When the king’s order and his new law became public, many young women were gathered into the city of Susa under the care of Hegai. Esther was also taken to Hegai, the one in charge of the women.

“Go, gather all the Jews who are in Susa and tell them to fast from eating for my sake. They aren’t to eat or drink anything for three whole days, and I myself will do the same, along with my female servants. Then, even though it’s against the law, I will go to the king, even if it means my death.”

Mordecai was second only to King Artaxerxes, and he was a great man in the kingdom. He was held in honor by all the Jews and loved by his whole nation for his conduct.

Addition F

Mordecai interprets his dream

Mordecai said, “These things came from God. I remember the dream that I had about these things. Not one aspect of it failed to come true. There was the little spring that became a great river, and there were light and the sun and an abundance of water. The river is Esther, whom the king married and made queen. The two dragons are Haman and myself. The nations are those who gathered to wipe out the very name of the Jews. “As for my nation Israel, it cried out to God and was saved. The Lord saved his people, and the Lord delivered us from all these evils. God has done signs and great wonders that have not happened among the nations. For this reason God made two lots, one to represent God’s people and one to represent the nations. These two lots came before God for the hour and season and day of decision in the presence of all the nations. God remembered his people and affirmed the just cause of his inheritance. “The fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar will be observed among God’s people Israel with a gathering, with joy and feasting in the presence of God, from generation to generation forever.” In the fourth year of the rule of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, Dositheus, who affirmed that he was a priest and Levite, and his son Ptolemy brought the preceding letter concerning Purim. They verified its genuineness. Lysimachus, Ptolemy’s son, a resident of Jerusalem, translated the letter.