\id EST Open English Bible 
\ide UTF-8
\h Esther 
\toc1 The Book of  Esther 
\toc2 Esther 
\mt2 The Book of  
\mt1 Esther  
\c 1
\s1 The Follies of a Despot  
\p
\v 1 \w These|strong="H1931"\w* events \w happened|strong="H1961"\w* \w in|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3117"\w* \w time|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* Ahasuerus, \w who|strong="H1931"\w* \w ruled|strong="H4427"\w* \w over|strong="H4427"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w hundred|strong="H3967"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w twenty-seven|strong="H6242"\w* \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w* \w from|strong="H3117"\w* \w India|strong="H1912"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w Ethiopia|strong="H3568"\w*  
\v 2 \w from|strong="H5921"\w* \w his|strong="H5921"\w* \w royal|strong="H4438"\w* \w throne|strong="H3678"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* fortified \w palace|strong="H1002"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w*.   
\p
\v 3 \w In|strong="H8141"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w third|strong="H7969"\w* \w year|strong="H8141"\w* \w of|strong="H8141"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w reign|strong="H4427"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4427"\w* \w gave|strong="H6213"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w feast|strong="H4960"\w* \w for|strong="H6213"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w officers|strong="H8269"\w* \w and|strong="H5650"\w* courtiers. \w The|strong="H3605"\w* \w commanders|strong="H8269"\w* \w of|strong="H8141"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* military forces \w of|strong="H8141"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w* \w and|strong="H5650"\w* \w Media|strong="H4074"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w nobles|strong="H6579"\w* \w and|strong="H5650"\w* provincial \w rulers|strong="H8269"\w* \w were|strong="H5650"\w* \w present|strong="H6213"\w*  
\v 4 \w while|strong="H3117"\w* \w for|strong="H3117"\w* \w one|strong="H7200"\w* \w hundred|strong="H3967"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w eighty|strong="H8084"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* \w he|strong="H3117"\w* \w showed|strong="H7200"\w* \w them|strong="H7200"\w* \w the|strong="H7200"\w* \w glorious|strong="H3519"\w* \w riches|strong="H6239"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w his|strong="H7200"\w* \w kingdom|strong="H4438"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w the|strong="H7200"\w* costliness \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w his|strong="H7200"\w* magnificent regalia.   
\p
\v 5 \w When|strong="H3117"\w* \w these|strong="H6213"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* \w were|strong="H5971"\w* \w ended|strong="H4390"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w held|strong="H4428"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w banquet|strong="H4960"\w* \w for|strong="H5704"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w were|strong="H5971"\w* \w present|strong="H4672"\w* \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w royal|strong="H4428"\w* \w palace|strong="H1002"\w* \w at|strong="H3117"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w*, \w high|strong="H1419"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* low alike. \w It|strong="H6213"\w* \w was|strong="H3117"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w seven|strong="H7651"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w*’ \w feast|strong="H4960"\w* \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* enclosed \w garden|strong="H1594"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w royal|strong="H4428"\w* \w palace|strong="H1002"\w*.  
\v 6 There \w were|strong="H5921"\w* \w white|strong="H2353"\w* \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w violet|strong="H8504"\w* cotton curtains fastened \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* \w rings|strong="H1550"\w* \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w pillars|strong="H5982"\w* \w of|strong="H5982"\w* \w marble|strong="H8336"\w* \w with|strong="H5921"\w* \w cords|strong="H2256"\w* \w of|strong="H5982"\w* \w fine|strong="H8336"\w* \w purple|strong="H8504"\w* wool \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w linen|strong="H8336"\w*. \w The|strong="H5921"\w* \w couches|strong="H4296"\w* \w were|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H5982"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w* \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* placed \w upon|strong="H5921"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w mosaic|strong="H7531"\w* \w pavement|strong="H7531"\w* \w of|strong="H5982"\w* \w alabaster|strong="H8336"\w*, \w white|strong="H2353"\w* \w marble|strong="H8336"\w*, \w mother-of-pearl|strong="H1858"\w*, \w and|strong="H3701"\w* dark stone.  
\v 7 \w Drink|strong="H8248"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* \w brought|strong="H3027"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w vessels|strong="H3627"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w* – \w which|strong="H2091"\w* \w were|strong="H3027"\w* all different – \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3027"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w wine|strong="H3196"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* \w provided|strong="H8248"\w* \w with|strong="H3027"\w* \w royal|strong="H4438"\w* liberality.  
\v 8 \w The|strong="H3605"\w* \w drinking|strong="H8360"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* unrestricted, \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* directed \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w officers|strong="H7227"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w household|strong="H1004"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w let|strong="H3651"\w* \w each|strong="H3605"\w* \w man|strong="H3605"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w as|strong="H6213"\w* \w he|strong="H3588"\w* \w pleased|strong="H7522"\w*.  
\v 9 \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* \w Vashti|strong="H2060"\w* \w also|strong="H1571"\w* \w gave|strong="H6213"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w feast|strong="H4960"\w* \w for|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* women \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus’ \w royal|strong="H4438"\w* \w palace|strong="H1004"\w*.   
\p
\v 10 \w On|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w seventh|strong="H7637"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w*, \w when|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w was|strong="H3820"\w* \w merry|strong="H2896"\w* \w with|strong="H6440"\w* \w wine|strong="H3196"\w*, \w he|strong="H3117"\w* commanded \w Mehuman|strong="H4104"\w*, Biztha, \w Harbona|strong="H2726"\w*, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zathar \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w Carkas|strong="H3752"\w*, \w his|strong="H6440"\w* \w seven|strong="H7651"\w* \w eunuch|strong="H5631"\w* attendants  
\v 11 \w to|strong="H6440"\w* bring \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* \w Vashti|strong="H2060"\w* \w before|strong="H6440"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w* \w with|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w royal|strong="H4438"\w* diadem \w on|strong="H7200"\w* \w her|strong="H7200"\w* \w head|strong="H8269"\w*, \w to|strong="H6440"\w* \w show|strong="H7200"\w* \w her|strong="H7200"\w* \w beauty|strong="H3308"\w* \w to|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w*, \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w she|strong="H1931"\w* \w was|strong="H1931"\w* \w very|strong="H2896"\w* \w beautiful|strong="H2896"\w*.  
\v 12 \w But|strong="H4428"\w* \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* \w Vashti|strong="H2060"\w* \w refused|strong="H3985"\w* \w to|strong="H3985"\w* \w come|strong="H2534"\w* \w as|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H1697"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* commanded \w through|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H1697"\w* \w eunuchs|strong="H5631"\w*. \w Then|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H1697"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w became|strong="H7107"\w* \w very|strong="H3966"\w* \w angry|strong="H7107"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w his|strong="H3027"\w* \w fury|strong="H2534"\w* \w burned|strong="H1197"\w* within \w him|strong="H3027"\w*.   
\p
\v 13 \w The|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w turned|strong="H6256"\w* \w to|strong="H6256"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w wise|strong="H2450"\w* \w men|strong="H2450"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w knew|strong="H3045"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* precedents, \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w it|strong="H3588"\w* \w was|strong="H1697"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w custom|strong="H1697"\w* \w to|strong="H6256"\w* confer \w with|strong="H1697"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w wise|strong="H2450"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w law|strong="H1881"\w*.  
\v 14 \w Those|strong="H3427"\w* \w next|strong="H7138"\w* \w to|strong="H6440"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w* \w were|strong="H8269"\w* \w Carshena|strong="H3771"\w*, \w Shethar|strong="H8369"\w*, Admatha, \w Tarshish|strong="H8659"\w*, \w Meres|strong="H4825"\w*, \w Marsena|strong="H4826"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w Memucan|strong="H4462"\w*, \w seven|strong="H7651"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w Media|strong="H4074"\w* \w who|strong="H3427"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w access|strong="H7200"\w* \w to|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w were|strong="H8269"\w* highest \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w kingdom|strong="H4438"\w*.  
\v 15 “\w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* \w Vashti|strong="H2060"\w*”, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w said|strong="H3982"\w*, “\w has|strong="H4428"\w* \w failed|strong="H3808"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w obey|strong="H6213"\w* \w my|strong="H5921"\w* \w royal|strong="H4428"\w* \w command|strong="H3982"\w* – \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w command|strong="H3982"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus conveyed \w through|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w eunuchs|strong="H5631"\w*! \w What|strong="H4100"\w* \w does|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w law|strong="H1881"\w* say \w should|strong="H4100"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* \w done|strong="H6213"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w her|strong="H5921"\w*?”   
\p
\v 16 \w Memucan|strong="H4462"\w* replied \w before|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w*, “\w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* \w Vashti|strong="H2060"\w* \w has|strong="H4428"\w* \w done|strong="H5753"\w* \w wrong|strong="H5753"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w only|strong="H3588"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w but|strong="H3588"\w* \w also|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w peoples|strong="H5971"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w*.  
\v 17 \w The|strong="H3605"\w* refusal \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w queen|strong="H4436"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* \w reported|strong="H3318"\w* \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* women \w with|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* result \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w make|strong="H3588"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* despise \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w husbands|strong="H1167"\w*. \w They|strong="H3588"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w say|strong="H1697"\w*, ‘\w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus commanded \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* \w Vashti|strong="H2060"\w* \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* \w brought|strong="H3318"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w before|strong="H6440"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w*, \w but|strong="H3588"\w* \w she|strong="H3588"\w* \w did|strong="H3808"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w come|strong="H3318"\w*!’  
\v 18 \w This|strong="H2088"\w* \w very|strong="H2088"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w ladies|strong="H8282"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w Media|strong="H4074"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w have|strong="H1697"\w* \w heard|strong="H8085"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* refusal \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w queen|strong="H4436"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w tell|strong="H8085"\w* \w it|strong="H3117"\w* \w to|strong="H3117"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w officials|strong="H8269"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w there|strong="H2088"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w be|strong="H1697"\w* contempt \w and|strong="H4428"\w* strife!  
\v 19 If \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w seems|strong="H2896"\w* \w best|strong="H2896"\w* \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*, \w let|strong="H5414"\w* \w him|strong="H5414"\w* \w send|strong="H5414"\w* \w out|strong="H3318"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w royal|strong="H4438"\w* \w edict|strong="H1697"\w*. \w Let|strong="H5414"\w* \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* \w written|strong="H3789"\w* \w among|strong="H4480"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w laws|strong="H1881"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w Media|strong="H4074"\w*, \w never|strong="H3808"\w* \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* \w repealed|strong="H5674"\w*, \w that|strong="H1697"\w* \w Vashti|strong="H2060"\w* \w may|strong="H4428"\w* \w never|strong="H3808"\w* \w again|strong="H6440"\w* \w come|strong="H3318"\w* \w before|strong="H6440"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus. \w Let|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w give|strong="H5414"\w* \w her|strong="H5414"\w* \w place|strong="H5414"\w* \w as|strong="H1697"\w* queen \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w another|strong="H7468"\w* \w who|strong="H4428"\w* \w is|strong="H1697"\w* \w more|strong="H4480"\w* \w worthy|strong="H2896"\w* \w than|strong="H4480"\w* \w she|strong="H5921"\w*.  
\v 20 \w When|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w decree|strong="H6599"\w* \w which|strong="H1931"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w makes|strong="H6213"\w* \w is|strong="H1931"\w* \w heard|strong="H8085"\w* \w throughout|strong="H3605"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w kingdom|strong="H4438"\w* – \w great|strong="H1419"\w* \w as|strong="H5704"\w* \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w is|strong="H1931"\w* – \w the|strong="H3605"\w* wives \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* classes \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w give|strong="H5414"\w* \w honor|strong="H3366"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w husbands|strong="H1167"\w*.”   
\p
\v 21 \w The|strong="H6213"\w* \w proposal|strong="H1697"\w* \w pleased|strong="H3190"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w did|strong="H6213"\w* \w as|strong="H1697"\w* \w Memucan|strong="H4462"\w* advised.  
\v 22 \w He|strong="H3605"\w* \w sent|strong="H7971"\w* \w letters|strong="H5612"\w* \w to|strong="H1696"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w*, \w to|strong="H1696"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w province|strong="H4082"\w* \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w its|strong="H3605"\w* \w own|strong="H1961"\w* system \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w writing|strong="H3791"\w* \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w to|strong="H1696"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w language|strong="H3956"\w*, \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w man|strong="H3605"\w* \w should|strong="H4428"\w* \w be|strong="H1961"\w* \w master|strong="H8323"\w* \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w own|strong="H1961"\w* \w house|strong="H1004"\w*!   
