以斯帖記 9
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
猶太人的反擊
9 十二月，即亞達月十三日，是執行王諭旨的日子。那天，猶太人的仇敵原本想轄制他們，卻反而被他們轄制。 2 猶太人在亞哈隨魯王的各省各城聚集起來，攻擊那些要害他們的人，無人能抵擋他們，因為各族都懼怕他們。 3 各省的官員、總督、省長和為王辦事的人因懼怕末底改，就都幫助猶太人。 4 因為末底改已是王宮要員，他的名聲傳遍各省，權勢日盛。 5 猶太人用刀擊殺所有敵人，任意消滅恨他們的人。 6 猶太人單在書珊城就殺了五百人。 7 他們還殺了巴珊大他、達分、亞斯帕他、 8 坡拉他、亞大利雅、亞利大他、 9 帕瑪斯他、亞利賽、亞利代和瓦耶撒他。 10 這十人是猶太人的仇敵哈曼的兒子、哈米大他的孫子。但猶太人沒有動他們的財物。
11 當天，王獲悉在書珊城被殺的人數， 12 便對以斯帖王后說：「猶太人在書珊城殺了五百人，還殺了哈曼的十個兒子，在其餘各省就更不知怎樣了！現在你要什麼？必賜給你。你還有何要求？必為你成就。」 13 以斯帖回答說：「王若願意，就請恩准書珊城的猶太人明天仍執行今天的諭旨，並把哈曼十個兒子的屍體吊在木架上。」 14 王允准了，便在書珊城頒佈諭旨，哈曼十個兒子的屍體便被吊了起來。 15 亞達月十四日，書珊城的猶太人再次聚集起來，在城中殺了三百人，但沒有動他們的財物。
16 王其他各省的猶太人也都聚集起來自衛，得以脫離仇敵。他們殺了七萬五千個仇敵，但沒有動他們的財物。 17 這事發生在亞達月十三日。十四日，猶太人休息，並以此日為設宴歡慶的日子。 18 但書珊城的猶太人在十三、十四日聚集殺敵，十五日才休息，並以此日為設宴歡慶的日子。 19 因此，住在鄉村的猶太人都以亞達月十四日為設宴歡慶的節日，並互贈禮物。
普珥節
20 末底改把這些事記錄下來，寫信給亞哈隨魯王國內遠近各省的猶太人， 21 吩咐他們每年在亞達月十四、十五日守節期， 22 設宴歡慶，互贈禮物，賙濟窮人，以紀念猶太人在此月此日得以脫離仇敵，化憂為樂，轉悲為喜。
23 猶太人接受了末底改寫給他們的信，同意每年慶祝這個節日。 24 因為猶太人的仇敵亞甲人哈米大他的兒子哈曼曾經陰謀毀滅猶太人，曾經抽普珥，即抽籤，要殺戮、滅絕他們。 25 但王知道這陰謀後，便降旨使哈曼謀害猶太人的惡計落到他自己頭上，將他及其眾子吊在木架上。 26 他們借用普珥這個詞，稱這兩天為普珥節。猶太人因這信上的一切話，又因所看見、所經歷的事， 27 就為自己、自己的後代和歸屬他們的人定下規矩：每年必按時守這兩天為節日，永不廢棄。 28 各省各城、家家戶戶、世世代代都要紀念、遵守這節日，使猶太人永不中斷過普珥節，他們的後代也不可忘記。
29 亞比孩的女兒以斯帖王后和猶太人末底改以全權寫第二封信，囑咐猶太人守這普珥節， 30 用和善、真誠的話寫信給亞哈隨魯王國一百二十七省的所有猶太人， 31 囑咐他們照猶太人末底改和以斯帖王后的指示，按他們為自己及其後代所規定的，按時守普珥節，禁食哀哭。 32 以斯帖的命令確定了普珥節，這命令被記載下來。
Esther 9
Expanded Bible
Victory for the Jews
9 The ·order [edict; decree] the king had commanded was to be ·done [executed; carried out] on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month [C March 7], the month of Adar. That was the day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to ·defeat [overpower] them, but ·that was changed [the opposite happened]. So the Jews themselves ·defeated [overpowered] ·those who hated them [their enemies]. 2 The Jews ·met [assembled] in their cities in all the ·empire [L provinces] of King ·Xerxes [L Ahasuerus] in order to ·attack [strike; L lay hands on] those who wanted to ·harm [destroy] them. No one ·was strong enough to fight [L could stand] against them, because ·all the other people living in the empire were afraid of them [L dread of them fell on all the peoples]. 3 All the ·important men [nobles] of the ·states [provinces], the governors, ·captains of the soldiers [high officials], and the king’s officers helped the Jews, because they were afraid of Mordecai. 4 Mordecai was ·very important [L great] in the king’s ·palace [L house]. He was famous in all the ·empire [L provinces], because he was becoming ·a leader of more and more people [more and more powerful/influential].
