Esther 9

New American Standard Bible

The Jews Destroy Their Enemies

9 Now ^(A)in the twelfth month (that is, the month Adar), on ^(B)the thirteenth ^[a]day, ^(C)when the king’s command and edict were to be put into effect, on the day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, it turned out to the contrary so that the Jews themselves gained mastery over those who hated them. ²^(D)The Jews assembled in their cities throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus to ^[b]attack those who sought ^[c]to harm them; and no one could stand against them, ^(E)because the dread of them had fallen on all the peoples. ³Even all the officials of the provinces, ^(F)the satraps, the governors, and those who were doing the king’s business were supporting the Jews, because the dread of Mordecai had fallen on them. ⁴For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and the news about him spread throughout the provinces; for the man Mordecai ^(G)became greater and greater. ⁵So ^(H)the Jews struck all their enemies with ^[d]the sword, killing and destroying; and they did as they pleased to those who hated them. ⁶At the citadel in Susa the Jews killed and eliminated five hundred men, ⁷and they killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, ⁸Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, ⁹Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha, ¹⁰^(I)the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jews’ enemy; but ^(J)they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

¹¹On that day the number of those who were killed at the citadel in Susa ^[e]was reported to the king. ¹²And the king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed and eliminated five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman at the citadel in Susa. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces! ^(K)Now what is your request? It shall also be granted you. And what is your further wish? It shall also be done.” ¹³Then Esther said, “If it pleases the king, ^(L)let tomorrow also be granted to the Jews who are in Susa to do according to the edict of today; and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the wooden gallows.” ¹⁴So the king commanded that it was to be done so; and an edict was issued in Susa, and Haman’s ten sons were hanged. ¹⁵The Jews who were in Susa assembled also on the fourteenth day of the month Adar and killed ^(M)three hundred men in Susa, but ^(N)they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

¹⁶Now ^(O)the rest of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces ^(P)assembled, to defend their lives and ^[f]rid themselves of their enemies, and to kill seventy-five thousand of those who hated them; but they did not lay their hands on the plunder. ¹⁷This was done on ^(Q)the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and ^(R)on the fourteenth ^[g]day they rested and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing.

¹⁸But the Jews who were in Susa ^(S)assembled on the thirteenth and ^(T)the fourteenth ^[h]of the same month, and they rested on the fifteenth ^[i]day and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing. ¹⁹Therefore the Jews of the rural areas, who live in ^(U)the rural towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a ^[j]^(V)holiday for rejoicing and feasting and ^(W)sending portions of food to one another.

The Feast of Purim Instituted

²⁰Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, ²¹obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day ^[k]of the same month, annually, ²²because on those days the Jews ^[l]rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was ^(X)turned for them from grief into joy, and from mourning into a ^[m]holiday; that they were to make them days of feasting and rejoicing, and ^(Y)sending portions of food to one another, and gifts to the poor.

²³So the Jews undertook what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them. ²⁴For Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the adversary of all the Jews, had schemed against the Jews to eliminate them, and ^(Z)had cast Pur, that is the lot, to disturb them and eliminate them. ²⁵But ^(AA)when it came ^[n]to the king’s attention, he commanded by letter ^(AB)that his wicked scheme which he had devised against the Jews ^(AC)was to return on his own head, and that he and his sons were to be hanged on the wooden gallows. ²⁶Therefore they called these days Purim after the name of ^[o]Pur. ^[p]And ^(AD)because of the instructions in this letter, both what they had seen in this regard and what had happened to them, ²⁷the Jews established and ^[q]made a custom for themselves, their ^[r]descendants, and for ^(AE)all those who allied themselves with them, so that ^[s]they would not fail ^(AF)to celebrate these two days according to their ^[t]regulation and according to their appointed time annually. ²⁸So these days were to be remembered and celebrated throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and these days of Purim were not to ^[u]be neglected by the Jews, or their memory ^[v]fade from their ^[w]descendants.

²⁹Then Queen Esther, ^(AG)daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm ^(AH)this second letter about Purim. ³⁰He sent letters to all the Jews, ^(AI)to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, namely, words of peace and truth, ³¹to establish these days of Purim at their appointed times, just as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had established for them, and just as they had established for themselves and for their ^[x]descendants, with ^[y]instructions ^(AJ)for their times of fasting and their mourning. ³²The command of Esther established these ^[z]customs for ^(AK)Purim, and it was written in the book.

Footnotes

Esther 9:1 Lit day in it
Esther 9:2 Lit put out a hand against
Esther 9:2 Lit their harm
Esther 9:5 Lit the stroke of the
Esther 9:11 Lit came before
Esther 9:16 Lit have rest from
Esther 9:17 Lit in it
Esther 9:18 Lit in it
Esther 9:18 Lit in it
Esther 9:19 Lit rejoicing and feasting and a good day and sending
Esther 9:21 Lit in it
Esther 9:22 Lit had rest from
Esther 9:22 Lit good day
Esther 9:25 Lit before the king, he
Esther 9:26 Akkadian for lot
Esther 9:26 Lit Therefore because of all the words
Esther 9:27 Lit received
Esther 9:27 Lit seed
Esther 9:27 Lit it would not pass away
Esther 9:27 Lit writing
Esther 9:28 Lit pass from the midst of
Esther 9:28 Lit end
Esther 9:28 Lit seed
Esther 9:31 Lit seed
Esther 9:31 Lit words
Esther 9:32 Lit words