\c 2
\s1 Choosing a Queen  
\p
\v 1 \w Some|strong="H1697"\w* \w time|strong="H5921"\w* later, \w when|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w wrath|strong="H2534"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w subsided|strong="H7918"\w*, \w he|strong="H6213"\w* \w remembered|strong="H2142"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w Vashti|strong="H2060"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w done|strong="H6213"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w been|strong="H2142"\w* \w decreed|strong="H1504"\w* \w against|strong="H5921"\w* \w her|strong="H5921"\w*.  
\v 2 \w Then|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H1245"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w servants|strong="H5288"\w* \w who|strong="H5288"\w* \w waited|strong="H8334"\w* \w upon|strong="H4758"\w* \w him|strong="H1245"\w* said, “Let \w beautiful|strong="H2896"\w* \w young|strong="H5288"\w* \w virgins|strong="H1330"\w* \w be|strong="H4428"\w* \w sought|strong="H1245"\w* \w for|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H1245"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*,  
\v 3 \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w let|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w appoint|strong="H6485"\w* commissioners \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w kingdom|strong="H4438"\w* \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w gather|strong="H6908"\w* \w them|strong="H5414"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w royal|strong="H4438"\w* \w residence|strong="H1004"\w*. \w Let|strong="H5414"\w* \w them|strong="H5414"\w* \w be|strong="H3027"\w* \w brought|strong="H5414"\w* \w into|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w women|strong="H1330"\w*’s \w quarters|strong="H1004"\w* \w under|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w custody|strong="H3027"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Hegai|strong="H1896"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w eunuch|strong="H5631"\w*, \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w has|strong="H4428"\w* \w charge|strong="H3027"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w women|strong="H1330"\w*. \w Then|strong="H5414"\w* \w give|strong="H5414"\w* \w them|strong="H5414"\w* \w what|strong="H2896"\w* \w is|strong="H3027"\w* needed \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w make|strong="H5414"\w* \w them|strong="H5414"\w* \w beautiful|strong="H2896"\w*,  
\v 4 \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w let|strong="H3651"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w girl|strong="H5291"\w* \w who|strong="H4428"\w* \w pleases|strong="H3190"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w be|strong="H1697"\w* \w queen|strong="H4427"\w* \w instead|strong="H8478"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Vashti|strong="H2060"\w*.” \w The|strong="H6213"\w* \w proposal|strong="H1697"\w* \w pleased|strong="H3190"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w so|strong="H3651"\w* \w he|strong="H3651"\w* \w put|strong="H6213"\w* \w it|strong="H6213"\w* \w into|strong="H6213"\w* \w action|strong="H6213"\w*.   
\p
\v 5 \w In|strong="H1121"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w* \w the|strong="H1961"\w* royal residence \w lived|strong="H1961"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w Jew|strong="H3064"\w* \w named|strong="H8034"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*. \w He|strong="H4782"\w* \w was|strong="H8034"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jair|strong="H2971"\w*, \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Shimei|strong="H8096"\w*, \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Kish|strong="H7027"\w*, \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w Benjamite|strong="H1145"\w*.  
\v 6 (Kish \w had|strong="H4428"\w* been \w carried|strong="H1540"\w* \w away|strong="H1540"\w* \w from|strong="H1540"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w the|strong="H5973"\w* \w exiles|strong="H1473"\w* \w who|strong="H3063"\w* \w were|strong="H3063"\w* \w deported|strong="H1540"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w Jeconiah|strong="H3204"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w*, whom \w Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019"\w* \w the|strong="H5973"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* Babylon \w took|strong="H4428"\w* \w captive|strong="H1540"\w*.)  
\v 7 \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w had|strong="H1961"\w* adopted \w Hadassah|strong="H1919"\w*, \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w is|strong="H1931"\w*, Esther, \w his|strong="H3947"\w* \w uncle|strong="H1730"\w*’s \w daughter|strong="H1323"\w*, \w since|strong="H3588"\w* \w she|strong="H1931"\w* \w had|strong="H1961"\w* neither father \w nor|strong="H3588"\w* mother. \w The|strong="H3588"\w* \w girl|strong="H5291"\w* \w was|strong="H1961"\w* shapely \w and|strong="H2896"\w* \w beautiful|strong="H3303"\w*; \w and|strong="H2896"\w* \w after|strong="H1961"\w* \w her|strong="H3947"\w* father \w and|strong="H2896"\w* mother \w died|strong="H4194"\w*, \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* raised \w her|strong="H3947"\w* \w as|strong="H1961"\w* \w if|strong="H3588"\w* \w she|strong="H1931"\w* \w was|strong="H1961"\w* \w his|strong="H3947"\w* \w own|strong="H1961"\w* \w daughter|strong="H1323"\w*.   
\p
\v 8 \w When|strong="H1961"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w command|strong="H1697"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w decree|strong="H1881"\w* \w were|strong="H1961"\w* \w known|strong="H8085"\w*, \w many|strong="H7227"\w* \w girls|strong="H5291"\w* \w were|strong="H1961"\w* \w gathered|strong="H6908"\w* \w together|strong="H6908"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* capital \w under|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* \w custody|strong="H3027"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Hegai|strong="H1896"\w*. Esther \w was|strong="H1961"\w* \w also|strong="H4428"\w* \w taken|strong="H3947"\w* \w into|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w palace|strong="H1004"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w placed|strong="H3947"\w* \w under|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* \w custody|strong="H3027"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Hegai|strong="H1896"\w*, \w who|strong="H8104"\w* \w had|strong="H1961"\w* \w charge|strong="H3027"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* \w women|strong="H5291"\w*.  
\v 9 \w The|strong="H6440"\w* \w girl|strong="H5291"\w* \w pleased|strong="H3190"\w* \w him|strong="H5414"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* gained \w his|strong="H5375"\w* \w favor|strong="H6440"\w*, \w so|strong="H5414"\w* \w that|strong="H7200"\w* \w he|strong="H1004"\w* quickly \w gave|strong="H5414"\w* \w her|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w cosmetics|strong="H8562"\w* \w she|strong="H6440"\w* needed \w to|strong="H5414"\w* enhance \w her|strong="H5414"\w* beauty \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w her|strong="H5414"\w* allowance \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w food|strong="H1004"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w seven|strong="H7651"\w* \w maids|strong="H5291"\w* \w selected|strong="H7200"\w* \w from|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w household|strong="H1004"\w*. \w He|strong="H1004"\w* \w also|strong="H4428"\w* transferred \w her|strong="H5414"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w her|strong="H5414"\w* \w maids|strong="H5291"\w* \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w best|strong="H2896"\w* \w place|strong="H5414"\w* \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w harem|strong="H1004"\w*.  
\v 10 Esther \w had|strong="H3588"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* revealed \w her|strong="H5046"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w nor|strong="H3808"\w* \w her|strong="H5046"\w* family background \w because|strong="H3588"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w had|strong="H3588"\w* \w ordered|strong="H6680"\w* \w her|strong="H5046"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w*.  
\v 11 \w Every|strong="H3605"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w would|strong="H4100"\w* \w to|strong="H1980"\w* \w walk|strong="H1980"\w* \w in|strong="H1980"\w* \w front|strong="H6440"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w courtyard|strong="H2691"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w harem|strong="H1004"\w* \w and|strong="H1980"\w* ask \w after|strong="H3117"\w* Esther’s \w health|strong="H7965"\w* \w and|strong="H1980"\w* \w what|strong="H4100"\w* \w was|strong="H3117"\w* happening \w to|strong="H1980"\w* \w her|strong="H3605"\w*.   
\p
\v 12 \w The|strong="H3588"\w* \w girls|strong="H5291"\w* \w were|strong="H1961"\w* prepared \w for|strong="H3588"\w* meeting \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w twelve|strong="H8147"\w* \w months|strong="H2320"\w*: \w six|strong="H8337"\w* \w months|strong="H2320"\w* \w being|strong="H1961"\w* treated \w with|strong="H4390"\w* \w oil|strong="H8081"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w myrrh|strong="H4753"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w six|strong="H8337"\w* \w months|strong="H2320"\w* \w with|strong="H4390"\w* perfumes \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w cosmetics|strong="H8562"\w*. \w After|strong="H7093"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w twelve|strong="H8147"\w* \w months|strong="H2320"\w*,  
\v 13 \w each|strong="H3605"\w* \w girl|strong="H5291"\w* \w went|strong="H4428"\w* \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*. \w She|strong="H5704"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* \w allowed|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w take|strong="H5414"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w her|strong="H3605"\w* \w whatever|strong="H3605"\w* \w she|strong="H5704"\w* wished \w from|strong="H5704"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w women|strong="H5291"\w*’s \w quarters|strong="H1004"\w*,  
\v 14 \w and|strong="H7725"\w* \w would|strong="H4428"\w* enter \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w palace|strong="H1004"\w* \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w evening|strong="H6153"\w* \w and|strong="H7725"\w* \w return|strong="H7725"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w next|strong="H3027"\w* \w morning|strong="H1242"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w another|strong="H8145"\w* \w part|strong="H1931"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w harem|strong="H1004"\w* \w under|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w care|strong="H3027"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w eunuch|strong="H5631"\w* \w Shaashgaz|strong="H8190"\w* \w who|strong="H1931"\w* \w was|strong="H8034"\w* \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w charge|strong="H3027"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w concubines|strong="H6370"\w*. \w She|strong="H1931"\w* \w would|strong="H4428"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w go|strong="H7725"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w again|strong="H7725"\w* \w unless|strong="H3588"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w desired|strong="H2654"\w* \w her|strong="H7121"\w* \w and|strong="H7725"\w* \w summoned|strong="H7121"\w* \w her|strong="H7121"\w* \w by|strong="H3027"\w* \w name|strong="H8034"\w*.  
\v 15 \w When|strong="H3588"\w* \w it|strong="H3588"\w* \w was|strong="H1961"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w turn|strong="H8447"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* Esther (\w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w girl|strong="H1323"\w* adopted \w by|strong="H1961"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*, \w daughter|strong="H1323"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w uncle|strong="H1730"\w* Abihail) \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w go|strong="H1961"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*, \w she|strong="H3588"\w* \w only|strong="H3588"\w* \w took|strong="H3947"\w* \w with|strong="H1697"\w* \w her|strong="H3605"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w things|strong="H1697"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w Hegai|strong="H1896"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w eunuch|strong="H5631"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w charge|strong="H8104"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w women|strong="H1323"\w*, \w had|strong="H1961"\w* advised \w her|strong="H3605"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w take|strong="H3947"\w*. Esther \w was|strong="H1961"\w* \w liked|strong="H5869"\w* \w by|strong="H1961"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w saw|strong="H7200"\w* \w her|strong="H3605"\w*.  
\v 16 Esther \w was|strong="H1931"\w* \w taken|strong="H3947"\w* \w to|strong="H4428"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus \w in|strong="H8141"\w* \w the|strong="H3947"\w* \w royal|strong="H4438"\w* \w palace|strong="H1004"\w* \w in|strong="H8141"\w* \w the|strong="H3947"\w* \w tenth|strong="H6224"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w*, \w the|strong="H3947"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Tebeth|strong="H2887"\w*, \w in|strong="H8141"\w* \w the|strong="H3947"\w* \w seventh|strong="H7651"\w* \w year|strong="H8141"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w his|strong="H3947"\w* \w reign|strong="H4438"\w*.  
\v 17 \w And|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* loved \w her|strong="H3605"\w* more \w than|strong="H4428"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w other|strong="H3605"\w* \w women|strong="H1330"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w she|strong="H6440"\w* \w became|strong="H4427"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* favorite \w and|strong="H4428"\w* won \w his|strong="H3605"\w* affection. \w He|strong="H3605"\w* \w placed|strong="H7760"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w royal|strong="H4438"\w* diadem \w on|strong="H7760"\w* \w her|strong="H3605"\w* \w head|strong="H7218"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w made|strong="H7760"\w* \w her|strong="H3605"\w* \w queen|strong="H4427"\w* \w instead|strong="H8478"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Vashti|strong="H2060"\w*.  
\v 18 \w Then|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w gave|strong="H5414"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w great|strong="H1419"\w* \w feast|strong="H4960"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* courtiers \w in|strong="H6213"\w* honor \w of|strong="H4428"\w* Esther, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w he|strong="H6213"\w* remitted \w the|strong="H3605"\w* taxes \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* distributed \w gifts|strong="H4864"\w* \w with|strong="H6213"\w* \w royal|strong="H4428"\w* liberality.   