5 And, with their swords, the Jews ·defeated [L struck] all their enemies, ·killing [slaughtering] and destroying them. And they did ·what they wanted [as they pleased] with those people who hated them. 6 In the ·palace [citadel; fortress; 1:2] at Susa, they ·killed [slaughtered] and destroyed five hundred men. 7 They also killed: Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha, 10 the ten sons of Haman, son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. But the Jews did not ·take [plunder; confiscate] their ·belongings [property; C this shows they attacked out of self-defense, not for material gain; 8:11; Gen. 14:23].
11 On that day the number killed in the ·palace [citadel; fortress; 1:2] at Susa was reported to the king. 12 The king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have ·killed [slaughtered] and destroyed five hundred people in the ·palace [citadel; fortress; 1:2] at Susa, as well as Haman’s ten sons. What then have they done in the rest of the king’s ·empire [provinces]! Now what ·else are you asking [L is your petition]? I will do it! What ·else [more] do you want? It will be ·done [granted]!”
13 Esther answered, “If it pleases the king, give the Jews who are in Susa permission to do again tomorrow what the king ·ordered [decreed] for today. And let the bodies of Haman’s ten sons be ·hanged [impaled] on the ·platform [gallows; pole].”
14 So the king ·ordered [decreed] that it be done. A ·law [edict; decree] was given in Susa, and the bodies of the ten sons of Haman were ·hanged [impaled]. 15 The Jews in Susa ·came together [assembled] on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar [C March 8]. They ·killed [slaughtered] three hundred people in Susa, but they did not ·take [plunder; confiscate] their ·belongings [property; 9:10].
16 At that same time, all the Jews in the king’s ·empire [L provinces] also ·met [assembled] to ·protect themselves [defend their lives] and get rid of their enemies. They ·killed [slaughtered] seventy-five thousand of those who hated them, but they did not ·take [plunder; confiscate] their ·belongings [property; 9:10]. 17 This happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar [C March 7]. On the fourteenth day they rested and made it a day of joyful ·feasting [banqueting].
The Feast of Purim
18 But the Jews in Susa ·met [assembled] on the thirteenth and fourteenth days of the month of Adar [C and killed their enemies]. Then they rested on the fifteenth day and made it a day of joyful feasting [banqueting].
19 This is why the Jews who live in the country and small villages celebrate on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar [C March 8]. It is a ·day [holiday] of joyful ·feasting [banqueting] and a day for exchanging ·gifts [gifts of food].
20 Mordecai ·wrote down [recorded] everything that had happened. Then he sent ·letters [dispatches; scrolls] to all the Jews in all the ·empire [provinces] of King ·Xerxes [L Ahasuerus], far and near. 21 He ·told [called on] them to celebrate every year on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar, 22 because that was when the Jews got rid of their enemies [C a descendant of Saul (2:5–6) had overcome an Amalekite and descendant of King Agag (3:1), thus completing God’s mandate (Deut. 23:3–6) that Saul failed to accomplish (1 Sam. 15)]. They were also to celebrate it as the month their ·sadness [sorrow] was turned to ·joy [gladness] and their ·crying for the dead [mourning] was turned into ·celebration [a holiday]. He told them to celebrate those days as days of joyful ·feasting [banqueting] and as a time for giving [presents of] food to each other and ·presents [gifts] to the poor [C Purim thus became an annual festival still celebrated by the Jewish people today].
23 So the Jews agreed to do what Mordecai had written to them, and ·they agreed to hold the celebration every year [L to continue what they had begun]. 24 Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, was the enemy of all the Jews. He had ·made [devised] an evil ·plan [plot] against the Jews to destroy them, and he had thrown the Pur (that is, the lot [C dice-like objects]) to choose a day to ·ruin [crush; afflict] and destroy them. 25 But when the king learned of the evil ·plan [plot], he sent out written ·orders [edicts; decrees] that the evil ·plans [plot] Haman had made against the Jews would ·be used against him [L fall/return on his own head]. And those ·orders [edicts; decrees] said that Haman and his sons should be ·hanged [impaled] on the ·platform [gallows; pole]. 26 So these days were called Purim, which comes from the word “Pur” (the lot [C dice-like objects]). Because of everything written in this ·letter [dispatch] and what they had seen and what happened to them, 27 the Jews set up this ·custom [tradition]. They and their descendants and all those who join them are ·always [L without fail] to ·celebrate [observe; keep] these two days every year. They should do it ·in the right way [L as it is written] and at the time Mordecai had ·ordered [decreed]. 28 These two days should be remembered and ·celebrated [observed; kept] ·from now on [L through every generation] in every family, in every ·state [province], and in every city. These days of Purim should ·always [L not fail to] be ·celebrated [observed; kept] ·by [among] the Jews, and their memory never fade among their descendants.
29 So Queen Esther daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second ·letter [dispatch] about Purim. 30 And Mordecai sent ·letters [dispatches; scrolls] to all the Jews in the one hundred twenty-seven ·states [provinces] of the kingdom of ·Xerxes [L Ahasuerus], writing them ·a message [L words] of peace and ·truth [or security; assurance]. 31 He wrote to ·set up [establish] these days of Purim at the ·chosen [proper; appointed] times. Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had sent out the ·order [edict; decree] for the Jews, just as they had ·set up [established] for themselves and their descendants instruction concerning fasting and ·loud weeping [lamentations]. 32 Esther’s ·letter [command] ·set up [established] the rules for Purim, and they were written down in the records.
