tears
to put
away
the mischief
of
Haman
the
Agagite,
and
his
plan
that
he
had
planned
against
the
Jews.
\VS{4}Then
the
king held
out
to
Esther
the
golden
scepter.
So
Esther
arose,
and
stood
before
the
king.
\VS{5}She
said, “If
it
pleases
the
king,
and
if
I
have
found
favor
in
his
sight,
and
the
thing
seems
right
to
the
king,
and
I
am pleasing
in
his
eyes, let
it
be
written
to
reverse
the
letters
devised
by
Haman,
the
son
of Hammedatha
the
Agagite,
which
he
wrote
to
destroy
the
Jews
who
are
in
all
the
king’s
provinces.
\VS{6}For
how
can
I
endure
to
see
the
evil
that
would
come
to
my
people?
How
can
I
endure
to
see
the
destruction
of
my
relatives?”
\par }{\PP \VS{7}Then
King
Ahasuerus
said
to
Esther
the
queen
and
to
Mordecai
the
Jew, “See,
I
have
given
Esther
the
house
of
Haman,
and
they
have
hanged
him
on
the
gallows
because
he
laid
his
hand
on
the
Jews.
\VS{8}Write
also
to
the
Jews
as
it
pleases
you,
in
the
king’s
name,
and
seal
it
with
the
king’s
ring;
for
the
writing
which
is
written
in
the
king’s
name,
and
sealed
with
the
king’s
ring,
may
not
be reversed
by
any
man.”
\par }{\PP \VS{9}Then
the
king’s
scribes
were
called
at
that
time,
in
the
third
month,
which
is
the
month
Sivan,
on
the
twenty-third
day
of
the
month;
and
it
was
written
according
to
all
that
Mordecai
commanded
to
the
Jews,
and
to
the local
governors,
and
the
governors
and
princes
of
the
provinces
which
are
from
India
to
Ethiopia,
one
hundred twenty-seven
provinces,
to
every
province
according
to
its
writing,
and
to
every
people
in
their
language,
and
to
the
Jews
in
their
writing,
and
in
their
language.
\VS{10}He
wrote
in
the
name
of
King
Ahasuerus,
and
sealed
it
with
the
king’s
ring,
and
sent
letters
by
courier
on
horseback,
riding
on
royal
horses
that
were bred
from
swift
steeds.
\VS{11}In
those letters,
the
king
granted
the
Jews
who
were
in
every
city
to
gather
themselves
together
and
to
defend
their
lives—to
destroy,
to
kill,
and
to
cause
to
perish
all
the power
of
the
people
and
province
that
would assault
them,
their
little
ones
and
women,
and
to
plunder
their
possessions,
\VS{12}on
one
day
in
all
the
provinces
of
King
Ahasuerus,
on
the thirteenth
day
of
the twelfth
month,
which
is
the
month
Adar.
\VS{13}A
copy
of
the
letter,
that
the
decree
should
be
given
out
in
every
province,
was
published
to
all
the
peoples,
that
the
Jews
should
be ready
for
that
day
to
avenge themselves
on
their
enemies.
\VS{14}So
the
couriers
who
rode
on
royal
horses
went
out,
hastened
and pressed
on
by
the
king’s
commandment.
The
decree
was
given
out
in
the
citadel
of
Susa.
\par }{\PP \VS{15}Mordecai
went
out
of
the
presence
of
the
king
in
royal
clothing
of
blue
and
white,
and
with
a
great
crown
of
gold,
and
with
a
robe
of
fine
linen
and
purple;
and
the
city
of
Susa
shouted
and
was
glad.
\VS{16}The
Jews
had light,
gladness,
joy,
and
honor.
\VS{17}In
every
province
and
in
every
city,
wherever
the
king’s
commandment
and
his
decree
came,
the
Jews
had
gladness,
joy,
a
feast
and
a holiday.
Many
from
among
the
peoples
of
the
land
became
Jews,
for
the
fear
of
the
Jews
had
fallen
on
them.

