God does not like to be taken for granted. It flies in the face of His eternal purposes – that He be known and loved and praised and enjoyed. And it makes us superficial people… When the main thing is missing, what’s left is distorted and superficial, whatever it is. If someone says, “Oh, that’s just religion,” I answer, “It’s not religion. It’s reality. God made the world and everything in it. He owns the earth and everyone on it. He is the main actor in the world. He is guiding the history of every people and nation to their appointed goals. Everything, without exception, has to do with God and gets its main meaning from God. And not to show this, but to take this for granted, is to be superficial.” It is simply impossible to overstate the importance of God. And He does not like being taken for granted. The psalm does not say, “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be taken for granted.” It says, “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised” (Psm. 96:4).
John Piper

The Book of Esther

The Book of Esther

{1:1} Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this isAhasuerus who reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred andseven and twenty provinces), {1:2} that in those days, when the kingAhasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan thepalace, {1:3} in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto allhis princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the noblesand princes of the provinces, being before him; {1:4} when he showedthe riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellentmajesty many days, even a hundred and fourscore days. {1:5} And whenthese days were fulfilled, the king made a feast unto all the peoplethat were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, sevendays, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. {1:6} [Therewere hangings of] white [cloth], [of] green, and [of] blue, fastenedwith cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars ofmarble: the couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red,and white, and yellow, and black marble. {1:7} And they gave them drinkin vessels of gold (the vessels being diverse one from another), androyal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king. {1:8} Andthe drinking was according to the law; none could compel: for so theking had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they shoulddo according to every man’s pleasure. {1:9} Also Vashti the queen madea feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to kingAhasuerus. {1:10} On the seventh day, when the heart of the king wasmerry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, andAbagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that ministered inthe presence of Ahasuerus the king, {1:11} to bring Vashti the queenbefore the king with the crown royal, to show the peoples and theprinces her beauty; for she was fair to look on. {1:12} But the queenVashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by the chamberlains:therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him. {1:13}Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for so was theking’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment; {1:14} and thenext unto him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres,Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who sawthe king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom), {1:15} What shall we dounto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not done thebidding of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains? {1:16} And Memucananswered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath notdone wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to allthe peoples that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus. {1:17}For this deed of the queen will come abroad unto all women, to maketheir husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it shall be reported,The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in beforehim, but she came not. {1:18} And this day will the princesses ofPersia and Media who have heard of the deed of the queen say [the like]unto all the king’s princes. So [will there arise] much contempt andwrath. {1:19} If it please the king, let there go forth a royalcommandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of thePersians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come nomore before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate untoanother that is better than she. {1:20} And when the king’s decreewhich he shall make shall be published throughout all his kingdom (forit is great), all the wives will give to their husbands honor, both togreat and small. {1:21} And the saying pleased the king and theprinces; and the king did according to the word of Memucan: {1:22} forhe sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every provinceaccording to the writing thereof, and to every people after theirlanguage, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and shouldspeak according to the language of his people.

{2:1} After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus waspacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what wasdecreed against her. {2:2} Then said the king’s servants thatministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for theking: {2:3} and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces ofhis kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virginsunto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody ofHegai the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their thingsfor purification be given them; {2:4} and let the maiden that pleaseththe king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king;and he did so. {2:5} There was a certain Jew in Shushan the palace,whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son ofKish, a Benjamite, {2:6} who had been carried away from Jerusalem withthe captives that had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah,whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. {2:7} And hebrought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she hadneither father nor mother, and the maiden was fair and beautiful; andwhen her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his owndaughter. {2:8} So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and hisdecree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together untoShushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken intothe king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. {2:9}And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and hespeedily gave her her things for purification, with her portions, andthe seven maidens who were meet to be given her out of the king’shouse: and he removed her and her maidens to the best place of thehouse of the women. {2:10} Esther had not made known her people nor herkindred; for Mordecai had charged her that she should not make itknown. {2:11} And Mordecai walked every day before the court of thewomen’s house, to know how Esther did, and what would become of her.{2:12} Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to kingAhasuerus, after that it had been done to her according to the law forthe women twelve months (for so were the days of their purificationsaccomplished, [to wit], six months with oil of myrrh, and six monthswith sweet odors and with the things for the purifying of the women),{2:13} then in this wise came the maiden unto the king: whatsoever shedesired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women untothe king’s house. {2:14} In the evening she went, and on the morrow shereturned into the second house of the women, to the custody ofShaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, who kept the concubines: she came inunto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and she werecalled by name. {2:15} Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter ofAbihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, wascome to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai theking’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Estherobtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her. {2:16} SoEsther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenthmonth, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.{2:17} And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtainedfavor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that heset the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead ofVashti. {2:18} Then the king made a great feast unto all his princesand his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he made a release to theprovinces, and gave gifts, according to the bounty of the king. {2:19}And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, thenMordecai was sitting in the king’s gate. {2:20} Esther had not yet madeknown her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: forEsther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought upwith him. {2:21} In those days, while Mordecai was sitting in theking’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, ofthose that kept the threshold, were wroth, and sought to lay hands onthe king Ahasuerus. {2:22} And the thing became known to Mordecai, whoshowed it unto Esther the queen; and Esther told the king [thereof] inMordecai’s name. {2:23} And when inquisition was made of the matter,and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree: and it waswritten in the book of the chronicles before the king.

