The Book of Esther Chapter 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—that in those days when the king Ahasuerus
sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
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, when he showed
the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent
majesty many days, even in hundred-and-four-score days. And when these days were
expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were
present in Xushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven
days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace, 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. 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. 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. Also Vashti, the queen, made
a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to
King Ahasuerus. On the seventh day, when the
heart of the king was married with wine, he commanded Mahuman,
Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zitha and Carcus, the seven chamberlains
that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, to bring
Vashti, the queen, before the king with the crown royal. To
show the people and the princes her beauty, for she was fair
to look on. 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. 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,
and next unto him was Carshina, Shethar, Admetha, Tarshish, Meres,
Marsina, and Mimucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media,
which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom.
what shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law because
she hath not performed the commandment of the king Assyrius by the chamberlains? and Mamukun 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. 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 that king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to
be brought in before him, but she came not. 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. 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. 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. And the saying pleased the king
and the princes, and the king did according to the word of
Mamucan. 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. Esther chapter 2 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. Then said the king's
servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young
virgins sought for the king. 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. And let the maiden which pleaseth
the king be queen instead of Vashti.' And the thing pleased
the king, and he did so. Now in Shushan, the palace, there
was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jeah,
the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, who had been
carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity, which had been
carried away with Jechoniah, king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar,
the king of Babylon, had carried away. 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. 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. 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 meat, 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. Esther
had not showed her people nor her kindred, for Mordecai had
charged her that she should not show it. And Mordecai walked
every day before the court of the women's house to know how
Esther did and what should become of her. 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 purification 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, 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. In the evening she went, and
on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women,
to the custody of Shayashgaz, 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. Now when the turn of Esther,
the daughter of Abihael, 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. 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.
And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained
grace and favor 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. 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. And when the virgins were gathered
together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate. Esther had not yet showed 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. In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of
the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Tirish, of those which kept
the door, were wroth and sought to lay hand on the king Hasuerus. And the thing was known to Mordecai,
who told it unto Esther the queen, and Esther certified the king
thereof in Mordecai's name. 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. Esther chapter 3 After these
things did King Hasuerus promote Haman, the son of Hamadatha the
Agathite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes
that were with him. 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. Then the king's servants, which
were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest
thou the king's commandment? 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. And when Haman saw
that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, Then was Haman
full of wrath, and he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai
alone, for they had showed 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. 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 Edah. 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 prophet to suffer them. 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.'
And the king took his ring from his hand and gave it unto Haman,
the son of Hamadatha the Agathite, the Jew's enemy. 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. Then but 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. 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. 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. The posts went out, being hastened
by the king's commandment, and a decree was given in Shushan
the palace, and the king and Haman sat down to drink. But
the city Shushan was perplexed. Esther chapter 4 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, and came even before the king's gate, for none
might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. 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. So Esther's maids and her chamberlains
came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly
grieved, and she sent Raymond to clothe Mordecai, and to take
away his sackcloth from him, but he received it not. Then
called Esther for Haytack, 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. So Haytack went
forth to Mordecai and to the street of the city which was
before the king's gate. 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. Also he gave him the copy of
the writing of the decree that was given at 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 requests before him for
her people. And Hathak came and told Esther
the words of Mordecai. Again Esther spake unto Hathak
and gave him commandment unto Mordecai. All the king's servants
and to 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
scepter that he may live. But I have not been called to
come in unto the king these thirty days." And they told to Mordecai
Esther's words. Then Mordecai commanded to answer
Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the
king's house more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether
holdest thy peace at this time, then shall their 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?'
Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer. 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.' So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all
that Esther had commanded him. Esther chapter 5. 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.
And it was so when the king saw Esther the queen standing in
the court that she obtained favor in his sight. And the king held
out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther
drew near and touched the top of the scepter. 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." 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. 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. 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. Then answered Esther, and said,
My petition and my request is, 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. 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. Nevertheless Haman
refrained himself. And when he came home he sent
and called for his friends and Zeresh his wife. 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.
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 I am invited unto her also with the king. Yet all
this availeth me nothing as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting
at the king's gate.' Then said Zeresh his wife, and all his
friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cupids 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. Esther chapter 6 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. And it was found written
that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Tirish, two of the king's
chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand
on the king Ahasuerus. 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. 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. And the king's servants
said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the
king said, Let him come in. 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 honour more than to myself?
And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth
to honour, 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. 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 with all 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. 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. 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. And Mordecai came again to the
king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house,
mourning, and having his head covered. And Haman told Zeresh
his wife and all his friends everything that had befallen
him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh's 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 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 Esther chapter 7 So the king and Haman came to
banquet with Esther the queen. 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. 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. 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.' 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?' And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked
Haman. Then Haman was afraid before
the king and the queen. And the king, arising from the
banquet of wine in his wrath, went into the palace garden.
And Haman stood up to make requests for his life to Esther the queen,
for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the
king. 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. 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. So they hanged Haman on the gallows
that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified. Esther Chapter 8 On that day did the king Ahasuerus
give the house of Haman the Jew's enemy unto Esther the queen.
And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what
he was unto her. 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. 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. Then the king
held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose and stood
before the king, and said, If it please the king, and if I
have found favour in his sight, and the things 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 Hamadatha,
the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in
all the king's provinces. 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? 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. 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. 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, and 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. 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, 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. Upon one day in all the provinces
of King Ahasuerus, namely upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth
month, which is the month Adar, 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. 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.
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. The Jews had light and gladness
and joy and honor. 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. Many
of the people of the land became Jews for the fear of the Jews
fell upon them Esther chapter 9 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, 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. 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. 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. 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. And in
Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men,
and Parshundatha, and Dalphan, and Aspatha, and Paratha, and
Adalia, and Aradatha, and Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aradai, and Varjezatha. The ten sons of Haman, the son
of Hamadathah, the enemy of the Jews, slew they. But on the spoil
laid they not their hand. On that day the number of those
that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the
king. 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.' 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. And the king commanded it so
to be done, and the decree was given at Shushan, and they hanged
Haman's ten sons. 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. 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. 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. But the Jews that
were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof
and the fourteenth day thereof, and on the fifteenth day of the
same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 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. 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, to establish
this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the
month, Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly, 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. And the Jews undertook to do
as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them, because
Haman, the son of Hamadatha 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,
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. 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, 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, 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. Then Esther the queen, the daughter
of Abahel, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority to confirm
this second letter of Purim. 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, 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. and the decree of Esther confirmed
these matters of Purim and it was written in the book Esther chapter 10 and the king
Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land and upon the isles of
the sea. And all the acts of his power
and of his might and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai
were unto the king advanced him. Are they not written in the book
of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? 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.