1 Chronicles
Bible, King James Version
Esther
Esth.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:)
[
2] That in those days, when the king
Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the
palace,
[
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:
[
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.
[
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;
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
9] Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the
royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
[
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,
[
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.
[
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.
[
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:
[
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;)
[
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?
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
21] And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the
king did according to the word of Memucan:
[
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.
Esth.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] Then said the king's servants that ministered unto
him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
[
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:
[
4] And
let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing
pleased the king; and he did so.
[
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;
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
10] Esther had not shewed her
people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew
it.
[
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.
[
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;)
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
19]
And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat
in the king's gate.
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
Esth.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.
[
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] Then the king's servants, which were in the king's
gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's
commandment?
[
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.
[
5] And
when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman
full of wrath.
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
10] And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it
unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
Esth.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;
[
2] And came even
before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with
sackcloth.
[
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] 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.
[
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.
[
6] So
Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the
king's gate.
[
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.
[
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.
[
9] And Hatach came and told Esther the
words of Mordecai.
[
10] Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him
commandment unto Mordecai;
[
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.
[
12] And they told to Mordecai Esther's
words.
[
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.
[
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?
[
15] Then Esther bade
them return Mordecai this answer,
[
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.
[
17] So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that
Esther had commanded him.
Esth.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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
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] 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.
[
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.
[
7] Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my
request is;
[
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.
[
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.
[
10] Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came
home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
[
11]
And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the 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.
[
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.
[
13] Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long
as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
[
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.
Esth.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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
5] And the
king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king
said, Let him come in.
[
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?
[
7] And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the
king delighteth to honour,
[
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:
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
12] And Mordecai
came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and
having his head covered.
[
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.
[
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.
Esth.7
[
1] So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the
queen.
[
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.
[
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:
[
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.
[
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?
[
6] And Esther said, The
adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king
and the queen.
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
10] So they hanged Haman on the gallows that
he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
Esth.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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
4] Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward
Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,
[
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:
[
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?
[
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] 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.
[
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.
[
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:
[
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,
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
16] The Jews had light, and
gladness, and joy, and honour.
[
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.
Esth.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;)
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
6] And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five
hundred men.
[
7] And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and
Aspatha,
[
8] And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,
[
9] And
Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,
[
10] 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.
[
11] On that day the number of those that
were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.
[
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.
[
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.
[
14] And
the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and
they hanged Haman's ten sons.
[
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.
[
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,
[
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.
[
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.
[
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.
[
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,
[
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,
[
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.
[
23] And the Jews undertook to do as they had
begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;
[
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;
[
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.
[
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,
[
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;
[
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.
[
29] Then Esther the queen, the
daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm
this second letter of Purim.
[
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,
[
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.
[
32] And the decree of Esther
confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.
Esth.10
[
1] And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land,
and upon the isles of the sea.
[
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?
[
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.
