Chapter
1
1
Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus--this is Ahasuerus
who reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over a 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 castle,
3
in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all
his princes and his servants; the army of Persia and Media,
the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him;
4
when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the
honour of his excellent majesty, many days, even a hundred
and fourscore days.
5
And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast
unto all the people that were present in Shushan the castle,
both great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden
of the king's palace;
6
there were hangings of white, fine cotton, and blue, bordered
with cords of fine linen and purple, upon silver rods and
pillars of marble; the couches were of gold and silver,
upon a pavement of green, and white, and shell, and onyx
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 bounty 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, Bizzetha, Harbona, Bigtha,
and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains
that ministered in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
11
to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown
royal, to show the peoples 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 the chamberlains; therefore was the king very wroth,
and his anger burned in him.
13
Then the king said to the wise men, who 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, who saw the king's face, and sat the first in
the kingdom:
15
'What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law,
forasmuch as she hath not done the bidding 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 peoples, that are in
all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
17
For this deed of the queen will come abroad unto all women,
to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when
it will be said: The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the
queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
18
And this day will the princesses of Persia and Media who
have heard of the deed of the queen say the like unto all
the king's princes. So will there arise enough contempt
and wrath.
19
If it please the king, let there go forth 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 that 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 kingdom, great though it be,
all the wives will give to their husbands honour, both to
great and small.'
21
And the word 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 speak according to the language
of his people.
Chapter 2
1
After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was
assuaged, 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 sought for the king young virgins fair to
look on;
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 castle, to the house of the
women, unto the custody of Hegai the king's chamberlain,
keeper of the women; and let their ointments be given them;
4
and let the maiden that pleaseth the king be queen instead
of Vashti.' And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
5
There was a certain Jew in Shushan the castle, 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 captives
that 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
maiden was of beautiful form and fair to look on; and when
her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his
own daughter.
8
So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his
decree was published, and when many maidens were gathered
together unto Shushan the castle, to the custody of Hegai,
that Esther was taken into 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 ointments, with her portions,
and the seven maidens, who were meet to be given her out
of the king's house; and he advanced her and her maidens
to the best place in the house of the women.
10
Esther had not made known her people nor her kindred; for
Mordecai had charged her that she should not tell it.
11
And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's
house, to know how Esther did, and what would become of
her.
12
Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king
Ahasuerus, after that it had been done to her according
to the law for the women, twelve months--for so were the
days of their anointing accomplished, to wit, six months
with oil of myrrh, and six month with sweet odours, and
with other ointments of the women--
13
when then the maiden came 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, who kept the concubines; she came
in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her,
and 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 bounty
of the king.
19
And when the virgins were gathered together the second time,
and Mordecai sat in the king's gate--
20
Esther had not yet made known 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
that kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hands
on the king Ahasuerus.
22
And the thing became known to Mordecai, who told it unto
Esther the queen; and Esther told the king thereof in Mordecai's
name.
23
And when inquisition was made of the matter, and it was
found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree; and it
was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
Chapter 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 down, and prostrated themselves before Haman; for
the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed
not down, nor prostrated himself before him.
3
Then the king's servants, that were in the king's gate,
said unto Mordecai: 'Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?'
4
Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily unto him, and
he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see
whether Mordecai's words would stand; for he had told them
that he was a Jew.
5
And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not down, nor prostrated
himself before him, then was Haman full of wrath.
6
But it seemed contemptible in his eyes to lay hands on Mordecai
alone; for they had made known to 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, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth
year of king Ahasuerus, they cast pur, that is, the lot,
before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to
the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
8
And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus: 'There is a certain
people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples
in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are
diverse from those of every people; neither keep they the
king's laws; therefore it profiteth not the king to suffer
them.
9
If it please the king, let it be written that they be destroyed;
and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands
of those that have the charge of the king's 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 in the first month,
on the thirteenth day thereof, and there was written, according
to all that Haman commanded, unto the king's satraps, and
to the governors that were over every province, and to the
princes of every people; to every province according to
the writing thereof, and to every people after their language;
in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and it was
sealed with the king's ring.
13
And letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces,
to destroy, to slay, 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, to be given out for a decree in
every province, was to be published unto all peoples, that
they should be ready against that day.
15
The posts went forth in haste by the king's commandment,
and the decree was given out in Shushan the castle; and
the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan
was perplexed.
Chapter 4
1
Now when Mordecai knew 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 he came even before the king's gate; for none might
enter within 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
And Esther's maidens and her chamberlains came and told
it her; and the queen was exceedingly pained; and she sent
raiment to clothe Mordecai; and to take his sackcloth from
off him; but he accepted it not.
5
Then called Esther for Hathach, one of the king's chamberlains,
whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and charged him
to go to Mordecai, to know what this was, and why it was.
6
So Hathach went forth to Mordecai unto the broad place of
the city, which was before the king's gate.
7
And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him,
and the exact 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 out in Shushan to destroy them, to show 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 Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
10
Then Esther spoke unto Hathach, and gave him a message 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 for him, that he be put 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 bade them to return answer unto 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
will relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from another
place, but thou and thy father's house will perish; and
who knoweth whether thou art not come to royal estate for
such a time as this?'
15
Then Esther bade them return answer unto Mordecai:
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 in like manner;
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.
