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The Victory of the Jews

So on March 7[a] the two decrees of the king were put into effect. On that day, the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but quite the opposite happened. It was the Jews who overpowered their enemies.

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Footnotes

  1. 9:1 Hebrew on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This day was March 7, 473 B.c.; also see note on 2:16.

On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar,(A) the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand(B) over those who hated them.(C)

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12 The day chosen for this event throughout all the provinces of King Xerxes was March 7 of the next year.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 8:12 Hebrew the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. The date selected was March 7, 473 B.c.; also see note on 2:16.

12 The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar.(A)

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13 Dispatches were sent by swift messengers into all the provinces of the empire, giving the order that all Jews—young and old, including women and children—must be killed, slaughtered, and annihilated on a single day. This was scheduled to happen on March 7 of the next year.[a] The property of the Jews would be given to those who killed them.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:13 Hebrew on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. The date selected was March 7, 473 B.c.; also see note on 2:16.

13 Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews(A)—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar,(B) and to plunder(C) their goods.

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18 The nations were filled with wrath,
    but now the time of your wrath has come.
It is time to judge the dead
    and reward your servants the prophets,
    as well as your holy people,
and all who fear your name,
    from the least to the greatest.
It is time to destroy
    all who have caused destruction on the earth.”

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18 The nations were angry,(A)
    and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,(B)
    and for rewarding your servants the prophets(C)
and your people who revere your name,
    both great and small(D)
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

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11 Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders[a] had planned to do to me!”

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Footnotes

  1. 12:11 Or the Jewish people.

11 Then Peter came to himself(A) and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me(B) from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

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14 The descendants of your tormentors
    will come and bow before you.
Those who despised you
    will kiss your feet.
They will call you the City of the Lord,
    and Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

15 “Though you were once despised and hated,
    with no one traveling through you,
I will make you beautiful forever,
    a joy to all generations.
16 Powerful kings and mighty nations
    will satisfy your every need,
as though you were a child
    nursing at the breast of a queen.
You will know at last that I, the Lord,
    am your Savior and your Redeemer,
    the Mighty One of Israel.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 60:16 Hebrew of Jacob. See note on 14:1.

14 The children of your oppressors(A) will come bowing before you;
    all who despise you will bow down(B) at your feet
and will call you the City(C) of the Lord,
    Zion(D) of the Holy One(E) of Israel.

15 “Although you have been forsaken(F) and hated,
    with no one traveling(G) through,
I will make you the everlasting pride(H)
    and the joy(I) of all generations.
16 You will drink the milk of nations
    and be nursed(J) at royal breasts.
Then you will know(K) that I, the Lord, am your Savior,(L)
    your Redeemer,(M) the Mighty One of Jacob.(N)

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A Taunt for Babylon’s King

14 But the Lord will have mercy on the descendants of Jacob. He will choose Israel as his special people once again. He will bring them back to settle once again in their own land. And people from many different nations will come and join them there and unite with the people of Israel.[a] The nations of the world will help the people of Israel to return, and those who come to live in the Lord’s land will serve them. Those who captured Israel will themselves be captured, and Israel will rule over its enemies.

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Footnotes

  1. 14:1 Hebrew the house of Jacob. The names “Jacob” and “Israel” are often interchanged throughout the Old Testament, referring sometimes to the individual patriarch and sometimes to the nation.

14 The Lord will have compassion(A) on Jacob;
    once again he will choose(B) Israel
    and will settle them in their own land.(C)
Foreigners(D) will join them
    and unite with the descendants of Jacob.
Nations will take them
    and bring(E) them to their own place.
And Israel will take possession of the nations(F)
    and make them male and female servants in the Lord’s land.
They will make captives(G) of their captors
    and rule over their oppressors.(H)

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11 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
    You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,

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11 You turned my wailing(A) into dancing;(B)
    you removed my sackcloth(C) and clothed me with joy,(D)

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17 This was done throughout the provinces on March 7, and on March 8 they rested,[a] celebrating their victory with a day of feasting and gladness.

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Footnotes

  1. 9:17 Hebrew on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested. These days were March 7 and 8, 473 B.c.; also see note on 2:16.

17 This happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting(A) and joy.

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So in the month of April,[a] during the twelfth year of King Xerxes’ reign, lots were cast in Haman’s presence (the lots were called purim) to determine the best day and month to take action. And the day selected was March 7, nearly a year later.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 3:7a Hebrew in the first month, the month of Nisan. This month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred within the months of April and May 474 B.c.; also see note on 2:16.
  2. 3:7b As in 3:13, which reads the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar; Hebrew reads in the twelfth month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. The date selected was March 7, 473 B.c.; also see note on 2:16.

In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur(A) (that is, the lot(B)) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on[a] the twelfth month, the month of Adar.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Esther 3:7 Septuagint; Hebrew does not have And the lot fell on.

41 You placed my foot on their necks.
    I have destroyed all who hated me.

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41 You made my enemies turn their backs(A) in flight,
    and I destroyed my foes.

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36 “Indeed, the Lord will give justice to his people,
    and he will change his mind about[a] his servants,
when he sees their strength is gone
    and no one is left, slave or free.

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Footnotes

  1. 32:36 Or will take revenge for.

36 The Lord will vindicate his people(A)
    and relent(B) concerning his servants(C)
when he sees their strength is gone
    and no one is left, slave(D) or free.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 32:36 Or and they are without a ruler or leader