\id EST - Translation 4 Translators 1 
\ide 65001 - Unicode (UTF-8)
\h Esther 
\toc1 Esther 
\toc2 Esther 
\toc3 Est 
\mt2 This book contains the account of Esther, the queen of Persia, protecting the Jewish people from Haman, who wanted to destroy them. We call this book  
\mt1 Esther  
\c 1  
\s1 The king of Persia deposed his queen  
\p
\v 1 \w King|strong="H4427"\w* Xerxes \w ruled|strong="H4427"\w* \add a very big empire which had\add* 127 \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w*. \w It|strong="H1931"\w* \w extended|strong="H1961"\w* \w from|strong="H3117"\w* \w India|strong="H1912"\w* \add in the east\add* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w Ethiopia|strong="H3568"\w* \add in the west\add*.  
\v 2 \w He|strong="H3117"\w* \w ruled|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w empire|strong="H4438"\w* \add while he lived\add* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* capital city, \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w*.  
\v 3 \w During|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w third|strong="H7969"\w* \w year|strong="H8141"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w he|strong="H6213"\w* \w ruled|strong="H4427"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* empire, \w he|strong="H6213"\w* invited \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* administrators \w and|strong="H5650"\w* \add other\add* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* big \w banquet|strong="H4960"\w*/\w feast|strong="H4960"\w*. \w He|strong="H6213"\w* invited \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w commanders|strong="H8269"\w* \w of|strong="H8141"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* armies \w of|strong="H8141"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w* \w and|strong="H5650"\w* \w Media|strong="H4074"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* come \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w banquet|strong="H4960"\w*. \w He|strong="H6213"\w* \w also|strong="H6213"\w* invited \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w governors|strong="H8269"\w* \w and|strong="H5650"\w* \w other|strong="H3605"\w* \w leaders|strong="H8269"\w* \w of|strong="H8141"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w*.  
\v 4  \add The celebration\add* lasted \w for|strong="H3117"\w* six months. \w During|strong="H3117"\w* \w that|strong="H7200"\w* \w time|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H7200"\w* king \w showed|strong="H7200"\w* \w his|strong="H7200"\w* guests \w all|strong="H7200"\w* \w his|strong="H7200"\w* \w wealth|strong="H6239"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* other \w things|strong="H1420"\w* \w that|strong="H7200"\w* \w showed|strong="H7200"\w* how \w great|strong="H7227"\w* \w his|strong="H7200"\w* \w kingdom|strong="H4438"\w* \w was|strong="H3117"\w* (\w OR|strong="H3068"\w*, how \w great|strong="H7227"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* king \w he|strong="H3117"\w* \w was|strong="H3117"\w*).   
\p
\v 5 \w At|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w end|strong="H4390"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* six months, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* invited \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* another \w banquet|strong="H4960"\w*. \w He|strong="H3117"\w* invited \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w banquet|strong="H4960"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w men|strong="H1419"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w worked|strong="H6213"\w* \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w palace|strong="H1002"\w*, \w including|strong="H5704"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w important|strong="H5704"\w* jobs \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* unimportant jobs. \add This celebration\add* lasted \w for|strong="H5704"\w* \w seven|strong="H7651"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w*. \w It|strong="H6213"\w* \w was|strong="H3117"\w* \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w courtyard|strong="H2691"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w palace|strong="H1002"\w* \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w*.  
\v 6  \add In the courtyard\add* \w were|strong="H5921"\w* beautiful \w blue|strong="H8504"\w* \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w white|strong="H2353"\w* curtains \w that|strong="H3701"\w* \w were|strong="H5921"\w* fastened \w by|strong="H5921"\w* \w white|strong="H2353"\w* \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w purple|strong="H8504"\w* \w cords|strong="H2256"\w*/ribbons \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w rings|strong="H1550"\w* \w that|strong="H3701"\w* \w were|strong="H5921"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w pillars|strong="H5982"\w* made \w from|strong="H5921"\w* \add expensive white stone called\add* \w marble|strong="H8336"\w*. \add The guests sat on\add* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w* \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* \w couches|strong="H4296"\w*. \w The|strong="H5921"\w* \w couches|strong="H4296"\w* \w were|strong="H5921"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w pavement|strong="H7531"\w*/floor \w which|strong="H2091"\w* had \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w top|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H5982"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w* designs made \w from|strong="H5921"\w* various kinds \w of|strong="H5982"\w* expensive \w stones|strong="H5508"\w*.  
\v 7  \add The guests\add* drank \w wine|strong="H3196"\w* \w from|strong="H3027"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w* cups. Each cup \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* different design \w on|strong="H3027"\w* \w it|strong="H3627"\w*.  
\v 8 \w There|strong="H3605"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* lot \w of|strong="H4428"\w* wine, \w because|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* wanted \w the|strong="H3605"\w* guests \w to|strong="H5921"\w* drink \w as|strong="H6213"\w* \w much|strong="H7227"\w* \w as|strong="H6213"\w* \w they|strong="H3588"\w* wanted. \w But|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w told|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* servants \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w they|strong="H3588"\w* \w should|strong="H3588"\w* \w not|strong="H6213"\w* force \w anyone|strong="H3605"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* drink \w more|strong="H7227"\w* \w than|strong="H5921"\w* \w he|strong="H3588"\w* wanted.   
\p
\v 9  \add At the same time, the king’s wife,\add* \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* \w Vashti|strong="H2060"\w*, invited \w the|strong="H6213"\w* wives \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w men|strong="H6213"\w* \w who|strong="H4428"\w* \w worked|strong="H6213"\w* \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w palace|strong="H1004"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w banquet|strong="H4960"\w* \add in another room in the palace\add*.   
\p
\v 10 \w On|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* last/\w seventh|strong="H7637"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* those banquets, \w when|strong="H3117"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Xerxes \w was|strong="H3820"\w* partially \w drunk|strong="H3196"\w* \w from|strong="H6440"\w* drinking \w wine|strong="H3196"\w*, \w he|strong="H3117"\w* \add summoned\add* \w seven|strong="H7651"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w his|strong="H6440"\w* \w personal|strong="H6440"\w* \w servants|strong="H8334"\w*. \w They|strong="H3117"\w* \w were|strong="H3117"\w* \w Mehuman|strong="H4104"\w*, Biztha, \w Harbona|strong="H2726"\w*, Bigtha, Abagtha, \w Zethar|strong="H2242"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w Carcas|strong="H3752"\w*.  
\v 11 \w He|strong="H1931"\w* told \w them|strong="H6440"\w* \w to|strong="H6440"\w* bring \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* \w Vashti|strong="H2060"\w* \w to|strong="H6440"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w*, wearing \w her|strong="H7200"\w* \w crown|strong="H3804"\w*. \w He|strong="H1931"\w* wanted \w his|strong="H6440"\w* guests \w to|strong="H6440"\w* \w see|strong="H7200"\w* \w that|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 when|strong="H3027"\w* those servants \w told|strong="H1697"\w* \w Vashti|strong="H2060"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H1697"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* wanted, she \w refused|strong="H3985"\w* \w to|strong="H3985"\w* \w go|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H3985"\w* \w the|strong="H1697"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \add because she did not want to display her beauty in front of a group of half-drunk men\add*.  
\p \w So|strong="H3966"\w* \w that|strong="H1697"\w* \w caused|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H1697"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H3985"\w* \w become|strong="H1197"\w* \w very|strong="H3966"\w* \w angry|strong="H7107"\w*.  
\v 13-14 Immediately he had \w a|strong="H3068"\w* meeting with the seven men who were the most important officials in Persia and Media. They were the men whom he often asked ◄for their advice/what he should do►. And they were men who knew all the customs and laws \add of Persia\add*. Their names were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan.  
\v 15 \w The|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w said|strong="H3982"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*, “\w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* \w Vashti|strong="H2060"\w* \w has|strong="H4428"\w* \w refused|strong="H3808"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w obey|strong="H6213"\w* \w me|strong="H5921"\w* \w when|strong="H6213"\w* \w I|strong="H5921"\w* \w sent|strong="H3027"\w* \w my|strong="H5921"\w* servants \add to tell her to come here\add*. \w What|strong="H4100"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w our|strong="H5921"\w* \w laws|strong="H1881"\w* say \w that|strong="H4428"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w should|strong="H4100"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* someone \w who|strong="H4428"\w* \add acts/behaves like that\add*?”   
\p
\v 16 \w While|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w other|strong="H3605"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w* \w were|strong="H5971"\w* present, \w Memucan|strong="H4462"\w* told \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*, \add “Your majesty\add*, \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* \w Vashti|strong="H2060"\w* \w has|strong="H4428"\w* ◄insulted/\w done|strong="H5753"\w* \w wrong|strong="H5753"\w* \w against|strong="H5921"\w*► \w you|strong="H3588"\w*, \w but|strong="H3588"\w* \w she|strong="H3588"\w* \w has|strong="H4428"\w* \w also|strong="H4428"\w* insulted \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w your|strong="H3605"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w everyone|strong="H3605"\w* \w else|strong="H3605"\w* ◄\w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w your|strong="H3605"\w* empire/\w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w you|strong="H3588"\w* \w rule|strong="H4428"\w* \w over|strong="H5921"\w*►.  
\v 17 \w All|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* women \add throughout the empire\add* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* hear \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w she|strong="H3588"\w* \w has|strong="H4428"\w* \w done|strong="H1697"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w they|strong="H3588"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w say|strong="H1697"\w*, ‘\w The|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* commanded \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* \w Vashti|strong="H2060"\w* \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w come|strong="H3318"\w* \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w she|strong="H3588"\w* \w refused|strong="H3808"\w*.’ \add So they will not obey their husbands. Instead,\add* \w they|strong="H3588"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* begin \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w respect|strong="H6440"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w husbands|strong="H1167"\w*.  
\v 18 \w Before|strong="H3117"\w* \w this|strong="H2088"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* ends, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* wives \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w us|strong="H3117"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w Media|strong="H4074"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w hear|strong="H8085"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w queen|strong="H4436"\w* \w did|strong="H3117"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w also|strong="H4428"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* refuse \w to|strong="H3117"\w* \w obey|strong="H8085"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* husbands. \w They|strong="H3117"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w not|strong="H2088"\w* respect \w us|strong="H3117"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w cause|strong="H1697"\w* \w us|strong="H3117"\w* \w to|strong="H3117"\w* become \w very|strong="H2088"\w* \w angry|strong="H7110"\w*.  
\v 19 \w So|strong="H4480"\w* if \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w pleases|strong="H2895"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w*, \w O|strong="H3068"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*, \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w should|strong="H4428"\w* \w write|strong="H3789"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w law|strong="H1881"\w*. \w Like|strong="H3318"\w* \w all|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* other \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 it|strong="H5414"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w law|strong="H1881"\w* \w that|strong="H1697"\w* ◄\w no|strong="H3808"\w* \w one|strong="H3808"\w* \w can|strong="H3808"\w* change/\w cannot|strong="H3808"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* changed.► \w Write|strong="H3789"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w law|strong="H1881"\w* \w that|strong="H1697"\w* states \w that|strong="H1697"\w* Queen \w Vashti|strong="H2060"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w never|strong="H3808"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* \w allowed|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H3318"\w* see \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w again|strong="H6440"\w* \add and will not continue to be the queen\add*. \w Then|strong="H3318"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w can|strong="H3808"\w* choose \w another|strong="H7468"\w* woman \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* queen, \w a|strong="H3068"\w* woman \w who|strong="H4428"\w* deserves \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* queen \w more|strong="H4480"\w* \w than|strong="H4480"\w* \w Vashti|strong="H2060"\w* \w does|strong="H3808"\w*.  
\v 20 \w Then|strong="H6213"\w*, \w when|strong="H3588"\w* \w everyone|strong="H3605"\w* \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w your|strong="H3605"\w* \w empire|strong="H4438"\w* \w hears|strong="H8085"\w* \w what|strong="H6213"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w have|strong="H3605"\w* commanded, \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* women, \w including|strong="H5704"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w are|strong="H7227"\w* \w important|strong="H5704"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w are|strong="H7227"\w* \w not|strong="H6213"\w* \w important|strong="H5704"\w*, \w will|strong="H4428"\w* respect \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w obey|strong="H8085"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w husbands|strong="H1167"\w*.”   
\p
\v 21 \w The|strong="H6213"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* other \w officials|strong="H8269"\w* \w liked|strong="H5869"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w Memucan|strong="H4462"\w* suggested, \w so|strong="H6213"\w* \w he|strong="H6213"\w* \add did that. He wrote a law\add* proclaiming \w that|strong="H1697"\w*.  
