Fill out for free KJV Bible e-Book & News from eBibleProductions.com about using today's technology to spread God's Word. Your e-mail address will be kept absolutely confidential and we promise it will not be shared with any other party.

Your source for over a 1000 gigabytes of Bible Studies.

Check out some Bible Audio and Video Study Products using the latest technology to improve your study time.

ISA-11:9 ...for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD,

as the waters cover the sea.

Copyright (c) 1985-2007

ES-1:1 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:)

ES-1:2 [That] in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the

throne of his kingdom, which [was] in Shushan the palace,

ES-1:3 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:

ES-1:4 When he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and

the honour of his excellent majesty many days, [even] and

hundred and fourscore days.

ES-1:5 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;

ES-1:6 [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.

ES-1:7 And they gave [them] drink in vessels of gold, (the

vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in

abundance, according to the state of the king.

ES-1:8 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.

ES-1:9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women [in]

the royal house which [belonged] to king Ahasuerus.

ES-1:10 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,

ES-1:11 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.

ES-1:12 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.

ES-1:13 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:

ES-1:14 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;)

ES-1:15 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?

ES-1:16 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 people that [are] in all the

provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

ES-1:17 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.

ES-1:18 [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.

ES-1:19 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.

ES-1:20 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.

ES-1:21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and

the king did according to the word of Memucan:

ES-1:22 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 that [it] should be published according to

the language of every people.

*ES-2:1 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.

ES-2:2 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him,

Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:

ES-2:3 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 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]:

ES-2:4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen

instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

ES-2:5 [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;

ES-2:6 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.

ES-2:7 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.

ES-2:8 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.

ES-2:9 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.

ES-2:10 Esther had not showed her people nor her kindred:for

Mordecai had charged her that she should not show [it].

ES-2:11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the

women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of

her.

ES-2:12 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;)

ES-2:13 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.

ES-2:14 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, 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.

ES-2:15 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.

ES-2:16 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.

ES-2:17 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.

ES-2:18 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 state of the

king.

ES-2:19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second

time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.

ES-2:20 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.

ES-2:21 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 hand on the

king Ahasuerus.

ES-2:22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told [it] unto

Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king [thereof] in

Mordecai's name.

ES-2:23 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.

*ES-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.

ES-3:2 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.

ES-3:3 Then the king's servants, which [were] in the king's

gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's

commandment?

ES-3:4 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.

ES-3:5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him

reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

ES-3:6 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.

ES-3:7 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.

ES-3:8 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.

ES-3:9 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.

ES-3:10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it

unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.

ES-3:11 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.

ES-3:12 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.

ES-3:13 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.

ES-3:14 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.

ES-3:15 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.

*ES-4:1 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;

ES-4:2 And came even before the king's gate:for none [might]

enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

ES-4:3 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.

ES-4:4 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.

ES-4:5 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].

ES-4:6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the

city, which [was] before the king's gate.

ES-4:7 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.

ES-4:8 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 request before him for her people.

ES-4:9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

ES-4:10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him

commandment unto Mordecai;

ES-4:11 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.

ES-4:12 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.

ES-4:13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not

with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more

than all the Jews.

ES-4:14 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?

ES-4:15 Then Esther bade [them] return Mordecai [this answer],

ES-4:16 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.

ES-4:17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that

Esther had commanded him.

*ES-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 gate

of the house.

ES-5:2 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.

ES-5:3 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.

ES-5:4 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.

ES-5:5 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.

ES-5:6 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.

ES-5:7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my

request [is];

ES-5:8 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.

ES-5:9 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.

ES-5:10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself:and when he came

home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.

ES-5:11 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.

ES-5:12 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.

ES-5:13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see

Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.

ES-5:14 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.

*ES-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.

ES-6:2 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.

ES-6:3 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.

ES-6:4 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.

ES-6:5 And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman

standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.

ES-6:6 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?

ES-6:7 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king

delighteth to honour,

ES-6:8 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:

ES-6:9 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.

ES-6:10 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.

ES-6:11 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.

ES-6:12 And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman

hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.

ES-6:13 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.

ES-6:14 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.

*ES-7:1 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the

queen.

ES-7:2 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.

ES-7:3 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:

ES-7:4 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.

ES-7:5 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?

ES-7:6 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy [is] this

wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the

queen.

ES-7:7 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.

ES-7:8 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.

ES-7:9 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.

ES-7:10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had

prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.

*ES-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.

ES-8:2 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.

ES-8:3 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.

ES-8:4 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther.

So Esther arose, and stood before the king,

ES-8:5 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:

ES-8:6 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?

ES-8:7 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.

ES-8:8 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.

ES-8:9 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.

ES-8:10 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:

ES-8:11 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,

ES-8:12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus,

[namely], upon the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which

[is] the month Adar.

ES-8:13 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.

ES-8:14 [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.

ES-8:15 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.

ES-8:16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.

ES-8:17 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.

*ES-9:1 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;)

ES-9:2 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.

ES-9:3 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.

ES-9:4 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.

ES-9:5 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.

ES-9:6 And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed

five hundred men.

ES-9:7 And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,

ES-9:8 And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,

ES-9:9 And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,

ES-9:10 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.

ES-9:11 On that day the number of those that were slain in

Shushan the palace was brought before the king.

ES-9:12 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.

ES-9:13 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.

ES-9:14 And the king commanded it so to be done:and the decree

was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.

ES-9:15 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.

ES-9:16 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,

ES-9:17 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.

ES-9:18 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.

ES-9:19 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.

ES-9:20 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,

ES-9:21 To stablish [this] among them, that they should keep

the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of

the same, yearly,

ES-9:22 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.

ES-9:23 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as

Mordecai had written unto them;

ES-9:24 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;

ES-9:25 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.

ES-9:26 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,

ES-9:27 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;

ES-9:28 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.

ES-9:29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and

Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this

second letter of Purim.

ES-9:30 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,

ES-9:31 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.

ES-9:32 And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of

Purim; and it was written in the book.

*ES-10:1 And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land,

and [upon] the isles of the sea.

ES-10:2 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?

ES-10:3 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.