THE BOOK OF

ESTHER
CHAPTER 1 bounty of the king.
1 In the days of Ahasu-e'rus, 8 And drinking was according
the Ahasu-e'rus who reigned to the law, no one was com-
from India to Ethiopia over pelled; for the king had given
one hundred and twenty-seven orders to all the officials of his
provinces, palace to do as every man de-
2 in those days when King sired.
Ahasu-e'rus sat on his royal 9 Queen Vashti also gave a
throne in Susa the capital, banquet for the women in the
3 in the third year of his reign palace which belonged to King
he gave a banquet for all his Ahasu-e'rus.
princes and servants, the 10 On the seventh day, when
army chiefs of Persia and Me- the heart of the king was mer-
dia and the nobles and gover- ry with wine, he commanded
nors of the provinces being Mehu'man, Biztha, Harbo'na,
before him, Bigtha and Abag'tha, Zethar
4 while he showed the riches and Carkas, the seven eu-
of his royal glory and the nuchs who served King Ahasu-
splendor and pomp of his e'rus as chamberlains,
majesty for many days, a hun- 11 to bring Queen Vashti be-
dred and eighty days. fore the king with her royal
5 And when these days were crown, in order to show the
completed, the king gave for peoples and the princes her
all the people present in Susa beauty; for she was fair to be-
the capital, both great and hold.
small, a banquet lasting for 12 But Queen Vashti refused
seven days, in the court of the to come at the king's com-
garden of the king's palace. mand conveyed by the eu-
6 There were white cotton nuchs. At this the king was en-
curtains and blue hangings raged, and his anger burned
caught up with cords of fine within him.
linen and purple to silver rings 13 Then the king said to the
and marble pillars, and also wise men who knew the times
couches of gold and silver on — for this was the king's pro-
a mosaic pavement of por- cedure toward all who were
phyry, marble, mother-of-pearl versed in law and judgment,
and precious stones. 14 the men next to him being
7 Drinks were served in gold- Carshe'na, Shethar, Adma'tha,
en goblets, goblets of different Tarshish, Meres, Marse'na, and
kinds, and the royal wine was Memu'can, the seven princes
lavished according to the of Persia and Media, who saw

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the king's face, and sat first in give honor to their husbands,
the kingdom — : high and low."
15 "According to the law, 21 This advice pleased the
what is to be done to Queen king and the princes, and the
Vashti, because she has not king did as Memu'can pro-
performed the command of posed;
King Ahasu-e'rus conveyed by 22 he sent letters to all the
the eunuchs?" royal provinces, to every prov-
16 Then Memu'can said in ince in its own script and to
presence of the king and the every people in its own lan-
princes, "Not only to the king guage, that every man be lord
has Queen Vashti done wrong, in his own house and speak
but also to all the princes and according to the language of
all the peoples who are in all his people.
the provinces of King Ahasu-
e'rus. CHAPTER 2
17 For this deed of the queen 1 After these things, when
will be made known to all the anger of King Ahasu-e'rus
women, causing them to look had abated, he remembered
with contempt upon their hus- Vashti and what she had done
bands, since they will say, and what had been decreed
`King Ahasu-e'rus commanded against her.
Queen Vashti to be brought 2 Then the king's servants
before him, and she did not who attended him said, "Let
come.' beautiful young virgins be
18 This very day the ladies of sought out for the king.
Persia and Media who have 3 And let the king appoint of-
heard of the queen's behavior ficers in all the provinces of
will be telling it to all the his kingdom to gather all the
king's princes, and there will beautiful young virgins to the
be contempt and wrath in harem in Susa the capital, un-
plenty. der custody of Hegai the
19 If it please the king, let a king's eunuch who is in charge
royal order go forth from him, of the women; let their oint-
and let it be written among ments be given them.
the laws of the Persians and
the Medes so that it may not 4 And let the maiden who
be altered, that Vashti is to pleases the king be queen in-
come no more before King stead of Vashti." This pleased
Ahasu-e'rus; and let the king the king, and he did so.
give her royal position to an- 5 Now there was a Jew in
other who is better than she. Susa the capital whose name
20 So when the decree made was Mor'decai, the son of Ja'ir,
by the king is proclaimed son of Shim'e-i, son of Kish, a
throughout all his kingdom, Benjaminite,
vast as it is, all women will 6 who had been carried away