\v 22 \w Then|strong="H1961"\w* \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*, stating \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w men|strong="H5971"\w* \w should|strong="H4428"\w* \w have|strong="H1961"\w* \w complete|strong="H3605"\w* authority \w over|strong="H4428"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* wives \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* children. \w He|strong="H3605"\w* wrote \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w letters|strong="H5612"\w* \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w language|strong="H3956"\w* \w and|strong="H7971"\w* type \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w writing|strong="H3791"\w*/alphabet \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w was|strong="H1961"\w* \w used|strong="H1961"\w* \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w each|strong="H3605"\w* \w province|strong="H4082"\w*.   
\c 2  
\s1 Esther became the new queen  
\p
\v 1 \w After|strong="H5921"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w while|strong="H5921"\w*, \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Xerxes quit being \w so|strong="H6213"\w* \w angry|strong="H2534"\w*. \w He|strong="H6213"\w* \w thought|strong="H1697"\w* \w about|strong="H5921"\w* \w Vashti|strong="H2060"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w he|strong="H6213"\w* \w thought|strong="H1697"\w* \w about|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* law \w he|strong="H6213"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w made|strong="H6213"\w* \w because|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w she|strong="H5921"\w* \add had done, and he wanted another wife\add*.  
\v 2 So \w his|strong="H1245"\w* \w personal|strong="H8334"\w* \w servants|strong="H5288"\w* said \w to|strong="H4428"\w* \w him|strong="H1245"\w*, “\add Your majesty,\add* \w you|strong="H1245"\w* \w should|strong="H4428"\w* send some \w men|strong="H5288"\w* \w to|strong="H4428"\w* \w search|strong="H1245"\w* \w throughout|strong="H5291"\w* \w the|strong="H1245"\w* empire \w for|strong="H4428"\w* some \w beautiful|strong="H2896"\w* \w young|strong="H5288"\w* \w women|strong="H1330"\w*/\w virgins|strong="H1330"\w* \w for|strong="H4428"\w* \w you|strong="H1245"\w*.  
\v 3  \add After they find some,\add* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w can|strong="H1004"\w* \w appoint|strong="H6485"\w* \w some|strong="H3027"\w* \w officials|strong="H5631"\w* \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w each|strong="H3605"\w* \w province|strong="H4082"\w* \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w bring|strong="H5414"\w* \w them|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w place|strong="H5414"\w* \w where|strong="H1004"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w keep|strong="H8104"\w* ◄\w your|strong="H3605"\w* wives/\w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w women|strong="H1330"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* sleep \w with|strong="H1004"\w*► here \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w*. \w Then|strong="H5414"\w* \w Hegai|strong="H1896"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w man|strong="H2896"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w is|strong="H3027"\w* \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w charge|strong="H3027"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w these|strong="H3605"\w* \w women|strong="H1330"\w*, \w can|strong="H1004"\w* arrange \w for|strong="H3027"\w* ointments \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w be|strong="H3027"\w* \w put|strong="H5414"\w* \add on their bodies\add* \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w make|strong="H5414"\w* \w them|strong="H5414"\w* \add more\add* \w beautiful|strong="H2896"\w*.  
\v 4 \w Then|strong="H3651"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w woman|strong="H5291"\w* \w who|strong="H4428"\w* \w pleases|strong="H3190"\w* \w you|strong="H6213"\w* \w most|strong="H4428"\w* \w can|strong="H6213"\w* \w become|strong="H4427"\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 king|strong="H4428"\w* \w liked|strong="H5869"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w they|strong="H3651"\w* suggested, \w so|strong="H3651"\w* \w he|strong="H3651"\w* \w did|strong="H6213"\w* \w it|strong="H6213"\w*.   
\p
\v 5 \w At|strong="H1961"\w* \w that|strong="H1121"\w* \w time|strong="H1961"\w* \w there|strong="H1961"\w* \w was|strong="H8034"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w Jew|strong="H3064"\w* \add living\add* \w in|strong="H1121"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w*, \w the|strong="H1961"\w* capital, \w whose|strong="H1121"\w* \w name|strong="H8034"\w* \w was|strong="H8034"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*, \w the|strong="H1961"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jair|strong="H2971"\w*. \w Jair|strong="H2971"\w* \w was|strong="H8034"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w descendant|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Shimei|strong="H8096"\w*. \w Shimei|strong="H8096"\w* \w was|strong="H8034"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w descendant|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \add King Saul’s father\add* \w Kish|strong="H7027"\w*. \add They were all\add* \w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1961"\w* tribe \w descended|strong="H1121"\w* \w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w Benjamin|strong="H1145"\w*.  
\v 6  \add Many years before that,\add* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w taken|strong="H1540"\w* ◄Mordecai/Mordecai’s family► \add and brought them from Jerusalem\add* \w to|strong="H3389"\w* Babylon, \w at|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5973"\w* same time \w he|strong="H3389"\w* \w brought|strong="H1540"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w Jehoiachin|strong="H3204"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w* \w and|strong="H3063"\w* many other \w people|strong="H1473"\w* \w to|strong="H3389"\w* Babylon.  
\v 7 \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w had|strong="H1961"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* cousin \w whose|strong="H1323"\w* \add Hebrew\add* name \w was|strong="H1961"\w* \w Hadassah|strong="H1919"\w*. \w She|strong="H1931"\w* \w had|strong="H1961"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w beautiful|strong="H3303"\w* \w face|strong="H4758"\w* \w and|strong="H2896"\w* \w beautiful|strong="H3303"\w* body/\w figure|strong="H8389"\w*. \w Her|strong="H3947"\w* \add Persian\add* name \w was|strong="H1961"\w* Esther. \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* \w took|strong="H3947"\w* care \w of|strong="H1323"\w* Esther \w as|strong="H1961"\w* \w though|strong="H3588"\w* \w she|strong="H1931"\w* \w were|strong="H1961"\w* \w his|strong="H3947"\w* \w own|strong="H1961"\w* \w daughter|strong="H1323"\w*.  
\v 8 \w After|strong="H1961"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* commanded \add that they search for some beautiful women\add*, \w they|strong="H1697"\w* \w brought|strong="H3947"\w* Esther \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w many|strong="H7227"\w* other \w young|strong="H5291"\w* \w women|strong="H5291"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w palace|strong="H1004"\w* \add in Susa\add*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* ◄\w the|strong="H8085"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w put|strong="H3947"\w* \w Hegai|strong="H1896"\w*/\w Hegai|strong="H1896"\w* \w was|strong="H1961"\w* \w put|strong="H3947"\w*► \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w charge|strong="H3027"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w them|strong="H3027"\w*.  
\v 9 Hegai \w was|strong="H4428"\w* \w very|strong="H3190"\w* \w pleased|strong="H3190"\w* \w with|strong="H1004"\w* Esther, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w he|strong="H1004"\w* \w treated|strong="H3190"\w* \w her|strong="H5414"\w* \w well|strong="H3190"\w*. \w He|strong="H1004"\w* immediately arranged \w for|strong="H6440"\w* \w her|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w be|strong="H5869"\w* \w given|strong="H5414"\w* ointments \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w make|strong="H5414"\w* \w her|strong="H5414"\w* \add even more\add* \w beautiful|strong="H2896"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \add he ordered that\add* special \w food|strong="H1004"\w* \add would be given to her\add*. \add He arranged that\add* \w seven|strong="H7651"\w* \w maids|strong="H5291"\w* \w from|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w palace|strong="H1004"\w* \add would take care of her\add*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* arranged \w that|strong="H7200"\w* \w she|strong="H6440"\w*/\w they|strong="H6440"\w* \w would|strong="H4428"\w* stay \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w best|strong="H2896"\w* \w rooms|strong="H1004"\w*.   
\p
\v 10 Esther \w did|strong="H5971"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w tell|strong="H5046"\w* \w anyone|strong="H3588"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w she|strong="H3588"\w* \w was|strong="H3808"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* Jew, \w because|strong="H3588"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w had|strong="H3588"\w* \w told|strong="H5046"\w* \w her|strong="H5046"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w tell|strong="H5046"\w* \w anyone|strong="H3588"\w*.  
\v 11 \w Every|strong="H3605"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w walked|strong="H1980"\w* \w near|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w courtyard|strong="H2691"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w place|strong="H1004"\w* \w where|strong="H4100"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* women stayed. \w He|strong="H3117"\w* \w asked|strong="H4100"\w* \add people who entered the courtyard\add* \w to|strong="H1980"\w* \w find|strong="H3045"\w* \w out|strong="H6213"\w* \add and tell him\add* \w what|strong="H4100"\w* \w was|strong="H3117"\w* happening \w to|strong="H1980"\w* Esther.   
\p
\v 12 \w Before|strong="H3117"\w* \w these|strong="H8147"\w* \w women|strong="H5291"\w* \w were|strong="H1961"\w* \w taken|strong="H1961"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*, \w they|strong="H3588"\w* \w put|strong="H8147"\w* \w ointments|strong="H8081"\w* \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \add the bodies of\add* \w these|strong="H8147"\w* \w women|strong="H5291"\w* \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w one|strong="H3588"\w* \w year|strong="H3117"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w make|strong="H3588"\w* \w them|strong="H8147"\w* \w more|strong="H3651"\w* beautiful. \w For|strong="H3588"\w* \w six|strong="H8337"\w* \w months|strong="H2320"\w* \w they|strong="H3588"\w* \add rubbed olive\add* \w oil|strong="H8081"\w* mixed \w with|strong="H4390"\w* \w myrrh|strong="H4753"\w* \add on their bodies each day\add*. \w For|strong="H3588"\w* \add the next\add* \w six|strong="H8337"\w* \w months|strong="H2320"\w* \w they|strong="H3588"\w* rubbed \w ointments|strong="H8081"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* perfumes \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \w their|strong="H4390"\w* bodies.  
\v 13 \w Then|strong="H2088"\w*, \w when|strong="H5704"\w* \w one|strong="H2088"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w these|strong="H2088"\w* \w women|strong="H5291"\w* \add was summoned to\add* \w go|strong="H4428"\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* wear \w whatever|strong="H3605"\w* clothes \w and|strong="H4428"\w* jewelry \w she|strong="H5704"\w* chose.  
\v 14 \w In|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w evening|strong="H6153"\w*, \w they|strong="H3588"\w* \w would|strong="H4428"\w* \w take|strong="H7725"\w* \w her|strong="H7121"\w* \add to the king’s own room\add*. \w The|strong="H3588"\w* \w next|strong="H3027"\w* \w morning|strong="H1242"\w*, \w they|strong="H3588"\w* \w would|strong="H4428"\w* \w take|strong="H7725"\w* \w her|strong="H7121"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w another|strong="H8145"\w* \w place|strong="H3027"\w* \w where|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* women \add who had slept with the king\add* \w stayed|strong="H5750"\w*. \w There|strong="H7725"\w* \w another|strong="H8145"\w* \w official|strong="H5631"\w* \w whose|strong="H8034"\w* \w name|strong="H8034"\w* \w was|strong="H8034"\w* \w Shaashgaz|strong="H8190"\w* \w was|strong="H8034"\w* \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w charge|strong="H3027"\w* \add of those women\add*. \add Those women would live there for the rest of their lives, and\add* \w one|strong="H3808"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w those|strong="H1931"\w* women \w would|strong="H4428"\w* \w go|strong="H7725"\w* \w back|strong="H7725"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w again|strong="H7725"\w* \w only|strong="H3588"\w* \w if|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* very \w much|strong="H3027"\w* \w wanted|strong="H2654"\w* \w her|strong="H7121"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w come|strong="H7725"\w* \w again|strong="H7725"\w*, \w and|strong="H7725"\w* \w only|strong="H3588"\w* \w if|strong="H3588"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* told \w Shaashgaz|strong="H8190"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w name|strong="H8034"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w woman|strong="H8034"\w*.   
\p
\v 15-16 Everyone who saw Esther liked her. After King Xerxes had been ruling for seven years, it was Esther’s turn to go to him. When they took her to the king, it was during the middle part of the winter. She wore only the things that Hegai suggested.  
\v 17 \w The|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w liked|strong="H2580"\w* Esther more \w than|strong="H4428"\w* \w he|strong="H3605"\w* \w liked|strong="H2580"\w* \w any|strong="H3605"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w other|strong="H3605"\w* \w women|strong="H1330"\w* \add that they brought to him\add*. \w He|strong="H3605"\w* \w liked|strong="H2580"\w* \w her|strong="H3605"\w* \w so|strong="H5375"\w* \w much|strong="H3605"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w he|strong="H3605"\w* \w put|strong="H7760"\w* \w on|strong="H7760"\w* \w her|strong="H3605"\w* \w head|strong="H7218"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w queen|strong="H4427"\w*’s \w crown|strong="H3804"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w he|strong="H3605"\w* declared \w that|strong="H3605"\w* Esther \w would|strong="H3605"\w* \w be|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|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 To|strong="H6213"\w* \w celebrate|strong="H6213"\w* \w her|strong="H3605"\w* \add becoming the queen\add*, \w he|strong="H6213"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* big \w banquet|strong="H4960"\w*/\w feast|strong="H4960"\w* \w prepared|strong="H6213"\w* \w for|strong="H6213"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* administrators \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \add other\add* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w*. \w He|strong="H6213"\w* \w generously|strong="H5414"\w* \w gave|strong="H5414"\w* \add expensive\add* \w gifts|strong="H4864"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w everyone|strong="H3605"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w he|strong="H6213"\w* declared \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w* \w there|strong="H3605"\w* \w would|strong="H6213"\w* \w be|strong="H3027"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w holiday|strong="H2010"\w*, \add a time when people did not have to pay taxes\add*.   
