Beginning

Esther Chosen as Queen

Chapter 1

A Great Banquet.^{[a] 1} This took place in the days of Ahasuerus, the king who ruled over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia.^{[b] 2} At that time, King Ahasuerus was reigning from the royal throne of the citadel of Susa, ³ and in the third year of his reign, he threw a great banquet for all his nobles and officials. The military commanders of Persia and Media were present, and so were the princes and the nobles of the provinces.

⁴ For a full one hundred and eighty days the king showcased the wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty. ⁵ When these days were over, he threw a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of his palace, for all the people, from the least to the greatest, who lived in the citadel of Susa.

⁶ The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were on the pavement, which was of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones. ⁷ Wine was served in golden goblets, each different from one another, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king’s beneficence. ⁸ By the order of the king, there were no limits on the drinks. For he instructed all the wine stewards to give everyone whatever was requested.

Queen Vashti Deposed. ⁹ Meanwhile, in the king’s royal palace, Queen Vashti^[c] was giving a banquet for the women.

¹⁰ On the seventh day, when King Ahasuerus was merry with wine, he summoned the seven eunuchs who were his personal servants—Mehuman, Biztha, Har-bona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas. ¹¹ He ordered them to bring the queen into his presence, wearing the royal crown, so he could show her off to the officials and all his guests, for she was lovely to look at. ¹² But Queen Vashti refused to come at the official command issued through the eunuchs. This embarrassed the king and made him furious.

¹³ Since it was his custom to consult experts in matters of law and justice, the king consulted with the wise men who understood the laws. ¹⁴ He summoned Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven Persian and Median officials who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom.

¹⁵ The king asked, “What does the law say must be done about Queen Vashti, who disobeyed the command of King Ahasuerus issued through the eunuchs?”

¹⁶ It was Memucan, then, who replied in the presence of the king and the nobles: “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also all the nobles and peoples throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus. ¹⁷ For this behavior of the queen will become known to all the women, and they will disrespect their husbands and say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded that Queen Vashti enter his presence, but she refused to come.’ ¹⁸ So this very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have learned about the queen’s behavior will react against the king’s nobles in like manner, resulting in no end of rancor and discord.

¹⁹ “Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree inscribed in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed,^[d] to the effect that Vashti is nevermore to enter the presence of King Ahasuerus and that her position be given to someone more worthy than she is. ²⁰ Then when the edict is published throughout his vast domain, all the women will respect their husbands, from the greatest to the least.”

²¹ The king and his nobles found this advice very acceptable, so the king acted upon Memucan’s words. ²² He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom—to every province in its own script and to each people in its own language—proclaiming in each people’s tongue that every man should be the master of his own house.^[e]

Chapter 2

Esther Is Made Queen. ¹ After a time, the anger of King Ahasuerus abated, and he began to think of what Vashti had done and what he had decreed about her. ² At this point, the king’s personal attendants suggested, “Let a search be made to find beautiful young virgins for the king. ³ Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his kingdom to bring all those beautiful young virgins into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed in the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch who is in charge of the women, and let them receive beauty treatments. ⁴ Then let the girl who pleases the king become queen in place of Vashti.” This advice pleased the king, and he acted upon it.

⁵ Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai, son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish. ⁶ He had been carted off into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jeconiah, king of Judah. ⁷ Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah,^[f] whom he had brought up because she had lost her father and mother. She was also known as Esther and was a beautiful young woman. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter after her father and mother had died.

⁸ When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and placed in the care of Hegai. Esther, too, was brought to the royal palace in the care of Hegai, who was in charge of the harem. ⁹ She pleased him and won his favor. So Hegai lost no time in furnishing her with cosmetics and provisions and in assigning her seven maids from the king’s palace while transferring her and the maids into the best place in the harem.

¹⁰ Now on the counsel of Mordecai, Esther did not mention her nationality or family to anyone. ¹¹ And every day Mordecai walked back and forth in front of the courtyard of the harem, seeking to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her.

¹² Before each girl’s turn came when she could visit King Ahasuerus, she must have completed twelve months of prescribed beauty treatments: six months with oil of myrrh and another six with perfume and cosmetics. ¹³ When the girl went to visit the king, she received whatever she requested to take with her from the harem to the king’s royal palace. ¹⁴ She would go there in the evening and in the morning would come back to another part of the harem, which was in the care of Shaazgaz, who was in charge of the concubines. She would not visit the king again unless he summoned her by name.

¹⁵ As for Esther, daughter of Abihail and adopted daughter of Mordecai, when it came time for her turn to visit the king, she asked nothing more than what the royal eunuch Hegai, who was in charge of the harem, suggested. Nevertheless, she won the admiration of all who saw her. ¹⁶ So, in the seventh year of his reign, in the tenth month, Tebeth,^[g] Esther was brought to King Ahasuerus in the royal palace.