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from Jerusalem among the their beautifying, six months

captives carried away with Je- with oil of myrrh and six
coni'ah king of Judah, whom months with spices and oint-
Nebuchadnez'zar king of Baby- ments for women —
lon had carried away. 13 when the maiden went in
7 He had brought up to the king in this way she was
Hadas'sah, that is Esther, the given whatever she desired to
daughter of his uncle, for she take with her from the harem
had neither father nor mother; to the king's palace.
the maiden was beautiful and 14 In the evening she went,
lovely, and when her father and in the morning she came
and her mother died, Mor'de- back to the second harem in
cai adopted her as his own custody of Sha-ash'gaz the
daughter. king's eunuch who was in
8 So when the king's order charge of the concubines; she
and his edict were proclaimed, did not go in to the king again,
and when many maidens were unless the king delighted in
gathered in Susa the capital in her and she was summoned by
custody of Hegai, Esther also name.
was taken into the king's 15 When the turn came for
palace and put in custody of Esther the daughter of Ab'ihail
Hegai who had charge of the the uncle of Mor'decai, who
women. had adopted her as his own
9 And the maiden pleased daughter, to go in to the king,
him and won his favor; and he she asked for nothing except
quickly provided her with her what Hegai the king's eunuch,
ointments and her portion of who had charge of the women,
food, and with seven chosen advised. Now Esther found fa-
maids from the king's palace, vor in the eyes of all who saw
and advanced her and her her.
maids to the best place in the 16 And when Esther was tak-
harem. en to King Ahasu-e'rus into his
10 Esther had not made royal palace in the tenth
known her people or kindred, month, which is the month of
for Mor'decai had charged her Tebeth, in the seventh year of
not to make it known. his reign,
11 And every day Mor'decai 17 the king loved Esther
walked in front of the court of more than all the women, and
the harem, to learn how Esther she found grace and favor in
was and how she fared. his sight more than all the vir-
12 Now when the turn came gins, so that he set the royal
for each maiden to go in to crown on her head and made
King Ahasu-e'rus, after being her queen instead of Vashti.
twelve months under the regu- 18 Then the king gave a great
lations for the women, since banquet to all his princes and
this was the regular period of servants; it was Esther's ban-

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quet. He also granted a remis- sance to Haman; for the king

sion of taxes to the provinces, had so commanded concerning
and gave gifts with royal liber- him. But Mor'decai did not
ality. bow down or do obeisance.
19 When the virgins were 3 Then the king's servants
gathered together the second who were at the king's gate
time, Mor'decai was sitting at said to Mor'decai, "Why do you
the king's gate. transgress the king's com-
20 Now Esther had not made mand?"
known her kindred or her peo- 4 And when they spoke to him
ple, as Mor'decai had charged day after day and he would
her; for Esther obeyed Mor'de- not listen to them, they told
cai just as when she was Haman, in order to see
brought up by him. whether Mor'decai's words
21 And in those days, as would avail; for he had told
Mor'decai was sitting at the them that he was a Jew.
king's gate, Bigthan and 5 And when Haman saw that
Teresh, two of the king's eu- Mor'decai did not bow down or
nuchs, who guarded the do obeisance to him, Haman
threshold, became angry and was filled with fury.
sought to lay hands on King 6 But he disdained to lay
Ahasu-e'rus. hands on Mor'decai alone. So,
22 And this came to the as they had made known to
knowledge of Mor'decai, and him the people of Mor'decai,
he told it to Queen Esther, and Haman sought to destroy all
Esther told the king in the the Jews, the people of
name of Mor'decai. Mor'decai, throughout the
23 When the affair was inves- whole kingdom of Ahasu-e'rus.
tigated and found to be so, 7 In the first month, which is
the men were both hanged on the month of Nisan, in the
the gallows. And it was record- twelfth year of King Ahasu-
ed in the Book of the Chroni- e'rus, they cast Pur, that is
cles in the presence of the the lot, before Haman day af-
king. ter day; and they cast it
month after month till the
CHAPTER 3 twelfth month, which is the
1 After these things King Aha- month of Adar.
su-e'rus promoted Haman the 8 Then Haman said to King
Ag'agite, the son of Ahasu-e'rus, "There is a cer-
Hammeda'tha, and advanced tain people scattered abroad
him and set his seat above all and dispersed among the peo-
the princes who were with ples in all the provinces of
him. your kingdom; their laws are
2 And all the king's servants different from those of every
who were at the king's gate other people, and they do not
bowed down and did obei- keep the king's laws, so that it