\p
\v 19 \w All|strong="H6908"\w* \w the|strong="H6908"\w* \w time|strong="H8145"\w* \w the|strong="H6908"\w* \w virgins|strong="H1330"\w* \w were|strong="H3427"\w* \w assembled|strong="H6908"\w* \w again|strong="H8145"\w*, \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* \w sitting|strong="H3427"\w* \w as|strong="H3427"\w* \w an|strong="H3427"\w* offical \w at|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H6908"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w gate|strong="H8179"\w*.  
\v 20 Esther \w had|strong="H1961"\w* \w not|strong="H6213"\w* revealed \w her|strong="H5046"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w or|strong="H5971"\w* family background \w because|strong="H5921"\w* \w she|strong="H5921"\w* \w still|strong="H5971"\w* obeyed \w him|strong="H5921"\w* \w as|strong="H1961"\w* \w she|strong="H5921"\w* \w had|strong="H1961"\w* \w when|strong="H1961"\w* \w he|strong="H6213"\w* \w was|strong="H1961"\w* bringing \w her|strong="H5046"\w* \w up|strong="H5921"\w*.   
\s1 Hatred without Pity  
\p
\v 21 \w In|strong="H3427"\w* \w those|strong="H1992"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* \w while|strong="H3117"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w was|strong="H3117"\w* \w sitting|strong="H3427"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H8104"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w gate|strong="H8179"\w*, \w two|strong="H8147"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H8104"\w* \w royal|strong="H4428"\w* \w court|strong="H5631"\w* attendants, Bigthan \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w Teresh|strong="H8657"\w*, \w who|strong="H3427"\w* \w guarded|strong="H8104"\w* \w the|strong="H8104"\w* \w entrance|strong="H8179"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H8104"\w* palace, \w became|strong="H7107"\w* \w enraged|strong="H7107"\w* \w and|strong="H7971"\w* attempted \w to|strong="H7971"\w* kill \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus.  
\v 22 \w But|strong="H4428"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w learned|strong="H3045"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3045"\w* conspiracy \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w disclosed|strong="H5046"\w* \w it|strong="H3045"\w* \w to|strong="H4428"\w* \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* Esther, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* she \w told|strong="H5046"\w* \w the|strong="H3045"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w on|strong="H1697"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*’s \w behalf|strong="H8034"\w*.  
\v 23 \w When|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w affair|strong="H1697"\w* \w was|strong="H1697"\w* \w investigated|strong="H1245"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* facts \w discovered|strong="H4672"\w*, \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w conspirators|strong="H8518"\w* \w were|strong="H3117"\w* \w both|strong="H8147"\w* \w hanged|strong="H8518"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w gallows|strong="H6086"\w*. \w The|strong="H6440"\w* incident \w was|strong="H1697"\w* \w recorded|strong="H3789"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w presence|strong="H6440"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w daily|strong="H3117"\w* \w record|strong="H3789"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w events|strong="H1697"\w*.   
\c 3
\p
\v 1 \w After|strong="H5921"\w* \w these|strong="H7760"\w* \w events|strong="H1697"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus \w promoted|strong="H1431"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hammedatha|strong="H4099"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* Agagite, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w advanced|strong="H5375"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w place|strong="H7760"\w* \w above|strong="H5921"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w were|strong="H1121"\w* \w with|strong="H5921"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w*.  
\v 2 \w All|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s courtiers \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w were|strong="H5650"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w gate|strong="H8179"\w* \w used|strong="H3605"\w* \w to|strong="H4428"\w* \w bow|strong="H7812"\w* \w down|strong="H7812"\w* \w before|strong="H3808"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*, \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w so|strong="H3651"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w commanded|strong="H6680"\w*, \w but|strong="H3588"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w did|strong="H3651"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w bow|strong="H7812"\w* \w down|strong="H7812"\w* \w nor|strong="H3808"\w* \w prostrate|strong="H7812"\w* \w himself|strong="H7812"\w*.   
\p
\v 3 \w Then|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5674"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s courtiers, \w who|strong="H5650"\w* \w were|strong="H5650"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5674"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w gate|strong="H8179"\w*, said \w to|strong="H4428"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*, “\w Why|strong="H4069"\w* do \w you|strong="H4428"\w* disobey \w the|strong="H5674"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w command|strong="H4687"\w*?”  
\v 4 \w When|strong="H3588"\w* \w they|strong="H1992"\w* \w had|strong="H1961"\w* \w spoken|strong="H1697"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w him|strong="H5046"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w after|strong="H1961"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w without|strong="H3808"\w* \w his|strong="H8085"\w* \w listening|strong="H8085"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w them|strong="H1992"\w*, \w they|strong="H1992"\w* \w informed|strong="H5046"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*, \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w see|strong="H7200"\w* \w whether|strong="H7200"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*’s \w acts|strong="H1697"\w* \w would|strong="H1697"\w* \w be|strong="H1961"\w* tolerated, \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w had|strong="H1961"\w* \w told|strong="H5046"\w* \w them|strong="H1992"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w was|strong="H1961"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w Jew|strong="H3064"\w*.  
\v 5 \w When|strong="H3588"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w saw|strong="H7200"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w did|strong="H7812"\w* \w not|strong="H3588"\w* \w bow|strong="H7812"\w* \w down|strong="H7812"\w* \w nor|strong="H3588"\w* \w prostrate|strong="H7812"\w* \w himself|strong="H7812"\w* \w before|strong="H7200"\w* \w him|strong="H7200"\w*, \w he|strong="H3588"\w* \w was|strong="H2001"\w* \w furious|strong="H2534"\w*.  
\v 6 \w But|strong="H3588"\w* \w it|strong="H3588"\w* \w seemed|strong="H5869"\w* \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w him|strong="H7971"\w* beneath \w his|strong="H3605"\w* dignity \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w lay|strong="H7971"\w* \w hands|strong="H3027"\w* \w on|strong="H3027"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* alone, \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w they|strong="H3588"\w* \w had|strong="H3588"\w* \w told|strong="H5046"\w* \w him|strong="H7971"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*’s \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w were|strong="H5971"\w*. \w Instead|strong="H3588"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w sought|strong="H1245"\w* \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w destroy|strong="H8045"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w of|strong="H3027"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*, \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w throughout|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w kingdom|strong="H4438"\w* \w of|strong="H3027"\w* Ahasuerus.   
\p
\v 7 \w In|strong="H8141"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w first|strong="H7223"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* (\w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Nisan|strong="H5212"\w*) \w in|strong="H8141"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w twelfth|strong="H8147"\w* \w year|strong="H8141"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w reign|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus, \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* ‘\w pur|strong="H6332"\w*’ (\w which|strong="H1931"\w* means ‘\w lot|strong="H1486"\w*’) \w cast|strong="H5307"\w* \w before|strong="H6440"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w* \w to|strong="H6440"\w* determine \w the|strong="H6440"\w* best \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* best \w month|strong="H2320"\w* \w for|strong="H6440"\w* \w his|strong="H6440"\w* actions. \w The|strong="H6440"\w* \w lot|strong="H1486"\w* \w fell|strong="H5307"\w* \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* thirteenth \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w twelfth|strong="H8147"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* – \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* Adar.   
\p
\v 8 \w So|strong="H6213"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* said \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus, “\w There|strong="H3426"\w* \w is|strong="H3426"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* certain \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w scattered|strong="H6340"\w* \w among|strong="H5971"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w peoples|strong="H5971"\w* \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w your|strong="H3605"\w* \w kingdom|strong="H4438"\w*, \w whose|strong="H3605"\w* \w laws|strong="H1881"\w* differ \w from|strong="H5971"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w other|strong="H3605"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w not|strong="H6213"\w* \w keep|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w laws|strong="H1881"\w*. \w Therefore|strong="H6213"\w* \w it|strong="H6213"\w* \w is|strong="H3426"\w* \w not|strong="H6213"\w* right \w for|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* tolerate \w them|strong="H6213"\w*.  
\v 9 If \w it|strong="H5921"\w* seems best \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*, let \w an|strong="H6213"\w* \w order|strong="H3027"\w* \w be|strong="H3027"\w* \w given|strong="H3027"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w destroy|strong="H6213"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*, \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w I|strong="H5921"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w pay|strong="H8254"\w* \w ten|strong="H6235"\w* thousand \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* coins \w into|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w royal|strong="H4428"\w* treasury.”  
\v 10 \w So|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w took|strong="H5493"\w* \w off|strong="H5493"\w* \w his|strong="H5414"\w* \w signet|strong="H2885"\w* \w ring|strong="H2885"\w* \w from|strong="H5493"\w* \w his|strong="H5414"\w* \w hand|strong="H3027"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w gave|strong="H5414"\w* \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hammedatha|strong="H4099"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* Agagite, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w enemy|strong="H6887"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*.  
\v 11 “\w The|strong="H5414"\w* \w money|strong="H3701"\w* \w is|strong="H2896"\w* \w yours|strong="H5414"\w*,” \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* said \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*, “\w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w also|strong="H6213"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w with|strong="H6213"\w* \w them|strong="H5414"\w* \w as|strong="H6213"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w wish|strong="H2896"\w*.”  
\v 12 \w And|strong="H4428"\w* \w so|strong="H7121"\w*, \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w thirteenth|strong="H7969"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w first|strong="H7223"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s secretaries \w were|strong="H5971"\w* \w summoned|strong="H7121"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w as|strong="H3117"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w instructed|strong="H6680"\w* \w an|strong="H7121"\w* \w edict|strong="H3791"\w* \w was|strong="H8034"\w* \w issued|strong="H6680"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s satraps \w and|strong="H4428"\w* provincial \w governors|strong="H6346"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w rulers|strong="H8269"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w each|strong="H3605"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w peoples|strong="H5971"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w own|strong="H5971"\w* \w script|strong="H3791"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w own|strong="H5971"\w* \w language|strong="H3956"\w*. \w The|strong="H3605"\w* \w edict|strong="H3791"\w* \w was|strong="H8034"\w* \w written|strong="H3789"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w name|strong="H8034"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w sealed|strong="H2856"\w* \w with|strong="H5921"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w ring|strong="H2885"\w*.  
\v 13 Dispatches \w were|strong="H3117"\w* \w sent|strong="H7971"\w* \w by|strong="H3027"\w* \w couriers|strong="H7323"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w*, saying: \w Destroy|strong="H8045"\w*, \w kill|strong="H2026"\w*, \w put|strong="H7971"\w* \w an|strong="H7971"\w* end \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*, \w young|strong="H5288"\w* \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w old|strong="H2205"\w*, \w little|strong="H2945"\w* \w children|strong="H2945"\w* \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w women|strong="H2205"\w*, \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w thirteenth|strong="H7969"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w twelfth|strong="H8147"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w*, \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w plunder|strong="H7998"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w possessions|strong="H7998"\w*.  
\v 14 \w A|strong="H3068"\w* \w copy|strong="H6572"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w edict|strong="H1881"\w* \w was|strong="H1961"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w be|strong="H1961"\w* \w published|strong="H1540"\w* \w as|strong="H3117"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w decree|strong="H1881"\w* \w in|strong="H3117"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w province|strong="H4082"\w* – publicly \w displayed|strong="H5414"\w* \w so|strong="H1961"\w* \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w everyone|strong="H3605"\w* \w might|strong="H5971"\w* \w be|strong="H1961"\w* \w ready|strong="H6264"\w* \w for|strong="H3117"\w* \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w*.  
\v 15 \w By|strong="H3318"\w* \w command|strong="H1697"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w couriers|strong="H7323"\w* raced \w off|strong="H5414"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w edict|strong="H1697"\w* \w was|strong="H1697"\w* published \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w* itself.  
\p \w Then|strong="H3318"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w sat|strong="H3427"\w* \w down|strong="H3427"\w* \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w drink|strong="H8354"\w*, \w but|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w city|strong="H5892"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w* \w was|strong="H1697"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w turmoil|strong="H2001"\w*.   
\c 4
\s1 A Queen’s Efforts to Save Her People  
\p
\v 1 \w When|strong="H3318"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w learned|strong="H3045"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w that|strong="H3045"\w* \w had|strong="H4782"\w* \w been|strong="H3605"\w* \w done|strong="H6213"\w*, \w he|strong="H6213"\w* \w tore|strong="H7167"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w clothes|strong="H3847"\w* \w and|strong="H1419"\w* \w put|strong="H3847"\w* \w on|strong="H3847"\w* \w sackcloth|strong="H8242"\w* \w and|strong="H1419"\w* strewed ashes \w on|strong="H3847"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* head, \w and|strong="H1419"\w* \w went|strong="H3318"\w* \w out|strong="H3318"\w* \w into|strong="H8432"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w city|strong="H5892"\w* \w and|strong="H1419"\w* \w raised|strong="H8432"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w loud|strong="H1419"\w* \w and|strong="H1419"\w* \w bitter|strong="H4751"\w* \w cry|strong="H2199"\w* \w of|strong="H5892"\w* lamentation.  
