Book of Esther

by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2013, all rights reserved.

King Ahasuerus ruled over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia.

Queen Vashti disobeyed the king and lost her position as queen.

The orphan Esther was raised by Mordecai.  Esther was chosen to replace Vashti as the queen.

Queen Esther did a very courageous thing as queen.

The enemy of the Jews was Haman.  Haman made arrangements to have the Jews killed.  Queen Esther risked her life to save her people, the Jews.  Of course, the Jews were praying for her, and God granted deliverance for the Jews.

Had Esther been a man, she might be listed with other heroes of the Bible, like David, and other military heroes.  But as a woman, we might easily forget her strong courage in the face of danger.

Her actions and words, together with the help of God, saved her people from extermination in the realm of King Ahasuerus.

The Book of Esther is from the Holy Bible, Hoehn Version, copyright 2011.

www.FredHoehnMinistries.com

___Esther chapter 1

1 Now in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus who ruled, from India to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty seven provinces,)

2 In those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, that was in Shushan the palace,

3 In the third year of his rule, he made a feast to all his princes and his servants, the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him,

4 When he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even one hundred eighty days.

5 And when these days had ended, the king made a feast to all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both to great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace,

6 Where there were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble, the beds were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.

7 And they gave them drink in containers of gold, (the containers being different from each other,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.

8 And the drinking was according to the law, no one compelled, for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.

9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house that belonged to king Ahasuerus.

10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the people and the princes her beauty, for she was fair to look at.

12 But queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains, therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him.

13 Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment,

14 And next to him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and who sat the first in the kingdom,)

15 "What shall we do to queen Vashti according to law, because she has not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?"

16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, "Vashti the queen has not only done wrong to the king, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

17 For this deed of the queen shall get around to all women, so that they'll despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she didn't come.

18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day to all the king's princes, who've heard of the deed of the queen.  Thus shall too much contempt and anger arise.

19 If it pleases the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so it won't be altered, that Vashti shall come no more before king Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal estate to someone else that is better than her.

20 And when the king's decree that he'll make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give their husbands honor, both to great and small."

21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan,

22 For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing of it, and to every people in their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.

___Esther chapter 2

1 After these things, when the anger of king Ahasuerus had been appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

2 Then the king's servants that ministered to him said, "let attractive young virgins be sought for the king,

3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, so they can gather together all the fair young virgins to Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, to the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women, and let their things for purification be given to them,

4 And let the maiden that pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti."  And the thing pleased the king, and he did so.

5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,

6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity that had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

7 And he raised Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother, and the maiden was fair and beautiful, whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.

8 So when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, Esther was brought also to the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him, and he speedily gave her the things for purification, with the things that belonged to her, and seven maidens, who were appropriate to be given to her, out of the king's house, and he preferred her and her maidens to the best place of the house of the women.

10 Esther had not shown who her people were nor her kindred, for Mordecai had told her not to show it.

11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what would become of her.

12 Now when every maid's turn had come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after she had been there twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished:  six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors, and with other things for the purifying of the women,)

13 Then every maiden went to the king, whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women to the king's house.

14 In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, who kept the concubines, she came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and if she were called by name.

15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, had come to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed.  And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all of those who looked at her.

16 So Esther was taken to king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his rule.

17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

18 Then the king made a great feast to all his princes and his servants, Esther's feast, and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.

19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.

20 Esther had not yet shown her kindred nor her people, as Mordecai had told her, for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like when she was brought up by him.

21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those who kept the door, were angry, and sought to lay hand on king Ahasuerus.

22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it to Esther the queen, and Esther certified the king about it in Mordecai's name.

23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out, therefore they were both hung on a tree, and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.

___Esther chapter 3

1 After these things king Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

2 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him.  But Mordecai didn't bow, nor did him reverence.

3 Then the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, said to Mordecai, "Why do you transgress the king's commandment?"

4 Now when they spoke to him daily, and he didn't listen to them, they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew.

5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai didn't bow, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of anger.

6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had shown him the people of Mordecai, so Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, the people of Mordecai.

7 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they threw Pur, that is, the lottery, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, until the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.