\par }\Chap{9}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Now
in
the twelfth
month,
which
is
the
month
Adar,
on
the thirteenth
day
of
the
month,
when
the
king’s
commandment
and
his
decree
came
near
to
be put
in execution,
on
the
day
that
the
enemies
of
the
Jews hoped
to conquer
them, (but
it
turned
out
that
the
opposite
happened,
that
the
Jews conquered
those
who
hated
them),
\VS{2}the
Jews
gathered
themselves
together
in
their
cities
throughout
all
the
provinces
of
the
King
Ahasuerus,
to
lay
hands
on
those
who
wanted
to
harm
them.
No
one
could
withstand
them,
because
the
fear
of
them
had
fallen
on
all
the
people.
\VS{3}All
the
princes
of
the
provinces,
the local
governors,
the
governors,
and
those
who
did
the
king’s
business helped
the
Jews,
because
the
fear
of
Mordecai
had
fallen
on
them.
\VS{4}For
Mordecai
was
great
in
the
king’s
house,
and
his
fame
went
out
throughout
all
the
provinces,
for
the
man
Mordecai
grew
greater
and
greater.
\VS{5}The
Jews
struck
all
their
enemies
with
the stroke
of
the
sword,
and
with
slaughter
and
destruction,
and
did
what
they wanted
to
those
who
hated
them.
\VS{6}In
the
citadel
of
Susa,
the
Jews
killed
and
destroyed
five
hundred
men.
\VS{7}They killed
Parshandatha,
Dalphon,
Aspatha,
\VS{8}Poratha,
Adalia,
Aridatha,
\VS{9}Parmashta,
Arisai,
Aridai,
and
Vaizatha,
\VS{10}the
ten
sons
of
Haman
the
son
of Hammedatha,
the
Jews’
enemy,
but
they
didn’t
lay
their
hand
on
the
plunder.
\par }{\PP \VS{11}On
that
day,
the
number
of
those
who
were
slain
in
the
citadel
of
Susa
was
brought
before
the
king.
\VS{12}The
king
said
to
Esther
the
queen, “The
Jews
have
slain
and
destroyed
five
hundred
men
in
the
citadel
of
Susa,
including
the
ten
sons
of
Haman;
what
then
have
they
done
in
the
rest
of
the
king’s
provinces!
Now
what
is
your
petition?
It
shall
be
granted
you.
What
is
your
further
request?
It
shall
be
done.”
\par }{\PP \VS{13}Then
Esther
said, “If
it pleases
the
king,
let
it
be
granted
to
the
Jews
who
are
in
Susa
to
do
tomorrow
also
according
to
today’s
decree,
and
let
Haman’s
ten
sons
be
hanged
on
the
gallows.”
\par }{\PP \VS{14}The
king
commanded
this
to
be
done.
A
decree
was
given
out
in
Susa;
and
they
hanged
Haman’s
ten
sons.
\VS{15}The
Jews
who
were
in
Susa
gathered
themselves
together
on
the fourteenth
day
also
of
the
month
Adar,
and
killed
three
hundred
men
in
Susa;
but
they
didn’t
lay
their
hand
on
the
plunder.
\par }{\PP \VS{16}The other
Jews
who
were
in
the
king’s
provinces
gathered
themselves
together, defended
their
lives,
had
rest
from
their
enemies,
and
killed
seventy-five
thousand
of
those
who
hated
them;
but
they
didn’t
lay
their
hand
on
the
plunder.
\VS{17}This
was
done
on
the thirteenth
day
of
the
month
Adar;
and
on
the fourteenth
day
of
that
month
they
rested
and
made
it
a
day
of
feasting
and
gladness.
\par }{\PP \VS{18}But
the
Jews
who
were
in
Susa
assembled
together
on
the thirteenth
and
on
the fourteenth
days
of
the month;
and
on
the fifteenth
day
of
that month,
they
rested,
and
made
it
a
day
of
feasting
and
gladness.
\VS{19}Therefore
the
Jews
of
the
villages,
who
live
in
the
unwalled
towns,
make
the fourteenth
day
of
the
month
Adar
a
day
of
gladness
and
feasting,
a holiday,
and
a
day
of
sending presents
of
food
to
one
another.