\p
\v 19 Later \w all|strong="H6908"\w* \w those|strong="H3427"\w* \w women|strong="H1330"\w* \w who|strong="H3427"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w spent|strong="H3427"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* night \w with|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H6908"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w were|strong="H3427"\w* \w gathered|strong="H6908"\w* \w together|strong="H6908"\w* \w again|strong="H8145"\w*. \w By|strong="H3427"\w* \w that|strong="H4428"\w* \w time|strong="H8145"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* become \w an|strong="H3427"\w* official \w at|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H6908"\w* palace.  
\v 20 \w But|strong="H1961"\w* Esther \w still|strong="H5971"\w* \w did|strong="H6213"\w* \w not|strong="H6213"\w* \w tell|strong="H5046"\w* anyone \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w she|strong="H5921"\w* \w was|strong="H1961"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* Jew. \w She|strong="H5921"\w* \w continued|strong="H1961"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w what|strong="H6213"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w had|strong="H1961"\w* \w told|strong="H5046"\w* \w her|strong="H5046"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w*.  
\v 21 \w One|strong="H4428"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w when|strong="H3117"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w was|strong="H3117"\w* \w doing|strong="H3027"\w* \w his|strong="H8104"\w* \w work|strong="H3027"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H8104"\w* palace, \w two|strong="H8147"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H8104"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w officials|strong="H5631"\w* \w were|strong="H3117"\w* \w there|strong="H3427"\w*. \w Their|strong="H1245"\w* names \w were|strong="H3117"\w* Bigthana \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w Teresh|strong="H8657"\w*. \w They|strong="H1992"\w* \w were|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H8104"\w* \w guards|strong="H8104"\w* \w who|strong="H3427"\w* \w stood|strong="H4428"\w* outside \w the|strong="H8104"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w own|strong="H3027"\w* rooms. \w They|strong="H1992"\w* \w became|strong="H7107"\w* \w angry|strong="H7107"\w* \add with the king\add*, \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w they|strong="H1992"\w* \w were|strong="H3117"\w* planning how \w they|strong="H1992"\w* could assassinate/kill \w him|strong="H7971"\w*.  
\v 22 \w But|strong="H4428"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w heard|strong="H5046"\w* \w about|strong="H1697"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w they|strong="H1697"\w* \w were|strong="H1697"\w* planning, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w he|strong="H4782"\w* \w told|strong="H5046"\w* \w that|strong="H3045"\w* \w to|strong="H4428"\w* \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* Esther. \w Then|strong="H4428"\w* she \w told|strong="H5046"\w* \w the|strong="H3045"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w found|strong="H3045"\w* \w out|strong="H3045"\w*.  
\v 23 \w The|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w investigated|strong="H1245"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w found|strong="H4672"\w* \w out|strong="H4672"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H3789"\w*’s \w report|strong="H1697"\w* \w was|strong="H1697"\w* true. \w So|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* ordered \w that|strong="H3117"\w* \w those|strong="H5921"\w* \w two|strong="H8147"\w* \w men|strong="H8147"\w* \w be|strong="H1697"\w* \w hanged|strong="H8518"\w*. \w When|strong="H3117"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* \w was|strong="H1697"\w* \w done|strong="H1697"\w*, ◄\w an|strong="H4672"\w* official \w wrote|strong="H3789"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w report|strong="H1697"\w*/\w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w report|strong="H1697"\w* \w was|strong="H1697"\w* \w written|strong="H3789"\w*► \w about|strong="H5921"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w book|strong="H5612"\w* called ‘\w The|strong="H6440"\w* \w book|strong="H5612"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* \w records|strong="H1697"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w happened|strong="H4672"\w* \w while|strong="H3117"\w* Xerxes \w was|strong="H1697"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’.   
\c 3  
\s1 Haman planned to kill to the Jews  
\p
\v 1 \w Some|strong="H1697"\w* \w time|strong="H5921"\w* later, \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Xerxes ◄\w promoted|strong="H1431"\w*/\w gave|strong="H7760"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w most|strong="H4428"\w* important job/\w work|strong="H1697"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\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 who|strong="H3605"\w* \w was|strong="H1697"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w descendant|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \add King\add* Agag. \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w became|strong="H1431"\w* \w more|strong="H5921"\w* important \w than|strong="H5921"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w other|strong="H3605"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w*. \add Only the king was more important.\add*  
\v 2 \w Then|strong="H3651"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w commanded|strong="H6680"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w other|strong="H3605"\w* \w officials|strong="H5650"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H4428"\w* \w bow|strong="H7812"\w* \w down|strong="H7812"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* front \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w to|strong="H4428"\w* honor \w him|strong="H6680"\w* \add when he walked by\add*. \w But|strong="H3588"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w refused|strong="H3808"\w* \w to|strong="H4428"\w* \w bow|strong="H7812"\w* \w down|strong="H7812"\w* \w to|strong="H4428"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*.   
\p
\v 3 \w The|strong="H5674"\w* \add other\add* \w officials|strong="H5650"\w* \add saw that, and they\add* asked \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*, “\w Why|strong="H4069"\w* do \w you|strong="H4428"\w* disobey \w what|strong="H4687"\w* \w the|strong="H5674"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w commanded|strong="H4687"\w*?”  
\v 4 \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\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*, \add and that Jews would bow down only to God\add*. \w Day|strong="H3117"\w* \w after|strong="H1961"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* other officials \w spoke|strong="H1697"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w about|strong="H1961"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w*, \w but|strong="H3588"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w still|strong="H5975"\w* \w refused|strong="H3808"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w obey|strong="H8085"\w*. \w So|strong="H1961"\w* \w they|strong="H1992"\w* \w told|strong="H5046"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w about|strong="H1961"\w* \w it|strong="H1931"\w*, \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w see|strong="H7200"\w* \w if|strong="H3588"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w would|strong="H1697"\w* tolerate \w it|strong="H1931"\w*.   
\p
\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* would \w not|strong="H3588"\w* \w bow|strong="H7812"\w* \w down|strong="H7812"\w* \w to|strong="H7200"\w* \w him|strong="H7200"\w*, \w he|strong="H3588"\w* \w became|strong="H7200"\w* extremely \w angry|strong="H2534"\w*.  
\v 6  \add After he found out that Mordecai was a Jew,\add* \w he|strong="H3588"\w* decided \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w it|strong="H3588"\w* \w would|strong="H5971"\w* \w not|strong="H3588"\w* \w be|strong="H3027"\w* \w enough|strong="H3027"\w* \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w get|strong="H3027"\w* \w rid|strong="H7971"\w* \w of|strong="H3027"\w* \w only|strong="H3588"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*. \w He|strong="H3588"\w* decided \w to|strong="H7971"\w* kill \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w in|strong="H3027"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* area \w that|strong="H3588"\w* Xerxes ruled.   
\p
\v 7 \w So|strong="H6440"\w*, \w during|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w twelfth|strong="H8147"\w* \w year|strong="H8141"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* Xerxes \w was|strong="H1931"\w* ruling, \w during|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* April, \add Haman told his advisors to\add* ◄\w cast|strong="H5307"\w* \w lots|strong="H1486"\w*/\w throw|strong="H5307"\w* small marked stones► \w to|strong="H6440"\w* determine \w the|strong="H6440"\w* best \w month|strong="H2320"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* best \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w to|strong="H6440"\w* kill \w the|strong="H6440"\w* Jews. \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*’s advisors \w did|strong="H3117"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* \w was|strong="H1931"\w* selected \w was|strong="H1931"\w* March 7th \add during the following/next year\add*.   
\p
\v 8 \w Then|strong="H6213"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \add went to\add* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \add and\add* said \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \add him\add*, “\add Your majesty,\add* \w there|strong="H3426"\w* \w is|strong="H3426"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* certain group \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* live \w in|strong="H6213"\w* many areas \add of your empire\add* \w whose|strong="H3605"\w* customs \w are|strong="H5971"\w* different \w from|strong="H5971"\w* ours. \w They|strong="H5971"\w* \w even|strong="H6213"\w* refuse \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w obey|strong="H6213"\w* \w your|strong="H3605"\w* \w laws|strong="H1881"\w*. \w So|strong="H6213"\w* \w it|strong="H6213"\w* \w would|strong="H5971"\w* \w be|strong="H3426"\w* good \w for|strong="H6213"\w* \w you|strong="H3605"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w get|strong="H6213"\w* rid \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w them|strong="H6213"\w*.  
\v 9 If \w it|strong="H5921"\w* \w pleases|strong="H2895"\w* \w you|strong="H5921"\w*, \w command|strong="H3027"\w* \w that|strong="H4428"\w* \w they|strong="H5921"\w* \w should|strong="H6213"\w* \w all|strong="H6213"\w* \w be|strong="H3027"\w* killed. \add If you do that,\add* \w I|strong="H5921"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w give|strong="H6213"\w* ◄375 tons/750,000 pounds► \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w your|strong="H5921"\w* administrators \w so|strong="H6213"\w* \w that|strong="H4428"\w* \w you|strong="H5921"\w* \w can|strong="H6213"\w* \w use|strong="H4399"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w your|strong="H5921"\w* government.”   
\p
\v 10 \w The|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* liked \add what Haman said, so, and to confirm what he decided\add*, \w he|strong="H5414"\w* \w gave|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w ring|strong="H2885"\w* \w that|strong="H5414"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w his|strong="H5414"\w* official seal \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*, \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w now|strong="H5414"\w* hated \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*.  
\v 11 \w The|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w told|strong="H6213"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*, “\w Keep|strong="H6213"\w* \w your|strong="H5414"\w* \w money|strong="H3701"\w*, \w but|strong="H4428"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w what|strong="H2896"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* want \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w with|strong="H6213"\w* \w those|strong="H6213"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \add whom you talked about\add*!”   
\p
\v 12-13 On April 17th Haman summoned the king’s secretaries, and he dictated \w a|strong="H3068"\w* letter to them that they \add translated and\add* wrote to all the governors and administrators and other officials in all the provinces. They wrote copies of the letter in every language and every kind of writing/alphabet that was used in the empire. They wrote that all the Jews, \add including\add* young people and old people, women and children, had to be killed on one day. That day was March 7th of the following year. They also wrote that \add those who killed the Jews\add* could take everything that belonged to the Jews. \add They signed\add* the king’s name \add at the end of\add* the letters. Then they sealed the letters \add with wax, and stamped the wax by\add* using the king’s ring. Then they sent the letters swiftly to every province in the empire,   
\p
\v 14 \w The|strong="H3605"\w* king \add also commanded that\add* copies \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w these|strong="H2088"\w* letters \w should|strong="H3117"\w* \w be|strong="H1961"\w* \add nailed up\add* \w where|strong="H2088"\w* \add all the people\add* \w could|strong="H5971"\w* see \w them|strong="H5414"\w*, \w in|strong="H3117"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w province|strong="H4082"\w*, \w so|strong="H1961"\w* \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w would|strong="H5971"\w* \w be|strong="H1961"\w* \w ready|strong="H6264"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w do|strong="H3605"\w* \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* king \w had|strong="H1961"\w* \w set|strong="H5414"\w* \add what was written in the letter\add*.  
\v 15 \w Then|strong="H3318"\w*, according \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* commanded, men \add riding horses\add* \w took|strong="H3318"\w* \w those|strong="H3318"\w* letters \w quickly|strong="H7323"\w* \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w every|strong="H1697"\w* province \add in the empire\add*. \w And|strong="H4428"\w* \w one|strong="H4428"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* letters \w was|strong="H1697"\w* read \add aloud to the people\add* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w capital|strong="H3427"\w* \w city|strong="H5892"\w*, \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w*. \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 and|strong="H4428"\w* \w drank|strong="H8354"\w* \add wine\add*, \w but|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w people|strong="H3427"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w* \w were|strong="H1697"\w* \w very|strong="H7323"\w* perplexed \add about why this was going to happen\add*.   