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

The Voice

9 The new law and orders of King Ahasuerus took effect on the 13th day of the 12th month (the month of Adar). It was on this day that those who were enemies of the Jews had planned to overtake them, but that was not the way it happened. Instead, the Jews got the upper hand over those who conspired against them. ²On that day, the Jews gathered together in their respective cities in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to fight those who sought their destruction. No army or nation could stand against them, because they were all frightened of the Jews. ³The nobles and governors of the provinces and also the king’s officials did what they could to help the Jews, but that was because they feared what Mordecai might do to them. ⁴In King Ahasuerus’ palace, Mordecai grew more powerful. Word spread quickly throughout the provinces about Mordecai’s authority and influence. ⁵The Jews took this opportunity to attack their enemies with swords, killing them. And then they did whatever they deemed reasonable with those who despised them. ⁶Just in the city of Susa, the capital of the empire, the Jews killed 500 men. ^7-10That didn’t include the 10 sons of Haman (son of Hammedatha, enemy of the Jews): Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha. They were also put to death. All of them were considered enemies of the Jews. But they did not touch the assets of their victims. ¹¹When the day was over, the number of those killed in his capital, Susa, was reported to King Ahasuerus. ¹²Then the king spoke to Queen Esther.

King Ahasuerus: The Jews have killed 500 men in the capital of Susa alone, and also the 10 sons of Haman. How many must they have killed in the other provinces? Now, do you want anything more? Whatever you ask will be given to you. So, tell me; what further do you need? I will grant whatever that is.

Queen Esther: ¹³If it pleases the king, allow the Jews in Susa one more day to exact justice on their enemies according to your decree. And let Haman’s 10 sons be displayed on the pole.

¹⁴The king honored Queen Esther’s wishes. An order was issued in the city of Susa, and the dead bodies of the 10 sons of Haman were displayed. ¹⁵So on the 14th day of the month of Adar, the Jews killed 300 men in Susa. But they didn’t touch any of their assets.

¹⁶In the meantime, the Jews who lived outside Susa in the king’s provinces also gathered together to defend themselves and find freedom from their enemies. In total, the rural Jews killed 75,000 of their enemies, but they didn’t touch any of their assets. ¹⁷All of this took place in the provinces on the 13th day of the month of Adar, and on the 14th day the Jews rested and celebrated with food and drink.

According to custom and Persian law, the Jews have every right to seize the assets of those they kill in this battle. But it is important to note that they do not. The reason for this odd behavior may well lie in history: Hundreds of years earlier, Saul and the Israelites defeated King Agag (the ancestor of Haman) and helped themselves to the plunder, violating God’s clear directive. That violation brought them irreparable harm. So now, when they have the opportunity, the Jews leave the Agagites’ assets alone. Obedience deferred is still obedience.

¹⁸Since the Jews in Susa had gathered together to defend themselves on the 13th and 14th days of the month of Adar, they rested on the 15th and celebrated with food and drink. ¹⁹(This explains why the Jews who live in rural areas and villages continue to celebrate on the 14th day of Adar with food and drinks and send gifts to one another.)

²⁰Mordecai kept a detailed journal of all these events, and he corresponded often with all of the Jews from every corner of King Ahasuerus’ kingdom, regardless of its distance from Susa. ²¹He reminded them to remember and celebrate the 14th and 15th days of Adar every year (based on the day of each group) ²²and to celebrate as faithfully as they did on the days in which the Jews were granted relief from their enemies. He wanted them to savor the month of Adar as a time when their sadness turned into gladness and their mourning into celebration. He encouraged them to celebrate with food and drink, to send gifts, and to offer help to the poor. ²³The Jews in every part of the kingdom took Mordecai’s advice and celebrated on the 14th and 15th days of the month of Adar, making it an annual custom.

²⁴In short, Haman (son of Hammedatha, the Agagite), the enemy of all Jews everywhere, had schemed against the Jews to destroy them. He did so by casting the lot (also known as the “pur”).^[a] That was the beginning of the plan to annihilate them and bring about their ruin. ²⁵But King Ahasuerus learned about his evil plot and wrote an order that Haman should receive the very punishment that he himself wanted the Jewish people to suffer. So the king directed that Haman and all ten of his sons be killed and displayed on the pole. ²⁶So this is why they call these days of feasting “Purim,” from the word “pur,” which means “lot.” It is also because Mordecai’s correspondence had instructed Jews across the empire to remember what they had seen and what had happened to them. ²⁷So, the Jews made it their custom that every family, and every descendant, and every future convert would observe these two days each year in the way that Mordecai asked. ²⁸(This explains why these days were remembered and celebrated by all Jews in all places, and at all times; the days of Purim would never be forgotten and their celebration would never stop.)

²⁹Queen Esther (daughter of Abihail) utilized her full authority as queen to affirm a second letter by Mordecai the Jew regarding Purim. ³⁰So Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of King Ahasuerus’ kingdom. His letter included encouraging words of peace and truth; ³¹and it was his hope to establish these days of Purim permanently on the calendar as days of mourning and fasting for future generations as it was for themselves. ³²Esther’s authority affirmed the tradition of Purim and it was written down in the official records.