Esther (Greek) 8
8
A Happy Ending for the Jews
1Before the end of the day, King Artaxerxes gave Esther everything that had belonged to Haman, the enemy of the Jews. Esther told the king that Mordecai was related to her, and the king had Mordecai brought in. 2The king gave Mordecai the royal ring that Haman had worn, and Esther put Mordecai in charge of Haman's property.
3Once again, Esther went to speak to the king. This time she fell down at his feet and begged him to do something about the horrible things that Haman had planned for the Jews. 4The king held out his golden scepter#8.4 scepter: See the note at 4.11. to her, and she got up and stood next to him. 5Then she said, “Your Majesty, Haman sent letters demanding that all the Jews in your kingdom be killed. Please send out a command that Haman's letters are not to be obeyed. 6I can't bear to see my own people destroyed, and if everyone from my nation is killed, I will be too.”
7The king replied, “Esther, Haman attacked the Jews, and so I gave orders for Haman to be hanged from his own wooden tower, and I have given you his property. Tell me what more you want me to do. 8#Dn 6.8. Better yet, I give you and Mordecai permission to send out letters in my name. Write whatever you think is best. Be sure to use my ring to seal the letters, because once my commands are written down and sealed with my ring, they cannot be changed.”
9That same year, on the twenty-third day of Nisan,#8.9 twenty-third day of Nisan: Ten days after Haman had sent out his letters (see 3.12). Nisan, also called Abib, was from about mid-March to mid-April. the first month, the king's secretaries were called in and were told to write letters containing the king's commands about the Jews. These letters were to be sent to the governors and officials of all 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia. Each letter was written in the language of the province where it was sent. 10The letters were written at the king's command and were sealed with his ring, then they were delivered by messengers. 11-12In the letters, King Artaxerxes commanded the Jews of every city in his kingdom to obey their own laws. And on the thirteenth day of Adar,#8.11,12 Adar: See the note at 2.15,16. the twelfth month, they were to defend themselves and to do anything they wanted to their enemies.
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Esther (Greek) 8: CEVDCI
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
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