\c 4  
\s1 Mordecai requested help from Esther  
\p
\v 1 \w When|strong="H3318"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w found|strong="H3045"\w* \w out|strong="H3318"\w* \w about|strong="H6213"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \add letters, he was so anguished that\add* \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* \add rough\add* \w sackcloth|strong="H8242"\w* \w and|strong="H1419"\w* \add threw\add* ashes \w over|strong="H3318"\w* \w himself|strong="H3045"\w*. \w Then|strong="H3318"\w* \w he|strong="H6213"\w* \w went|strong="H3318"\w* \w into|strong="H8432"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w city|strong="H5892"\w*, \w crying|strong="H2199"\w* \w very|strong="H1419"\w* \w loudly|strong="H1419"\w*.  
\v 2 \w He|strong="H3588"\w* \w stood|strong="H4428"\w* outside \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w gate|strong="H8179"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* palace, \w because|strong="H3588"\w* \w no|strong="H6440"\w* \w one|strong="H3588"\w* \w who|strong="H4428"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* wearing \w sackcloth|strong="H8242"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* allowed \w to|strong="H5704"\w* enter \w the|strong="H6440"\w* palace.  
\v 3 \w In|strong="H4428"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w province|strong="H4082"\w* \add of the empire\add*, \w when|strong="H5060"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* letter \w from|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w was|strong="H1697"\w* read \w to|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jewish|strong="H3064"\w* people, \w they|strong="H1697"\w* cried \w and|strong="H4428"\w* mourned. \w They|strong="H1697"\w* ◄fasted/abstained \w from|strong="H1697"\w* eating food►, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* wailed \w loudly|strong="H1419"\w*. \w Many|strong="H7227"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w them|strong="H5060"\w* \w also|strong="H4428"\w* put \w on|strong="H4725"\w* \w sackcloth|strong="H8242"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w threw|strong="H5060"\w* ashes \w on|strong="H4725"\w* themselves \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w lay|strong="H3331"\w* \add on the ground\add*.  
\v 4 \w When|strong="H7971"\w* Esther’s \w maids|strong="H5291"\w* \w and|strong="H7971"\w* other \w officials|strong="H5631"\w* \w came|strong="H3847"\w* \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w her|strong="H7971"\w* \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w told|strong="H5046"\w* \w her|strong="H7971"\w* \w what|strong="H5921"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w had|strong="H4782"\w* done, \w she|strong="H5921"\w* \w was|strong="H3966"\w* \w very|strong="H3966"\w* distressed. \w So|strong="H7971"\w* \w she|strong="H5921"\w* \w sent|strong="H7971"\w* \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \add some good\add* \w clothes|strong="H3847"\w* \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w wear|strong="H3847"\w* \w instead|strong="H3808"\w* \w of|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w sackcloth|strong="H8242"\w*, \w but|strong="H3808"\w* \w he|strong="H3808"\w* \w refused|strong="H3808"\w* \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w take|strong="H5493"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*.  
\v 5 \w Then|strong="H2088"\w* Esther \w summoned|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 officials|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* help \w take|strong="H3045"\w* \w care|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* Esther. \w She|strong="H7121"\w* \w told|strong="H6680"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w go|strong="H4428"\w* \add out and talk\add* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w find|strong="H3045"\w* \w out|strong="H5921"\w* \w what|strong="H4100"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* distressing \w him|strong="H6440"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w why|strong="H4100"\w* \add he was wearing sackcloth to show\add* \w that|strong="H3045"\w* \w he|strong="H5921"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* grieving.  
\v 6 \w Hathach|strong="H2047"\w* \w went|strong="H3318"\w* \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*, \w who|strong="H4428"\w* \w was|strong="H5892"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w plaza|strong="H7339"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w front|strong="H6440"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* palace \w gate|strong="H8179"\w*.  
\v 7 \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w told|strong="H5046"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w* \w everything|strong="H3605"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w happened|strong="H7136"\w*. \w He|strong="H3605"\w* \w told|strong="H5046"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w* how \w much|strong="H3605"\w* \w money|strong="H3701"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* promised \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w give|strong="H5046"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* government if \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* commanded \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w be|strong="H4428"\w* killed.  
\v 8 Mordecai \w also|strong="H4428"\w* \w gave|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* Hathach \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 that|strong="H5971"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w been|strong="H5971"\w* read \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w*, \add in which it was stated\add* \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w all|strong="H7200"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* Jews must \w be|strong="H5414"\w* killed. \w He|strong="H5414"\w* \w told|strong="H5046"\w* Hathach \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w show|strong="H7200"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w copy|strong="H6572"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* Esther. \w He|strong="H5414"\w* \w told|strong="H5046"\w* Hathach \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w explain|strong="H5046"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* Esther \w what|strong="H7200"\w* ◄\w it|strong="H5414"\w* meant/\w would|strong="H5971"\w* happen►. \w Then|strong="H5414"\w* \w he|strong="H5414"\w* \w told|strong="H5046"\w* \w him|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* urge \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 request|strong="H1245"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* act mercifully \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w her|strong="H5414"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w*.  
\v 9 \w So|strong="H1697"\w* \w Hathach|strong="H2047"\w* returned \w to|strong="H1697"\w* Esther \w and|strong="H1697"\w* \w told|strong="H5046"\w* \w her|strong="H5046"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w said|strong="H1697"\w*.  
\v 10 \w Then|strong="H6680"\w* Esther \w told|strong="H6680"\w* \w Hathach|strong="H2047"\w* \w to|strong="H6680"\w* \add return to\add* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \add and\add* tell this \add to him\add*:  
\v 11 “\w There|strong="H2088"\w* \w is|strong="H2088"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w law|strong="H1881"\w* \add about people going to talk to the king\add*. \w All|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w officials|strong="H5650"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* empire \w know|strong="H3045"\w* \w this|strong="H2088"\w* \w law|strong="H1881"\w*. \add In that law it states that\add* \w anyone|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* goes \w to|strong="H4191"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w inner|strong="H6442"\w* \w court|strong="H2691"\w* \w without|strong="H3808"\w* \w having|strong="H3808"\w* \w been|strong="H3808"\w* \w summoned|strong="H7121"\w* \w by|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w must|strong="H4191"\w* \w be|strong="H4191"\w* \w executed|strong="H4191"\w*. \w Only|strong="H3605"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w to|strong="H4191"\w* \w whom|strong="H5971"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w has|strong="H4428"\w* \w extended|strong="H3447"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w scepter|strong="H8275"\w*/staff \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w be|strong="H4191"\w* \w executed|strong="H4191"\w*. \w And|strong="H4428"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* month \w has|strong="H4428"\w* \w passed|strong="H5971"\w* \w since|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w has|strong="H4428"\w* \w summoned|strong="H7121"\w* \w me|strong="H7121"\w*, \add so what will happen to me if I try to see him and he doesn’t want to see me?\add*”  
\v 12 \w So|strong="H1697"\w* Hathach \add went back to\add* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \add and\add* \w told|strong="H5046"\w* \add him\add* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* Esther \w had|strong="H4782"\w* \w said|strong="H1697"\w*.  
\v 13 \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* replied, “\add Go back and\add* \w tell|strong="H3605"\w* \w this|strong="H7725"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* Esther: '\w Do|strong="H3605"\w* \w not|strong="H7725"\w* \w think|strong="H1819"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w just|strong="H3605"\w* \w because|strong="H3605"\w* \w you|strong="H3605"\w* live \w there|strong="H7725"\w* \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w palace|strong="H1004"\w*, \w you|strong="H3605"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w escape|strong="H4422"\w* \w when|strong="H7725"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w other|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \add are killed\add*.  
\v 14 \w If|strong="H3588"\w* \w you|strong="H3588"\w* say \w nothing|strong="H2790"\w* \w now|strong="H3588"\w*, \w someone|strong="H4310"\w* \w from|strong="H3064"\w* \w some|strong="H6256"\w* \w other|strong="H2063"\w* \w place|strong="H4725"\w* \w will|strong="H4310"\w* rescue \add many of\add* \w us|strong="H3045"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*, \w but|strong="H3588"\w* \w you|strong="H3588"\w* \w and|strong="H1004"\w* \w your|strong="H3045"\w* relatives \w will|strong="H4310"\w* \w be|strong="H1004"\w* killed. Furthermore, ◄\w perhaps|strong="H3588"\w* \add God\add*/\w who|strong="H4310"\w* \w knows|strong="H3045"\w* \w if|strong="H3588"\w* \add God\add*► \w has|strong="H4310"\w* put \w you|strong="H3588"\w* \w here|strong="H4725"\w* \add as queen\add* ◄\w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* situation \w like|strong="H1004"\w* \w this|strong="H2063"\w*/\w to|strong="H6256"\w* prevent \w this|strong="H2063"\w* \w from|strong="H3064"\w* happening \w to|strong="H6256"\w* \w us|strong="H3045"\w*►!' ” [RHQ]  
\v 15 \w Then|strong="H7725"\w* \add after Hathach told this to\add* Esther, \add she \add* told \w him|strong="H7725"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w return|strong="H7725"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w and|strong="H7725"\w* \w say|strong="H7725"\w* \w this|strong="H7725"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w him|strong="H7725"\w*:  
\v 16 “\w Gather|strong="H3664"\w* \w together|strong="H3664"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w here|strong="H4672"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w tell|strong="H3605"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H3212"\w* ◄\w fast|strong="H6684"\w*/abstain \w from|strong="H5921"\w* food► \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w my|strong="H3605"\w* \w sake|strong="H5921"\w*. \w Tell|strong="H3605"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H3212"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* eat \w or|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 also|strong="H1571"\w* \w fast|strong="H6684"\w*. \w Then|strong="H3651"\w*, \w I|strong="H3117"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w go|strong="H3212"\w* \w to|strong="H3212"\w* talk \w to|strong="H3212"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*. \w Even|strong="H1571"\w* \w if|strong="H3651"\w* ◄\w I|strong="H3117"\w* am executed/\w they|strong="H3117"\w* execute \w me|strong="H5921"\w*► \w for|strong="H5921"\w* disobeying \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w law|strong="H1881"\w* \add by seeing him when he does not hold out the scepter/staff toward me, I am willing for that to happen”\add*.  
\v 17 \w So|strong="H6213"\w* \add after Hathach told this to Mordecai,\add* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w went|strong="H5674"\w* \w and|strong="H6213"\w* \w did|strong="H6213"\w* \w what|strong="H6213"\w* Esther \w told|strong="H6680"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w*.   
\c 5  
\s1 Esther invited Haman and the king to a banquet  
\p
\v 1 \w Three|strong="H7992"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* \w later|strong="H1961"\w*, Esther \add prepared a big banquet/feast. Then she \add* \w put|strong="H3847"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w robes|strong="H4438"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* showed \w that|strong="H3117"\w* \w she|strong="H5921"\w* \w was|strong="H1961"\w* queen, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w she|strong="H5921"\w* \w went|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w inner|strong="H6442"\w* \w courtyard|strong="H2691"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w palace|strong="H1004"\w*, \w across|strong="H5921"\w* \w from|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w room|strong="H1004"\w* \w where|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w was|strong="H1961"\w*. \w He|strong="H3117"\w* \w was|strong="H1961"\w* \w sitting|strong="H3427"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w throne|strong="H3678"\w*, \w facing|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w entrance|strong="H6607"\w* \add of the room\add*.  
\v 2 \w When|strong="H1961"\w* \w the|strong="H7200"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w saw|strong="H7200"\w* Esther \w standing|strong="H5975"\w* \w there|strong="H1961"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H7200"\w* \w courtyard|strong="H2691"\w*, \w he|strong="H3027"\w* \w extended|strong="H1961"\w* \w the|strong="H7200"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w* \w scepter|strong="H8275"\w*/staff \w toward|strong="H3027"\w* \w her|strong="H5375"\w* \add to signal that he would be glad to talk to her\add*. \w So|strong="H1961"\w* Esther \w came|strong="H1961"\w* \w close|strong="H5060"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w touched|strong="H5060"\w* \w the|strong="H7200"\w* tip \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H7200"\w* \w scepter|strong="H8275"\w*/staff.  
\v 3 \w Then|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w asked|strong="H4100"\w* \w her|strong="H5414"\w*, “Esther, \w what|strong="H4100"\w* \w do|strong="H4100"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* want? Tell \w me|strong="H5414"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w I|strong="H5414"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w give|strong="H5414"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w what|strong="H4100"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* want, \w even|strong="H5704"\w* if \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w ask|strong="H4428"\w* \w me|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w give|strong="H5414"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w half|strong="H2677"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w my|strong="H5414"\w* \w kingdom|strong="H4438"\w*!”  
\v 4 Esther replied, “\add Your majesty,\add* if \w it|strong="H5921"\w* \w pleases|strong="H2895"\w* \w you|strong="H5921"\w*, \w you|strong="H5921"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* come \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 you|strong="H5921"\w*!”  