\v 2 \w He|strong="H3588"\w* \w went|strong="H4428"\w* \w as|strong="H5704"\w* \w far|strong="H5704"\w* \w as|strong="H5704"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w gate|strong="H8179"\w*, \w but|strong="H3588"\w* \w no|strong="H6440"\w* \w one|strong="H3588"\w* could enter \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w gate|strong="H8179"\w* \w clothed|strong="H3830"\w* \w with|strong="H6440"\w* \w sackcloth|strong="H8242"\w*.  
\v 3 \w In|strong="H4428"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w province|strong="H4082"\w*, \w wherever|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w command|strong="H1697"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w decree|strong="H1881"\w* \w went|strong="H4428"\w*, \w there|strong="H3605"\w* \w was|strong="H1697"\w* \w great|strong="H1419"\w* \w mourning|strong="H4553"\w*, \w fasting|strong="H6685"\w*, \w weeping|strong="H1065"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w wailing|strong="H4553"\w* \w among|strong="H7227"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*. \w Many|strong="H7227"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w them|strong="H5060"\w* sat \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w sackcloth|strong="H8242"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* ashes.   
\p
\v 4 \w When|strong="H7971"\w* Esther’s \w maids|strong="H5291"\w* \w and|strong="H7971"\w* attendants \w told|strong="H5046"\w* \w her|strong="H7971"\w* \w about|strong="H5921"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*’s behavior, \w she|strong="H5921"\w* \w was|strong="H3966"\w* \w greatly|strong="H3966"\w* \w troubled|strong="H3966"\w*. \w She|strong="H5921"\w* \w sent|strong="H7971"\w* garments \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w put|strong="H3847"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w*, \w so|strong="H7971"\w* \w that|strong="H3808"\w* \w he|strong="H3808"\w* could \w take|strong="H5493"\w* \w off|strong="H5493"\w* \w his|strong="H7971"\w* sack-cloth, \w but|strong="H3808"\w* \w he|strong="H3808"\w* \w would|strong="H5291"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w accept|strong="H6901"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*.  
\v 5 \w So|strong="H7121"\w* Esther \w called|strong="H7121"\w* \w Hathach|strong="H2047"\w*, \w one|strong="H2088"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w eunuchs|strong="H5631"\w* \w whom|strong="H6440"\w* \w he|strong="H5921"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w appointed|strong="H5975"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w attend|strong="H6440"\w* \w her|strong="H5921"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w ordered|strong="H6680"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w go|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w learn|strong="H3045"\w* \w what|strong="H4100"\w* \w it|strong="H7121"\w* \w all|strong="H3045"\w* meant \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w reason|strong="H6440"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w it|strong="H7121"\w*.   
\p
\v 6 \w So|strong="H3318"\w* \w Hathach|strong="H2047"\w* \w went|strong="H3318"\w* \w out|strong="H3318"\w* \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*, \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w city|strong="H5892"\w* \w square|strong="H7339"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w front|strong="H6440"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w gate|strong="H8179"\w*.  
\v 7 \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w told|strong="H5046"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w happened|strong="H7136"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w* \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w exact|strong="H6575"\w* \w amount|strong="H6575"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w money|strong="H3701"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* promised \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w pay|strong="H8254"\w* \w into|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s treasury \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* destruction \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*.  
\v 8 \w Also|strong="H4428"\w* \w he|strong="H5414"\w* \w gave|strong="H5414"\w* \w him|strong="H5414"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w copy|strong="H6572"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w decree|strong="H1881"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w destroy|strong="H8045"\w* \w them|strong="H5414"\w*, \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w been|strong="H5971"\w* published \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w*, \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w show|strong="H7200"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* Esther \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w her|strong="H5414"\w* information. \w He|strong="H5414"\w* \w also|strong="H4428"\w* \w told|strong="H5046"\w* \w her|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w go|strong="H5971"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w implore|strong="H2603"\w* \w his|strong="H5414"\w* \w mercy|strong="H2603"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w plead|strong="H1245"\w* \w with|strong="H5921"\w* \w him|strong="H5414"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w behalf|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w her|strong="H5414"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w*.   
\p
\v 9 When \w Hathach|strong="H2047"\w* \w came|strong="H1697"\w* \w and|strong="H1697"\w* \w told|strong="H5046"\w* Esther \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w had|strong="H4782"\w* \w said|strong="H1697"\w*,  
\v 10 she \w instructed|strong="H6680"\w* \w Hathach|strong="H2047"\w* \w to|strong="H6680"\w* go \w and|strong="H2047"\w* say \w to|strong="H6680"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*,  
\v 11 “\w All|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s courtiers \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w* \w know|strong="H3045"\w* \w that|strong="H3045"\w* \w for|strong="H7121"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w man|strong="H4191"\w* \w or|strong="H3808"\w* \w woman|strong="H2088"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* goes \w to|strong="H4191"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w into|strong="H2088"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w inner|strong="H6442"\w* \w court|strong="H2691"\w* \w without|strong="H3808"\w* \w being|strong="H5971"\w* \w called|strong="H7121"\w* \w there|strong="H2088"\w* \w is|strong="H2088"\w* \w one|strong="H2088"\w* penalty, \w death|strong="H4191"\w*, \w unless|strong="H3808"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w holds|strong="H3447"\w* \w out|strong="H3447"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w golden|strong="H2091"\w* \w sceptre|strong="H8275"\w* signifying \w that|strong="H3045"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w may|strong="H5971"\w* \w live|strong="H2421"\w*. \w It|strong="H7121"\w* \w has|strong="H4428"\w* \w been|strong="H3808"\w* \w thirty|strong="H7970"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* \w since|strong="H3117"\w* \w I|strong="H3117"\w* \w have|strong="H5971"\w* \w been|strong="H3808"\w* \w called|strong="H7121"\w* \w to|strong="H4191"\w* \w go|strong="H5971"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H4191"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*.”   
\p
\v 12 When \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w was|strong="H1697"\w* \w told|strong="H5046"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* Esther \w had|strong="H4782"\w* \w said|strong="H1697"\w*,  
\v 13 \w he|strong="H3605"\w* \w sent|strong="H7725"\w* \w back|strong="H7725"\w* \w this|strong="H7725"\w* \w reply|strong="H7725"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* Esther, “Don’t \w imagine|strong="H1819"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w you|strong="H3605"\w* \w alone|strong="H4422"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w escape|strong="H4422"\w* \w because|strong="H3605"\w* \w you|strong="H3605"\w* belong \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w household|strong="H1004"\w*.  
\v 14 \w If|strong="H3588"\w* \w you|strong="H3588"\w* \w persist|strong="H5975"\w* \w in|strong="H1004"\w* remaining \w silent|strong="H2790"\w* \w at|strong="H1004"\w* \w this|strong="H2063"\w* \w time|strong="H6256"\w*, \w relief|strong="H7305"\w* \w and|strong="H1004"\w* \w deliverance|strong="H2020"\w* \w will|strong="H4310"\w* \w come|strong="H5060"\w* \w to|strong="H6256"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w from|strong="H3064"\w* another quarter, \w but|strong="H3588"\w* \w you|strong="H3588"\w* \w and|strong="H1004"\w* \w your|strong="H3045"\w* \w family|strong="H1004"\w* \w will|strong="H4310"\w* perish. \w Who|strong="H4310"\w* \w knows|strong="H3045"\w*? Maybe \w you|strong="H3588"\w* \w have|strong="H3045"\w* been \w raised|strong="H5975"\w* \w to|strong="H6256"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w throne|strong="H4438"\w* \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w time|strong="H6256"\w* \w like|strong="H1004"\w* \w this|strong="H2063"\w*!”   
\p
\v 15 \w Then|strong="H7725"\w* Esther \w sent|strong="H7725"\w* \w this|strong="H7725"\w* message \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*:  
\v 16 “\w Go|strong="H3212"\w*, \w gather|strong="H3664"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w fast|strong="H6684"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w me|strong="H5921"\w*. Don’t eat \w nor|strong="H3808"\w* \w drink|strong="H8354"\w* \w anything|strong="H3605"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w three|strong="H7969"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w nights|strong="H3915"\w*. \w My|strong="H3605"\w* \w maids|strong="H5291"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w I|strong="H3117"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w fast|strong="H6684"\w* \w as|strong="H3117"\w* \w well|strong="H1571"\w*. \w Then|strong="H3651"\w* \w I|strong="H3117"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w go|strong="H3212"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H3212"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*, \w although|strong="H3808"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w* \w is|strong="H3117"\w* \w contrary|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H3212"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w law|strong="H1881"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w if|strong="H3651"\w* \w I|strong="H3117"\w* die, \w I|strong="H3117"\w* die.”  
\v 17 \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w did|strong="H6213"\w* \w everything|strong="H3605"\w* Esther \w had|strong="H4782"\w* directed.   
\c 5
\p
\v 1 \w On|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w third|strong="H7992"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w*, Esther \w put|strong="H3847"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w her|strong="H5921"\w* regalia \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w stood|strong="H5975"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w inner|strong="H6442"\w* \w court|strong="H2691"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w royal|strong="H4438"\w* \w palace|strong="H1004"\w* \w opposite|strong="H5227"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w house|strong="H1004"\w*. \w The|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w was|strong="H1961"\w* \w sitting|strong="H3427"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w his|strong="H5921"\w* \w throne|strong="H3678"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w palace|strong="H1004"\w*, \w opposite|strong="H5227"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w entrance|strong="H6607"\w*.  
\v 2 \w When|strong="H1961"\w* \w he|strong="H3027"\w* \w saw|strong="H7200"\w* Esther \w the|strong="H7200"\w* \w queen|strong="H4436"\w* \w standing|strong="H5975"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H7200"\w* \w court|strong="H2691"\w*, she won \w his|strong="H5375"\w* \w favor|strong="H2580"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w he|strong="H3027"\w* \w held|strong="H4428"\w* \w out|strong="H7200"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w her|strong="H5375"\w* \w the|strong="H7200"\w* \w golden|strong="H2091"\w* \w sceptre|strong="H8275"\w* \w that|strong="H7200"\w* \w was|strong="H1961"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w his|strong="H5375"\w* \w hand|strong="H3027"\w*. \w So|strong="H1961"\w* Esther \w approached|strong="H7126"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w touched|strong="H5060"\w* \w the|strong="H7200"\w* \w top|strong="H7218"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H7200"\w* \w sceptre|strong="H8275"\w*.  
\v 3 \w Then|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* said \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w her|strong="H5414"\w*, “\w What|strong="H4100"\w* \w is|strong="H4100"\w* \w it|strong="H5414"\w*, \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* Esther? \w Whatever|strong="H4100"\w* \w your|strong="H5414"\w* \w request|strong="H1246"\w* \w is|strong="H4100"\w*, \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w be|strong="H5414"\w* \w granted|strong="H5414"\w*, \w even|strong="H5704"\w* if \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w is|strong="H4100"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w half|strong="H2677"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w kingdom|strong="H4438"\w*.”   
\p
\v 4 “If \w it|strong="H5921"\w* seems best \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*,” Esther said, “let \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* come \w today|strong="H3117"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w banquet|strong="H4960"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* \w I|strong="H3117"\w* \w have|strong="H3117"\w* \w prepared|strong="H6213"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w*.”  
\v 5 \w Then|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* ordered, “\w Bring|strong="H6213"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w quickly|strong="H4116"\w*, \w so|strong="H6213"\w* \w that|strong="H1697"\w* Esther’s \w wish|strong="H1697"\w* \w may|strong="H4428"\w* \w be|strong="H1697"\w* gratified.”  
\p \w So|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w went|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w banquet|strong="H4960"\w* \w that|strong="H1697"\w* Esther \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w prepared|strong="H6213"\w*.  
