17:001:001 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:)
17:001:002 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne
of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
17:001:003 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:
17:001:004 When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the
honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore
days.
17:001:005 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;
17:001:006 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.
17:001:007 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.
17:001:008 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.
17:001:009 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal
house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
17:001:010 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,
17:001:011 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.
17:001:012 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.
17:001:013 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:
17:001:014 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;)
17:001:015 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?
17:001:016 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.
17:001:017 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.
17:001:018 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.
17:001:019 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.
17:001:020 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.
17:001:021 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king
did according to the word of Memucan:
17:001:022 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.
17:002:001 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.
17:002:002 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let
there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
17:002:003 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:
17:002:004 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead
of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
17:002:005 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;
17:002:006 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.
17:002:007 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.
17:002:008 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.
17:002:009 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.
17:002:010 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for
Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
17:002:011 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's
house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
17:002:012 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;)
17:002:013 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.
17:002:014 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.
17:002:015 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.
17:002:016 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.
17:002:017 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.
17:002:018 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.
17:002:019 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time,
then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
17:002:020 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.
17:002:021 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 hands on the king Ahasuerus.
17:002:022 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther
the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.
17:002:023 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.
17:003:001 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.
17:003:002 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.
17:003:003 Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said
unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
17:003:004 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.
17:003:005 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him
reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
17:003:006 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.
17:003:007 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.
17:003:008 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.
17:003:009 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.
17:003:010 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto
Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
17:003:011 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.
17:003:012 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.
17:003:013 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.
17:003:014 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.
17:003:015 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.
17:004:001 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;
17:004:002 And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter
into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
17:004:003 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.
17:004:004 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.
17:004:005 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.
17:004:006 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city,
which was before the king's gate.
17:004:007 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.
17:004:008 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.
17:004:009 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
17:004:010 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto
Mordecai;
17:004:011 All the king's servants, and the people of the king's
provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or women, 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.
17:004:012 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.
17:004:013 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with
thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the
Jews.
17:004:014 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?
17:004:015 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
17:004:016 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.
17:004:017 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that
Esther had commanded him.
17:005:001 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.
17:005:002 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.
17:005:003 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.
17:005:004 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.
17:005:005 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.
17:005:006 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.
17:005:007 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request
is;
17:005:008 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.
17:005:009 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.
17:005:010 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home,
he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
17:005:011 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.
17:005:012 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.
17:005:013 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai
the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
17:005:014 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a
gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow 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.
17:006:001 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.
17:006:002 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.
17:006:003 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.
17:006:004 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.
17:006:005 And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth
in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.
17:006:006 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?
17:006:007 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king
delighteth to honour,
17:006:008 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:
17:006:009 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.
17:006:010 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.
17:006:011 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.
17:006:012 And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted
to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
17:006:013 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.
17:006:014 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.
17:007:001 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
17:007:002 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.
17:007:003 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:
17:007:004 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.
17:007:005 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?
17:007:006 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked
Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
17:007:007 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.
17:007:008 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 king's mouth, they covered Haman's
face.
17:007:009 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king,
Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for
Mordecai, who spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman.
Then the king said, Hang him thereon.
17:007:010 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for
Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
17:008:001 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.
17:008:002 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.
17:008:003 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.
17:008:004 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So
Esther arose, and stood before the king,
17:008:005 And said, If it please the king, and if I have 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:
17:008:006 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?
17:008:007 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.
17:008:008 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.
17:008:009 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.
17:008:010 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:
17:008:011 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,
17:008:012 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely,
upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
17:008:013 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.
17:008:014 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.
17:008:015 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.
17:008:016 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
17:008:017 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.
17:009:001 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;)
17:009:002 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.
17:009:003 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.
17:009:004 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.
17:009:005 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.
17:009:006 And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five
hundred men.
17:009:007 And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,
17:009:008 And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,
17:009:009 And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,
17:009:010 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.
17:009:011 On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan
the palace was brought before the king.
17:009:012 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.
17:009:013 Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to
the Jews which 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.
17:009:014 And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was
given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.
17:009:015 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.
17:009:016 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,
17:009:017 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.
17:009:018 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.
17:009:019 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.
17:009:020 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,
17:009:021 To stablish this among them, that they should keep the
fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same,
yearly,
17:009:022 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.
17:009:023 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as
Mordecai had written unto them;
17:009:024 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;
17:009:025 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.
17:009:026 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,
17:009:027 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;
17:009:028 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.
17:009:029 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai
the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of
Purim.
17:009:030 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,
17:009:031 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.
17:009:032 And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim;
and it was written in the book.
17:010:001 And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon
the isles of the sea.
17:010:002 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?
17:010:003 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.