\v 5 \w The|strong="H6213"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w said|strong="H1697"\w* \add to his servants\add*, “\w Go|strong="H4428"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* tell \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* come \w quickly|strong="H4116"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w banquet|strong="H4960"\w* \w that|strong="H1697"\w* Esther \w has|strong="H4428"\w* \w prepared|strong="H6213"\w* \w for|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w two|strong="H6213"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w us|strong="H6213"\w*!” \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* \w for|strong="H6213"\w* \w them|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, “Tell \w me|strong="H5414"\w* \w what|strong="H4100"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \add really\add* want. \w I|strong="H5414"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w give|strong="H5414"\w* \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w*, \w even|strong="H5704"\w* if \add you ask for\add* \w half|strong="H2677"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w my|strong="H5414"\w* \w kingdom|strong="H4438"\w*.”  
\v 7-8 Esther replied, “\add I will tell you\add* what I want \add most of all. Your majesty\add*, if you are pleased with me, and if you are willing to give me what I am requesting, please come \add again\add* tomorrow to another banquet that I will prepare for the two of you. Then I will tell you \add what I really want”\add*.   
\s1 Haman planned to kill Mordecai  
\p
\v 9 \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w was|strong="H3820"\w* feeling \w very|strong="H2896"\w* \w happy|strong="H8056"\w* \w as|strong="H3117"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w left|strong="H3318"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* banquet. \w But|strong="H3808"\w* \w then|strong="H6965"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w saw|strong="H7200"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* sitting \w at|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w gate|strong="H8179"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* palace. \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w did|strong="H3808"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w stand|strong="H6965"\w* \w up|strong="H6965"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w tremble|strong="H2111"\w* fearfully \w in|strong="H5921"\w* front \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*, \w so|strong="H4480"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w became|strong="H7200"\w* extremely \w angry|strong="H2534"\w*.  
\v 10 However, \w he|strong="H1004"\w* did not show \w that|strong="H1004"\w* \w he|strong="H1004"\w* \w was|strong="H1004"\w* angry; \w he|strong="H1004"\w* \add just\add* \w went|strong="H1004"\w* \w home|strong="H1004"\w*. \w Then|strong="H7971"\w* \w he|strong="H1004"\w* gathered together \w his|strong="H7971"\w* wife \w Zeresh|strong="H2238"\w* \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w his|strong="H7971"\w* friends,  
\v 11 \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w he|strong="H3605"\w* \w boasted|strong="H1431"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w them|strong="H1992"\w* \w about|strong="H5921"\w* \w being|strong="H1121"\w* \w very|strong="H1992"\w* \w rich|strong="H1431"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w about|strong="H5921"\w* \w having|strong="H4428"\w* \w many|strong="H7230"\w* \w children|strong="H1121"\w*. \w He|strong="H3605"\w* \w also|strong="H4428"\w* \w boasted|strong="H1431"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w greatly|strong="H7230"\w* \w honored|strong="H3519"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* ◄\w promoted|strong="H1431"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w*/\w given|strong="H5375"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* second-most important job \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* empire►, \w so|strong="H5375"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \add all\add* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w other|strong="H3605"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w respect|strong="H5375"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w*.  
\v 12 \w Then|strong="H1571"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* added, “\w And|strong="H4428"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w is|strong="H1571"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w all|strong="H6213"\w*! \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* Esther \w invited|strong="H7121"\w* \w just|strong="H6213"\w* \w two|strong="H6213"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w us|strong="H6213"\w*, \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w me|strong="H7121"\w*, \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w banquet|strong="H4960"\w* \w she|strong="H3588"\w* \w prepared|strong="H6213"\w* \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w us|strong="H6213"\w* today. \w And|strong="H4428"\w* \w she|strong="H3588"\w* \w is|strong="H1571"\w* inviting \add only\add* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w two|strong="H6213"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w us|strong="H6213"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w another|strong="H1571"\w* \w banquet|strong="H4960"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w she|strong="H3588"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w prepare|strong="H6213"\w* \w tomorrow|strong="H4279"\w*!”  
\v 13 \w Then|strong="H2088"\w* Haman said, “\w But|strong="H7200"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w things|strong="H3605"\w* ◄mean \w nothing|strong="H3605"\w* \w to|strong="H6256"\w* \w me|strong="H7200"\w*/\w do|strong="H3605"\w* \w not|strong="H2088"\w* \w make|strong="H7200"\w* \w me|strong="H7200"\w* happy► \w while|strong="H2088"\w* \w I|strong="H7200"\w* \w keep|strong="H3427"\w* \w seeing|strong="H7200"\w* \w that|strong="H7200"\w* \w Jew|strong="H3064"\w*, \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*, \add just\add* \w sitting|strong="H3427"\w* \w there|strong="H3427"\w* \w at|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w gate|strong="H8179"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* palace \add and ignoring me\add*!”  
\v 14 \w So|strong="H6213"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*’s wife \w Zeresh|strong="H2238"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* friends \add who were there\add* suggested, “\add Why don’t you quickly\add* \w set|strong="H6213"\w* \w up|strong="H5921"\w* ◄\w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w gallows|strong="H6086"\w*/posts \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w which|strong="H1697"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w hang|strong="H8518"\w* someone►. \w Make|strong="H6213"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w* 75 feet tall. \w Then|strong="H6213"\w* \w tomorrow|strong="H1242"\w* \w morning|strong="H1242"\w* \w ask|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w hang|strong="H8518"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w*. \w After|strong="H5921"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w*, \w you|strong="H6440"\w* \w can|strong="H6213"\w* \w go|strong="H3190"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w banquet|strong="H4960"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w be|strong="H1697"\w* \w cheerful|strong="H3190"\w*.” \w That|strong="H3605"\w* \w idea|strong="H1697"\w* \w pleased|strong="H3190"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \add very much\add*, \w so|strong="H6213"\w* \w he|strong="H6213"\w* \w gave|strong="H6213"\w* \add men\add* \w orders|strong="H1697"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w set|strong="H6213"\w* \w up|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w gallows|strong="H6086"\w*/posts.   
\c 6  
\s1 The king honored Mordecai  
\p
\v 1 \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* \add summoned\add* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* servant \add and \add* \w told|strong="H1697"\w* \add him \add* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w bring|strong="H7121"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w records|strong="H1697"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w had|strong="H1961"\w* \w happened|strong="H1961"\w* \w during|strong="H3117"\w* \w all|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w time|strong="H3117"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w had|strong="H1961"\w* \w been|strong="H1961"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*. \add So the servant brought the records\add* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w read|strong="H7121"\w* \w some|strong="H1697"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w them|strong="H6440"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*.  
\v 2  \add The servant read about\add* Bigthana \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w Teresh|strong="H8657"\w*, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w two|strong="H8147"\w* \w men|strong="H8147"\w* \w who|strong="H8104"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w guarded|strong="H8104"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* entrance \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s rooms. \w He|strong="H3027"\w* read \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w account|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w when|strong="H7971"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w found|strong="H4672"\w* \w out|strong="H7971"\w* \w that|strong="H4428"\w* \w they|strong="H5921"\w* planned \w to|strong="H7971"\w* assassinate \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \add and that he had told the king about it\add*.  
\v 3 \w The|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w asked|strong="H4100"\w* \add some of his servants\add*, “\w What|strong="H4100"\w* \w did|strong="H6213"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* reward \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w or|strong="H3808"\w* \w show|strong="H6213"\w* \w that|strong="H1697"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* appreciate \w what|strong="H4100"\w* \w he|strong="H6213"\w* \w did|strong="H6213"\w*?” \w The|strong="H5921"\w* \w servants|strong="H5288"\w* replied, “\w We|strong="H6213"\w* \w did|strong="H6213"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w anything|strong="H1697"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w*.”  
\v 4 \w At|strong="H5921"\w* \w that|strong="H4428"\w* moment, \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* entered \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w outer|strong="H2435"\w* \w courtyard|strong="H2691"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w palace|strong="H1004"\w*. \w He|strong="H1004"\w* wanted \w to|strong="H5921"\w* talk \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* \add just\add* \w set|strong="H3559"\w* \w up|strong="H5921"\w*. \w The|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \add saw him and\add* said, “\w Who|strong="H4310"\w* \w is|strong="H4310"\w* \add that out there\add* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w courtyard|strong="H2691"\w*?”  
\v 5 \w His|strong="H4428"\w* \w servants|strong="H5288"\w* replied, “\w That|strong="H4428"\w* \w is|strong="H2009"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w standing|strong="H5975"\w* \w there|strong="H2009"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5975"\w* \w courtyard|strong="H2691"\w*.” \w The|strong="H5975"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* said, “Bring \w him|strong="H5975"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \add here\add*!”  
\v 6 \w When|strong="H6213"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w came|strong="H4428"\w* \w in|strong="H6213"\w*, \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w asked|strong="H4100"\w* \w him|strong="H6213"\w*, “\w What|strong="H4100"\w* \w should|strong="H4100"\w* \w I|strong="H4100"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w for|strong="H6213"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w man|strong="H3820"\w* \w whom|strong="H4310"\w* \w I|strong="H4100"\w* \w want|strong="H2654"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w honor|strong="H3366"\w*?” \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w thought|strong="H3820"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w himself|strong="H3820"\w*, “◄\w Whom|strong="H4310"\w* \w would|strong="H4310"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w like|strong="H6213"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w honor|strong="H3366"\w* \w more|strong="H4480"\w* \w than|strong="H4480"\w* \w me|strong="H4480"\w*?/\w I|strong="H4100"\w* \w think|strong="H3820"\w* \w there|strong="H4480"\w* \w is|strong="H3820"\w* \w no|strong="H6213"\w* \w one|strong="H4480"\w* \w whom|strong="H4310"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w would|strong="H4310"\w* \w like|strong="H6213"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w honor|strong="H3366"\w* \w more|strong="H4480"\w* \w than|strong="H4480"\w* \w me|strong="H4480"\w*!►” [RHQ]  
\v 7 So \w he|strong="H4428"\w* replied \w to|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H2001"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*, “If there \w is|strong="H4428"\w* someone \w you|strong="H4428"\w* \w wish|strong="H2654"\w* \w to|strong="H4428"\w* \w honor|strong="H3366"\w*,  
\v 8 \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w should|strong="H4428"\w* \add tell your servants to\add* \w bring|strong="H5414"\w* \w him|strong="H5414"\w* \w one|strong="H4428"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w robes|strong="H3830"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w wear|strong="H3847"\w* \add you to show that you are\add* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*. \w Also|strong="H4428"\w* tell \w them|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w bring|strong="H5414"\w* \w one|strong="H4428"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w horses|strong="H5483"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w have|strong="H5414"\w* \w ridden|strong="H7392"\w*. Tell \w them|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w put|strong="H5414"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* fancy headdress \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w horse|strong="H5483"\w*’s \w head|strong="H7218"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w show|strong="H5414"\w* \w that|strong="H5414"\w* \w it|strong="H5414"\w* belongs \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w*, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*.  
\v 9 \w Then|strong="H6213"\w* tell \w one|strong="H6213"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w your|strong="H5414"\w* \w very|strong="H6213"\w* important \w officials|strong="H8269"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w put|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w robe|strong="H3830"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w man|strong="H6440"\w* \w whom|strong="H6440"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w want|strong="H2654"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w honor|strong="H3366"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* tell \w that|strong="H5414"\w* \w man|strong="H6440"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w sit|strong="H5414"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w horse|strong="H5483"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w then|strong="H6213"\w* \w lead|strong="H7392"\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 streets|strong="H7339"\w*. \w And|strong="H4428"\w* tell \w that|strong="H5414"\w* \w official|strong="H8269"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w keep|strong="H6213"\w* shouting, ‘\w This|strong="H6213"\w* \w is|strong="H3027"\w* \w what|strong="H6213"\w* ◄\w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w does|strong="H6213"\w*/\w is|strong="H3027"\w* \w doing|strong="H6213"\w*► \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w man|strong="H6440"\w* \w whom|strong="H6440"\w* \w he|strong="H6213"\w* wants \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w honor|strong="H3366"\w*!’”  
\v 10 \w The|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w replied|strong="H1696"\w* \w to|strong="H1696"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*, “\add Fine\add*! \w Go|strong="H4428"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w you|strong="H3605"\w* \w said|strong="H1696"\w* \w immediately|strong="H4116"\w*! \w Get|strong="H3947"\w* \w my|strong="H3605"\w* \w robe|strong="H3830"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w my|strong="H3605"\w* \w horse|strong="H5483"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w just|strong="H1697"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w you|strong="H3605"\w* suggested! \w Do|strong="H6213"\w* \w it|strong="H6213"\w* \w for|strong="H6213"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jew|strong="H3064"\w*, \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w is|strong="H1697"\w* \w sitting|strong="H3427"\w* \add outside\add* \w at|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w gate|strong="H8179"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* palace. \w Do|strong="H6213"\w* \w not|strong="H6213"\w* forget \w anything|strong="H3605"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w you|strong="H3605"\w* suggested!”  