{3:1} After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son ofHammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above allthe princes that were with him. {3:2} And all the king’s servants, thatwere in the king’s gate, bowed down, and did reverence to Haman; forthe king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not down,nor did him reverence. {3:3} Then the king’s servants, that were in theking’s gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king’scommandment? {3:4} Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him,and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whetherMordecai’s matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.{3:5} And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not down, nor did himreverence, then was Haman full of wrath. {3:6} But he thought scorn tolay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had made known to him the peopleof Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that werethroughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.{3:7} In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth yearof king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman fromday to day, and from month to month, [to] the twelfth [month], which isthe month Adar. {3:8} And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is acertain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in allthe provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from [thoseof] every people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it isnot for the king’s profit to suffer them. {3:9} If it please the king,let it be written that they be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousandtalents of silver into the hands of those that have the charge of the[king’s] business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries. {3:10} Andthe king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son ofHammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy. {3:11} And the king said untoHaman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them asit seemeth good to thee. {3:12} Then were the king’s scribes called inthe first month, on the thirteenth day thereof; and there was writtenaccording to all that Haman commanded unto the king’s satraps, and tothe governors that were over every province, and to the princes ofevery people, to every province according to the writing thereof, andto every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus wasit written, and it was sealed with the king’s ring. {3:13} And letterswere sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to slay,and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little childrenand women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth [day] of the twelfthmonth, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for aprey. {3:14} A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given outin every province, was published unto all the peoples, that they shouldbe ready against that day. {3:15} The posts went forth in haste by theking’s commandment, and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace.And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan wasperplexed.

{4:1} Now when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai rent hisclothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midstof the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; {4:2} and he cameeven before the king’s gate: for none might enter within the king’sgate clothed with sackcloth. {4:3} And in every province, whithersoeverthe king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourningamong the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay insackcloth and ashes. {4:4} And Esther’s maidens and her chamberlainscame and told it her; and the queen was exceedingly grieved: and shesent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take his sackcloth from offhim; but he received it not. {4:5} Then called Esther for Hathach, oneof the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her,and charged him to go to Mordecai, to know what this was, and why itwas. {4:6} So Hathach went forth to Mordecai unto the broad place ofthe city, which was before the king’s gate. {4:7} And Mordecai told himof all that had happened unto him, and the exact sum of the money thatHaman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, todestroy them. {4:8} Also he gave him the copy of the writing of thedecree that was given out in Shushan to destroy them, to show it untoEsther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she shouldgo in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make requestbefore him, for her people. {4:9} And Hathach came and told Esther thewords of Mordecai. {4:10} Then Esther spake unto Hathach, and gave hima message unto Mordecai [saying]: {4:11} All the king’s servants, andthe people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whetherman or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is notcalled, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except thoseto whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live:but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.{4:12} And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words. {4:13} Then Mordecaibade them return answer unto Esther, Think not with thyself that thoushalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. {4:14} For ifthou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then will relief anddeliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thyfather’s house will perish: and who knoweth whether thou art not cometo the kingdom for such a time as this? {4:15} Then Esther bade themreturn answer unto Mordecai, {4:16} Go, gather together all the Jewsthat are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nordrink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast in likemanner; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according tothe law: and if I perish, I perish. {4:17} So Mordecai went his way,and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

