Esther 9:2-4

Expanded Bible

² The Jews ·met [assembled] in their cities in all the ·empire [^Lprovinces] of King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] in order to ·attack [strike; ^Llay hands on] those who wanted to ·harm [destroy] them. No one ·was strong enough to fight [^Lcould stand] against them, because ·all the other people living in the empire were afraid of them [^Ldread 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 [^Lgreat] in the king’s ·palace [^Lhouse]. He was famous in all the ·empire [^Lprovinces], because he was becoming ·a leader of more and more people [more and more powerful/influential].