Chapter 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 entrance
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?
for whatever thy request, even to the half of the kingdom,
it shall be given thee.'
4
And Esther said: '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 it
may be done 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: 'Whatever
thy petition, it shall be granted thee; and whatever 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 to-morrow as the
king hath said.'
9
Then went Haman forth that day joyful and glad of heart;
but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he
stood not up, nor moved for him, Haman was filled with wrath
against Mordecai.
10
Nevertheless Haman refrained himself, and went home; and
he sent and fetched his friends and Zeresh his wife.
11
And Haman recounted unto them the glory of his riches, and
the multitude of his children, and everything as to how
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 also am I invited by her together
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 in the
morning 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.
Chapter 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, of those that
kept the door, who had sought to lay hands 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 outer 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 said in his heart: 'Whom would the king delight
to honour besides myself?'--
7
And Haman said unto the king: 'For the man whom the king
delighteth to honour,
8
let royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear,
and the horse that the king rideth upon, and on whose head
a crown royal is set;
9
and let the apparel and the horse be delivered to the hand
of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array
the man therewith whom the king delighteth to honour, and
cause him to ride 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 hast spoken.'
11
Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai,
and caused him to ride 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 returned to the king's gate. But Haman hasted
to his house, mourning and having his head covered.
13
And Haman recounted unto 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, before whom
thou hast begun to fall, be of the seed of the Jews, thou
shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before
him.'
14
While they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains,
and hastened to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther
had prepared.
Chapter 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: 'Whatever thy petition, queen Esther,
it shall be granted thee; and whatever thy request, even
to the half of the kingdom, it shall be performed.'
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 peace, for the adversary is
not worthy that the king be endamaged.'
5
Then spoke the king Ahasuerus 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: 'An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked
Haman.' Then Haman was terrified before the king and the
queen.
7
And the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine
and went into the palace garden; but Haman remained 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 couch whereon Esther was. Then said the king: 'Will
he even force the queen before me in the house?' As the
word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's
face.
9
Then said Harbonah, one of the chamberlains that were before
the king: 'Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which
Haman hath made for Mordecai, who spoke good for the king,
standeth in the house of Haman.' And 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 assuaged.
Chapter 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 spoke 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 to Esther the golden sceptre. So
Esther arose, and stood before the king.
5
And she 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 that 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 concerning 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, which is the month Sivan, on the three and
twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all
that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, even to the
satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces
which are from India unto Ethiopia, a 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 they wrote in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed
it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback,
riding on swift steeds that were used in the king's service,
bred of the stud;
11
that the king had granted the Jews that were in every city
to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life,
to destroy, and to slay, and to cause to perish, all the
forces of the people and province that would assault them,
their 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, to be given out for a decree in
every province, was to be published unto all the peoples,
and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge
themselves on their enemies.
14
So the posts that rode upon swift steeds that were used
in the king's service went out, being hastened and pressed
on by the king's commandment; and the decree was given out
in Shushan the castle.
15
And Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in
royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown
of gold, and with a rob of fine linen and purple; and the
city of Shushan shouted 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
gladness and joy, a feast and a good day. And many from
among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear
of the Jews was fallen upon them.
Chapter 9
1
Now in the twelfth month, which 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 rule over
them; whereas 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 was fallen upon all the peoples.
3
And all the princes of the provinces, and the satraps, and
the governors, and they that did the king's business, helped
the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai was fallen upon them.
4
For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame
went forth throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai
waxed greater and greater.
5
And the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of
the sword, and with slaughter and destruction, and did what
they would unto them that hated them.
6
And in Shushan the castle 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 Vaizatha,
10
the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jews' enemy,
slew they; but on the spoil they laid not their hand.
11
On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan
the castle 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 castle,
and the ten sons of Haman; what then have they done in the
rest of the king's provinces! Now whatever thy petition,
it shall be granted thee; and whatever thy request further,
it shall be done.'
13
Then said Esther: 'If it please the king, let it be granted
to the Jews that are in Shushan to do to-morrow 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 a decree was
given out in Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.
15
And the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together
on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three
hundred men in Shushan; but on the spoil they laid not their
hand.
16
And 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 them that hated them
seventy and five thousand--but on the spoil they laid not
their hand--
17
on the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and on the fourteenth
day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting
and gladness.
18
But the Jews that were in 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 do the Jews of the villages, that dwell in the
unwalled towns, make 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 enjoin them that they should keep the fourteenth day
of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,
22
the days wherein the Jews had rest from their enemies, and
the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to gladness,
and from mourning into a good day; that they should make
them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions
one to another, and gifts to the poor.
23
And the Jews took upon them 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 discomfit them,
and to destroy them;
25
but when she came before the king, he commanded by letters
that his wicked device, which he had 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 because of all the words of this letter,
and of that which they had seen concerning this matter,
and that 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 the writing thereof, and according to the appointed
time thereof, 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 down all the acts of power, to confirm this
second letter of Purim.
30
And he sent 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 appointed times,
according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined
them, and as they had ordained for themselves and for their
seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.
32
And the commandment of Esther confirmed these matters of
Purim; and it was written in the book.
Chapter 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
full account of the greatness of Mordecai, how 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 good of his people and speaking peace to all
his seed.