\v 6 \w While|strong="H5704"\w* \w they|strong="H5704"\w* \w were|strong="H4428"\w* \w drinking|strong="H4960"\w* \w wine|strong="H3196"\w*, \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* said \w to|strong="H5704"\w* Esther, “\w Whatever|strong="H4100"\w* \w your|strong="H5414"\w* \w petition|strong="H7596"\w* \w is|strong="H4100"\w*, \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w be|strong="H5414"\w* \w granted|strong="H5414"\w*. \w Your|strong="H5414"\w* \w request|strong="H1246"\w*, \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w be|strong="H5414"\w* \w done|strong="H6213"\w* – \w even|strong="H5704"\w* if \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w takes|strong="H5414"\w* \w half|strong="H2677"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w my|strong="H5414"\w* \w kingdom|strong="H4438"\w*.”  
\v 7 Esther \w answered|strong="H6030"\w*,  
\v 8 “If \w I|strong="H5414"\w* \w have|strong="H5869"\w* won \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w favor|strong="H2580"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* if \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w seems|strong="H5869"\w* \w best|strong="H5869"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w grant|strong="H5414"\w* \w my|strong="H5414"\w* \w petition|strong="H7596"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* accede \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w my|strong="H5414"\w* \w request|strong="H1246"\w*, \w my|strong="H5414"\w* \w petition|strong="H7596"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w my|strong="H5414"\w* \w request|strong="H1246"\w* \w are|strong="H5869"\w* \w that|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w come|strong="H4279"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w banquet|strong="H4960"\w* \w which|strong="H1697"\w* \w I|strong="H5414"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w prepare|strong="H6213"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w them|strong="H5414"\w*. \w Tomorrow|strong="H4279"\w* \w I|strong="H5414"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w answer|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w question|strong="H1697"\w* \w as|strong="H1697"\w* \w he|strong="H6213"\w* wishes.”   
\p
\v 9 \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w went|strong="H3318"\w* \w out|strong="H3318"\w* \w that|strong="H7200"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w joyful|strong="H8056"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* elated, \w but|strong="H3808"\w* \w when|strong="H3117"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w saw|strong="H7200"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w gate|strong="H8179"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w noticed|strong="H7200"\w* \w that|strong="H7200"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w neither|strong="H3808"\w* \w stood|strong="H6965"\w* \w up|strong="H6965"\w* \w nor|strong="H3808"\w* \w moved|strong="H2111"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w*, \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w was|strong="H3820"\w* \w furiously|strong="H2534"\w* \w angry|strong="H2534"\w* \w with|strong="H4390"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*.  
\v 10 Nevertheless \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* restrained himself \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w went|strong="H1004"\w* \w home|strong="H1004"\w*. \w He|strong="H1004"\w* called together \w his|strong="H7971"\w* friends \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w Zeresh|strong="H2238"\w* \w his|strong="H7971"\w* wife  
\v 11 \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w recounted|strong="H5608"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w them|strong="H1992"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w greatness|strong="H7230"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w wealth|strong="H6239"\w*, \w how|strong="H5608"\w* \w many|strong="H7230"\w* \w children|strong="H1121"\w* \w he|strong="H3605"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* ways \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w which|strong="H1992"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w honored|strong="H3519"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w how|strong="H5608"\w* \w he|strong="H3605"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w promoted|strong="H1431"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w* \w above|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w royal|strong="H4428"\w* courtiers.  
\v 12 “\w What|strong="H6213"\w* \w is|strong="H1571"\w* \w more|strong="H3808"\w*,” \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w said|strong="H7121"\w*, “\w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* Esther \w brought|strong="H6213"\w* \w no|strong="H3808"\w* \w one|strong="H3808"\w* \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w banquet|strong="H4960"\w* \w which|strong="H4960"\w* \w she|strong="H3588"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w prepared|strong="H6213"\w* \w except|strong="H3588"\w* \w me|strong="H7121"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w tomorrow|strong="H4279"\w* \w also|strong="H1571"\w* \w I|strong="H3588"\w* am \w invited|strong="H7121"\w* \w by|strong="H7121"\w* \w her|strong="H7121"\w* \w along|strong="H5973"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*.  
\v 13 \w Yet|strong="H3605"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w this|strong="H2088"\w* \w does|strong="H2088"\w* \w not|strong="H2088"\w* \w satisfy|strong="H7737"\w* \w me|strong="H7200"\w* \w as|strong="H3427"\w* \w long|strong="H3605"\w* \w as|strong="H3427"\w* \w I|strong="H7200"\w* \w see|strong="H7200"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jew|strong="H3064"\w* \w sitting|strong="H3427"\w* \w at|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w gate|strong="H8179"\w*.”   
\p
\v 14 \w Then|strong="H6213"\w* \w Zeresh|strong="H2238"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* wife \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* friends \w said|strong="H1697"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w*, “\w Let|strong="H8056"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w gallows|strong="H6086"\w* \w seventy-five|strong="H2572"\w* feet \w high|strong="H1364"\w* \w be|strong="H1697"\w* erected, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w morning|strong="H1242"\w* \w speak|strong="H1697"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w let|strong="H8056"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w be|strong="H1697"\w* \w hanged|strong="H8518"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w*. \w Then|strong="H6213"\w* \w go|strong="H3190"\w* \w merrily|strong="H8056"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w banquet|strong="H4960"\w*.” \w The|strong="H3605"\w* \w advice|strong="H1697"\w* \w pleased|strong="H3190"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w so|strong="H6213"\w* \w he|strong="H6213"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w gallows|strong="H6086"\w* erected.   
\c 6
\s1 Downfall of a Conspirator  
\p
\v 1 \w On|strong="H3117"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* \w night|strong="H3915"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w was|strong="H1961"\w* unable \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w sleep|strong="H8142"\w*, \w so|strong="H1961"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w gave|strong="H7121"\w* \w orders|strong="H1697"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w bring|strong="H7121"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w books|strong="H5612"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* recorded \w memorable|strong="H2146"\w* \w deeds|strong="H1697"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w were|strong="H1961"\w* \w read|strong="H7121"\w* \w before|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*.  
\v 2 \w It|strong="H5921"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* \w found|strong="H4672"\w* \w recorded|strong="H3789"\w* how \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* furnished information \w regarding|strong="H5921"\w* Bigthan \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w Teresh|strong="H8657"\w*, \w two|strong="H8147"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s attendants \w who|strong="H8104"\w* \w guarded|strong="H8104"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* entrance \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* palace, \w who|strong="H8104"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* attempted \w to|strong="H7971"\w* kill \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus.  
\v 3 “\w What|strong="H4100"\w* \w honor|strong="H3366"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w dignity|strong="H1420"\w* \w have|strong="H5288"\w* \w been|strong="H3808"\w* \w conferred|strong="H1697"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w this|strong="H2088"\w*?” \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w asked|strong="H4100"\w*. \w When|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s pages \w who|strong="H5288"\w* \w waited|strong="H8334"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w* replied “\w Nothing|strong="H3808"\w* \w has|strong="H4428"\w* \w been|strong="H3808"\w* \w done|strong="H6213"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w*,”  
\v 4 \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* said, “\w Who|strong="H4310"\w* \w is|strong="H4310"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w court|strong="H2691"\w*?” \w Now|strong="H5921"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* just entered \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w outer|strong="H2435"\w* \w court|strong="H2691"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w house|strong="H1004"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* speak \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w about|strong="H5921"\w* \w hanging|strong="H8518"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w gallows|strong="H6086"\w* \w that|strong="H4428"\w* \w he|strong="H1004"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w prepared|strong="H3559"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w*.  
\v 5 \w So|strong="H5975"\w* \w the|strong="H5975"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s pages said \w to|strong="H4428"\w* \w him|strong="H5975"\w*, “\w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w is|strong="H2009"\w* \w standing|strong="H5975"\w* \w there|strong="H2009"\w*, \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5975"\w* \w court|strong="H2691"\w*.” \w The|strong="H5975"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* said, “Let \w him|strong="H5975"\w* \w enter|strong="H5975"\w*.”  
\v 6 \w So|strong="H6213"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* entered, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* said \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w him|strong="H6213"\w*, “\w What|strong="H4100"\w* \w should|strong="H4100"\w* \w be|strong="H3820"\w* \w done|strong="H6213"\w* \w for|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w man|strong="H3820"\w* \w whom|strong="H4310"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w wishes|strong="H2654"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w honor|strong="H3366"\w*?” \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* said \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w himself|strong="H3820"\w*, “\w Whom|strong="H4310"\w* \w besides|strong="H4480"\w* \w me|strong="H4480"\w* \w could|strong="H4310"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w wish|strong="H2654"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w honor|strong="H3366"\w*?”  
\v 7 So \w he|strong="H4428"\w* said \w to|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H2001"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*, “\w For|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H2001"\w* man whom \w the|strong="H2001"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w wishes|strong="H2654"\w* \w to|strong="H4428"\w* \w honor|strong="H3366"\w*  
\v 8 \w let|strong="H5414"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w royal|strong="H4438"\w* \w garment|strong="H3830"\w* \w be|strong="H5414"\w* \w brought|strong="H5414"\w*, \w which|strong="H5483"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w has|strong="H4428"\w* \w worn|strong="H3847"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w horse|strong="H5483"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w which|strong="H5483"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w has|strong="H4428"\w* \w ridden|strong="H7392"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* whose \w head|strong="H7218"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w royal|strong="H4438"\w* \w diadem|strong="H5921"\w* \w has|strong="H4428"\w* been \w placed|strong="H5414"\w*.  
\v 9 \w Then|strong="H6213"\w* \w let|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w garment|strong="H3830"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w horse|strong="H5483"\w* \w be|strong="H3027"\w* \w placed|strong="H5414"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w charge|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w one|strong="H6213"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w noble|strong="H6579"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w*. \w Let|strong="H5414"\w* \w him|strong="H5414"\w* \w clothe|strong="H3847"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w man|strong="H6440"\w* \w whom|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w wishes|strong="H2654"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w honor|strong="H3366"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w let|strong="H5414"\w* \w him|strong="H5414"\w* \w lead|strong="H7392"\w* \w that|strong="H5414"\w* \w man|strong="H6440"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w horse|strong="H5483"\w* \w through|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w city|strong="H5892"\w* \w square|strong="H7339"\w*, \w proclaiming|strong="H7121"\w* \w before|strong="H6440"\w* \w him|strong="H5414"\w*, ‘\w This|strong="H6213"\w* \w is|strong="H3027"\w* \w what|strong="H6213"\w* \w is|strong="H3027"\w* \w done|strong="H6213"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w man|strong="H6440"\w* \w whom|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w wishes|strong="H2654"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w honor|strong="H3366"\w*.’”   
\p
\v 10 \w Then|strong="H1696"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w said|strong="H1696"\w* \w to|strong="H1696"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*, “\w Make|strong="H6213"\w* \w haste|strong="H4116"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w take|strong="H3947"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w garment|strong="H3830"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w horse|strong="H5483"\w*, \w as|strong="H1697"\w* \w you|strong="H3605"\w* \w have|strong="H1697"\w* \w said|strong="H1696"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w this|strong="H3651"\w* \w to|strong="H1696"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jew|strong="H3064"\w*, \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w sits|strong="H3427"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w gate|strong="H8179"\w*. Omit \w nothing|strong="H1697"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w you|strong="H3605"\w* \w have|strong="H1697"\w* \w said|strong="H1696"\w*.”  
\v 11 \w So|strong="H6213"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w took|strong="H3947"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w garment|strong="H3830"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w horse|strong="H5483"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w clothed|strong="H3847"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w made|strong="H6213"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w* \w ride|strong="H7392"\w* \w through|strong="H5892"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w city|strong="H5892"\w* \w square|strong="H7339"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w proclaimed|strong="H7121"\w* \w before|strong="H6440"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w*, “\w This|strong="H6213"\w* \w is|strong="H4428"\w* \w what|strong="H6213"\w* \w is|strong="H4428"\w* \w done|strong="H6213"\w* \w for|strong="H7121"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w man|strong="H6440"\w* \w whom|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w wishes|strong="H2654"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w honor|strong="H3366"\w*.”   
\p
\v 12 \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w returned|strong="H7725"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w the|strong="H7725"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w gate|strong="H8179"\w*, \w but|strong="H4428"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w hurried|strong="H1765"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w his|strong="H7725"\w* \w house|strong="H1004"\w*, mourning, \w with|strong="H1004"\w* \w his|strong="H7725"\w* \w head|strong="H7218"\w* \w covered|strong="H2645"\w*.  