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is not for the king's profit to in every province by proclama-

tolerate them. tion to all the peoples to be
9 If it please the king, let it ready for that day.
be decreed that they be de- 15 The couriers went in haste
stroyed, and I will pay ten by order of the king, and the
thousand talents of silver into decree was issued in Susa the
the hands of those who have capital. And the king and
charge of the king's business, Haman sat down to drink; but
that they may put it into the the city of Susa was per-
king's treasuries." plexed.
10 So the king took his signet
ring from his hand and gave it CHAPTER 4
to Haman the Ag'agite, the 1 When Mor'decai learned all
son of Hammeda'tha, the ene- that had been done, Mor'decai
my of the Jews. rent his clothes and put on
11 And the king said to sackcloth and ashes, and went
Haman, "The money is given out into the midst of the city,
to you, the people also, to do wailing with a loud and bitter
with them as it seems good to cry;
you." 2 he went up to the entrance
12 Then the king's secre- of the king's gate, for no one
taries were summoned on the might enter the king's gate
thirteenth day of the first clothed with sackcloth.
month, and an edict, accord- 3 And in every province,
ing to all that Haman com- wherever the king's command
manded, was written to the and his decree came, there
king's satraps and to the gov- was great mourning among
ernors over all the provinces the Jews, with fasting and
and to the princes of all the weeping and lamenting, and
peoples, to every province in most of them lay in sackcloth
its own script and every peo- and ashes.
ple in its own language; it was 4 When Esther's maids and
written in the name of King her eunuchs came and told
Ahasu-e'rus and sealed with her, the queen was deeply dis-
the king's ring. tressed; she sent garments to
13 Letters were sent by couri- clothe Mor'decai, so that he
ers to all the king's provinces, might take off his sackcloth,
to destroy, to slay, and to an- but he would not accept them.
nihilate all Jews, young and 5 Then Esther called for
old, women and children, in Hathach, one of the king's eu-
one day, the thirteenth day of nuchs, who had been appoint-
the twelfth month, which is ed to attend her, and ordered
the month of Adar, and to him to go to Mor'decai to learn
plunder their goods. what this was and why it was.
14 A copy of the document 6 Hathach went out to
was to be issued as a decree Mor'decai in the open square

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of the city in front of the Jews from another quarter, but