\v 11 \w So|strong="H6213"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w did|strong="H6213"\w* \w what|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w said|strong="H7121"\w*. \w He|strong="H6213"\w* \w got|strong="H3947"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w robe|strong="H3830"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w horse|strong="H5483"\w*. \w He|strong="H6213"\w* \w put|strong="H3847"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w robe|strong="H3830"\w* \w on|strong="H3847"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w as|strong="H6213"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w sat|strong="H2001"\w* \w on|strong="H3847"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w horse|strong="H5483"\w*, \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w led|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w horse|strong="H5483"\w* \w through|strong="H5892"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w city|strong="H5892"\w* \w streets|strong="H7339"\w* \w proclaiming|strong="H7121"\w* “\w This|strong="H6213"\w* \w is|strong="H4428"\w* \w what|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* ◄\w does|strong="H6213"\w*/\w is|strong="H4428"\w* \w doing|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* wants \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w honor|strong="H3366"\w*!”  
\v 12 \w Then|strong="H4428"\w*, \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w returned|strong="H7725"\w* \add and sat\add* \w at|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H7725"\w* \w gate|strong="H8179"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H7725"\w* \w palace|strong="H1004"\w*. \w But|strong="H4428"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w hurried|strong="H1765"\w* \w home|strong="H1004"\w*, covering \w his|strong="H7725"\w* face \add because he felt\add* completely disgraced/humiliated.  
\v 13 \w He|strong="H3588"\w* \w told|strong="H5608"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* wife \w Zeresh|strong="H2238"\w* \w and|strong="H6440"\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 that|strong="H3588"\w* day. \w Then|strong="H5307"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* wife \w and|strong="H6440"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* friends said \w to|strong="H3201"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w*, “\w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w man|strong="H2450"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w has|strong="H3588"\w* \w caused|strong="H5307"\w* \w you|strong="H3588"\w* \w to|strong="H3201"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* \w completely|strong="H3605"\w* disgraced/\w humiliated|strong="H6440"\w*, \w is|strong="H3605"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w Jew|strong="H3064"\w*. \add It is clear that the God whom the Jews worship is fighting for them.\add* \w So|strong="H3808"\w* \w you|strong="H3588"\w* \w will|strong="H3808"\w* \w never|strong="H3808"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* \w able|strong="H3201"\w* \w to|strong="H3201"\w* defeat \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*. \w He|strong="H3588"\w* \w will|strong="H3808"\w* defeat \w you|strong="H3588"\w*!”  
\v 14 \w And|strong="H4428"\w* \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*, some \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w officials|strong="H5631"\w* \w arrived|strong="H5060"\w* \w to|strong="H1696"\w* \w take|strong="H6213"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* quickly \w to|strong="H1696"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w banquet|strong="H4960"\w*/\w feast|strong="H4960"\w* \w that|strong="H4428"\w* Esther \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w prepared|strong="H6213"\w*.   
\c 7  
\s1 Haman was executed  
\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* eat \w the|strong="H5973"\w* second \w banquet|strong="H8354"\w*/feast \w that|strong="H4428"\w* \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* Esther \w had|strong="H4428"\w* prepared.  
\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 the|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w asked|strong="H4100"\w* \w again|strong="H8145"\w*, “Esther, \w what|strong="H4100"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* want \w me|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \add for you? Tell me, and\add* \w I|strong="H3117"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w for|strong="H5704"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w*. \w Even|strong="H1571"\w* if \add you ask me for\add* \w half|strong="H2677"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w my|strong="H5414"\w* \w kingdom|strong="H4438"\w*, \w I|strong="H3117"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w give|strong="H5414"\w* \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w*.”  
\v 3 Esther \w replied|strong="H6030"\w*, “\w O|strong="H3068"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*, if \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w are|strong="H5971"\w* \w pleased|strong="H5869"\w* \w with|strong="H5921"\w* \w me|strong="H5414"\w*, \w and|strong="H6030"\w* if \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w are|strong="H5971"\w* willing \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w do|strong="H5869"\w* \add what I ask\add*, \w save|strong="H5315"\w* \w me|strong="H5414"\w*, \w and|strong="H6030"\w* \w save|strong="H5315"\w* \w my|strong="H5414"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w*. \w That|strong="H5971"\w* \w is|strong="H5315"\w* \w what|strong="H5921"\w* \w I|strong="H5414"\w* \w want|strong="H5315"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w do|strong="H5869"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w me|strong="H5414"\w*.  
\v 4  \add It is as though\add* \w I|strong="H3588"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w my|strong="H3588"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \add are cattle that\add* \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* slaughtered. \add It is as though\add* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w have|strong="H5971"\w* \w been|strong="H5971"\w* \w sold|strong="H4376"\w* \w to|strong="H4428"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w who|strong="H5971"\w* want \w to|strong="H4428"\w* \w completely|strong="H8045"\w* \w destroy|strong="H8045"\w* \w us|strong="H3588"\w*. \w If|strong="H3588"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w only|strong="H3588"\w* \w been|strong="H5971"\w* \w sold|strong="H4376"\w* \w to|strong="H4428"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w to|strong="H4428"\w* become \w their|strong="H3588"\w* \w male|strong="H5650"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w female|strong="H8198"\w* \w slaves|strong="H5650"\w*, \w I|strong="H3588"\w* \w would|strong="H5971"\w* \w not|strong="H3588"\w* say anything, \w because|strong="H3588"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w would|strong="H5971"\w* \w have|strong="H5971"\w* \w been|strong="H5971"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* matter too \w small|strong="H6862"\w* \w to|strong="H4428"\w* bother \w you|strong="H3588"\w*, \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*.”  
\v 5 \w Then|strong="H2088"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Xerxes asked \w her|strong="H4390"\w*, “\w Who|strong="H4310"\w* \w would|strong="H4310"\w* want \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w such|strong="H2088"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \add terrible\add* \w thing|strong="H2088"\w*? \w Where|strong="H2088"\w* \w is|strong="H2088"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w*?”  
\v 6 Esther replied, “\add The man who is\add* \w our|strong="H2088"\w* \w enemy|strong="H6862"\w* \w is|strong="H2088"\w* \w this|strong="H2088"\w* \w evil|strong="H7451"\w* \w man|strong="H7451"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*!” \w Then|strong="H2088"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* \w terrified|strong="H1204"\w* \w as|strong="H6440"\w* \w he|strong="H6440"\w* \w stood|strong="H2001"\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* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w queen|strong="H4436"\w*.  
\v 7 \w The|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w became|strong="H7200"\w* extremely \w angry|strong="H2534"\w*. \w He|strong="H3588"\w* \w immediately|strong="H6965"\w* \w left|strong="H5975"\w* \w his|strong="H5921"\w* \w wine|strong="H3196"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w got|strong="H6965"\w* \w up|strong="H6965"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w went|strong="H4428"\w* \w outside|strong="H5921"\w* \w into|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w palace|strong="H1055"\w* \w garden|strong="H1594"\w* \add to decide what to do\add*. \w But|strong="H3588"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w stayed|strong="H5975"\w*, \w in|strong="H5921"\w* order \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w plead|strong="H1245"\w* \w with|strong="H5921"\w* \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* Esther \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w she|strong="H3588"\w* \w would|strong="H5315"\w* spare \w his|strong="H5921"\w* \w life|strong="H5315"\w*.  
\v 8 \w He|strong="H1004"\w* \w threw|strong="H5307"\w* \w himself|strong="H6440"\w* \w down|strong="H5307"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w couch|strong="H4296"\w* \w where|strong="H5921"\w* Esther \w was|strong="H1697"\w* reclining. \w But|strong="H1571"\w* \w at|strong="H5921"\w* \w that|strong="H1697"\w* moment \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 garden|strong="H1594"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w room|strong="H1004"\w* \w where|strong="H5921"\w* \w they|strong="H5921"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* been eating. \add He saw Haman, and assumed he was preparing to rape Esther\add*. \w He|strong="H1004"\w* exclaimed, “\w Are|strong="H1697"\w* \w you|strong="H6440"\w* \w going|strong="H3318"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w rape|strong="H3533"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w queen|strong="H4436"\w* \w while|strong="H5973"\w* \w she|strong="H5921"\w* \w is|strong="H1571"\w* \w here|strong="H3318"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w me|strong="H6440"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w my|strong="H5921"\w* \w own|strong="H5973"\w* \w palace|strong="H1004"\w*?” \w As|strong="H1697"\w* soon \w as|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w said|strong="H1697"\w* \w that|strong="H1697"\w*, \w some|strong="H1697"\w* officials \w covered|strong="H2645"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*’s \w head|strong="H6440"\w*, \add as they did to people who were about to be hanged\add*.  
\v 9 \w Then|strong="H1696"\w* \w Harbona|strong="H2726"\w*, \w one|strong="H4480"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w personal|strong="H6440"\w* \w officials|strong="H5631"\w*, \w said|strong="H1696"\w*, “\add Outside,\add* \w near|strong="H6440"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*’s \w house|strong="H1004"\w*, \w there|strong="H2009"\w* \w is|strong="H1571"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* ◄\w gallows|strong="H6086"\w*/\w set|strong="H5975"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* poles \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w hanging|strong="H8518"\w* someone►. \w It|strong="H5921"\w* \w is|strong="H1571"\w* 75 feet \w high|strong="H1364"\w*. \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w made|strong="H6213"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*, \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w man|strong="H2896"\w* \w who|strong="H4428"\w* spared \w your|strong="H5921"\w* \w life|strong="H4480"\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 it|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 hanging|strong="H8518"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*! \w And|strong="H4428"\w* \w then|strong="H4428"\w* ◄\w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w anger|strong="H2534"\w* cooled \w off|strong="H5921"\w*/\w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* no longer \w so|strong="H5921"\w* \w angry|strong="H2534"\w*►.   
\c 8  
\s1 The king issued a decree to save the Jews  
\p
\v 1  \add Later\add* \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w same|strong="H1931"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w*, \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Xerxes \w declared|strong="H5046"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* everything \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*, \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w enemy|strong="H6887"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*, owned, \w would|strong="H4100"\w* \w now|strong="H3117"\w* belong \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* Esther. Esther \w told|strong="H5046"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w was|strong="H1931"\w* \w her|strong="H5414"\w* cousin. \add When\add* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \add heard that, he sent a message to tell\add* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w to|strong="H5414"\w* come \w in|strong="H1004"\w*.  
\v 2 \w When|strong="H5674"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w came|strong="H5674"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w*, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w took|strong="H5493"\w* \w off|strong="H5493"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w ring|strong="H2885"\w* \w that|strong="H5414"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w his|strong="H5414"\w* official seal \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w it|strong="H5414"\w*, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w ring|strong="H2885"\w* \w that|strong="H5414"\w* \w he|strong="H1004"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \add previously\add* \w given|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w gave|strong="H5414"\w* \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*, \add to indicate that Mordecai was now his most important official\add*. \w And|strong="H4428"\w* Esther \w appointed|strong="H5414"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w be|strong="H5414"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w charge|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* everything \w that|strong="H5414"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* belonged \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*.   
\p
\v 3 Esther \w again|strong="H3254"\w* \add came to\add* \w talk|strong="H1696"\w* \w to|strong="H1696"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*. \w She|strong="H5921"\w* prostrated \w herself|strong="H5921"\w* \w at|strong="H5921"\w* \w his|strong="H6440"\w* \w feet|strong="H7272"\w*, \w crying|strong="H1058"\w*. \w She|strong="H5921"\w* \add wanted to\add* plead \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w* \w to|strong="H1696"\w* stop \w what|strong="H7451"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w planned|strong="H2803"\w*, \w to|strong="H1696"\w* kill \w all|strong="H1058"\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 his|strong="H6440"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w* \w scepter|strong="H8275"\w*/staff \w toward|strong="H6440"\w* Esther, \w so|strong="H6965"\w* Esther \w arose|strong="H6965"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w stood|strong="H5975"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w front|strong="H6440"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w*.  
\v 5 \w She|strong="H5921"\w* \w said|strong="H1697"\w*, “\w Your|strong="H3605"\w* majesty, \w if|strong="H1121"\w* \w you|strong="H6440"\w* \w are|strong="H1121"\w* \w pleased|strong="H5869"\w* \w with|strong="H5921"\w* \w me|strong="H6440"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w if|strong="H1121"\w* \w you|strong="H6440"\w* \w think|strong="H5869"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w* \w is|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w right|strong="H3787"\w* \w thing|strong="H1697"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w do|strong="H5869"\w*, \w make|strong="H7725"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* new law \w to|strong="H7725"\w* cancel \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* \w decreed|strong="H3789"\w*, \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w your|strong="H3605"\w* empire \w should|strong="H4428"\w* \w be|strong="H1697"\w* killed.  