¹⁷ The king loved Esther more than any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti. ¹⁸ Then the king gave a great banquet for all his nobles and administrators to honor Esther. He proclaimed a holiday^[h] throughout the provinces and gave gifts with royal liberality.

¹⁹ [Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy.^[i] To resume: When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, ²⁰ and Esther had still not revealed her family or nationality just as Mordecai had instructed her. For she was still following his advice as she had done when he was bringing her up.

²¹ During the time Mordecai spent at the king’s gate,^[j] Bagathan and Thares, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, became angry and plotted to kill King Ahasuerus. ²² However, Mordecai became aware of the plot and told Queen Esther about it, and she informed the king for Mordecai. ²³ When the matter was investigated and proved to be true, both men were hanged on a gibbet. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the king’s presence.]

Haman’s Plot To Destroy the Jews

Chapter 3

Mordecai Refuses To Honor Haman.^{[k] 1} Sometime later, King Ahasuerus honored Haman, son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, giving him a higher rank and seating him above all his royal nobles. ² All the royal officials who were at the king’s gate would kneel down and render homage to Haman, for that is what the king had ordered to be done toward him. But Mordecai refused to kneel and bow down to him.

³ The other officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you fail to obey the king’s command?” ⁴ Day after day they spoke to him about this, but he did not listen to them. So they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s explanation was acceptable, for he had informed them that he was a Jew.

⁵ When Haman realized that Mordecai was not going to kneel down or pay him homage, he became enraged. ⁶ Moreover, he decided that it would not be enough to kill only Mordecai; having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he sought to destroy all the Jews—Mordecai’s people—in the kingdom of Ahasuerus.

Edict against the Jews.^{[l] 7} In the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, in the first month, Nisan, they cast the pur,^[m] (that is, the lot) in the presence of Haman. And the lot fell on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar.

⁸ Then Haman said to Ahasuerus, “There is a certain race of people scattered among the nations all over your empire who keep themselves separate. They observe customs that are not like those of any other people. Moreover, they do not obey the king’s laws, and it is not in the king’s best interests to tolerate them. ⁹ If it pleases the king, issue a decree to put them all to death, and I will deposit ten thousand talents into the royal treasury for those who bring it to pass.”

¹⁰ Therefore, the king removed the signet ring^[n] from his finger and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. ¹¹ The king told him, “Keep the money, and do whatever you want with this race of people.”

¹² So on the thirteenth day of the first month, the royal secretaries were summoned, and at the dictation of Haman they wrote out—in the script of each province and in the language of each people^[o]—an order to the king’s satraps, the governors of every province, and the nobles of the various peoples. This order was written in the name of King Ahasuerus himself and sealed with the royal signet ring. ¹³ This order was sent by couriers^[p] to all the provinces to the effect that all Jews, young and old, including women and children, should be put to death, destroyed, wiped out in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar, and their goods seized as spoil.

Chapter B

A Copy of the Edict.^[q]1 This is the copy of the edict:

“King Ahasuerus the Great writes the following to the governors of the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces extending from India to Ethiopia and to their subordinate officials:² Having been established as the ruler of many nations and master of the entire world, it has always been my policy never to be overwhelmed with the arrogance of power but always to rule with fairness and kindness, so as to ensure for my subjects a life of tranquillity in this kingdom, with the assurance of safe passage for everyone within its borders and the restoration of the peace desired by all.

³ “When I sought the counsel of my advisors as to how this goal might be achieved, Haman, whose sound judgment, unfailing devotion, and steadfast loyalty have enabled him to achieve a rank second only to mine in the kingdom, spoke up.⁴ He informed us that, mingled among all the races of the world, there is one hostile people whose laws are opposed to those of all other nations and who continually act in defiance of royal ordinances, so that the unification of the empire that we envision cannot be accomplished.

⁵ “In the realization that this people stands uniquely alone in its continual hostility to all other nations, observes laws that are at complete variance with ours, and commits the most grievous of crimes, thereby undermining the stability of our government,⁶ we hereby decree that all the persons designated to you in the letters written by Haman, who was appointed to safeguard our interests and who is a second father to us, shall, with their wives and children, be totally destroyed by the swords of their enemies, without any sign of mercy or pardon, on the fourteenth day^[r] of the twelfth month, Adar, of the present year.⁷ In this way, when these people, whose treacherous opposition to us has been of long duration, have descended into the netherworld by a violent death in a single day, our kingdom will once again enjoy perpetual stability and peace.”

