Esther 9:1-17
Legacy Standard Bible
The Jews Strike Down 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 word and law had reached the point for them to be done, on the day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain power over them, it was turned around so that the Jews themselves gained power over those who hated them. 2 (D)The Jews assembled in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to send forth their hand against those who sought their calamity; and no one could stand before them, (E)for the dread of them had fallen on all the peoples. 3 Even all the princes of the provinces, (F)the satraps, the governors, and those who were doing the king’s work [b]advanced the Jews, because the dread of Mordecai had fallen on them. 4 Indeed, Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and the report about him went throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai (G)became greater and greater. 5 Thus (H)the Jews struck all their enemies with [c]the sword, killing and causing them to perish; and they did what they pleased to those who hated them. 6 And at the citadel in Susa the Jews killed and caused to perish 500 men, 7 and Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha, 10 (I)the 10 sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jews’ adversary; but (J)they did not send forth their hand for the plunder.
11 On that day the number of those who were killed at the citadel in Susa came to the king. 12 So the king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed and caused to perish 500 men and the 10 sons of Haman at the citadel in Susa. Now in the rest of the king’s provinces, what have they done? (K)So what is [d]your petition? It shall even be given to you. And what is [e]your further request? It shall also be done.” 13 Then Esther said, “If it is good to the king, (L)let tomorrow also be given to the Jews who are in Susa to do according to the law for today; and let Haman’s 10 sons be hanged on the gallows.” 14 So the king said that it should be done so; and a law was given in Susa, and Haman’s 10 sons were hanged. 15 And the Jews who were in Susa assembled also on the fourteenth day of the month Adar and killed (M)300 men in Susa, but (N)they did not send forth their hand for the plunder.
16 Now (O)the rest of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces (P)assembled, to make a stand for their lives and obtain rest for themselves from their enemies, and to kill 75,000 of those who hated them; but they did not send forth their hand for the plunder. 17 This was done on (Q)the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and (R)on the fourteenth [f]day they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Esther 9:1 Lit day in it
- Esther 9:3 Lit lifted up
- Esther 9:5 Lit stroke of sword
- Esther 9:12 Or that which you are asking for
- Esther 9:12 Or that which you further seek, cf. 9:2
- Esther 9:17 Lit in it
Esther 9:1-17
Revised Standard Version
Destruction of the Enemies of the Jews
9 Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s command and edict were about to be executed, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to get the mastery over them, but which had been changed to a day when the Jews should get the mastery over their foes, 2 the Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasu-e′rus to lay hands on such as sought their hurt. And no one could make a stand against them, for the fear of them had fallen upon all peoples. 3 All the princes of the provinces and the satraps and the governors and the royal officials also helped the Jews, for the fear of Mor′decai had fallen upon them. 4 For Mor′decai was great in the king’s house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for the man Mor′decai grew more and more powerful. 5 So the Jews smote all their enemies with the sword, slaughtering, and destroying them, and did as they pleased to those who hated them. 6 In Susa the capital itself the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men, 7 and also slew Parshan-da′tha and Dalphon and Aspa′tha 8 and Pora′tha and Ada′lia and Arida′tha 9 and Parmash′ta and Ar′isai and Ar′idai and Vaiza′tha, 10 the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammeda′tha, the enemy of the Jews; but they laid no hand on the plunder.
11 That very day the number of those slain in Susa the capital was reported to the king. 12 And the king said to Queen Esther, “In Susa the capital the Jews have slain five hundred men and also the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces! Now what is your petition? It shall be granted you. And what further is your request? It shall be fulfilled.” 13 And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the Jews who are in Susa be allowed tomorrow also to do according to this day’s edict. And let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows.” 14 So the king commanded this to be done; a decree was issued in Susa, and the ten sons of Haman were hanged. 15 The Jews who were in Susa gathered also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and they slew three hundred men in Susa; but they laid no hands on the plunder.
The Feast of Purim Inaugurated
16 Now the other Jews who were in the king’s provinces also gathered to defend their lives, and got relief from their enemies, and slew seventy-five thousand of those who hated them; but they laid no hands on the plunder. 17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested and made that a day of feasting and gladness.
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