{5:1} Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on herroyal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, overagainst the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in theroyal house, over against the entrance of the house. {5:2} And it wasso, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that sheobtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the goldensceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the topof the sceptre. {5:3} Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou,queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be given thee even tothe half of the kingdom. {5:4} And Esther said, If it seem good untothe king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that Ihave prepared for him. {5:5} Then the king said, Cause Haman to makehaste, that it may be done as Esther hath said. So the king and Hamancame to the banquet that Esther had prepared. {5:6} And the king saidunto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shallbe granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of thekingdom it shall be performed. {5:7} Then answered Esther, and said, Mypetition and my request is: {5:8} if I have found favor in the sight ofthe king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and toperform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that Ishall prepare for them, and I will do to-morrow as the king hath said.{5:9} Then went Haman forth that day joyful and glad of heart: but whenHaman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up nor movedfor him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. {5:10} NeverthelessHaman refrained himself, and went home; and he sent and fetched hisfriends and Zeresh his wife. {5:11} And Haman recounted unto them theglory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all thethings wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced himabove the princes and servants of the king. {5:12} Haman said moreover,Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto thebanquet that she had prepared but myself; and to-morrow also am Iinvited by her together with the king. {5:13} Yet all this availeth menothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.{5:14} Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let agallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak thou untothe king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrilywith the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and hecaused the gallows to be made.

{6:1} On that night could not the king sleep; and he commanded tobring the book of records of the chronicles, and they were read beforethe king. {6:2} And it was found written, that Mordecai had told ofBigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, of those that keptthe threshold, who had sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus. {6:3}And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been bestowed onMordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered untohim, There is nothing done for him. {6:4} And the king said, Who is inthe court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’shouse, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that hehad prepared for him. {6:5} And the king’s servants said unto him,Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him comein. {6:6} So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall bedone unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor? Now Haman said inhis heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than tomyself? {6:7} And Haman said unto the king, For the man whom the kingdelighteth to honor, {6:8} let royal apparel be brought which the kinguseth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and on the headof which a crown royal is set: {6:9} and let the apparel and the horsebe delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, thatthey may array the man therewith whom the king delighteth to honor, andcause him to ride on horseback through the street of the city, andproclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the kingdelighteth to honor. {6:10} Then the king said to Haman, Make haste,and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even soto Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing failof all that thou hast spoken. {6:11} Then took Haman the apparel andthe horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and caused him to ride through thestreet of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be doneunto the man whom the king delighteth to honor. {6:12} And Mordecaicame again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house, mourningand having his head covered. {6:13} And Haman recounted unto Zeresh hiswife and all his friends everything that had befallen him. Then saidhis wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai, before whomthou hast begun to fall, be of the seed of the Jews, thou shalt notprevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. {6:14} Whilethey were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, andhasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.

{7:1} So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.{7:2} And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at thebanquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall begranted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdomit shall be performed. {7:3} Then Esther the queen answered and said,If I have found favor in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king,let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:{7:4} for we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain,and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I hadheld my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated forthe king’s damage. {7:5} Then spake the king Ahasuerus and said untoEsther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in hisheart to do so? {7:6} And Esther said, An adversary and an enemy, eventhis wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.{7:7} And the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine [andwent] into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request forhis life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determinedagainst him by the king. {7:8} Then the king returned out of the palacegarden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen uponthe couch whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he even forcethe queen before me in the house? As the word went out of the king’smouth, they covered Haman’s face. {7:9} Then said Harbonah, one of thechamberlains that were before the king, Behold also, the gallows fiftycubits high, which Haman hath made for Mordecai, who spake good for theking, standeth in the house of Haman. And the king said, Hang himthereon. {7:10} So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he hadprepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.

{8:1} On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman theJews’ enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king;for Esther had told what he was unto her. {8:2} And the king took offhis ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. AndEsther set Mordecai over the house of Haman. {8:3} And Esther spake yetagain before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him withtears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his devicethat he had devised against the Jews. {8:4} Then the king held out toEsther the golden sceptre. So Esther arose, and stood before the king.{8:5} And she said, If it please the king, and if I have found favor inhis sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasingin his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman,the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jewsthat are in all the king’s provinces: {8:6} for how can I endure to seethe evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see thedestruction of my kindred? {8:7} Then the king Ahasuerus said untoEsther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Estherthe house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, becausehe laid his hand upon the Jews. {8:8} Write ye also to the Jews, as itpleaseth you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring; forthe writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with theking’s ring, may no man reverse. {8:9} Then were the king’s scribescalled at that time, in the third month Sivan, on the three andtwentieth [day] thereof; and it was written according to all thatMordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governorsand princes of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, ahundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according tothe writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and tothe Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.{8:10} And he wrote the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed it with theking’s ring, and sent letters by post on horseback, riding on swiftsteeds that were used in the king’s service, bred of the stud: {8:11}wherein the king granted the Jews that were in every city to gatherthemselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay,and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province thatwould assault them, [their] little ones and women, and to take thespoil of them for a prey, {8:12} upon one day in all the provinces ofking Ahasuerus, [namely], upon the thirteenth [day] of the twelfthmonth, which is the month Adar. {8:13} A copy of the writing, that thedecree should be given out in every province, was published unto allthe peoples, and that the Jews should be ready against that day toavenge themselves on their enemies. {8:14} So the posts that rode uponswift steeds that were used in the king’s service went out, beinghastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment; and the decree wasgiven out in Shushan the palace. {8:15} And Mordecai went forth fromthe presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with agreat crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple: and thecity of Shushan shouted and was glad. {8:16} The Jews had light andgladness, and joy and honor. {8:17} And in every province, and in everycity, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, theJews had gladness and joy, a feast and a good day. And many from amongthe peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews wasfallen upon them.