king's gate, you and your father's house
7 and Mor'decai told him all will perish. And who knows
that had happened to him, and whether you have not come to
the exact sum of money that the kingdom for such a time
Haman had promised to pay as this?"
into the king's treasuries for 15 Then Esther told them to
the destruction of the Jews. reply to Mor'decai,
8 Mor'decai also gave him a 16 "Go, gather all the Jews to
copy of the written decree is- be found in Susa, and hold a
sued in Susa for their destruc- fast on my behalf, and neither
tion, that he might show it to eat nor drink for three days,
Esther and explain it to her night or day. I and my maids
and charge her to go to the will also fast as you do. Then I
king to make supplication to will go to the king, though it is
him and entreat him for her against the law; and if I per-
people. ish, I perish."
9 And Hathach went and told 17 Mor'decai then went away
Esther what Mor'decai had and did everything as Esther
said. had ordered him.
10 Then Esther spoke to
Hathach and gave him a mes- CHAPTER 5
sage for Mor'decai, saying, 1 On the third day Esther put
11 "All the king's servants on her royal robes and stood
and the people of the king's in the inner court of the king's
provinces know that if any palace, opposite the king's
man or woman goes to the hall. The king was sitting on
king inside the inner court his royal throne inside the
without being called, there is palace opposite the entrance
but one law; all alike are to be to the palace;
put to death, except the one 2 and when the king saw
to whom the king holds out Queen Esther standing in the
the golden scepter that he court, she found favor in his
may live. And I have not been sight and he held out to Esther
called to come in to the king the golden scepter that was in
these thirty days." his hand. Then Esther ap-
12 And they told Mor'decai proached and touched the top
what Esther had said. of the scepter.
13 Then Mor'decai told them 3 And the king said to her,
to return answer to Esther, "What is it, Queen Esther?
"Think not that in the king's What is your request? It shall
palace you will escape any be given you, even to the half
more than all the other Jews. of my kingdom."
14 For if you keep silence at 4 And Esther said, "If it
such a time as this, relief and please the king, let the king
deliverance will rise for the and Haman come this day to a

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dinner that I have prepared for 12 And Haman added, "Even

the king." Queen Esther let no one come
5 Then said the king, "Bring with the king to the banquet
Haman quickly, that we may she prepared but myself. And
do as Esther desires." So the tomorrow also I am invited by
king and Haman came to the her together with the king.
dinner that Esther had pre- 13 Yet all this does me no
pared. good, so long as I see Mor'de-
6 And as they were drinking cai the Jew sitting at the
wine, the king said to Esther, king's gate."
"What is your petition? It shall 14 Then his wife Zeresh and
be granted you. And what is all his friends said to him, "Let
your request? Even to the half a gallows fifty cubits high be
of my kingdom, it shall be ful- made, and in the morning tell
filled." the king to have Mor'decai
7 But Esther said, "My peti- hanged upon it; then go merri-
tion and my request is: ly with the king to the dinner."
8 If I have found favor in the This counsel pleased Haman,
sight of the king, and if it and he had the gallows made.
please the king to grant my
petition and fulfil my request, CHAPTER 6
let the king and Haman come 1 On that night the king could
tomorrow to the dinner which I not sleep; and he gave orders
will prepare for them, and to- to bring the book of memo-
morrow I will do as the king rable deeds, the chronicles,
has said." and they were read before the
9 And Haman went out that king.
day joyful and glad of heart. 2 And it was found written
But when Haman saw Mor'de- how Mor'decai had told about
cai in the king's gate, that he Bigthana and Teresh, two of
neither rose nor trembled be- the king's eunuchs, who
fore him, he was filled with guarded the threshold, and
wrath against Mor'decai. who had sought to lay hands
10 Nevertheless Haman re- upon King Ahasu-e'rus.
strained himself, and went 3 And the king said, "What
home; and he sent and honor or dignity has been be-
fetched his friends and his stowed on Mor'decai for this?"
wife Zeresh. The king's servants who at-
11 And Haman recounted to tended him said, "Nothing has
them the splendor of his rich- been done for him."
es, the number of his sons, all 4 And the king said, "Who is
the promotions with which the in the court?" Now Haman had
king had honored him, and just entered the outer court of
how he had advanced him the king's palace to speak to
above the princes and the ser- the king about having Mor'de-
vants of the king. cai hanged on the gallows that

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he had prepared for him. whom the king delights to

