Esther 8
King Artaxerxes gave the house of Haman to Queen Esther and appointed Mordecai over it. Esther pleaded with the king to revoke Haman's orders to destroy the Jews, and the king allowed her to write new letters in his name, sealed with his ring, to countermand the previous orders. The new letters were sent to all the provinces, instructing the Jews to defend themselves and giving them permission to destroy their enemies. The king's edict was announced, and the Jews rejoiced, while many other nations joined in their celebrations, fearing the power of the Jews.
1On that day king, Artaxerxes gave the house of Haman, the adversary of the Jews, to queen Esther, and Mordecai entered before the king. For Esther had confessed to him that he was her paternal uncle2And the king took the ring, which he had ordered to be taken from Haman, and he handed it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai over her house3Not content with these things, she threw herself down at the king’s feet and wept, and, speaking to him, pleaded that he would give orders that the malice of Haman the Agagite, and his most wicked schemes, which he had contrived against the Jews, would be made ineffective4But he, as was the custom, extended the golden scepter with his hand, which was the sign of clemency, and she rose up and stood before him5And she said, "If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his eyes, and my request is not seen to be disagreeable to him, I beg you that the former letters of Haman, the traitor and enemy of the Jews, by which he instructed them to be destroyed in all the king’s provinces, may be corrected by new letters6For how will I be able to endure the murder and execution of my people?7And king Artaxerxes answered Esther the queen and Mordecai the Jew, "I have granted Haman’s house to Esther, and I have ordered him to be fastened to a cross, because he dared to lay hands on the Jews8Therefore, write to the Jews, just as it pleases you, in the king’s name, sealing the letters with my ring." For this was the custom, that letters which were sent in the king’s name and were sealed with his ring, no one would dare to contradict9Then the scribes and copyists were brought in, (now it was the time of the third month which is called Sivan,) on the twenty-third day of the month, and letters were written, as Mordecai wanted, to the Jews, and to the governors, and procurators, and judges, who presided over the one hundred twenty-seven provinces, from India all the way to Ethiopia: to one province and another, to one people and another, in accordance with their languages and letters, and to the Jews, exactly as they were able to read and hear10And these letters, which were sent in the king’s name, had been signed with his ring, and were sent by swift couriers who were to rush in every direction, through all the provinces, so as to prevent the former letters with new messages11The king commanded them to bring together the Jews throughout each city, and to instruct them to join together, so as to make a stand for their lives, and to execute and destroy all their enemies, with their wives and children and their entire houses, and to plunder their spoil12And one day of retribution was established throughout all the provinces, namely, the thirteenth of the twelfth month Adar13And such was the content of the letter, so that it would be made known in all lands and nations, which are subject to the authority of king Artaxerxes, that the Jews have been made ready to be vindicated of their enemies14And so the swift couriers departed in haste, carrying through the announcement, and the king’s edict was hung up in Susa15But Mordecai, going forth from the palace and from the king’s presence, shone in royal apparel the color of hyacinth and of the sky, wearing a golden crown on his head, and clothed with a cloak of silk and purple. And all the city rejoiced and was joyful16But for the Jews, a new light seemed to rise; there was joy, honor, and dancing17With all the peoples, cities, and provinces, wherever the king’s orders arrived, there was wonderful rejoicing, banquets and feasts, and a solemn holy day, so much so that many of the other nations joined themselves to their religious practices and ceremonies. For a great fear of the name of the Jews had overcome them all
Share this chapter