THE BOOK OF
Esther
1:1: Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus,
(this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia,
over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)
1:2: That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus
sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
1:3: In the third year of his reign, he made a feast
unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and
Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:
1:4: When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom
and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred
and fourscore days.
1:5: And when these days were expired, the king made
a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace,
both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden
of the king's palace;
1:6: Where were white, green, and blue, hangings,
fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and
pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement
of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.
1:7: And they gave them drink in vessels of gold,
(the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in
abundance, according to the state of the king.
1:8: And the drinking was according to the law; none
did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers
of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
1:9: Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women
in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
1:10: On the seventh day, when the heart of the king
was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha,
and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served
in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
1:11: To bring Vashti the queen before the king with
the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty:
for she was fair to look on.
1:12: But the queen Vashti refused to come at the
king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king
very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
1:13: Then the king said to the wise men, which knew
the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew
law and judgment:
1:14: And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar,
Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes
of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat
the first in the kingdom;)
1:15: What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according
to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the
king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
1:16: And Memucan answered before the king and the
princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only,
but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in
all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
1:17: For this deed of the queen shall come abroad
unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their
eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded
Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
1:18: Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media
say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of
the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt
and wrath.
1:19: If it please the king, let there go a royal
commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of
the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti
come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her
royal estate unto another that is better than she.
1:20: And when the king's decree which he shall make
shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,)
all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great
and small.
1:21: And the saying pleased the king and the princes;
and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
1:22: For he sent letters into all the king's provinces,
into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every
people after their language, that every man should bear rule in
his own house, and that it should be published according to the
language of every people.
2:1: After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus
was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and
what was decreed against her.
2:2: Then said the king's servants that ministered
unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
2:3: And let the king appoint officers in all the
provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the
fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the
women unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper
of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:
2:4: And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be
queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and
he did so.
2:5: 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 Kish, a Benjamite;
2:6: Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with
the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of
Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
2:7: And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther,
his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and
the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father
and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
2:8: So it came to pass, when the king's commandment
and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered
together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that
Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody
of Hegai, keeper of the women.
2:9: And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained
kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification,
with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which
were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred
her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.
2:10: Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred:
for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
2:11: And Mordecai walked every day before the court
of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should
become of her.
2:12: Now when every maid's turn was come to go in
to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according
to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications
accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months
with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of
the women;)
2:13: Then thus came every maiden unto the king;
whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the
house of the women unto the king's house.
2:14: In the evening she went, and on the morrow
she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody
of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines:
she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in
her, and that she were called by name.
2:15: Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of
Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter,
was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what
Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed.
And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked
upon her.
2:16: So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into
his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth,
in the seventh year of his reign.
2:17: And the king loved Esther above all the women,
and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the
virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made
her queen instead of Vashti.
2:18: Then the king made a great feast unto all his
princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release
to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the
king.
2:19: And when the virgins were gathered together
the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
2:20: Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her
people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment
of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
2:21: In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's
gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those
which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the
king Ahasuerus.
2:22: And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told
it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof
in Mordecai's name.
2:23: And when inquisition was made of the matter,
it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and
it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
3:1: After these things did king Ahasuerus promote
Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and
set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
3:2: And all the king's servants, that were in the
king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so
commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him
reverence.
3:3: Then the king's servants, which were in the
king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's
commandment?
3:4: Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto
him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to
see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them
that he was a Jew.
3:5: And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not,
nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
3:6: And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai
alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore
Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the
whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
3:7: In the first month, that 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,
to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.
3:8: And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is
a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people
in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse
from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore
it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.
3:9: If it please the king, let it be written that
they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of
silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business,
to bring it into the king's treasuries.
3:10: And the king took his ring from his hand, and
gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews'
enemy.
3:11: And the king said unto Haman, The silver is
given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth
good to thee.
3:12: Then were the king's scribes called on the
thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according
to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and
to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers
of every people of every province according to the writing thereof,
and to every people after their language; in the name of king
Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.
3:13: And the letters were sent by posts 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 upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which
is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
3:14: The copy of the writing for a commandment to
be given in every province was published unto all people, that
they should be ready against that day.
3:15: The posts went out, being hastened by the king's
commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace.
And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan
was perplexed.
4:1: When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai
rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out
into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter
cry;
4:2: And came even before the king's gate: for none
might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
4:3: And in every province, whithersoever 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.
4:4: So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came
and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and
she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth
from him: but he received it not.
4:5: Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's
chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave
him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it
was.
4:6: So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street
of the city, which was before the king's gate.
4:7: And Mordecai told him of all that had happened
unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised
to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.
4:8: Also he gave him the copy of the writing of
the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew
it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her
that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto
him, and to make request before him for her people.
4:9: And Hatach came and told Esther the words of
Mordecai.
4:10: Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him
commandment unto Mordecai;
4:11: All the king's servants, and the people of
the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or
woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not
called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such
to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may
live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these
thirty days.
4:12: And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.
4:13: Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think
not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more
than all the Jews.
4:14: For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at
this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise
to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house
shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the
kingdom for such a time as this?
4:15: Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this
answer,
4:16: Go, gather together all the Jews that are present
in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three
days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise;
and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the
law: and if I perish, I perish.
4:17: So Mordecai went his way, and did according
to all that Esther had commanded him.
5:1: Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther
put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the
king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat
upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate
of the house.
5:2: And it was so, when the king saw Esther the
queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight:
and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in
his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
5:3: Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou,
queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given
thee to the half of the kingdom.
5:4: And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the
king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that
I have prepared for him.
5:5: Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste,
that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came
to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
5:6: And the king said unto Esther at the banquet
of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee:
and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall
be performed.