5 So the king's servants told honor."
him, "Haman is there, stand- 12 Then Mor'decai returned
ing in the court." And the king to the king's gate. But Haman
said, "Let him come in." hurried to his house, mourning
6 So Haman came in, and the and with his head covered.
king said to him, "What shall 13 And Haman told his wife
be done to the man whom the Zeresh and all his friends ev-
king delights to honor?" And erything that had befallen
Haman said to himself, "Whom him. Then his wise men and
would the king delight to hon- his wife Zeresh said to him, "If
or more than me?" Mor'decai, before whom you
7 and Haman said to the king, have begun to fall, is of the
"For the man whom the king Jewish people, you will not
delights to honor, prevail against him but will
8 let royal robes be brought, surely fall before him."
which the king has worn, and 14 While they were yet talk-
the horse which the king has ing with him, the king's eu-
ridden, and on whose head a nuchs arrived and brought
royal crown is set; Haman in haste to the ban-
9 and let the robes and the quet that Esther had prepared.
horse be handed over to one
of the king's most noble CHAPTER 7
princes; let him array the man 1 So the king and Haman
whom the king delights to went in to feast with Queen
honor, and let him conduct the Esther.
man on horseback through the 2 And on the second day, as
open square of the city, pro- they were drinking wine, the
claiming before him: `Thus king again said to Esther,
shall it be done to the man "What is your petition, Queen
whom the king delights to Esther? It shall be granted
honor.'" you. And what is your request?
10 Then the king said to Even to the half of my king-
Haman, "Make haste, take the dom, it shall be fulfilled."
robes and the horse, as you 3 Then Queen Esther an-
have said, and do so to swered, "If I have found favor
Mor'decai the Jew who sits at in your sight, O king, and if it
the king's gate. Leave out please the king, let my life be
nothing that you have men- given me at my petition, and
tioned." my people at my request.
11 So Haman took the robes 4 For we are sold, I and my
and the horse, and he arrayed people, to be destroyed, to be
Mor'decai and made him ride slain, and to be annihilated. If
through the open square of we had been sold merely as
the city, proclaiming, "Thus slaves, men and women, I
shall it be done to the man would have held my peace; for

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our affliction is not to be com- e'rus gave to Queen Esther

pared with the loss to the the house of Haman, the ene-
king." my of the Jews. And Mor'decai
5 Then King Ahasu-e'rus said came before the king, for Es-
to Queen Esther, "Who is he, ther had told what he was to
and where is he, that would her;
presume to do this?" 2 and the king took off his
6 And Esther said, "A foe and signet ring, which he had tak-
enemy! This wicked Haman!" en from Haman, and gave it to
Then Haman was in terror be- Mor'decai. And Esther set
fore the king and the queen. Mor'decai over the house of
7 And the king rose from the Haman.
feast in wrath and went into 3 Then Esther spoke again to
the palace garden; but Haman the king; she fell at his feet
stayed to beg his life from and besought him with tears
Queen Esther, for he saw that to avert the evil design of
evil was determined against Haman the Ag'agite and the
him by the king. plot which he had devised
8 And the king returned from against the Jews.
the palace garden to the place 4 And the king held out the
where they were drinking golden scepter to Esther,
wine, as Haman was falling on 5 and Esther rose and stood
the couch where Esther was; before the king. And she said,
and the king said, "Will he "If it please the king, and if I
even assault the queen in my have found favor in his sight,
presence, in my own house?" and if the thing seem right be-
As the words left the mouth of fore the king, and I be pleas-
the king, they covered ing in his eyes, let an order be
Haman's face. written to revoke the letters
9 Then said Harbo'na, one of devised by Haman the
the eunuchs in attendance on Ag'agite, the son of
the king, "Moreover, the gal- Hammeda'tha, which he wrote
lows which Haman has pre- to destroy the Jews who are in
pared for Mor'decai, whose all the provinces of the king.
word saved the king, is stand- 6 For how can I endure to see
ing in Haman's house, fifty cu- the calamity that is coming to
bits high." my people? Or how can I en-
10 And the king said, "Hang dure to see the destruction of
him on that." So they hanged my kindred?"
Haman on the gallows which 7 Then King Ahasu-e'rus said
he had prepared for Mor'decai. to Queen Esther and to
Then the anger of the king Mor'decai the Jew, "Behold, I
abated. have given Esther the house
of Haman, and they have
CHAPTER 8 hanged him on the gallows,
1 On that day King Ahasu- because he would lay hands