\v 6 \w I|strong="H3588"\w* \w cannot|strong="H3201"\w* bear \w seeing|strong="H7200"\w* \w all|strong="H7200"\w* \w my|strong="H7200"\w* family \w and|strong="H5971"\w* \add all the rest of\add* \w my|strong="H7200"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* killed.”  
\v 7 \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Xerxes replied \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* Esther \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*, “\w Because|strong="H5921"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w* tried \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w get|strong="H3027"\w* \w rid|strong="H7971"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w all|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*, \w I|strong="H5414"\w* \w have|strong="H3027"\w* \w given|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H7971"\w* Esther everything \w that|strong="H5414"\w* belonged \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*, \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w I|strong="H5414"\w* \w have|strong="H3027"\w* \w ordered|strong="H7971"\w* \add my soldiers\add* \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w hang|strong="H8518"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*.  
\v 8 \w So|strong="H7725"\w* \w now|strong="H3588"\w* \w I|strong="H3588"\w* am \w also|strong="H8034"\w* permitting \w you|strong="H3588"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w write|strong="H3789"\w* other letters, \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \add save\add* \w your|strong="H5921"\w* \w people|strong="H5869"\w*. \w You|strong="H3588"\w* \w may|strong="H4428"\w* \w put|strong="H7725"\w* \w my|strong="H5921"\w* \w name|strong="H8034"\w* \add on the letters\add*, \w and|strong="H7725"\w* use \w my|strong="H5921"\w* \w ring|strong="H2885"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w seal|strong="H2856"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w because|strong="H3588"\w* no \w letter|strong="H3791"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w has|strong="H4428"\w* \w my|strong="H5921"\w* \w name|strong="H8034"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w* \w and|strong="H7725"\w* \w which|strong="H3064"\w* \w is|strong="H8034"\w* \w sealed|strong="H2856"\w* \w with|strong="H5921"\w* \w my|strong="H5921"\w* \w ring|strong="H2885"\w* \w can|strong="H5869"\w* \w ever|strong="H7725"\w* \w be|strong="H8034"\w* changed.”  
\v 9 \w Then|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w summoned|strong="H7121"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* secretaries, \w on|strong="H3789"\w* June 25th, \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \add Mordecai told them to\add* \w write|strong="H3789"\w* letters \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w governors|strong="H6346"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w other|strong="H3605"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* 127 \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w*, \w which|strong="H1931"\w* extended \w from|strong="H5704"\w* \w India|strong="H1912"\w* \add in the east\add* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w Ethiopia|strong="H3568"\w* \add in the west\add*. \w They|strong="H5704"\w* \w wrote|strong="H3789"\w* \w these|strong="H7121"\w* letters \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w languages|strong="H3956"\w* \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w each|strong="H3605"\w* area spoke. \w They|strong="H5704"\w* \w also|strong="H4428"\w* \w wrote|strong="H3789"\w* letters \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jewish|strong="H3064"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w*, \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w language|strong="H3956"\w*.  
\v 10-11 They wrote in those letters that the Jews in every city were permitted by the king to gather together to protect themselves. They also were permitted to kill any group of soldiers who attacked them. They were also permitted to kill the women and children of those who attacked them, and to take the possessions of the people whom they killed.  
\v 12  \add All this was to be done\add* \w on|strong="H3117"\w* March 7th \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* following \w year|strong="H3117"\w*. Mordecai signed \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s name \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* letters, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* sealed \w them|strong="H8147"\w* \w with|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* seal \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w was|strong="H1931"\w* \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s ring. \w Then|strong="H4428"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* gave \w them|strong="H8147"\w* \w to|strong="H3117"\w* messengers, \w who|strong="H3605"\w* rode \w on|strong="H3117"\w* fast horses \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w been|strong="H3605"\w* raised especially \w for|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*.  
\v 13 Copies \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w this|strong="H2088"\w* \w law|strong="H1881"\w* \w were|strong="H1961"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w be|strong="H1961"\w* nailed \w to|strong="H1961"\w* posts \w in|strong="H3117"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w province|strong="H4082"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* read \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w*, \w in|strong="H3117"\w* order \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w would|strong="H5971"\w* \w be|strong="H1961"\w* ready \w to|strong="H1961"\w* ◄get \w revenge|strong="H5358"\w* \w on|strong="H3117"\w*/fight \w against|strong="H3605"\w*► \w their|strong="H3605"\w* enemies \w on|strong="H3117"\w* March 7th.  
\v 14 \w The|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* commanded \w the|strong="H5414"\w* men \w who|strong="H4428"\w* \w took|strong="H3318"\w* \w these|strong="H4428"\w* letters \add to all the provinces\add* \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w ride|strong="H7392"\w* \w quickly|strong="H7323"\w* \w on|strong="H7392"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w horses|strong="H7409"\w*. \w And|strong="H4428"\w* copies \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* letter \w were|strong="H1697"\w* \w also|strong="H4428"\w* posted \w and|strong="H4428"\w* read \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* people \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \add the capital city,\add* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w*.  
\v 15 \w Before|strong="H6440"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w left|strong="H3318"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* palace, \w he|strong="H3318"\w* \w put|strong="H3318"\w* \w on|strong="H5892"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w blue|strong="H8504"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w white|strong="H2353"\w* \w robe|strong="H3830"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w large|strong="H1419"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w* \w crown|strong="H5850"\w* \w that|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w given|strong="H8055"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w*. \w He|strong="H3318"\w* \w also|strong="H4428"\w* \w put|strong="H3318"\w* \w on|strong="H5892"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* coat \w made|strong="H8055"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* fine \w purple|strong="H8504"\w* cloth. \w When|strong="H3318"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* people \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w* heard \w the|strong="H6440"\w* new law, \w they|strong="H6440"\w* \w all|strong="H1419"\w* \w shouted|strong="H6670"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* cheered.  
\v 16 \w The|strong="H1961"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w in|strong="H1961"\w* Susa \w were|strong="H1961"\w* very \w happy|strong="H8057"\w*, \w and|strong="H8057"\w* \add other people\add* honored \add them\add*.  
\v 17 \w And|strong="H4428"\w* \w when|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* new \w law|strong="H1881"\w* \w arrived|strong="H5060"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w city|strong="H5892"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w province|strong="H4082"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w there|strong="H3117"\w* celebrated \w and|strong="H4428"\w* prepared \w feasts|strong="H4960"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w were|strong="H5971"\w* \w very|strong="H7227"\w* \w joyful|strong="H8342"\w*. \w And|strong="H4428"\w* \w many|strong="H7227"\w* \w men|strong="H5971"\w* \w throughout|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* empire \add were circumcised and\add* \w became|strong="H1697"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*, \w because|strong="H3588"\w* \w they|strong="H3588"\w* \w were|strong="H5971"\w* \w now|strong="H3117"\w* \w afraid|strong="H6343"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \add what\add* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \add would do to them if they were not Jews\add*.   
\c 9  
\p
\v 1 \w The|strong="H6213"\w* \w first|strong="H3117"\w* \w law|strong="H1881"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* commanded \w was|strong="H1931"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w be|strong="H1697"\w* \w made|strong="H6213"\w* effective \w on|strong="H3117"\w* March 7th. \w On|strong="H3117"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* \w day|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 get|strong="H6213"\w* rid \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w them|strong="H1992"\w*. \w But|strong="H1992"\w* instead, \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* \w same|strong="H1931"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* defeated \w their|strong="H1992"\w* \w enemies|strong="H8130"\w*.  
\v 2 \w Throughout|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* empire, \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 their|strong="H3605"\w* \w cities|strong="H5892"\w* \w to|strong="H7971"\w* attack \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w wanted|strong="H1245"\w* \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w get|strong="H3027"\w* \w rid|strong="H7971"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*. \w No|strong="H3808"\w* \w one|strong="H3605"\w* \w could|strong="H5971"\w* fight \w against|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*, \w because|strong="H3588"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w other|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* areas \w where|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* lived \w were|strong="H5971"\w* \w afraid|strong="H6343"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*, \add so they did not want to help anyone who attacked the Jews\add*.  
\v 3 \w All|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w governors|strong="H6346"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \add other\add* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* important people \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w* \w helped|strong="H5375"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*, \w because|strong="H3588"\w* \w they|strong="H3588"\w* \w were|strong="H8269"\w* \w afraid|strong="H6343"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*.  
\v 4 \w They|strong="H3588"\w* \w were|strong="H1004"\w* afraid \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w him|strong="H3605"\w* \w because|strong="H3588"\w* \w in|strong="H1980"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w* \add they knew that\add* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* \w now|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w most|strong="H4428"\w* \w important|strong="H1419"\w* official, \add with the authority that Haman previously had\add*. \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* \w becoming|strong="H1980"\w* \w more|strong="H1419"\w* \w famous|strong="H8089"\w* \w because|strong="H3588"\w* \add the king was giving him\add* \w more|strong="H1419"\w* \w and|strong="H1980"\w* \w more|strong="H1419"\w* power.  
\v 5  \add On March 7th,\add* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w attacked|strong="H5221"\w* \w and|strong="H2719"\w* \w killed|strong="H5221"\w* \w with|strong="H6213"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w swords|strong="H2719"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w of|strong="H3605"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w enemies|strong="H8130"\w*. \w They|strong="H6213"\w* \w did|strong="H6213"\w* \w whatever|strong="H3605"\w* \w they|strong="H6213"\w* wanted \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w*, \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* people \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w hated|strong="H8130"\w* \w them|strong="H5221"\w*.  
\v 6  \add Just\add* \w in|strong="H1002"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w* alone, \w the|strong="H2026"\w* capital city, they \w killed|strong="H2026"\w* 500 people.  
\v 7 Among those whom they killed were the ten sons of Haman. \add Their names were\add* \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*, Arisai, Aridai, and \w Vaizatha|strong="H2055"\w*.  
\v 10 \w Those|strong="H1121"\w* \w were|strong="H1121"\w* \w grandsons|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hammedatha|strong="H4099"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*, \w the|strong="H7971"\w* \w enemy|strong="H6887"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H7971"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*. \w The|strong="H7971"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w killed|strong="H2026"\w* \w them|strong="H7971"\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 the|strong="H7971"\w* \w things|strong="H3808"\w* \w that|strong="H1121"\w* belonged \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w the|strong="H7971"\w* \w people|strong="H1121"\w* whom \w they|strong="H3808"\w* \w killed|strong="H2026"\w*.  
\v 11  \add At the end of\add* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* someone reported \w to|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w number|strong="H4557"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w people|strong="H1931"\w* \w whom|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* Jews \w killed|strong="H2026"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w*.  
\v 12 \w Then|strong="H6213"\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 killed|strong="H2026"\w* 500 \w people|strong="H1121"\w* here \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w*, \w including|strong="H4428"\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*! \add So I think that\add* \w they|strong="H4100"\w* \w must|strong="H1121"\w* \w have|strong="H1121"\w* \w killed|strong="H2026"\w* \w many|strong="H4100"\w* \w more|strong="H5750"\w* \w people|strong="H1121"\w* \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w rest|strong="H7605"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w my|strong="H5414"\w* empire [RHQ]! \add But okay\add*, \w now|strong="H5414"\w* \w what|strong="H4100"\w* \w else|strong="H5750"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* want \w me|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w for|strong="H6213"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w*. \w You|strong="H5414"\w* tell \w me|strong="H5414"\w*, \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w I|strong="H5414"\w* \w will|strong="H4428"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w it|strong="H5414"\w*.”  
\v 13 Esther replied, “\w If|strong="H1121"\w* \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w pleases|strong="H5921"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w*, \w allow|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w here|strong="H5921"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w again|strong="H1571"\w* \w tomorrow|strong="H4279"\w* \w what|strong="H2896"\w* \add you\add* \w commanded|strong="H1571"\w* \add them\add* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w today|strong="H3117"\w*. \w And|strong="H1121"\w* \w command|strong="H5921"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\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*/poles.”  
\v 14 \w So|strong="H3651"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* commanded \w that|strong="H3651"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* Jews \w be|strong="H1121"\w* \w permitted|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* kill \w more|strong="H3651"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w their|strong="H5414"\w* enemies \w the|strong="H5414"\w* next day. After \w he|strong="H6213"\w* \w issued|strong="H5414"\w* \add another\add* order \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\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 were|strong="H1121"\w* \w hanged|strong="H8518"\w*.  
