Esther 8
8
1On that day King Ahasu-erus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her; 2and the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
3Then Esther spoke again to the king; she fell at his feet and besought him with tears to avert the evil design of Haman the Agagite and the plot which he had devised against the Jews. 4And the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, 5and Esther rose and stood before the king. And she said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king. 6For how can I endure to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?” 7Then King Ahasu-erus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he would lay hands on the Jews. 8And you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king's ring; for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked.”
9The king's secretaries were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day; and an edict was written according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews to the satraps and the governors and the princes of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language. 10The writing was in the name of King Ahasu-erus and sealed with the king's ring, and letters were sent by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king's service, bred from the royal stud. 11By these the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to slay, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, with their children and women, and to plunder their goods, 12upon one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasu-erus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. 13A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, and by proclamation to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to avenge themselves upon their enemies. 14So the couriers, mounted on their swift horses that were used in the king's service, rode out in haste, urged by the king's command; and the decree was issued in Susa the capital.
15Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a mantle of fine linen and purple, while the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. 16The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. 17And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict came, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.
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Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America
Esther 8
8
Esther Saves the Jews
1On that day King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the house of Haman, the #Esth. 7:6enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told #Esth. 2:7, 15how he was related to her. 2So the king took off #Esth. 3:10his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai; and Esther appointed Mordecai over the house of Haman.
3Now Esther spoke again to the king, fell down at his feet, and implored him with tears to counteract the evil of Haman the Agagite, and the scheme which he had devised against the Jews. 4And #Esth. 4:11, 5:2the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther. So Esther arose and stood before the king, 5and said, “If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight and the thing seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to revoke the #Esth. 3:13letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to annihilate the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces. 6For how can I endure to see #Neh. 2:3; Esth. 7:4, 9:1the evil that will come to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my countrymen?”
7Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, “Indeed, #Esth. 8:1; Prov. 13:22I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he tried to lay his hand on the Jews. 8You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for whatever is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring #Esth. 1:19; Dan. 6:8, 12, 15no one can revoke.”
9#Esth. 3:12So the king’s scribes were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day; and it was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded, to the Jews, the satraps, the governors, and the princes of the provinces #Esth. 1:1from India to Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven provinces in all, to every province #Esth. 1:22, 3:12in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language. 10#1 Kin. 21:8; Esth. 3:12, 13And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, sealed it with the king’s signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, riding on royal horses bred from swift steeds.
11By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to #Esth. 9:2gather together and protect their lives—to #Esth. 9:10, 15, 16destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions, 12#Esth. 3:13, 9:1on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. 13#Esth. 3:14, 15A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province and published for all people, so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. 14The couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king’s command. And the decree was issued in Shushan the citadel.
15So Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, with a great crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and #Esth. 3:15; Prov. 29:2the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. 16The Jews had #Ps. 97:11; 112:4light and gladness, joy and honor. 17And in every province and city, wherever the king’s command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast #1 Sam. 25:8; Esth. 9:19and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land #Ps. 18:43became Jews, because #Gen. 35:5; Ex. 15:16; Deut. 2:25; 11:25; 1 Chr. 14:17; Esth. 9:2fear of the Jews fell upon them.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.