\v 13 \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w recounted|strong="H5608"\w* \w to|strong="H3201"\w* \w Zeresh|strong="H2238"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* wife \w and|strong="H6440"\w* \w to|strong="H3201"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* friends \w everything|strong="H3605"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w had|strong="H3588"\w* \w happened|strong="H7136"\w* \w to|strong="H3201"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w*. \w Then|strong="H5307"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w wise|strong="H2450"\w* \w men|strong="H2450"\w* \w and|strong="H6440"\w* \w Zeresh|strong="H2238"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* wife said \w to|strong="H3201"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w*, “\w If|strong="H3588"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w before|strong="H6440"\w* \w whom|strong="H6440"\w* \w you|strong="H3588"\w* \w have|strong="H3605"\w* already \w been|strong="H3808"\w* \w humiliated|strong="H6440"\w* \w is|strong="H3605"\w* \w of|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jewish|strong="H3064"\w* \w people|strong="H3808"\w*, \w you|strong="H3588"\w* \w can|strong="H3201"\w* \w do|strong="H3201"\w* \w nothing|strong="H3808"\w* \w against|strong="H6440"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w* \w but|strong="H3588"\w* \w will|strong="H3808"\w* \w surely|strong="H3588"\w* \w fall|strong="H5307"\w* \w before|strong="H6440"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w*.”   
\p
\v 14 \w While|strong="H5750"\w* \w they|strong="H6213"\w* \w were|strong="H4428"\w* \w still|strong="H5750"\w* \w talking|strong="H1696"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w him|strong="H6213"\w*, \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s attendants \w came|strong="H5060"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* quickly \w took|strong="H4428"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w to|strong="H1696"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w banquet|strong="H4960"\w* \w that|strong="H4428"\w* Esther \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w prepared|strong="H6213"\w*.   
\c 7  
\p
\v 1 So \w the|strong="H5973"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w went|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H4428"\w* \w drink|strong="H8354"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* Esther.  
\v 2 \w As|strong="H5704"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w were|strong="H3117"\w* \w drinking|strong="H4960"\w* \w wine|strong="H3196"\w* \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* \w second|strong="H8145"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w*, \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w again|strong="H8145"\w* said \w to|strong="H5704"\w* Esther, “\w Whatever|strong="H4100"\w* \w your|strong="H5414"\w* \w petition|strong="H7596"\w* \w is|strong="H4100"\w*, \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* Esther, \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w be|strong="H1571"\w* \w granted|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w*. \w Whatever|strong="H4100"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w request|strong="H1246"\w* \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w be|strong="H1571"\w* \w done|strong="H6213"\w*, \w even|strong="H1571"\w* if \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w takes|strong="H5414"\w* \w half|strong="H2677"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w kingdom|strong="H4438"\w*.”  
\v 3 \w Then|strong="H6030"\w* \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* Esther \w answered|strong="H6030"\w*, “\w Your|strong="H5414"\w* Majesty, if \w I|strong="H5414"\w* \w have|strong="H5869"\w* won \w your|strong="H5414"\w* \w favor|strong="H2580"\w*, \w and|strong="H6030"\w* if \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w seems|strong="H5869"\w* \w best|strong="H5869"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w Your|strong="H5414"\w* Majesty, \w let|strong="H5414"\w* \w my|strong="H5414"\w* \w life|strong="H5315"\w* \w be|strong="H5315"\w* \w given|strong="H5414"\w* \w me|strong="H5414"\w* \w as|strong="H5315"\w* \w my|strong="H5414"\w* \w petition|strong="H7596"\w*, \w and|strong="H6030"\w* \w my|strong="H5414"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w as|strong="H5315"\w* \w my|strong="H5414"\w* \w request|strong="H1246"\w*,  
\v 4 \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w I|strong="H3588"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w my|strong="H3588"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w have|strong="H5971"\w* \w been|strong="H5971"\w* \w sold|strong="H4376"\w* \w to|strong="H4428"\w* \w be|strong="H5650"\w* \w destroyed|strong="H8045"\w*, \w killed|strong="H2026"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w completely|strong="H8045"\w* annihilated! \w If|strong="H3588"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w been|strong="H5971"\w* merely \w sold|strong="H4376"\w* \w into|strong="H4376"\w* \w slavery|strong="H5650"\w* \w I|strong="H3588"\w* \w would|strong="H5971"\w* \w not|strong="H3588"\w* \w have|strong="H5971"\w* disturbed \w your|strong="H3588"\w* \w peace|strong="H2790"\w*, \w because|strong="H3588"\w* such \w a|strong="H3068"\w* fate \w would|strong="H5971"\w* \w not|strong="H3588"\w* \w have|strong="H5971"\w* affected \w the|strong="H3588"\w* interests \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*.”   
\p
\v 5 \w Then|strong="H2088"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus \w said|strong="H3651"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* Esther, “\w Who|strong="H4310"\w* \w is|strong="H2088"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w where|strong="H2088"\w* \w is|strong="H2088"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w whose|strong="H4310"\w* \w heart|strong="H3820"\w* \w has|strong="H4310"\w* impelled \w him|strong="H6213"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w this|strong="H2088"\w*?”   
\p
\v 6 “\w A|strong="H3068"\w* \w foe|strong="H6862"\w*, \w an|strong="H6440"\w* \w enemy|strong="H6862"\w*: \w this|strong="H2088"\w* \w wicked|strong="H7451"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*.” Esther answered. \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* shrank \w in|strong="H4428"\w* terror \w before|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w queen|strong="H4436"\w*.  
\v 7 \w In|strong="H5921"\w* \w his|strong="H5921"\w* \w wrath|strong="H2534"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w rose|strong="H6965"\w* \w from|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w place|strong="H5975"\w* \w where|strong="H5921"\w* \w he|strong="H3588"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* \w drinking|strong="H4960"\w* \w wine|strong="H3196"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w went|strong="H4428"\w* \w into|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w palace|strong="H1055"\w* \w garden|strong="H1594"\w*. \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w stayed|strong="H5975"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w beg|strong="H1245"\w* \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* Esther \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w his|strong="H5921"\w* \w life|strong="H5315"\w*, \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w he|strong="H3588"\w* \w saw|strong="H7200"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* \w fully|strong="H3615"\w* \w determined|strong="H3615"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w bring|strong="H7451"\w* \w calamity|strong="H7451"\w* \w upon|strong="H5921"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w*.  
\v 8 \w As|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w returned|strong="H7725"\w* \w from|strong="H7725"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w palace|strong="H1004"\w* \w garden|strong="H1594"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w banquet|strong="H4960"\w* \w hall|strong="H1004"\w*, \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* flung \w himself|strong="H6440"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* Esther’s \w couch|strong="H4296"\w*. \w The|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* cried, “\w Is|strong="H1571"\w* \w he|strong="H1004"\w* \w going|strong="H3318"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w rape|strong="H3533"\w* \w my|strong="H5921"\w* \w queen|strong="H4436"\w* \w while|strong="H5973"\w* \w I|strong="H5921"\w* am \w present|strong="H5307"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w my|strong="H5921"\w* \w own|strong="H5973"\w* \w house|strong="H1004"\w*?”  
\p \w As|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w spoke|strong="H1697"\w* \w these|strong="H6440"\w* \w words|strong="H1697"\w*, \w the|strong="H6440"\w* attendants \w covered|strong="H2645"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*’s \w face|strong="H6440"\w*  
\v 9 \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w Harbonah|strong="H2726"\w*, \w one|strong="H4480"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w those|strong="H4480"\w* \w who|strong="H4428"\w* \w waited|strong="H5975"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*, \w said|strong="H1696"\w*, “\w There|strong="H2009"\w* \w are|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w gallows|strong="H6086"\w*, \w seventy-five|strong="H2572"\w* feet \w high|strong="H1364"\w*, \w which|strong="H1004"\w* Hainan \w erected|strong="H5975"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*, \w who|strong="H4428"\w* \w spoke|strong="H1696"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w good|strong="H2896"\w* \w word|strong="H1696"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w behalf|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*, \w standing|strong="H5975"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w house|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*!” \w The|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w said|strong="H1696"\w* “\w Hang|strong="H8518"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*.”  
\v 10 \w So|strong="H5921"\w* \w they|strong="H5921"\w* \w hanged|strong="H8518"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w gallows|strong="H6086"\w* \w that|strong="H4428"\w* \w he|strong="H5921"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w prepared|strong="H3559"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*. \w Then|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w wrath|strong="H2534"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* \w pacified|strong="H7918"\w*.   
\c 8
\s1 Deliverance of the Jews  
\p
\v 1 \w At|strong="H1004"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w time|strong="H3117"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus \w gave|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* property \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*’ \w enemy|strong="H6887"\w* \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* Esther. \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w was|strong="H1931"\w* \w made|strong="H5414"\w* \w one|strong="H1931"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w personal|strong="H6440"\w* \w advisers|strong="H6440"\w*, \w for|strong="H3588"\w* Esther \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w disclosed|strong="H5046"\w* \w his|strong="H5414"\w* relationship \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w her|strong="H5414"\w*.  
\v 2 \w The|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w also|strong="H4428"\w* \w drew|strong="H5674"\w* \w off|strong="H5493"\w* \w his|strong="H5414"\w* \w signet|strong="H2885"\w* \w ring|strong="H2885"\w*, \w which|strong="H1004"\w* \w he|strong="H1004"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w taken|strong="H5493"\w* \w from|strong="H5493"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*. \w He|strong="H1004"\w* \w gave|strong="H5414"\w* \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* Esther \w placed|strong="H5414"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w charge|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*’s property.   
\p
\v 3 \w Then|strong="H1696"\w* Esther \w sought|strong="H6440"\w* \w another|strong="H3254"\w* audience \w with|strong="H1696"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w fell|strong="H5307"\w* \w at|strong="H5921"\w* \w his|strong="H6440"\w* \w feet|strong="H7272"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w with|strong="H1696"\w* \w tears|strong="H1058"\w* \w begged|strong="H2603"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w* \w to|strong="H1696"\w* \w avert|strong="H5674"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w evil|strong="H7451"\w* \w planned|strong="H2803"\w* \w by|strong="H5921"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* Agagite \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H1696"\w* frustrate \w his|strong="H6440"\w* \w designs|strong="H4284"\w* \w against|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*.  
\v 4 \w The|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w held|strong="H4428"\w* \w out|strong="H3447"\w* \w to|strong="H6440"\w* \w her|strong="H6965"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w golden|strong="H2091"\w* \w sceptre|strong="H8275"\w*, \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w she|strong="H6440"\w* \w arose|strong="H6965"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w stood|strong="H5975"\w* \w before|strong="H6440"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w*.  
\v 5 “\w If|strong="H1121"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w* \w seems|strong="H3605"\w* \w best|strong="H2896"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*,” \w she|strong="H5921"\w* \w said|strong="H1697"\w*, “\w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w if|strong="H1121"\w* \w I|strong="H5921"\w* \w have|strong="H5869"\w* won \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w favor|strong="H2580"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w he|strong="H3605"\w* thinks \w it|strong="H5921"\w* \w right|strong="H3787"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w if|strong="H1121"\w* \w I|strong="H5921"\w* \w please|strong="H2896"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w*, \w let|strong="H7725"\w* \w written|strong="H3789"\w* \w orders|strong="H1697"\w* \w be|strong="H1697"\w* given \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w revoke|strong="H7725"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* dispatches \w devised|strong="H4284"\w* \w by|strong="H5921"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hammedatha|strong="H4099"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* Agagite, \w which|strong="H1697"\w* \w he|strong="H3605"\w* \w wrote|strong="H3789"\w* ordering \w the|strong="H3605"\w* destruction \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w are|strong="H1121"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w*.  
\v 6 \w For|strong="H3588"\w* \w how|strong="H3588"\w* \w can|strong="H3201"\w* \w I|strong="H3588"\w* bear \w to|strong="H3201"\w* \w look|strong="H7200"\w* \w upon|strong="H7200"\w* \w the|strong="H7200"\w* \w evil|strong="H7451"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w will|strong="H5971"\w* \w come|strong="H4672"\w* \w to|strong="H3201"\w* \w my|strong="H7200"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w*? \w How|strong="H3588"\w* \w can|strong="H3201"\w* \w I|strong="H3588"\w* bear \w to|strong="H3201"\w* \w see|strong="H7200"\w* \w their|strong="H7200"\w* \w destruction|strong="H7451"\w*?”  
