Esther 9:1-17
Lexham English Bible
The Jews Destroy Their Enemies
9 In the twelfth month, that is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, on which the edict of the king arrived and his law was enacted, on the day in which the enemies of the Jews had hoped to gain power over them but was overturned, and the Jews gained power against their enemies, 2 the Jews gathered in their cities in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to strike against[a] those who sought their destruction, and no one could withstand them,[b] as the fear of them fell on all the people. 3 All the officials of the provinces, the satraps, governors, and those who did the work of the king[c] were supporting the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them. 4 For Mordecai was high-ranking in the king’s palace[d] and his fame spread throughout all the provinces as Mordecai grew more and more powerful.[e] 5 The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword,[f] killing and destroying them; and they did as they pleased with those that hated them. 6 And in the citadel of Susa the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men, 7 and Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 8 Portha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha, 10 the ten sons of Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews; but they did not touch[g] the plunder.
11 On that day the number of those being killed in the citadel of Susa was reported to[h] the king. 12 And the king said to Queen Esther, “In the citadel of Susa the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? What is your petition? It will be granted to you. And what further is your request? It will be done.” 13 Esther replied, “If it is good to the king, let tomorrow also be granted to the Jews who are in Susa to do according to the edict of today; and let them hang Haman’s ten sons on the gallows.” 14 And the king said to do so. And a decree was issued in Susa and Haman’s ten sons were hanged. 15 And the Jews were gathered who were in Susa, and on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and they killed in Susa three hundred men, but they did not touch[i] the plunder.
16 The rest of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces gathered and defended their lives[j] and found repose[k] from their enemies. And they killed seventy-five thousand of those that hated them, but they did not touch[l] the plunder. 17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. They rested on the fourteenth day and made it a day of feasting and joy.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Esther 9:2 Literally “to send a hand against”
- Esther 9:2 Or “stand in their presence”
- Esther 9:3 Literally “the doers of the work who were for the king”
- Esther 9:4 Literally “house of the king”
- Esther 9:4 Literally “the man Mordecai was going and becoming great”
- Esther 9:5 Literally “the striking of the sword”
- Esther 9:10 Literally “send their hand to”
- Esther 9:11 Literally “came before”
- Esther 9:15 Literally “send their hand to”
- Esther 9:16 Literally “to stand for their lives”
- Esther 9:16 Literally “rested”
- Esther 9:16 Literally “send their hand to”
Esther 9:1-17
English Standard Version
The Jews Destroy Their Enemies
9 (A)Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, (B)on the thirteenth day of the same, (C)when the king's command and edict were about to be carried out, (D)on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them. 2 (E)The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could stand against them, (F)for the fear of them had fallen on all peoples. 3 All the officials of the provinces and (G)the satraps and the governors and the royal agents also helped the Jews, for the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them. 4 For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces, for the man Mordecai grew (H)more and more powerful. 5 The Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and did as they pleased to those who hated them. 6 In Susa the citadel itself the Jews killed and destroyed 500 men, 7 and also killed Parshandatha and Dalphon and Aspatha 8 and Poratha and Adalia and Aridatha 9 and Parmashta and Arisai and Aridai and Vaizatha, 10 (I)the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, (J)the enemy of the Jews, (K)but they laid no hand on the plunder.
11 That very day the number of those killed in Susa the citadel was reported to the king. 12 And the king said to Queen Esther, “In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed 500 men and also the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces! (L)Now what is your wish? 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 (M)tomorrow also to do according to this day's edict. And let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows.”[a] 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 killed 300 men in Susa, but they laid no hands on the plunder.
16 (N)Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king's provinces also (O)gathered to defend their lives, and got relief from their enemies and killed 75,000 of those who hated them, but they laid no hands on the plunder. 17 This was (P)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.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Esther 9:13 Or wooden beam; also verse 25 (see note on 2:23)
2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