\v 15 \w On|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3117"\w* \w next|strong="H3027"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w*, \w the|strong="H3117"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w in|strong="H3117"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7800"\w* \w gathered|strong="H6950"\w* \w together|strong="H6950"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w killed|strong="H2026"\w* 300 \w more|strong="H3808"\w* \w people|strong="H3808"\w*. \w But|strong="H3808"\w* \add again,\add* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w did|strong="H3808"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w take|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H3117"\w* \w things|strong="H7969"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* belonged \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w the|strong="H3117"\w* \w people|strong="H3808"\w* whom \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w killed|strong="H2026"\w*.  
\v 16 \w That|strong="H5315"\w* happened \w on|strong="H5921"\w* March 8th. \w On|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* following day, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \add in Susa\add* \w rested|strong="H5118"\w* \w and|strong="H7971"\w* celebrated. \w In|strong="H5921"\w* \w all|strong="H6950"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w other|strong="H7605"\w* \w provinces|strong="H4082"\w*, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w Jewish|strong="H3064"\w* \w people|strong="H5315"\w* \w gathered|strong="H6950"\w* \w together|strong="H6950"\w* \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w defend|strong="H5975"\w* \w themselves|strong="H5315"\w*, \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w they|strong="H3808"\w* \w killed|strong="H2026"\w* 75,000 \w people|strong="H5315"\w* \w who|strong="H5315"\w* \w hated|strong="H8130"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*, \w but|strong="H3808"\w* \add again\add* \w they|strong="H3808"\w* \w did|strong="H3808"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w take|strong="H5975"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w things|strong="H3808"\w* \w that|strong="H5315"\w* belonged \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w people|strong="H5315"\w* whom \w they|strong="H3808"\w* \w killed|strong="H2026"\w*.  
\v 17 \w That|strong="H3117"\w* occurred \w on|strong="H3117"\w* March 7th, \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* following \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w rested|strong="H5117"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w celebrated|strong="H6213"\w*.  
\v 18 \w After|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 together|strong="H6950"\w* \add and killed their enemies\add* \w on|strong="H3117"\w* March 7th \w and|strong="H3117"\w* 8th, \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w rested|strong="H5117"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w celebrated|strong="H6213"\w* \w on|strong="H3117"\w* March 9th.  
\v 19 \w That|strong="H3117"\w* \w is|strong="H3117"\w* \w why|strong="H5921"\w* \add every year\add*, \w on|strong="H5921"\w* March 8th, \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 villages|strong="H6519"\w* \w now|strong="H3117"\w* \w celebrate|strong="H6213"\w* \add defeating their enemies\add*. \w They|strong="H3117"\w* \w have|strong="H3117"\w* \w feasts|strong="H4960"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w give|strong="H6213"\w* \w gifts|strong="H4490"\w* \add of food\add* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w each|strong="H3117"\w* \w other|strong="H7453"\w*.  
\v 20 \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w wrote|strong="H3789"\w* \w down|strong="H3789"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w things|strong="H1697"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w happened|strong="H1697"\w*. \w Then|strong="H7971"\w* \w he|strong="H3605"\w* \w sent|strong="H7971"\w* \w letters|strong="H5612"\w* \w to|strong="H7971"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* lived \w throughout|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* empire \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Xerxes.  
\v 21 \w He|strong="H3117"\w* \w told|strong="H6213"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w year|strong="H8141"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w should|strong="H3117"\w* \w celebrate|strong="H6213"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* 8th \w and|strong="H6965"\w* 9th \w of|strong="H3117"\w* March,  
\v 22 \w because|strong="H3117"\w* \w those|strong="H1992"\w* \w were|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* \w when|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* got \w rid|strong="H5117"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w their|strong="H1992"\w* enemies. \w He|strong="H3117"\w* \w also|strong="H6213"\w* \w told|strong="H6213"\w* \w them|strong="H1992"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* \w they|strong="H1992"\w* \w should|strong="H3117"\w* \w celebrate|strong="H6213"\w* \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \w those|strong="H1992"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* \w by|strong="H3117"\w* \w feasting|strong="H4960"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* giving \w gifts|strong="H4979"\w* \add of food\add* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w each|strong="H3117"\w* \w other|strong="H7453"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* poor people. \w They|strong="H1992"\w* \w would|strong="H6213"\w* remember \w it|strong="H6213"\w* \w as|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w which|strong="H1992"\w* \w they|strong="H1992"\w* \w changed|strong="H2015"\w* \w from|strong="H3117"\w* being \w very|strong="H2896"\w* sorrowful \w to|strong="H6213"\w* being \w very|strong="H2896"\w* \w joyful|strong="H2896"\w*, \w from|strong="H3117"\w* crying \w to|strong="H6213"\w* celebrating.  
\v 23 \w So|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* agreed \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w what|strong="H6213"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w wrote|strong="H3789"\w*. \w They|strong="H6213"\w* agreed \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w celebrate|strong="H6213"\w* \w on|strong="H6213"\w* \w those|strong="H6213"\w* days \add every year\add*.  
\v 24 \w They|strong="H3588"\w* \w would|strong="H3605"\w* remember \w how|strong="H3588"\w* \w Haman|strong="H2001"\w*, \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hammedatha|strong="H4099"\w*, \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w descendant|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \add King\add* Agag, \w became|strong="H2001"\w* \w an|strong="H3588"\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*. \add They would remember\add* \w how|strong="H3588"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w had|strong="H3588"\w* \w made|strong="H3605"\w* \w an|strong="H3588"\w* evil \w plan|strong="H2803"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* kill \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w had|strong="H3588"\w* ◄\w cast|strong="H5307"\w* \w lots|strong="H1486"\w*/thrown \w small|strong="H6887"\w* marked stones► \w to|strong="H5921"\w* choose \w the|strong="H3605"\w* day \w to|strong="H5921"\w* kill [DOU] \w them|strong="H5921"\w*.  
\v 25  \add They would remember\add* \w that|strong="H4428"\w* \w when|strong="H7725"\w* Esther told \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w about|strong="H5921"\w* Haman’s \w plan|strong="H2803"\w*, \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* arranged \w that|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w evil|strong="H7451"\w* \w plan|strong="H2803"\w* \w that|strong="H4428"\w* Haman \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w made|strong="H7725"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* kill \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w would|strong="H4428"\w* fail, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w that|strong="H4428"\w* \w he|strong="H5921"\w* \add would be killed\add* \w instead|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w that|strong="H4428"\w* Haman \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w that|strong="H4428"\w* \w his|strong="H7725"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w* \w were|strong="H1121"\w* \w hanged|strong="H8518"\w*.  
\v 26  \add Because the ◄lot/small marked stone► that Haman threw was called\add* \w Pur|strong="H6332"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* Jews \w called|strong="H7121"\w* \w these|strong="H2063"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* \w Purim|strong="H6332"\w*. \w And|strong="H3117"\w*, \w because|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w everything|strong="H3605"\w* \w that|strong="H7200"\w* ◄\add Mordecai\add* wrote/\w was|strong="H8034"\w* written► \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w that|strong="H7200"\w* letter, \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w because|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w that|strong="H7200"\w* \w happened|strong="H1697"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*,  
\v 27 \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \add throughout the empire\add* agreed \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w celebrate|strong="H6213"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w manner|strong="H3605"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w two|strong="H8147"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w year|strong="H8141"\w*. \w They|strong="H3117"\w* said \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w would|strong="H6213"\w* \w tell|strong="H3605"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w descendants|strong="H2233"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H3808"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w became|strong="H1961"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w be|strong="H1961"\w* certain \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w celebrate|strong="H6213"\w* \w this|strong="H6213"\w* festival \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w year|strong="H8141"\w*. \w They|strong="H3117"\w* \w should|strong="H3117"\w* \w celebrate|strong="H6213"\w* \w just|strong="H3605"\w* \w as|strong="H3117"\w* \add Mordecai\add* \w told|strong="H6213"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \add in the letter\add* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w he|strong="H3117"\w* wrote.  
\v 28 \w They|strong="H3117"\w* said \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w would|strong="H6213"\w* \w remember|strong="H2142"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w celebrate|strong="H6213"\w* \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w two|strong="H6213"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w year|strong="H3117"\w*, \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w each|strong="H3605"\w* \w family|strong="H4940"\w*, \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w city|strong="H5892"\w*, \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w province|strong="H4082"\w*. \w They|strong="H3117"\w* solemnly declared \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w descendants|strong="H2233"\w* \w would|strong="H6213"\w* \w never|strong="H3808"\w* \w stop|strong="H3808"\w* \w remembering|strong="H2142"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* celebrating \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* called \w Purim|strong="H6332"\w*.  
\v 29 \w Then|strong="H6965"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w Queen|strong="H4436"\w* Esther, \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w was|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w daughter|strong="H1323"\w* \w of|strong="H1323"\w* Abihail, \w wrote|strong="H3789"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w second|strong="H8145"\w* letter \w about|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Purim|strong="H6332"\w* feast. Esther \w used|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w authority|strong="H8633"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w she|strong="H2063"\w* \w had|strong="H4782"\w* \w because|strong="H3605"\w* \w of|strong="H1323"\w* being \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w queen|strong="H4436"\w* \w to|strong="H6965"\w* \w confirm|strong="H6965"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w what|strong="H2063"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w* \w had|strong="H4782"\w* \w written|strong="H3789"\w* \w in|strong="H3789"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w first|strong="H1323"\w* letter \w was|strong="H3605"\w* true.  
\v 30-31 What they wrote \add in the second letter\add* was, “We wish that all of you will be living peacefully and safely/righteously. We want you and your descendants to celebrate Purim each year on the days that \w we|strong="H3068"\w* two established, and to do the things that \w we|strong="H3068"\w* two told you to do.” In that letter, Queen Esther and Mordecai also gave them instructions about ◄fasting/abstaining from eating food► and being sorrowful. Then copies of that letter were sent to all the Jews who were living in the 127 provinces of the empire.  
\v 32 \w The|strong="H6965"\w* \w letter|strong="H5612"\w* \w that|strong="H1697"\w* Esther \w wrote|strong="H3789"\w* \w about|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H6965"\w* \w manner|strong="H1697"\w* \w in|strong="H3789"\w* \w which|strong="H1697"\w* \w they|strong="H1697"\w* should celebrate \w the|strong="H6965"\w* \w Purim|strong="H6332"\w* feast \w was|strong="H1697"\w* \w also|strong="H3789"\w* \w written|strong="H3789"\w* \w in|strong="H3789"\w* \w an|strong="H6965"\w* official \w record|strong="H3789"\w*.   
\c 10  
\p
\v 1 \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Xerxes \w required|strong="H7760"\w* \w that|strong="H4428"\w* \w all|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* people \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w his|strong="H7760"\w* empire \w pay|strong="H7760"\w* taxes. \w Even|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* people \w who|strong="H4428"\w* lived \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* islands \add in the Mediterranean Sea\add* (\w OR|strong="H3068"\w*, \w in|strong="H5921"\w* coastal areas) \w were|strong="H4428"\w* \w required|strong="H7760"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w pay|strong="H7760"\w* taxes.  
\v 2 \w And|strong="H4428"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w great|strong="H1431"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* powerful \w things|strong="H1697"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* Xerxes \w did|strong="H3808"\w* \w were|strong="H3117"\w* \w written|strong="H3789"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w scroll|strong="H5612"\w* called/entitled ‘\w The|strong="H3605"\w* \w record|strong="H3789"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w things|strong="H1697"\w* \w done|strong="H4639"\w* \w by|strong="H5921"\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*’. \w In|strong="H5921"\w* \w this|strong="H1697"\w* \w book|strong="H5612"\w* \w were|strong="H3117"\w* \w also|strong="H4428"\w* \w written|strong="H3789"\w* \add the things done\add* \w by|strong="H5921"\w* \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w man|strong="H3605"\w* \w whom|strong="H1992"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w greatly|strong="H4428"\w* honored.  
\v 3 \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*, \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w Jew|strong="H3064"\w*, became \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s \w most|strong="H4428"\w* \w important|strong="H1419"\w* official, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \add all\add* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w* \w also|strong="H4428"\w* considered \w him|strong="H3605"\w* \w to|strong="H1696"\w* \w be|strong="H4428"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w very|strong="H1419"\w* \w great|strong="H1419"\w* \w man|strong="H1419"\w*. \w They|strong="H3588"\w* \add all\add* \w respected|strong="H7230"\w* \w him|strong="H3605"\w*, \w because|strong="H3588"\w* \w he|strong="H3588"\w* \w did|strong="H5971"\w* \w many|strong="H7230"\w* \w good|strong="H2896"\w* \w things|strong="H1419"\w* \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3064"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w he|strong="H3588"\w* \w often|strong="H1696"\w* \w asked|strong="H1875"\w* \add the king\add* \w to|strong="H1696"\w* \w do|strong="H3605"\w* \w good|strong="H2896"\w* \w things|strong="H1419"\w* \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w them|strong="H3588"\w*.