\v 7 \w Then|strong="H2009"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus said \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* Esther \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w Jew|strong="H3064"\w*, “\w See|strong="H2009"\w*, \w I|strong="H5414"\w* \w have|strong="H3027"\w* \w given|strong="H5414"\w* Esther \w the|strong="H5921"\w* property \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*, \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w they|strong="H5921"\w* \w have|strong="H3027"\w* \w hanged|strong="H8518"\w* \w him|strong="H5414"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w gallows|strong="H6086"\w*, \w because|strong="H5921"\w* \w he|strong="H1004"\w* \w laid|strong="H5414"\w* \w hands|strong="H3027"\w* \w upon|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*.  
\v 8 \w Now|strong="H3588"\w* \w you|strong="H3588"\w* \w write|strong="H3789"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w behalf|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*, \w as|strong="H3588"\w* \w seems|strong="H2896"\w* \w best|strong="H2896"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w you|strong="H3588"\w*, \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w name|strong="H8034"\w* \w and|strong="H7725"\w* \w seal|strong="H2856"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w* \w with|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w signet|strong="H2885"\w* \w ring|strong="H2885"\w*. \w For|strong="H3588"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w document|strong="H2856"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w is|strong="H8034"\w* \w written|strong="H3789"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w name|strong="H8034"\w* \w and|strong="H7725"\w* \w sealed|strong="H2856"\w* \w with|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w signet|strong="H2885"\w* \w ring|strong="H2885"\w* cannot \w be|strong="H8034"\w* \w revoked|strong="H7725"\w*.”   
\p
\v 9 \w On|strong="H3789"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w twenty-third|strong="H6242"\w* \w day|strong="H2320"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w third|strong="H7992"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* (\w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w is|strong="H1931"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Sivan|strong="H5510"\w*), \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s secretaries \w were|strong="H5971"\w* \w summoned|strong="H7121"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w as|strong="H5704"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w instructed|strong="H6680"\w* \w an|strong="H7121"\w* edict \w was|strong="H1931"\w* \w issued|strong="H6680"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*, \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* satraps \w and|strong="H3967"\w* provincial \w governors|strong="H6346"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w rulers|strong="H8269"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w each|strong="H3605"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w one|strong="H3605"\w* \w hundred|strong="H3967"\w* \w twenty-seven|strong="H6242"\w* \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w* \w from|strong="H5704"\w* \w India|strong="H1912"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w Ethiopia|strong="H3568"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w own|strong="H5971"\w* script \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w own|strong="H5971"\w* \w language|strong="H3956"\w*, \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w own|strong="H5971"\w* script \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w language|strong="H3956"\w*.   
\p
\v 10 \w Mordecai|strong="H3789"\w* \w wrote|strong="H3789"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H7971"\w* \w name|strong="H8034"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus. \w He|strong="H3027"\w* \w sealed|strong="H2856"\w* \w it|strong="H8034"\w* \w with|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H7971"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w signet|strong="H2885"\w* \w ring|strong="H2885"\w*. Dispatches \w were|strong="H1121"\w* \w sent|strong="H7971"\w* \w by|strong="H3027"\w* \w mounted|strong="H7392"\w* \w couriers|strong="H7323"\w* \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w rode|strong="H7392"\w* \w the|strong="H7971"\w* \w swift|strong="H7409"\w*, noble \w steeds|strong="H7409"\w*, bred \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H7971"\w* \w royal|strong="H4428"\w* studs.  
\v 11 \w In|strong="H5921"\w* \w this|strong="H5414"\w* \w way|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w permitted|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w were|strong="H5971"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w city|strong="H5892"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w gather|strong="H6950"\w* \w together|strong="H6950"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w make|strong="H5414"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w stand|strong="H5975"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w life|strong="H5315"\w*, \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w destroy|strong="H8045"\w*, \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w kill|strong="H2026"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* annihilate \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* armed \w forces|strong="H6696"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w any|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w or|strong="H5892"\w* \w province|strong="H4082"\w* \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w might|strong="H5971"\w* \w be|strong="H5315"\w* hostile \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w them|strong="H5414"\w*, \w including|strong="H3605"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w children|strong="H2945"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* women, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w take|strong="H5414"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* goods \w as|strong="H5315"\w* \w plunder|strong="H7998"\w*  
\v 12 \w throughout|strong="H3605"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w thirteenth|strong="H7969"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w twelfth|strong="H8147"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* (\w which|strong="H1931"\w* \w is|strong="H1931"\w* called Adar).  
\v 13 \w A|strong="H3068"\w* \w copy|strong="H6572"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w edict|strong="H1881"\w* \w was|strong="H1961"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w be|strong="H1961"\w* \w published|strong="H1540"\w* \w as|strong="H3117"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w decree|strong="H1881"\w* \w in|strong="H3117"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w province|strong="H4082"\w* – publicly \w displayed|strong="H5414"\w* \w so|strong="H1961"\w* \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w might|strong="H5971"\w* \w be|strong="H1961"\w* ready \w for|strong="H3117"\w* \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w avenge|strong="H5358"\w* \w themselves|strong="H5414"\w*.  
\v 14 \w So|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w couriers|strong="H7323"\w* \w who|strong="H4428"\w* \w rode|strong="H7392"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w swift|strong="H7409"\w*, noble \w steeds|strong="H7409"\w* \w went|strong="H3318"\w* \w out|strong="H3318"\w*, \w hastened|strong="H1765"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w impelled|strong="H1765"\w* \w by|strong="H3318"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w commands|strong="H1697"\w*!  
\p Meantime \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w decree|strong="H1881"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* been \w given|strong="H5414"\w* \w out|strong="H3318"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w royal|strong="H4428"\w* \w palace|strong="H1002"\w* \w at|strong="H4428"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w*;  
\v 15 \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w gone|strong="H3318"\w* \w out|strong="H3318"\w* \w from|strong="H3318"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w presence|strong="H6440"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w royal|strong="H4438"\w* \w garments|strong="H3830"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w violet|strong="H8504"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w white|strong="H2353"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w with|strong="H6440"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w great|strong="H1419"\w* \w crown|strong="H5850"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w with|strong="H6440"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w robe|strong="H3830"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* fine linen \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w purple|strong="H8504"\w*. \w The|strong="H6440"\w* people \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w* \w shouted|strong="H6670"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w were|strong="H5892"\w* \w glad|strong="H8055"\w*.  
\v 16 \w To|strong="H1961"\w* \w the|strong="H1961"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w there|strong="H1961"\w* \w came|strong="H1961"\w* light \w and|strong="H8057"\w* \w gladness|strong="H8057"\w* \w and|strong="H8057"\w* \w joy|strong="H8057"\w* \w and|strong="H8057"\w* \w honor|strong="H3366"\w*.  
\v 17 \w And|strong="H4428"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w province|strong="H4082"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w city|strong="H5892"\w*, \w wherever|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w command|strong="H1697"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w decree|strong="H1881"\w* \w came|strong="H5060"\w*, \w there|strong="H3117"\w* \w was|strong="H1697"\w* \w gladness|strong="H8057"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w joy|strong="H8057"\w* \w among|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w holiday|strong="H2896"\w*. \w Many|strong="H7227"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w peoples|strong="H5971"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* earth professed \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w be|strong="H1697"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*, \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w fear|strong="H6343"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w took|strong="H4428"\w* possession \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*.   
\c 9
\p
\v 1 \w Now|strong="H3117"\w* \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w twelfth|strong="H8147"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* (\w that|strong="H3117"\w* \w is|strong="H1931"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* Adar), \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w thirteenth|strong="H7969"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w*, \w when|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w command|strong="H1697"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w his|strong="H6213"\w* \w decree|strong="H1881"\w* \w was|strong="H1931"\w* \w about|strong="H1697"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w put|strong="H6213"\w* \w into|strong="H2015"\w* \w execution|strong="H6213"\w*, \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w enemies|strong="H8130"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w hoped|strong="H7663"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w gain|strong="H7980"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w mastery|strong="H7980"\w* \w over|strong="H4428"\w* \w them|strong="H1992"\w*, \w then|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* tables \w were|strong="H3117"\w* \w turned|strong="H2015"\w* \w so|strong="H6213"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w mastery|strong="H7980"\w* \w over|strong="H4428"\w* \w those|strong="H1992"\w* \w who|strong="H1931"\w* \w hated|strong="H8130"\w* \w them|strong="H1992"\w*.  
\v 2 \w The|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w gathered|strong="H6950"\w* \w together|strong="H6950"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w cities|strong="H5892"\w* \w throughout|strong="H3605"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus, \w to|strong="H7971"\w* attack \w anyone|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w tried|strong="H1245"\w* \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w harm|strong="H7451"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*. \w No|strong="H3808"\w* \w one|strong="H3605"\w* \w could|strong="H5971"\w* \w withstand|strong="H5975"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*, \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w fear|strong="H6343"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w fallen|strong="H5307"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w peoples|strong="H5971"\w*.  
\v 3 \w All|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w princes|strong="H8269"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* satraps \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w governors|strong="H6346"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w they|strong="H3588"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* attended \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w business|strong="H4399"\w*, \w helped|strong="H5375"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*, \w because|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w fear|strong="H6343"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w fallen|strong="H5307"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*.  
\v 4 \w For|strong="H3588"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* \w great|strong="H1419"\w* \w in|strong="H1980"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w palace|strong="H1004"\w*, \w and|strong="H1980"\w* \w as|strong="H3588"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* power increased \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w fame|strong="H8089"\w* \w spread|strong="H1980"\w* \w throughout|strong="H3605"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w*.  
\v 5 \w The|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w put|strong="H6213"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w enemies|strong="H8130"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w sword|strong="H2719"\w* \w and|strong="H2719"\w*, \w with|strong="H6213"\w* \w slaughter|strong="H4347"\w* \w and|strong="H2719"\w* destruction, \w they|strong="H6213"\w* \w did|strong="H6213"\w* \w what|strong="H6213"\w* \w they|strong="H6213"\w* wanted \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w hated|strong="H8130"\w* \w them|strong="H5221"\w*.  
\v 6 \w In|strong="H1002"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w* \w the|strong="H2026"\w* capital \w the|strong="H2026"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w killed|strong="H2026"\w* \w five|strong="H2568"\w* \w hundred|strong="H3967"\w* people.  
\v 7 They killed \w Parshandatha|strong="H6577"\w*, \w Dalphon|strong="H1813"\w*, Aspatha,  
\v 8 \w Poratha|strong="H6334"\w*, Adalia, Aridatha,  
\v 9 \w Parmashta|strong="H6534"\w*, Arisia, Aridai, and \w Vaizatha|strong="H2055"\w*,  
\v 10 \w the|strong="H7971"\w* \w ten|strong="H6235"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w the|strong="H7971"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hammedatha|strong="H4099"\w*, \w the|strong="H7971"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*’ \w enemy|strong="H6887"\w*; \w but|strong="H3808"\w* \w they|strong="H3808"\w* \w did|strong="H3808"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w take|strong="H1121"\w* \w any|strong="H2026"\w* plunder.   
\p
\v 11 \w On|strong="H3117"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w number|strong="H4557"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w those|strong="H1931"\w* \w who|strong="H1931"\w* \w were|strong="H3117"\w* \w slain|strong="H2026"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w* \w was|strong="H1931"\w* \w brought|strong="H4428"\w* \w before|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*,  
\v 12 \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* said \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* Esther, “\w The|strong="H5414"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w have|strong="H1121"\w* \w slain|strong="H2026"\w* \w five|strong="H2568"\w* \w hundred|strong="H3967"\w* \w people|strong="H1121"\w* \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w*, \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w ten|strong="H6235"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*. \w What|strong="H4100"\w* \w then|strong="H6213"\w* \w have|strong="H1121"\w* \w they|strong="H4100"\w* \w done|strong="H6213"\w* \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w rest|strong="H7605"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w*! \w Now|strong="H5414"\w* \w what|strong="H4100"\w* \w is|strong="H4100"\w* \w your|strong="H5414"\w* \w petition|strong="H7596"\w*? \w It|strong="H5414"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w be|strong="H5750"\w* \w granted|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w*. \w What|strong="H4100"\w* \w is|strong="H4100"\w* \w your|strong="H5414"\w* \w request|strong="H1246"\w*? \w It|strong="H5414"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w be|strong="H5750"\w* \w done|strong="H6213"\w*.”   
\p
\v 13 “\w If|strong="H1121"\w* \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w please|strong="H2896"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*,” Esther said, “\w let|strong="H5414"\w* \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w be|strong="H1121"\w* \w granted|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w are|strong="H3117"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w tomorrow|strong="H4279"\w* \w also|strong="H1571"\w* \w according|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w this|strong="H6213"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w*’s \w decree|strong="H1881"\w*. \w Let|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* bodies \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*’s \w ten|strong="H6235"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w* \w be|strong="H1121"\w* \w hanged|strong="H8518"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w gallows|strong="H6086"\w*.”  