8 And Haman said to king Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered around and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom, and their laws are different from all people, nor do they keep the king's laws, therefore it is not for the king's profit to allow them.

9 If it pleases the king, let it be written that they will be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries."

10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.

11 And the king said to Haman, "The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you."

12 Then the king's scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written according to all that Haman had commanded to the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language, in the name of king Ahasuerus it was written, and sealed with the king's ring.

13 And the letters were sent by messengers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

14 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published to all people, that they should be ready for that day.

15 The messengers went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace.  And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city Shushan was perplexed.

___Esther chapter 4

1 When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai tore his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry,

2 And came before the king's gate, for no one could enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

3 And in every province, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and crying, and wailing, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

4 So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it to her.  Then the queen was very grieved, and she sent clothing to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him, but he wouldn't accept it.

5 Then Esther called for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend to her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.

6 So Hatach went out to Mordecai to the street of the city, that was before the king's gate.

7 And Mordecai told him about all that had happened to him, and about the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.

8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to show it to Esther, and to declare it to her, and to charge her that she should go in to the king, to make supplication to him, and to make request before him for her people.

9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

10 Again Esther spoke to Hatach, and gave him commandment to Mordecai,

11 All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces know that whoever, whether man or woman, shall come to the king into the inner court, who is not invited, there is one law of his to put him to death, except those to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter, so he can live, but I haven't been invited to come in to the king these thirty days.

12 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.

13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, don't think in yourself that you'll escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.

14 For if you entirely remain quiet at this time, then enlargement and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house shall be destroyed, and who knows whether you've come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

15 Then Esther told them return Mordecai this answer,

16 Go, gather all the Jews together that are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and don't eat or drink three days, night or day, I also and my maidens will also fast, and so I'll go in to the king, which is not according to the law, and if I die, I die.

17 So Mordecai went away, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

___Esther chapter 5

1 Now on the third day, Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, opposite the king's house, and the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, opposite the gate of the house.

2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand.  So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.

3 Then the king said to her, "What do you want, queen Esther?  And what is your request?  It shall be given to you up to half of the kingdom."

4 And Esther answered, "If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him."

5 Then the king said, "Cause Haman to hurry up, so he'll do like Esther has said."  So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

6 And the king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, "What is your petition?  And it shall be granted you, and what is your request?  Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed."

7 Then Esther answered, and said, "My petition and my request is,

8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said."

9 Then Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he didn't stand up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.

10 Anyway, Haman refrained himself, and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.

11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

12 Haman said also, "Yes, Esther the queen allowed no man to come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but me, and tomorrow I'm invited also to be with her and the king.

13 Yet all this avails me nothing, as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."

14 Then Zeresh his wife, and all his friends said to him, "Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and tomorrow speak to the king that Mordecai be hung on it, then go in merrily with the king to the banquet."  And the thing pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.

___Esther chapter 6

1 On that night the king couldn't sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles, and they were read before the king.

2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who tried to lay hands on king Ahasuerus.

3 And the king said, "What honor and dignity has been done to Mordecai for this?"  Then the king's servants that ministered to him said, "Nothing has been done for him."

4 And the king said, "Who is in the court?"  Now Haman had come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

5 And the king's servants said to him, "See, Haman is standing in the court."  And the king said, "Let him come in."

6 So Haman came in.  And the king said to him, "What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?"  Now Haman thought in his heart, "To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?"

7 And Haman answered the king, "For the man whom the king delights to honor,

8 Let the royal apparel be brought that the king wears, and the horse that the king rides on, and the royal crown that sets on his head,

9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, so that they will array the man with them whom the king delights to honor, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor."

10 Then the king said to Haman, "Hurry up, and take the apparel and the horse, as you've said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, that sits at the king's gate, let nothing fail of all that you have spoken."

11 Then Haman took the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, "Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor."

12 And Mordecai returned to the king's gate.  But Haman hurried to his house mourning, and having his head covered.

13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.  Then his wise men and Zeresh his

wife said to him, "If Mordecai is of the descendants of the Jews, before whom you've begun to fall, you won't prevail against him, but shall surely fall before him."

