Jerusalem will be built as a city, God’s house for all ages to come. I will be greatly favored when the few remaining from my offspring see your glory and acknowledge the king of heaven! The gates of Jerusalem will be built with sapphire and emerald, and all your walls will be made of precious stone. The towers of Jerusalem will be built with gold, and their fortifications will be made of pure gold.

And the gates of Jerusalem will burst into song with joyful hymns, and all her houses will shout out, “Hallelujah! May the God of Israel be praised, and may those who bless the holy name be blessed forever and always!”

He built towers at the gates one hundred fifty feet high, with foundations that were ninety feet wide.

He made its gates one hundred five feet high and sixty feet wide so that his mighty armies could march out in formation.

Their children were discouraged, and the women and young men fainted from thirst in the city streets, collapsing at the entrance to the gates. They had no strength left.

who placed it in her food bag.

Judith and her servant escape to Bethulia

The two of them went out to pray, as was their habit. They walked through the camp, circled around the valley, went up the hill to Bethulia, and arrived at the city gates.

throughout Artaxerxes’ entire kingdom, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar).

Addition E

Artaxerxes’ second decree

Written below is a copy of the letter: The Great King Artaxerxes writes to the governors in the one hundred twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia, and to those who are loyal to us. Greetings! Many people who are greatly honored, owing to the immense generosity of their benefactors, become overly ambitious. Not only do they seek to harm our subjects, but they even attempt to scheme against their own benefactors since they are unable to manage their pride. Not only do they fail to exhibit gratitude among people, but encouraged by the boasts of people who know nothing of goodness, they even suppose they will escape the judgment of the God who sees all. Often, many people in positions of authority become accessories to the shedding of innocent blood because of the influence of friends they trusted to manage their affairs. They suffer terrible misfortunes as a result of the cruel lies of those who take advantage of the innocent goodwill of rulers. Now this can be seen, not so much from older accounts that we have inherited but from what is right before your eyes. Consider the ungodly things that have been done as a result of the corruption of those not worthy to hold power. But looking to the future, we will make the kingdom peaceful and secure for all people, adopting changes and settling those matters that come to our attention with a fair reply. As for Haman, Hammedatha’s son, a Macedonian, he was not Persian, and was far removed from us in kindness. Yet we warmly welcomed him. He gained the goodwill that we have for every nation to such an extent that he was publicly proclaimed our father. All worshipped him as the person second only to the royal throne. But when he could no longer hold his pride in check, he made it his business to rob us of our leadership and our life. With lies and tricks he called for the destruction of Mordecai, our savior and constant benefactor, and Esther, our innocent partner in the kingdom, together with their whole nation. He thought that, by these methods, he could render us helpless and turn the Persian Empire over to the Macedonians. But we find that the Jews, whom this accursed man wanted to destroy, are not criminals but are governed by just laws. They are children of the most high, most great, living God, who has guided the kingdom on the best course for us and for our ancestors. You would do well, therefore, not to act on the letters sent by Haman, Hammedatha’s son. Haman, who devised these things, has been impaled at the gates of Susa together with his entire household. The God who holds power over all things swiftly passed this fair judgment on him. And you should publish a copy of this letter in every place for all to see, to allow the Jews to live by their own customs, and to assist them so that they can defend themselves against their attackers in the time of distress, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar. God, who rules over all things, has made this a joyous day for his chosen line rather than one of destruction. As for you, celebrate it with feasting as a special holiday among your festivals so that it will be for us, and for all Persians of goodwill, a memorial of deliverance, both now and in the future. But for those who plot against us, it will be a memorial of destruction. Any city or region, without exception, that does not act accordingly will be completely destroyed by fire and spear. This city will be made uninhabitable not only to humans but also to wild animals and birds for all time.

You have power over life and death. You lead people down to the gates of hell, and you bring them back up again.

Therefore, they were struck blind, just like those people who had gathered at the door of one who had also done what was right. A veil of darkness was cast around them, and each one of them groped for the entrance to his own gates.

Nehemiah’s memory is lasting; he who raised our fallen walls, set up gates and bars, and rebuilt our buildings.

She said to her female servants, “Please bring me some olive oil and lotion and lock the gates so I can bathe.”

They did just what she said. They locked the gates to the garden and went through the side doors into the house to fetch the things she had wanted. They didn’t see the elders, since they were hiding.

They said, “Look, the gates are locked, and nobody can see us. We desire you, so do what we want and have sex with us.

One of them ran and opened the gates to the garden.

The elders said, “While we were walking around the large garden by ourselves, this woman came in with two female servants. She locked the gates of the garden and sent away the female servants.

We saw them having sex, but we couldn’t hold on to the man because he was stronger than we were. He opened the gates and ran away.

They found the sanctuary deserted, the altar treated with disrespect, and the gates burned. In the courts, bushes had sprung up like in an open field or on one of the mountains. They saw that the priests’ chambers were in ruins as well.

They decorated the front of the temple with gold crowns and small shields. They restored the gates and the priests’ chambers, furnishing them with doors.

But the townspeople shut them out and blocked up the gates with rocks.

Bacchides builds fortifications

Then Bacchides returned to Jerusalem and built strong cities in Judea: the fortress in Jericho, Emmaus, Beth-horon, Bethel, Timnath, Pharathon, and Tephon, all with high walls and gates and bars.

He camped in front of Joppa. But the people of the city closed its gates because Apollonius had a defense force there. So they fought against it.

And the people of the city became frightened and opened the gates. So Jonathan gained possession of Joppa.

Ptolemy set out for Syria, speaking peaceful words. The people of the towns opened their gates to him. They went to meet him because King Alexander had commanded them to do so, since Ptolemy was his father-in-law.

Simon also built Adida in the western foothills. He secured it and installed gates with bolts.

But when Jonathan entered Ptolemais, the people there closed the gates and captured him, and killed with their swords all those who had entered with him.

But Simon built up the fortresses of Judea and put protection all around them with high towers, great walls, gates, and bolts. In addition, he stored food in the fortresses.

He commanded him to camp against Judea, to secure Kedron and its gates, and to wage war against the people. Then the king went to hunt down Trypho.

With mourning clothes wrapped beneath their breasts, women filled the streets. The virgins, who usually remained indoors, ran together to the gates and some to the walls, while others peeped through their windows.

While celebrating victory in their homeland, they burned alive those who had set on fire the sacred gates, including Callisthenes, who had fled into a small house, so that he received the just reward for his sin.

As this destruction occurred, others also went up after them against those inside, set the towers on fire, stoked the flames, and burned the offenders alive. When others tore down the gates, letting in the rest of the army, they took the city.

They cried out with a very loud voice, pleading with the Lord of all power to have mercy on them by intervening, since they now stood at the gates of death.

Then the most glorious, almighty, and true God showed forth his holy face and opened the heavenly gates. Two glorified angels of frightful appearance descended, visible to all except the Jews.

Your glory passed through the four gates of fire, earthquake, wind, and ice so that you would give the Law to Jacob’s descendants, the rules to be observed to Israel’s offspring.