Esther
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.
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. 9And 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.
10
Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her
that she should not shew it.
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. 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;)
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.
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. 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. 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. 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.
. . . . .
Ruth 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. 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 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; 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 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.
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 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. 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.
. . . . .
Esther 7
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
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 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 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. 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 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?
. . . . .
11Wherein 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 10
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.