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on the Jews. of the twelfth month, which is

8 And you may write as you the month of Adar.
please with regard to the Jews, 13 A copy of what was writ-
in the name of the king, and ten was to be issued as a de-
seal it with the king's ring; for cree in every province, and by
an edict written in the name of proclamation to all peoples,
the king and sealed with the and the Jews were to be ready
king's ring cannot be on that day to avenge them-
revoked." selves upon their enemies.
9 The king's secretaries were 14 So the couriers, mounted
summoned at that time, in the on their swift horses that were
third month, which is the used in the king's service,
month of Sivan, on the twenty- rode out in haste, urged by
third day; and an edict was the king's command; and the
written according to all that decree was issued in Susa the
Mor'decai commanded con- capital.
cerning the Jews to the 15 Then Mor'decai went out
satraps and the governors and from the presence of the king
the princes of the provinces in royal robes of blue and
from India to Ethiopia, a hun- white, with a great golden
dred and twenty-seven prov- crown and a mantle of fine
inces, to every province in its linen and purple, while the
own script and to every people city of Susa shouted and re-
in its own language, and also joiced.
to the Jews in their script and 16 The Jews had light and
their language. gladness and joy and honor.
10 The writing was in the 17 And in every province and
name of King Ahasu-e'rus and in every city, wherever the
sealed with the king's ring, king's command and his edict
and letters were sent by came, there was gladness and
mounted couriers riding on joy among the Jews, a feast
swift horses that were used in and a holiday. And many from
the king's service, bred from the peoples of the country de-
the royal stud. clared themselves Jews, for
11 By these the king allowed the fear of the Jews had fallen
the Jews who were in every upon them.
city to gather and defend their
lives, to destroy, to slay, and CHAPTER 9
to annihilate any armed force 1 Now in the twelfth month,
of any people or province that which is the month of Adar, on
might attack them, with their the thirteenth day of the
children and women, and to same, when the king's com-
plunder their goods, mand and edict were about to
12 upon one day throughout be executed, on the very day
all the provinces of King Aha- when the enemies of the Jews
su-e'rus, on the thirteenth day hoped to get the mastery over

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them, but which had been 12 And the king said to

changed to a day when the Queen Esther, "In Susa the
Jews should get the mastery capital the Jews have slain five
over their foes, hundred men and also the ten
2 the Jews gathered in their sons of Haman. What then
cities throughout all the prov- have they done in the rest of
inces of King Ahasu-e'rus to the king's provinces! Now
lay hands on such as sought what is your petition? It shall
their hurt. And no one could be granted you. And what fur-
make a stand against them, ther is your request? It shall
for the fear of them had fallen be fulfilled."
upon all peoples. 13 And Esther said, "If it
3 All the princes of the prov- please the king, let the Jews
inces and the satraps and the who are in Susa be allowed to-
governors and the royal offi- morrow also to do according to
cials also helped the Jews, for this day's edict. And let the
the fear of Mor'decai had fall- ten sons of Haman be hanged
en upon them. on the gallows."
4 For Mor'decai was great in 14 So the king commanded
the king's house, and his fame this to be done; a decree was
spread throughout all the issued in Susa, and the ten
provinces; for the man Mor'de- sons of Haman were hanged.
cai grew more and more pow- 15 The Jews who were in Susa
erful. gathered also on the four-
5 So the Jews smote all their teenth day of the month of
enemies with the sword, Adar and they slew three hun-
slaughtering, and destroying dred men in Susa; but they
them, and did as they pleased laid no hands on the plunder.
to those who hated them. 16 Now the other Jews who
6 In Susa the capital itself the were in the king's provinces
Jews slew and destroyed five also gathered to defend their
hundred men, lives, and got relief from their
7 and also slew Par-shan- enemies, and slew seventy-
da'tha and Dalphon and As- five thousand of those who
pa'tha hated them; but they laid no
8 and Pora'tha and Ada'lia hands on the plunder.
and Arida'tha 17 This was on the thirteenth
9 and Parmash'ta and Ar'isai day of the month of Adar, and
and Ar'idai and Vaiza'tha, on the fourteenth day they
10 the ten sons of Haman the rested and made that a day of
son of Hammeda'tha, the ene- feasting and gladness.
my of the Jews; but they laid 18 But the Jews who were in
no hand on the plunder. Susa gathered on the thir-
11 That very day the number teenth day and on the four-
of those slain in Susa the capi- teenth, and rested on the fif-
tal was reported to the king. teenth day, making that a day