Esther 9
Easy-to-Read Version
Victory for the Jews
9 On the 13th day of the twelfth month (Adar), the people were supposed to obey the king’s command. This was the day the enemies of the Jews hoped to defeat them, but now things had changed. The Jews were stronger than their enemies who hated them. 2 The Jews met together in their cities in all the provinces of King Xerxes so that they would be strong enough to attack the people who wanted to destroy them. No one was strong enough to stand against them. They were afraid of the Jews. 3 And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and the king’s administrators helped the Jews. All the leaders helped them because they were afraid of Mordecai. 4 Mordecai had become a very important man in the king’s palace. Everyone in the provinces knew his name and knew how important he was. And Mordecai became more and more powerful.
5 The Jews defeated all their enemies. They used swords to kill and destroy them. They did what they wanted to the people who hated them. 6 They killed and destroyed 500 men in the capital city of Susa. 7 They also killed these men: Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha. 10 These men were the ten sons of Haman. Haman son of Hammedatha was the enemy of the Jews. The Jews killed all the men, but they didn’t take anything that belonged to them.
11 That day the king heard how many men had been killed in the capital city of Susa. 12 So the king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed 500 men in Susa, including Haman’s ten sons. Now, what do you want done in the other provinces of the king? Tell me, and I will have it done. Ask, and I will do it.”
13 Esther said, “If it pleases the king, please let the Jews in Susa do the same thing again tomorrow. Also, hang the bodies of Haman’s ten sons on posts.”
14 So the king gave the command that it should be done. So the law was given in Susa, and they hanged Haman’s ten sons. 15 The Jews in Susa met together on the 14th day of the month of Adar. They killed 300 men in Susa, but they didn’t take the things that belonged to them.
16 At the same time, the Jews living in the other provinces also met together. They met together so that they would be strong enough to protect themselves. And so they got rid of their enemies. They killed 75,000 of their enemies. But the Jews didn’t take anything that belonged to them. 17 This happened on the 13th day of the month Adar. On the 14th day the Jews rested and made that day a happy day of feasting.
The Festival of Purim
18 The Jews in Susa had met together on the 13th and 14th days of the month of Adar. And then on the 15th day they rested. So they made the 15th day a happy day of feasting. 19 So those who live in the country and small villages celebrate Purim on the 14th day of Adar. They keep the 14th day as a happy day of feasting. On this day they have parties and give presents to each other.
20 Mordecai wrote everything down that had happened, and then he sent letters to all the Jews in all of King Xerxes’ provinces. He sent letters far and near. 21 He did this to tell the Jews to celebrate Purim every year on the 14th and 15th days of the month of Adar. 22 They were to celebrate those days because on those days the Jews got rid of their enemies. And they were also to celebrate that month as the month when their sadness was turned into joy. It was a month when their crying was changed into a day of celebration. Mordecai wrote letters to all the Jews and told them to celebrate those days as a happy day of feasting. They should have parties, give gifts to each other, and give presents to the poor.
23 So the Jews agreed to do what Mordecai had written to them. And they agreed to continue the celebration they had begun.
24 Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite was the enemy of all the Jews. He had made an evil plan against the Jews to destroy them. And Haman had thrown the lot to choose a day to ruin and to destroy the Jews. At that time the lot was called a “pur.” 25 Haman did this, but Esther went to talk to the king. So he sent out new commands. These commands not only ruined Haman’s plans, but these commands caused those bad things to happen to Haman and his family! So Haman and his sons were hanged on the posts.
26-27 At this time lots were called “purim.” So this festival is called “Purim.” Mordecai wrote a letter and told the Jews to celebrate this festival. And so the Jews started the custom of celebrating these two days every year. 28 They do this to help them remember what they had seen happen to them. The Jews and all the people who join them celebrate these two days every year at the right time in just the right way. Every generation and every family remembers these two days. They celebrate this festival in each and every province and in each and every town. And the Jews will never stop celebrating the days of Purim. Their descendants will always remember this festival.
29 So Queen Esther daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote an official letter about Purim. They wrote with full authority of the king to prove that the second letter was true. 30 So Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of King Xerxes’ kingdom. He told the people that the festival should bring peace and make people trust[a] each other. 31 He wrote these letters to tell the people to start celebrating Purim. And he told them when to celebrate this new festival. Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had sent out the command for the Jews to establish this two-day festival for themselves and their descendants. They will remember this festival just as they remember the other festivals when they fast and cry about the bad things that had happened. 32 Esther’s letter made the rules for Purim official, and these things were written down in a book.
Footnotes
- Esther 9:30 peace … trust Or “fellowship and truth.” Zech. 8:19 teaches that this is how people should celebrate the festivals and why God gave them.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International