14 And while they were still talking with him, the king's chamberlains came, and hurried to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

___Esther chapter 7

1 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.

2 And the king said again to Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, "What is your petition, queen Esther?  And it shall be granted you, and what is your request?  And it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom."

3 Then Esther the queen answered, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request,

4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to perish.  But if we had been sold for bondmen and bond women, I would have not spoken, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage."

5 Then the king Ahasuerus answered Esther the queen, "Who is he, and where is he, that dares presume in his heart to do so?"

6 And Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman."  Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

7 And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his anger went into the palace garden, and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen, for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.

8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine, and Haman had fallen on the bed on which Esther was.  Then the king said, "Will he force the queen also before me in the house?"  As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.

9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, "See also, the gallows fifty cubits high, that Haman made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, stands in the house of Haman."  Then the king said, "Hang him on it."

10 So they hung Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai.  Then was king's anger was pacified.

___Esther chapter 8

1 On that day king Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman the Jews' enemy to Esther the queen.  And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her.

2 And the king took off his ring, that he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai.  And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3 And Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.

4 Then the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther.  So Esther got up, and stood before the king,

5 And said, "If it pleases the king, and if I've found favor in his sight, and the thing seems right before the king, and I'm pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, that he wrote to destroy the Jews that are in all the king's provinces,

6 For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come to my people?  Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?"

7 Then king Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, "See, I've given Esther the house of Haman, and they've hung him on the gallows, because he laid his hand on the Jews.

8 Write also for the Jews, as seems good to you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring, for the writing that is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, can no man reverse."

9 Then the king's scribes were called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the twenty third day of it, and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces that are from India to Ethiopia, one hundred twenty seven provinces, to every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.

10 And he wrote in king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by messengers on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries,

11 In which the king granted the Jews that were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,

12 On one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, specifically, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

13 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published to all people, and that the Jews should be ready for that day to avenge themselves against their enemies.

14 So the messengers that rode on mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment.  And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.

15 And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a large crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple, and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honor.

17 And in every province, and in every city, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day.  And many of the people of the land became Jews, for the fear of the Jews fell on them.

___Esther chapter 9

1 Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them,)

2 The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on those who sought their hurt, and no man could withstand them, for the fear of them fell on all people.

3 And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell on them.

4 For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces, for this man Mordecai grew greater and greater.

5 Thus the Jews struck all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they wanted to those that hated them.

6 And in Shushan the palace the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men.

7 And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,

8 And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,

9 And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,

10 The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, they killed, but on the spoil they didn't lay their hand.

11 On that day the number of those that were killed in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.

12 And the king said to Esther the queen, "The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman, what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces?  Now what is your petition?  And it shall be granted you, or what is your request further?  And it shall be done."

13 Then Esther said, "If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according to this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hung on the gallows."

14 And the king commanded it to be done so, and the decree was given at Shushan, and they hung Haman's ten sons.

15 For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and killed three hundred men at Shushan, but on the spoil they didn't lay their hand.

16 But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and killed of their enemies seventy five thousand, but they didn't lay their hands on the spoil,

17 On the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and on the fourteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

18 But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day of it, and on the fourteenth of it, and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, that lived in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending gifts to each other.

20 And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both near and far,

21 To establish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,

22 As the days in which the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month that was turned to them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day, that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending gifts to each other, and gifts to the poor.

23 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written to them,

24 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lottery, to consume them, and to destroy them,

25 But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, that he had devised against the Jews, should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hung on the gallows.

26 So they called these days Purim after the name of Pur.  Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come to them,

27 The Jews ordained, and took on them, and on their descendants, and on all such as joined themselves to them, so that it wouldn't fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year,

28 And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.

29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.

30 And he sent the letters to all the Jews, to the hundred twenty seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,

31 To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had commanded them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their descendants, the matters of the fastings and their cry.

32 And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim, and it was written in the book.

___Esther chapter 10

1 And king Ahasuerus laid a tax on the land, and on the islands of the sea.

2 And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?

3 For Mordecai the Jew was next to king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted by the multitude of his brothers, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his descendants.