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of feasting and gladness. sons should be hanged on the

19 Therefore the Jews of the gallows.
villages, who live in the open 26 Therefore they called
towns, hold the fourteenth day these days Purim, after the
of the month of Adar as a day term Pur. And therefore, be-
for gladness and feasting and cause of all that was written in
holiday-making, and a day on this letter, and of what they
which they send choice por- had faced in this matter, and
tions to one another. of what had befallen them,
20 And Mor'decai recorded 27 the Jews ordained and
these things, and sent letters took it upon themselves and
to all the Jews who were in all their descendants and all who
the provinces of King Ahasu- joined them, that without fail
e'rus, both near and far, they would keep these two
21 enjoining them that they days according to what was
should keep the fourteenth written and at the time ap-
day of the month Adar and pointed every year,
also the fifteenth day of the 28 that these days should be
same, year by year, remembered and kept
22 as the days on which the throughout every generation,
Jews got relief from their ene- in every family, province, and
mies, and as the month that city, and that these days of
had been turned for them from Purim should never fall into
sorrow into gladness and from disuse among the Jews, nor
mourning into a holiday; that should the commemoration of
they should make them days these days cease among their
of feasting and gladness, days descendants.
for sending choice portions to 29 Then Queen Esther, the
one another and gifts to the daughter of Ab'ihail, and
poor. Mor'decai the Jew gave full
23 So the Jews undertook to written authority, confirming
do as they had begun, and as this second letter about Purim.
Mor'decai had written to them. 30 Letters were sent to all
24 For Haman the Ag'agite, the Jews, to the hundred and
the son of Hammeda'tha, the twenty-seven provinces of the
enemy of all the Jews, had kingdom of Ahasu-e'rus, in
plotted against the Jews to de- words of peace and truth,
stroy them, and had cast Pur, 31 that these days of Purim
that is the lot, to crush and should be observed at their
destroy them; appointed seasons, as Mor'de-
25 but when Esther came be- cai the Jew and Queen Esther
fore the king, he gave orders enjoined upon the Jews, and
in writing that his wicked plot as they had laid down for
which he had devised against themselves and for their de-
the Jews should come upon his scendants, with regard to their
own head, and that he and his fasts and their lamenting.

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 ESTHER

32 The command of Queen

Esther fixed these practices of
Purim, and it was recorded in
writing.

CHAPTER 10
1 King Ahasu-e'rus laid trib-
ute on the land and on the
coastlands of the sea.
2 And all the acts of his pow-
er and might, and the full ac-
count of the high honor of
Mor'decai, to which the king
advanced him, are they not
written in the Book of the
Chronicles of the kings of Me-
dia and Persia?
3 For Mor'decai the Jew was
next in rank to King Ahasu-
e'rus, and he was great among
the Jews and popular with the
multitude of his brethren, for
he sought the welfare of his
people and spoke peace to all
his people.

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