\v 14 \w And|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* commanded \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w be|strong="H1121"\w* \w done|strong="H6213"\w*. \w A|strong="H3068"\w* \w decree|strong="H1881"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* \w given|strong="H5414"\w* \w out|strong="H5414"\w* \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w they|strong="H3651"\w* \w hung|strong="H8518"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* bodies \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*’s \w ten|strong="H6235"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w* \w on|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* gallows.  
\v 15 \w The|strong="H3117"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w who|strong="H3064"\w* \w were|strong="H3117"\w* \w in|strong="H3117"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w* \w gathered|strong="H6950"\w* \w themselves|strong="H6950"\w* \w together|strong="H6950"\w* \w again|strong="H7971"\w* \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3117"\w* \w fourteenth|strong="H6240"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3117"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* Adar. \w They|strong="H3117"\w* \w killed|strong="H2026"\w* \w three|strong="H7969"\w* \w hundred|strong="H3967"\w* \w people|strong="H3808"\w* \w in|strong="H3117"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w*. \w But|strong="H3808"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w did|strong="H3808"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w take|strong="H3027"\w* \w any|strong="H1571"\w* plunder.  
\v 16 \w And|strong="H7971"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w other|strong="H7605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w who|strong="H5315"\w* \w were|strong="H3027"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w* \w gathered|strong="H6950"\w* \w themselves|strong="H5315"\w* \w together|strong="H6950"\w* \w and|strong="H7971"\w* fought \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w their|strong="H5921"\w* \w lives|strong="H5315"\w* \w and|strong="H7971"\w* overcame \w their|strong="H5921"\w* \w enemies|strong="H8130"\w*. \w They|strong="H3808"\w* \w killed|strong="H2026"\w* \w seventy-five|strong="H7657"\w* thousand \w who|strong="H5315"\w* \w hated|strong="H8130"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*. \w But|strong="H3808"\w* \w they|strong="H3808"\w* \w did|strong="H3808"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w take|strong="H5975"\w* \w any|strong="H5315"\w* plunder.  
\v 17 \w This|strong="H6213"\w* \w was|strong="H3117"\w* \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w thirteenth|strong="H7969"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* Adar.  
\b  
\p \w On|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w fourteenth|strong="H6240"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* Adar \w the|strong="H6213"\w* Jews \w rested|strong="H5117"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w made|strong="H6213"\w* \w it|strong="H6213"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w feasting|strong="H4960"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w rejoicing|strong="H8057"\w*.  
\v 18 (\w But|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w* \w gathered|strong="H6950"\w* \w on|strong="H3117"\w* both \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w thirteenth|strong="H7969"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w fourteenth|strong="H6240"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* – \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w rested|strong="H5117"\w* \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w fifteenth|strong="H2568"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* same month \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w made|strong="H6213"\w* \w it|strong="H6213"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w feasting|strong="H4960"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w rejoicing|strong="H8057"\w*.)   
\p
\v 19 \w This|strong="H3651"\w* \w is|strong="H3117"\w* \w why|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w who|strong="H3427"\w* \w live|strong="H3427"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w country|strong="H6521"\w* \w villages|strong="H6519"\w* \w keep|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w fourteenth|strong="H6240"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* Adar \w as|strong="H3117"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w rejoicing|strong="H8057"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w feasting|strong="H4960"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w holiday|strong="H2896"\w*, \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w which|strong="H3064"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* send \w gifts|strong="H4490"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w food|strong="H4490"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w each|strong="H3117"\w* \w other|strong="H7453"\w*.   
\s1 The Establishment of Purim  
\p
\v 20 \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w these|strong="H3789"\w* \w things|strong="H1697"\w* \w recorded|strong="H3789"\w*. \w He|strong="H3605"\w* \w sent|strong="H7971"\w* \w letters|strong="H5612"\w* \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w were|strong="H1697"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus, \w both|strong="H3605"\w* \w near|strong="H7138"\w* \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w far|strong="H7350"\w*.  
\v 21 \w He|strong="H3117"\w* \w told|strong="H6213"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w keep|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w fourteenth|strong="H6240"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* Adar \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w also|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w fifteenth|strong="H2568"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w year|strong="H8141"\w*,  
\v 22 \w as|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \w which|strong="H1992"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w had|strong="H3064"\w* \w rest|strong="H5117"\w* \w from|strong="H3117"\w* \w their|strong="H1992"\w* enemies, \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* \w which|strong="H1992"\w* \w was|strong="H3117"\w* \w turned|strong="H2015"\w* \w from|strong="H3117"\w* \w sorrow|strong="H3015"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w gladness|strong="H8057"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w from|strong="H3117"\w* mourning \w into|strong="H2015"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w feast|strong="H4960"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w*. \w They|strong="H1992"\w* \w should|strong="H3117"\w* \w make|strong="H6213"\w* \w them|strong="H1992"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w feasting|strong="H4960"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w gladness|strong="H8057"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w sending|strong="H4916"\w* \w gifts|strong="H4979"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w food|strong="H4490"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w each|strong="H3117"\w* \w other|strong="H7453"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w gifts|strong="H4979"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* poor.   
\p
\v 23 \w So|strong="H6213"\w* \w what|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w had|strong="H4782"\w* \w begun|strong="H2490"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w they|strong="H6213"\w* adopted \w as|strong="H6213"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w custom|strong="H6901"\w*, \w just|strong="H6213"\w* \w as|strong="H6213"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w had|strong="H4782"\w* \w written|strong="H3789"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w them|strong="H6213"\w*.  
\v 24 \w For|strong="H3588"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hammedatha|strong="H4099"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* Agagite, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w enemy|strong="H6887"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*, \w had|strong="H3588"\w* \w plotted|strong="H2803"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w destroy|strong="H2000"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*. \w He|strong="H1931"\w* \w had|strong="H3588"\w* \w cast|strong="H5307"\w* ‘\w Pur|strong="H6332"\w*’, \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w is|strong="H1931"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w lot|strong="H1486"\w*, intending \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w consume|strong="H2000"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w destroy|strong="H2000"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*.  
\v 25 \w But|strong="H4428"\w* \w when|strong="H7725"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* matter \w came|strong="H7725"\w* \w before|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*, \w he|strong="H5921"\w* \w gave|strong="H7725"\w* written \w orders|strong="H5612"\w* \w that|strong="H4428"\w* \w his|strong="H7725"\w* \w wicked|strong="H7451"\w* \w plot|strong="H4284"\w*, \w which|strong="H3064"\w* \w he|strong="H5921"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w planned|strong="H2803"\w* \w against|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*, \w should|strong="H4428"\w* \w come|strong="H7725"\w* \w upon|strong="H5921"\w* \w his|strong="H7725"\w* \w own|strong="H5973"\w* \w head|strong="H7218"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w that|strong="H4428"\w* \w he|strong="H5921"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w his|strong="H7725"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w* \w should|strong="H4428"\w* \w be|strong="H1121"\w* \w hanged|strong="H8518"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w gallows|strong="H6086"\w*.  
\v 26 \w This|strong="H2063"\w* \w is|strong="H4100"\w* \w why|strong="H4100"\w* \w these|strong="H2063"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* \w are|strong="H3117"\w* \w called|strong="H7121"\w* \w Purim|strong="H6332"\w*, \w after|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w word|strong="H1697"\w* \w Pur|strong="H6332"\w*. \w Therefore|strong="H3651"\w* \w because|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w words|strong="H1697"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w this|strong="H2063"\w* letter, \w as|strong="H1697"\w* \w well|strong="H3651"\w* \w as|strong="H1697"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w had|strong="H3117"\w* \w seen|strong="H7200"\w*, \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w had|strong="H3117"\w* experienced,  
\v 27 \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w established|strong="H6965"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w made|strong="H6213"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w custom|strong="H6901"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*, \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w descendants|strong="H2233"\w*, \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w should|strong="H3117"\w* \w join|strong="H3867"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*, \w so|strong="H6213"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w* might \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w be|strong="H1961"\w* \w repealed|strong="H5674"\w*, \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w should|strong="H3117"\w* \w continue|strong="H1961"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w observe|strong="H6213"\w* \w these|strong="H6213"\w* \w two|strong="H8147"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* \w as|strong="H3117"\w* feasts \w each|strong="H3605"\w* \w year|strong="H8141"\w*,  
\v 28 \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w these|strong="H6213"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* \w should|strong="H3117"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* \w remembered|strong="H2142"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w kept|strong="H6213"\w* \w throughout|strong="H3605"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w generation|strong="H1755"\w*, \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w family|strong="H4940"\w*, \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w province|strong="H4082"\w*, \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w city|strong="H5892"\w*. \w And|strong="H3117"\w* \w these|strong="H6213"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w Purim|strong="H6332"\w* \w should|strong="H3117"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w pass|strong="H5674"\w* \w away|strong="H5674"\w* \w from|strong="H3117"\w* \w among|strong="H8432"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w nor|strong="H3808"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w remembrance|strong="H2142"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w them|strong="H6213"\w* disappear \w among|strong="H8432"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w descendants|strong="H2233"\w*.   
\p
\v 29 \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* Esther, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w daughter|strong="H1323"\w* \w of|strong="H1323"\w* Abihail, gave \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jew|strong="H3064"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w authority|strong="H8633"\w* \w in|strong="H3789"\w* \w writing|strong="H3789"\w* \w to|strong="H6965"\w* \w confirm|strong="H6965"\w* \w this|strong="H2063"\w* \w second|strong="H8145"\w* letter \w of|strong="H1323"\w* \w Purim|strong="H6332"\w*.  
\v 30 \w He|strong="H3605"\w* \w sent|strong="H7971"\w* \w letters|strong="H5612"\w* \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*, \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w hundred|strong="H3967"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w twenty-seven|strong="H6242"\w* \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w* \w of|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w kingdom|strong="H4438"\w* \w of|strong="H1697"\w* Ahasuerus, wishing \w them|strong="H7971"\w* \w peace|strong="H7965"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w security|strong="H7965"\w*,  
\v 31 \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w confirm|strong="H6965"\w* \w these|strong="H6965"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w Purim|strong="H6332"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w their|strong="H5921"\w* proper \w times|strong="H3117"\w*, \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w be|strong="H1697"\w* \w observed|strong="H6965"\w* \w as|strong="H1697"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w Jew|strong="H3064"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* Esther \w had|strong="H4782"\w* directed \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w as|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w had|strong="H4782"\w* proscribed \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w themselves|strong="H5315"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w their|strong="H5921"\w* \w descendants|strong="H2233"\w*, \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w matter|strong="H1697"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w fastings|strong="H6685"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w their|strong="H5921"\w* \w cry|strong="H2201"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* lamentation.  
\v 32 \w And|strong="H6965"\w* \w the|strong="H6965"\w* \w commands|strong="H1697"\w* \w of|strong="H1697"\w* Esther \w confirmed|strong="H6965"\w* \w these|strong="H3789"\w* \w matters|strong="H1697"\w* \w of|strong="H1697"\w* \w Purim|strong="H6332"\w*; \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w it|strong="H3789"\w* \w was|strong="H1697"\w* \w written|strong="H3789"\w* \w in|strong="H3789"\w* \w the|strong="H6965"\w* \w records|strong="H1697"\w*.   
\b  
\c 10
\p
\v 1 \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus imposed \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w tribute|strong="H4522"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* land \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* coasts.  
\v 2 \w All|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w acts|strong="H1697"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w power|strong="H1369"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w might|strong="H1369"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w full|strong="H3117"\w* \w account|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w greatness|strong="H1420"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w which|strong="H1992"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w advanced|strong="H1431"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w*, \w are|strong="H3117"\w* \w they|strong="H1992"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w recorded|strong="H3789"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w book|strong="H5612"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w chronicles|strong="H1697"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w kings|strong="H4428"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Media|strong="H4074"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w*?  
\v 3 \w For|strong="H3588"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jew|strong="H3064"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* \w next|strong="H4932"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w rank|strong="H4932"\w* \w to|strong="H1696"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Ahasuerus, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w great|strong="H1419"\w* \w among|strong="H5971"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* loved \w by|strong="H3605"\w* \w them|strong="H3588"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w*. \w He|strong="H3588"\w* \w sought|strong="H1875"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w good|strong="H2896"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* promoted \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w welfare|strong="H7965"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w descendants|strong="H2233"\w*.