Esther:9

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* And , in the twelfth month , the same , is the month Adar , on the thirteenth day thereof , when the word of the king and his edict arrived to be put in execution , on the day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them , though it , was changed , so that the Jews themselves should have power over them who hated them , * the Jews assembled themselves together in their cities , throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus , to thrust forth a hand against them who were seeking their hurt , and , no man , stood before them , for the dread of them had fallen upon all the peoples . * And , all the rulers of the provinces , and the satraps and the pashas , and the doers of business that pertained to the king , were extolling the Jews , for the dread of Mordecai , had fallen upon them ; * since great was Mordecai , in the house of the king , and , his fame , was going forth throughout all the provinces , for , the man Mordecai , went on waxing great . * So then the Jews smote all their enemies , with the smiting of the sword and slaughter , and destruction , and they dealt with them who hated them according to their pleasure . * Yea , in Shusan the palace , did the Jews slay and destroy five hundred men . * And Parshandatha and Dalphon , and Aspatha ; * and Poratha , and Adalia , and Aridatha ; * and Parmashta , and Arisai , and Aridai , and Vaizatha ; * the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha , the adversary of the Jews , slew they , but , on the spoil , thrust they not forth their hand . * On that day , came in the number of the slain into Shusan the palace , before the king . * Then said the king unto Esther the queen , In Shusan the palace , have the Jews slain and caused to perish five hundred men , and the ten sons of Haman , in the rest of the provinces of the king , what have they done ? What , then , is thy petition , that it may be granted thee ? and what is thy request further , that it may he performed ? * Then said Esther , If , unto the king , it seem good , let it be granted , to-morrow also , unto the Jews who are in Shusan , to do according to the edict of to-day , and that , the ten sons of Haman , be hanged upon the gallows . * And the king commanded it to be done so , and there was given an edict , in Shusan , and , the ten sons of Haman , they hanged . * So the Jews who were in Shusan assembled themselves together , on the fourteenth day also , of the month Adar , and slew in Shusan three hundred men , but , on the spoil , thrust they not forth their hand . * And , the remainder of the Jews who were in the provinces of the king , assembled themselves together and stood for their life , and then had rest from their enemies , having slain of them that hated them seventy-five thousand , but , on the spoil , thrust they not forth their hand : * on the thirteenth day of the month Adar , and then had rest on the fourteenth day thereof , and made it a day of banqueting and rejoicing . * But , the Jews who were in Shusan , assembled themselves together on the thirteenth day thereof , and on the fourteenth day thereof , and then had rest on the fifteenth day thereof , and made it a day of banqueting and rejoicing . * For this cause , the country Jews , who dwelt in the country towns , were making the fourteenth day of the month Adar one of rejoicing and banqueting , and a day of happiness , and of sending portions every one to his neighbour . * And Mordecai wrote these things , and sent letters unto all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus , near , and far off ; * to establish for them , that they should continue to observe the fourteenth day of the month Adar , and the fifteenth day thereof , always year by year ; * according to the days wherein the Jews found rest from their enemies , and the month which was turned for them , from sorrow to joy , and from mourning to a happy day , that they should make them days of banqueting and rejoicing , and of sending portions , every one to his neighbour , and gifts , unto the needy . * And the Jews took upon them that which they had begun to do , and that which Mordecai had written unto them ; * because , Haman , son of Hammedatha , the Agagite , the adversary of all the Jews , had plotted against the Jews , to cause them to perish , and had cast Pur , the same , is the Lot , to terrify them , and to destroy them ; * but , by going in before the king , he commanded by letter , that his wicked plot which he had plotted against the Jews , should return , upon his own head , and that he and his sons should be hanged upon the gallows . * For this cause , called they these days Purim , after the name Pur , for this cause , for all the words of this epistle , and what they had seen concerning such a matter , and what had reached unto them . * The Jews established and took upon themselvesand upon their seed , and upon all who should join themselves unto them , that it might not pass away , that they would continue to keep these two days , according to the writing concerning them and at their set time , always year by year . * And , these days , were to be remembered and to be kept , always from generation to generation , by every family , every province , and every city , that , these days of Purim , should not pass away , out of the midst of the Jews , and , the memorial of them , not cease from their seed . * Then wrote Esther the queen daughter of Abihail and Mordecai the Jew , with all authority , to confirm this second epistle concerning the Purim ; * and he sent letters unto all the Jews , throughout the hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus , words of peace and stability : * to establish these days of the Purim , in their set times , according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined upon them , and according as they had enjoined upon their own soul , and upon their seed , the story of the fastings and of their outcry . * And , the command of Esther , confirmed the story of these Purim , and it was written in a book .

---