(Chapter 3)

¹⁴ A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so that they might be ready for that day. ¹⁵ The couriers went quickly by order of the king, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to feast, but the city of Susa was perplexed.

Chapter 4

Mordecai Persuades Esther To Help. ¹ When Mordecai heard all that was going on, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went through the city wailing loudly and sorrowfully. ² But he came to a halt at the entrance to the king’s gate because no one wearing sackcloth was allowed to go in. ³ (Similarly, in every province to which the king’s edict and order reached, the Jews went into great mourning, with fasting, mourning, and weeping. Many put on sackcloth and ashes.)

⁴ When Queen Esther’s maids and eunuchs went to her and told her about Mordecai, she became deeply troubled. She sent clothes for him to wear in place of the sackcloth, but he refused to do so. ⁵ Esther then called Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs who had been assigned to her service, and ordered him to find out what this action of Mordecai meant and why it was being done.

⁶ So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the public square in front of the king’s gate. ⁷ Mordecai told him everything that had happened as well as the exact amount of silver that Haman had promised to put in the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews.

^8 [s]“Remember the days of your lowly estate,” Mordecai had Hathach say, “when you were brought up in my charge; for Haman, who stands next to the king, has asked for our death.⁹ Invoke the Lord and speak to the king on our behalf; save us from death.”

⁸ Mordecai also gave him a copy of the edict that had been published in Susa, for the annihilation of the Jews, to show and explain to Esther. Hathach was to urge her to go into the king’s presence to plead for mercy and intercede with him for her people.

⁹ Hathach went back to Esther and told her what Mordecai had said. ¹⁰ Then she gave him a message for Mordecai: ¹¹ “All the servants of the king and the people of the royal provinces are aware that any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner palace without being summoned suffers automatic death. The sole exception to this rule is if the king extends to such a person the golden scepter, which spares his life. Yet as for me, I have not been summoned by the king for thirty days.”

¹² When Esther’s words reached Mordecai, ¹³ he sent back this reply: “Do not imagine that because you are in the king’s palace you alone of all the Jews will escape. ¹⁴ Even if you remain silent now, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place;^[t] but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows? Perhaps it was for just such a time as this that you obtained the royal dignity.”

¹⁵ Then Esther sent back this reply to Mordecai: ¹⁶ “Go, and assemble all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same thing. After that, I will go to the king—against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”

¹⁷ Then Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

Chapter C

The Prayer of Mordecai.^1 [u]Calling to mind everything that the Lord had done, Mordecai prayed to him in these words:

² “O Lord God, King and ruler of all things, the entire universe is subject to your power, and no one can thwart you in your intention to save Israel.³ You made heaven and earth and every wonderful thing under the firmament.⁴ You are Lord of all, and there is no one, O Lord, who can resist you.⁵ Since you know all things, O Lord, you realize that it was not because of insolence or pride or a desire for glory that I so acted in refusing to bow down to this haughty Haman.⁶ To ensure the salvation of Israel, I would gladly have kissed the soles of his feet.⁷ But I acted in this way so as not to place human glory above the glory of God. I will not bow down to anyone but you, my Lord, and I will not act in this way out of pride.

⁸ “Now, Lord, my God and King, O God of Abraham, spare your people, for our enemies are determined to exterminate us and to destroy the inheritance that has been yours from times of old.⁹ Do not forsake your people whom you redeemed and brought out of Egypt for yourself.¹⁰ Hear my prayer and have mercy on your heritage. Turn our sorrow into joy so that we may live to sing praise to your name, O Lord. Do not silence the lips of those who praise you.”

¹¹ And all the Israelites also cried aloud with all their strength, since death was before their eyes.

The Prayer of Esther.¹² Queen Esther, too, was seized with great anguish and sought recourse from the Lord.¹³ Removing her splendid robes, she put on garments of sadness and mourning. Instead of rich perfumes, she covered her head with dirt and ashes. She greatly mortified her body, and every part that she used to adorn elegantly, she now covered with her disheveled hair.

¹⁴ Then Esther prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, and said: “O my Lord, you alone are our King. Come to my assistance, for I am alone and have no one to help me but you.¹⁵ My life is in great danger.¹⁶ From my earliest days I was taught by my family that you, O Lord, chose Israel out of all the nations and our fathers from among all their forebearers, as an everlasting heritage, and that you have fulfilled all the promises you made to them.¹⁷ But now we have sinned against you, and you have handed us over to our enemies¹⁸ because we paid honor to their gods. You are just, O Lord.