{9:1} Now in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on thethirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decreedrew near to be put in execution, on the day that the enemies of theJews hoped to have rule over them, (whereas it was turned to thecontrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them,) {9:2} theJews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all theprovinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought theirhurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them was fallenupon all the peoples. {9:3} And all the princes of the provinces, andthe satraps, and the governors, and they that did the king’s business,helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai was fallen upon them.{9:4} For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame wentforth throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai waxed greaterand greater. {9:5} And the Jews smote all their enemies with the strokeof the sword, and with slaughter and destruction, and did what theywould unto them that hated them. {9:6} And in Shushan the palace theJews slew and destroyed five hundred men. {9:7} And Parshandatha, andDalphon, and Aspatha, {9:8} and Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,{9:9} and Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vaizatha, {9:10} theten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jew’s enemy, slew they;but on the spoil they laid not their hand. {9:11} On that day thenumber of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was broughtbefore the king. {9:12} And the king said unto Esther the queen, TheJews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace,and the ten sons of Haman; what then have they done in the rest of theking’s provinces! Now what is thy petition? and it shall be grantedthee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done. {9:13} Thensaid Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews thatare in Shushan to do to-morrow also according unto this day’s decree,and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows. {9:14} And theking commanded it so to be done: and a decree was given out in Shushan;and they hanged Haman’s ten sons. {9:15} And the Jews that were inShushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of themonth Adar, and slew three hundred men in Shushan; but on the spoilthey laid not their hand. {9:16} And the other Jews that were in theking’s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for theirlives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of them that hatedthem seventy and five thousand; but on the spoil they laid not theirhand. {9:17} [This was done] on the thirteenth day of the month Adar;and on the fourteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day offeasting and gladness. {9:18} But the Jews that were in Shushanassembled together on the thirteenth [day] thereof, and on thefourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth [day] of the same they rested,and made it a day of feasting and gladness. {9:19} Therefore do theJews of the villages, that dwell in the unwalled towns, make thefourteenth day of the month Adar [a day of] gladness and feasting, anda good day, and of sending portions one to another. {9:20} And Mordecaiwrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in allthe provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, {9:21} toenjoin them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar,and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly, {9:22} as the days whereinthe Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turnedunto them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day;that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and ofsending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. {9:23} And theJews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had writtenunto them; {9:24} because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, theenemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them,and had cast Pur, that is the lot, to consume them, and to destroythem; {9:25} but when [the matter] came before the king, he commandedby letters that his wicked device, which he had devised against theJews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons shouldbe hanged on the gallows. {9:26} Wherefore they called these daysPurim, after the name of Pur. Therefore because of all the words ofthis letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter,and that which had come unto them, {9:27} the Jews ordained, and tookupon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselvesunto them, so that it should not fail, that they would keep these twodays according to the writing thereof, and according to the appointedtime thereof, every year; {9:28} and that these days should beremembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, everyprovince, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not failfrom among the Jews, nor the remembrance of them perish from theirseed. {9:29} Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, andMordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority to confirm this secondletter of Purim. {9:30} And he sent letters unto all the Jews, to thehundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, [with]words of peace and truth, {9:31} to confirm these days of Purim intheir appointed times, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther thequeen had enjoined them, and as they had ordained for themselves andfor their seed, in the matter of the fastings and their cry. {9:32} Andthe commandment of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it waswritten in the book.

{10:1} And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and uponthe isles of the sea. {10:2} And all the acts of his power and of hismight, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto theking advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chroniclesof the kings of Media and Persia? {10:3} For Mordecai the Jew was nextunto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of themultitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people, and speakingpeace to all his seed.

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