\par }{\PP \VS{20}Mordecai
wrote
these
things,
and
sent
letters
to
all
the
Jews
who
were
in
all
the
provinces
of
the
King
Ahasuerus,
both
near
and
far,
\VS{21}to enjoin
them
that
they
should
keep
the fourteenth
and fifteenth
days
of
the
month
Adar
yearly,
\VS{22}as
the
days
in
which
the
Jews
had
rest
from
their
enemies,
and
the
month
which
was
turned
to
them
from
sorrow
to
gladness,
and
from
mourning
into
a holiday;
that
they
should
make
them
days
of
feasting
and
gladness,
and
of
sending
presents
of
food
to
one
another,
and
gifts
to
the
needy.
\VS{23}The
Jews
accepted
the
custom
that
they
had
begun,
as
Mordecai
had
written
to
them,
\VS{24}because
Haman
the
son
of Hammedatha,
the
Agagite,
the
enemy
of
all
the
Jews,
had
plotted
against
the
Jews
to
destroy
them,
and
had
cast “Pur”,
that
is
the
lot,
to consume
them
and
to
destroy
them;
\VS{25}but
when
this
became known
to
the
king,
he
commanded
by
letters
that
his
wicked
plan,
which
he
had
planned
against
the
Jews,
should
return
on
his
own
head,
and
that
he
and
his
sons
should
be
hanged
on
the
gallows.
\par }{\PP \VS{26}Therefore
they
called
these
days “Purim”,\FTNT{*}{{\FR 9:26 }
Purim is the Hebrew plural for pur, which means lot.}
from
the
word “Pur.”
Therefore
because
of
all
the
words
of
this
letter,
and
of
that
which
they
had
seen
concerning
this
matter,
and
that
which
had
come
to
them,
\VS{27}the
Jews
established
and imposed
on
themselves,
on
their
descendants,
and
on
all
those
who joined
themselves
to
them,
so
that
it
should
not
fail
that
they
would
keep
these
two
days
according
to
what
was written
and
according
to
its
appointed
time
every
year;
\VS{28}and
that
these
days
should
be
remembered
and
kept
throughout
every
generation,
every
family,
every
province,
and
every
city;
and
that
these
days
of
Purim
should
not
fail
from
among
the
Jews,
nor
their
memory perish
from
their
offspring.\FTNT{†}{{\FR 9:28 }
or, seed}
\par }{\PP \VS{29}Then
Esther
the
queen,
the
daughter
of
Abihail,
and
Mordecai
the
Jew
wrote
with
all
authority
to
confirm
this
second
letter
of
Purim.
\VS{30}He
sent
letters
to
all
the
Jews
in
the
hundred twenty-seven
provinces
of
the
kingdom
of
Ahasuerus
with
words
of
peace
and
truth,
\VS{31}to
confirm
these
days
of
Purim
in
their
appointed
times,
as
Mordecai
the
Jew
and
Esther
the
queen
had decreed,
and
as
they
had imposed
upon
themselves
and
their
descendants
in
the
matter
of
the fastings
and
their mourning.
\VS{32}The
commandment
of
Esther
confirmed
these
matters
of
Purim;
and
it
was
written
in
the
book.

\par }\Chap{10}{\PP \VerseOne{1}King
Ahasuerus
laid
a
tribute
on
the
land
and
on
the
islands
of
the
sea.
\VS{2}Aren’t
all
the
acts
of
his
power
and
of
his
might,
and
the
full
account
of
the
greatness
of
Mordecai,
to
which
the
king
advanced
him,
written
in
the
book
of
the
chronicles
of
the
kings
of
Media
and
Persia?
\VS{3}For
Mordecai
the
Jew
was
next
to
King
Ahasuerus,
and
great
among
the
Jews
and
accepted
by
the
multitude
of
his
brothers,
seeking
the
good
of
his
people
and
speaking
peace
to
all
his
descendants.
\par }