“1 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of
Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the
princes that [were] with him. 2 And all the king’s servants, that [were]
in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so
commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did [him]
reverence. 3 Then the king’s servants, which [were] in the king’s gate,
said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king’s commandment? 4 Now
it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not
unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s matters would
stand: for he had told them that he [was] a Jew. 5 And when Haman saw
that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of
wrath. 6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they
had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy
all the Jews that [were] throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus,
[even] the people of Mordecai.”
“7 In the first month, that [is], the month Nisan, in the twelfth year
of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that [is], the lot, before Haman from
day to day, and from month to month, [to] the twelfth [month], that
[is], the month Adar. 8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a
certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all
the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws [are] diverse from all
people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it [is] not for the
king’s profit to suffer them. 9 If it please the king, let it be written
that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of
silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to
bring [it] into the king’s treasuries. 10 And the king took his ring
from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite,
the Jews’ enemy. 11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver [is] given
to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. 12
Then were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first
month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded
unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors that [were] over every
province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according
to the writing thereof, and [to] every people after their language; in
the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king’s
ring. 13 And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s
provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both
young and old, little children and women, in one day, [even] upon the
thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and [to
take] the spoil of them for a prey. 14 The copy of the writing for a
commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people,
that they should be ready against that day. 15 The posts went out, being
hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan
the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city
Shushan was perplexed.” (Esther 3:1-15 AV)
“1 ¶ When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his
clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of
the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; 2 And came even before
the king’s gate: for none [might] enter into the king’s gate clothed
with sackcloth. 3 And in every province, whithersoever the king’s
commandment and his decree came, [there was] great mourning among the
Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth
and ashes. 4 So Esther’s maids and her chamberlains came and told [it]
her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to
clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he
received [it] not.”
“5 ¶ Then called Esther for Hatach, [one] of the king’s chamberlains,
whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to
Mordecai, to know what it [was], and why it [was]. 6 So Hatach went
forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which [was] before the
king’s gate. 7 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him,
and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s
treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. 8 Also he gave him the copy of
the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to
shew [it] unto Esther, and to declare [it] unto her, and to charge her
that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and
to make request before him for her people. 9 And Hatach came and told
Esther the words of Mordecai. 10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and
gave him commandment unto Mordecai; 11 All the king’s servants, and the
people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or
woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called,
[there is] one law of his to put [him] to death, except such to whom the
king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not
been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. 12 And they told
to Mordecai Esther’s words. 13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther,
Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more
than all the Jews. 14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this
time, [then] shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews
from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed:
and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for [such] a time
as this? 15 Then Esther bade [them] return Mordecai [this answer], 16
Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast
ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also
and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king,
which [is] not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. 17 So
Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had
commanded him.” (Esther 4:1-17 AV)
“1 ¶ Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on [her]
royal [apparel], and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over
against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the
royal house, over against the gate of the house. 2 And it was so, when
the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, [that] she obtained
favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre
that [was] in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the
sceptre. 3 Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther?
and what [is] thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of
the kingdom. 4 And Esther answered, If [it seem] good unto the king, let
the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared
for him. 5 Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do
as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that
Esther had prepared. 6 And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of
wine, What [is] thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what
[is] thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request [is]; 8 If
I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king
to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman
come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to
morrow as the king hath said.”
“9 ¶ Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but
when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor
moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. 10
Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and
called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife. 11 And Haman told them of
the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all [the
things] wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him
above the princes and servants of the king. 12 Haman said moreover, Yea,
Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet
that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her
also with the king. 13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I
see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate. 14 Then said Zeresh his
wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits
high, and 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 5:1-14
AV)
“1 ¶ On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring
the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the
king. 2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and
Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who
sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 3 And the king said, What
honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the
king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for
him.”
“4 ¶ And the king said, Who [is] in the court? Now Haman was come into
the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang
Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 5 And the king’s
servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the
king said, Let him come in. 6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto
him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour?
Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do
honour more than to myself? 7 And Haman answered the king, For the man
whom the king delighteth to honour, 8 Let the royal apparel be brought
which the king [useth] to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon,
and the crown royal which is set upon his head: 9 And let this apparel
and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble
princes, that they may array the man [withal] whom the king delighteth
to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city,
and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king
delighteth to honour. 10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, [and]
take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to
Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of
all that thou hast spoken. 11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse,
and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of
the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man
whom the king delighteth to honour.”
“12 ¶ And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to
his house mourning, and having his head covered. 13 And Haman told
Zeresh his wife and all his friends every [thing] that had befallen him.
Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai [be] of
the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt
not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. 14 And while
they [were] yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and
hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.” (Esther
6:1-14 AV)
“1 ¶ So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. 2 And
the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of
wine, What [is] thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted
thee: and what [is] thy request? and it shall be performed, [even] to
the half of the kingdom. 3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I
have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let
my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: 4 For
we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to
perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my
tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage. 5
Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is
he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? 6 And
Esther said, The adversary and enemy [is] this wicked Haman. Then Haman
was afraid before the king and the queen.”
“7 ¶ And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath [went]
into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life
to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against
him by the king. 8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into
the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed
whereon Esther [was]. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also
before me in the house? As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they
covered Haman’s face. 9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said
before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman
had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the
house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. 10 So they hanged
Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the
king’s wrath pacified.” (Esther 7:1-10 AV)
“1 ¶ On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the
Jews’ enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king;
for Esther had told what he [was] unto her. 2 And the king took off his
ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And
Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.”
“3 ¶ And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his
feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the
Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. 4 Then the
king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and
stood before the king, 5 And said, If it please the king, and if I have
found favour in his sight, and the thing [seem] right before the king,
and I [be] pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the
letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he
wrote to destroy the Jews which [are] in all the king’s provinces: 6 For
how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how
can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred? 7 Then the king
Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I
have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the
gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. 8 Write ye also for the
Jews, as it liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal [it] with the
king’s ring: for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and
sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse. 9 Then were the king’s
scribes called at that time in the third month, that [is], the month
Sivan, on the three and twentieth [day] thereof; and it was written
according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the
lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which [are]
from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto
every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people
after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and
according to their language. 10 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus’
name, and sealed [it] with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on
horseback, [and] riders on mules, camels, [and] young dromedaries: 11
Wherein the king granted the Jews which [were] in every city to gather
themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay,
and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that
would assault them, [both] little ones and women, and [to take] the
spoil of them for a prey, 12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king
Ahasuerus, [namely], upon the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month,
which [is] the month Adar. 13 The copy of the writing for a commandment
to be given in every province [was] published unto all people, and that
the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their
enemies. 14 [So] the posts that rode upon mules [and] camels went out,
being hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. And the decree
was given at Shushan the palace.”
“15 ¶ And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal
apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a
garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and
was glad. 16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour. 17
And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s
commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast
and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the
fear of the Jews fell upon them.” (Esther 8:1-17 AV)
“1 ¶ Now in the twelfth month, that [is], the month Adar, on the
thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree
drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the
Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the
contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;) 2 The Jews
gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the
provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their
hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon
all people. 3 And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants,
and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the
fear of Mordecai fell upon them. 4 For Mordecai [was] great in the
king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for
this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater. 5 Thus the Jews smote all
their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and
destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them. 6 And
in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men. 7
And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha, 8 And Poratha, and Adalia,
and Aridatha, 9 And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha, 10
The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew
they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand. 11 On that day the
number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before
the king. 12 And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have
slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten
sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces?
now what [is] thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what [is]
thy request further? and it shall be done. 13 Then said Esther, If it
please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which [are] in Shushan to
do 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 the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman’s ten
sons. 15 For the Jews that [were] in Shushan gathered themselves
together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three
hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand. 16 But
the other Jews that [were] in the king’s provinces gathered themselves
together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies,
and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not
their hands on the prey, 17 On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and
on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of
feasting and gladness. 18 But the Jews that [were] at Shushan assembled
together on the thirteenth [day] thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof;
and on the fifteenth [day] of the same they rested, and made it a day of
feasting and gladness. 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt
in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar [a day
of] gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one
to another.”
“20 ¶ And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the
Jews that [were] in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, [both] nigh
and far, 21 To stablish [this] among them, that they should keep the
fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same,
yearly, 22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and
the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from
mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting
and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.
23 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had
written unto them; 24 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite,
the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them,
and had cast Pur, that [is], the lot, to consume them, and to destroy
them; 25 But when [Esther] came before the king, he commanded by letters
that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return
upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the
gallows. 26 Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur.
Therefore for all the words of this letter, and [of that] which they had
seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them, 27 The Jews
ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as
joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would
keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their
[appointed] time every year; 28 And [that] these days [should be]
remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every
province, and every city; and [that] these days of Purim should not fail
from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed. 29
Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew,
wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim. 30 And
he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven
provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, [with] words of peace and truth,
31 To confirm these days of Purim in their times [appointed], according
as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they
had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the
fastings and their cry. 32 And the decree of Esther confirmed these
matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.” (Esther 9:1-32 AV)
“1 ¶ And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and [upon] the
isles of the sea. 2 And all the acts of his power and of his might, and
the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king
advanced him, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of
the kings of Media and Persia? 3 For Mordecai the Jew [was] next unto
king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude
of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to
all his seed.” (Esther 10:1-3 AV)