5:7: Then answered Esther, and said, My petition
and my request is;
5:8: If I have found favour in the sight of the king,
and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform
my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I
shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king hath
said.
5:9: Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with
a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate,
that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation
against Mordecai.
5:10: Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when
he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his
wife.
5:11: And Haman told them of the glory of his riches,
and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein
the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the
princes and servants of the king.
5:12: Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen
did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she
had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also
with the king.
5:13: Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as
I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
5:14: Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends
unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and tomorrow
speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon:
then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the
thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.
6:1: On that night could not the king sleep, and
he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and
they were read before the king.
6:2: 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 hand on the king Ahasuerus.
6:3: And the king said, What honour and dignity hath
been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants
that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.
6:4: And the king said, Who is in the court? Now
Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to
speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had
prepared for him.
6:5: And the king's servants said unto him, Behold,
Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come
in.
6:6: So Haman came in. And the king said unto him,
What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour?
Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight
to do honour more than to myself?
6:7: And Haman answered the king, For the man whom
the king delighteth to honour,
6:8: Let the royal apparel be brought which the king
useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the
crown royal which is set upon his head:
6:9: And let this apparel and horse be delivered
to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they
may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and
bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim
before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth
to honour.
6:10: Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and
take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even
so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing
fail of all that thou has spoken.
6:11: Then took Haman the apparel and the horse,
and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the
street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be
done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
6:12: And Mordecai came again to the king's gate.
But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
6:13: And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his
friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise
men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of
the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not
prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.
6:14: And while they were yet talking with him, came
the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet
that Esther had prepared.
7:1: So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther
the queen.
7:2: And the king said again unto Esther on the second
day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther?
and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it
shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.
7:3: Then Esther the queen answered and said, If
I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the
king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at
my request:
7:4: For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed,
to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen
and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could
not countervail the king's damage.
7:5: Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto
Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume
in his heart to do so?
7:6: And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is
this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and
the queen.
7:7: And the king arising from the banquet of wine
in his wrath went into the palace garden: and 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.
7:8: Then the king returned out of the palace garden
into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon
the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force
the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of
the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.
7:9: And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said
before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which
Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king,
standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him
thereon.
7:10: So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he
had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
8:1: On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the
house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai
came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.
8:2: And the king took off his ring, which he had
taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai
over the house of Haman.
8:3: And Esther spake yet again before the king,
and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put
away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he
had devised against the Jews.
8:4: Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward
Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,
8:5: And said, If it please the king, and if I have
found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the
king, and I be 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 which are in all the king's
provinces:
8:6: For how can I endure to see the evil that shall
come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction
of my kindred?
8:7: Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the
queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the
house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because
he laid his hand upon the Jews.
8:8: Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh 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 no man reverse.
8:9: Then were the king's scribes called at that
time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three
and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all
that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants,
and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India
unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every
province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people
after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing,
and according to their language.
8:10: And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and
sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback,
and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:
8:11: Wherein the king granted the Jews which were
in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for
their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the
power of the people and province that would assault them, both
little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,
8:12: Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus,
namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is
the month Adar.
8:13: The copy of the writing for a commandment to
be given in every province was published unto all people, and
that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves
on their enemies.
8:14: So the posts that rode upon mules and camels
went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment.
And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.
8:15: 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 city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
8:16: The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy,
and honour.
8:17: And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever
the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and
gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the
land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.
9:1: Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month
Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment
and his decree drew near to be put in 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 had rule over them
that hated them;)
9:2: The Jews gathered themselves together in their
cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to
lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand
them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.
9:3: 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 upon them.
9:4: For Mordecai was great in the king's house,
and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man
Mordecai waxed greater and greater.
9:5: Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the
stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what
they would unto those that hated them.
9:6: And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and
destroyed five hundred men.
9:7: And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,
9:8: And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,
9:9: And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,
9:10: The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha,
the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not
their hand.
9:11: On that day the number of those that were slain
in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.
9:12: And the king said unto Esther the queen, The
Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the
palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the
rest of the king's provinces? now what is thy petition? and
it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and
it shall be done.
9:13: Then said Esther, If it please the king, let
it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do tomorrow
also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons
be hanged upon the gallows.
9:14: And the king commanded it so to be done: and
the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.
9:15: For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered
themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar,
and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid
not their hand.
9:16: But the other Jews that were in the king's
provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives,
and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy
and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,
9:17: On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and
on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day
of feasting and gladness.
9:18: But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled
together on the thirteenth day thereof; and on the fourteenth
thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and
made it a day of feasting and gladness.
9:19: Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt
in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar
a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending
portions one to another.
9:20: And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters
unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus,
both nigh and far,
9:21: To stablish this among them, that they should
keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day
of the same, yearly,
9:22: As the days wherein the Jews rested from their
enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow
to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make
them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to
another, and gifts to the poor.
9:23: And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun,
and as Mordecai had written unto them;
9:24: Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite,
the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy
them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and
to destroy them;
9:25: But when Esther came before the king, he commanded
by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the
Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons
should be hanged on the gallows
9:26: Wherefore they called these days Purim after
the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter,
and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which
had come unto them,
9:27: The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and
upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them,
so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days
according to their writing, and according to their appointed time
every year;
9:28: 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 the memorial of them perish from their seed.
9:29: Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail,
and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this
second letter of Purim.
9:30: And he sent the letters unto all the Jews,
to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus,
with words of peace and truth,
9:31: To confirm these days of Purim in their times
appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen
had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and
for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.
9:32: And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters
of Purim; and it was written in the book.
10:1: And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon
the land, and upon the isles of the sea.
10:2: And all the acts of his power and of his might,
and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the
king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles
of the kings of Media and Persia?
10:3: For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus,
and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his
brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace
to all his seed.