¹⁹ “However, now our enemies are not satisfied with our bitter slavery. They have vowed to their idols²⁰ to annul the decree you have proclaimed and destroy your heritage, to silence the mouths of those who praise you and to destroy your altar and the glory of your house,^[v]21 and instead, to open the mouths of the nations to praise their worthless idols and to offer an earthly king everlasting praise.

²² “O Lord, do not consign your scepter to gods who do not exist. Do not let our enemies exult in our downfall, but turn their designs against them and make an example of the chief of our persecutors.²³ Remember us, O Lord. Reveal yourself in this time of our tribulation, and give me courage, O King of gods and Master of every dominion.²⁴ Give me the power of persuasive speech when I face the lion and enable me to turn his heart to hatred of the one who is our enemy so that he and all those who share his feelings may perish.²⁵ Save us by your arm and come to my aid, for I am alone and have no one on whom to rely but you, O Lord.

“You know all things.²⁶ You are fully aware that I hate the honors offered by the wicked and abhor the bed of the uncircumcised or of any alien.²⁷ You know the straits I am in. I loathe the symbol of my proud position that I wear on my head on days when I appear in public. I detest it as if it were an unclean rag, and I do not wear it on days when I am in private.²⁸ I, your servant, have never eaten at Haman’s table, nor have I attended any banquet of the king or drunk the wine of libations.²⁹ From the day I changed my state until now, I have experienced no joy except in you, O Lord, God of Abraham.³⁰ O God all-powerful, give heed to the pleas of those in despair. Deliver us from the power of the wicked and rescue me from my fear.”

Chapter D

Esther Appears before the King.^1 [w]On the third day, having finished her prayers, Esther removed her penitential garments and arrayed herself in the splendor due to her state.² Thus beautifully adorned, she invoked the aid of God, who watches over and saves all, and took her two maids with her.³ One of them provided gentle support for her,⁴ while the other followed, bearing her train.⁵ She was radiant in the splendor of her beauty, and her countenance was joyous as though permeated with love, but her heart was filled with fear.⁶ She passed through one door after another and finally stood in the presence of the king. He was seated on his royal throne, clothed in all his kingly regalia adorned with gold and precious stones, so that his appearance was terrifying.

⁷ He looked up, and his face blazed with anger when he saw her. The queen grew faint, turned pale, and steadied herself against the head of the maid who preceded her.⁸ Then God changed the king’s mood from anger to one of gentleness. In alarm he sprang from his throne, held her in his arms until she revived, and soothed her with comforting words.⁹ “What is the matter, Esther?” he said to her. “I am your husband. Take courage.¹⁰ You shall not die, for our decree applies only to the common folk.¹¹ Come near!”¹² Then he raised his gold scepter and, touching her neck with it, embraced her and said: “Speak to me.”

¹³ She replied: “My lord, when I approached you, you looked like an angel of God, and I was filled with fear at your majestic presence.¹⁴ You are wonderful, my lord, and your face is enchanting.”¹⁵ As she said this, she fell in a faint.¹⁶ Then the king became troubled as his attendants sought to revive her.

Chapter 5

Esther’s Request to the King. [^1 [x]On the third day, Esther donned her royal garments and positioned herself in the inner courtyard in front of the king’s hall. The king was seated on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. ² When he spotted Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, he made her welcome by holding out the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter.]

³ Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even if it should be half of my kingdom,^[y] it will be given to you.”

⁴ “If it pleases the king,” Esther replied, “I would like you and Haman to be my guests today at a banquet that I have prepared for you.”

⁵ Thereupon the king exclaimed, “Hurry, bring Haman here so that we may do what Esther wishes.” With that, the king and Haman went to Esther’s banquet.

⁶ As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “Now, what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even if it is up to half of my kingdom, it will be granted.”

⁷ Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: ⁸ If I have found favor with the king and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to another banquet that I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”

Haman’s Rage against Mordecai. ⁹ When Haman left that day he was happy and in a good mood. But when he caught sight of Mordecai at the king’s gate and noted that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was consumed with rage toward Mordecai. ¹⁰ Nonetheless, he was able to control himself and go home.

Then he invited his friends to his house and asked his wife, Zeresh, to join them. ¹¹ Haman boasted to them about his great wealth, his many sons, and about the honor the king had paid him by promoting him above the other nobles and officials. ¹² “And even more than this,” Haman added, “Queen Esther invited me as the only one to the banquet with the king today, and tomorrow I am again invited to be her guest with the king. ¹³ Yet I get no pleasure out of any of this as long as I see that Jew Mordecai seated at the king’s gate.”

¹⁴ Then his wife, Zeresh, and all his friends suggested, “Why not have a gibbet set up, fifty cubits high,^[z] and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.” Haman liked the idea, and he had the gibbet built.