1 Now it came to
pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned,
from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and
twenty provinces:)
2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne
of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto 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 shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the
honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and
fourscore days.
5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto
all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both
unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden
of the king's palace;
6 Where 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, upon a pavement of
red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.
7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels
being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance,
according to the state of the king.
8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel:
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 which 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 shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she
was fair to look on.
12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment
by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and
his anger burned in him.
13 Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times,
(for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
14 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish,
Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and
Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in
the kingdom;)
15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law,
because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus
by the chamberlains?
16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti
the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, 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 come abroad unto all women,
so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when
it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the
queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day
unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of
the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.
19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from
him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and
the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more
before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate
unto another that is better than she.
20 And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published
throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives
shall give to their husbands honour, 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 thereof, and to every people
after 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.
Chapter 2
1 After these things,
when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered
Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against
her.
2 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let
there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of
his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young
virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women unto
the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women;
and let their things for purification be given them:
4 And let the maiden which pleaseth 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
which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom
Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
7 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter:
for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair
and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were
dead, took for his own daughter.
8 So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree
was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto
Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was
brought also unto 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 her things for purification, with such
things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet
to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her
and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.
10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai
had charged her that she should not shew it.
11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's
house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
12 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus,
after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner
of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished,
to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet
odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)
13 Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she
desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the
women unto the king's house.
14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into
the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz,
the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came
in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her,
and that she were called by name.
15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the
uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come
to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai
the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed.
And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked
upon her.
16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal
in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh
year of his reign.
17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained
grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so
that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen
instead of Vashti.
18 Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and
his servants, even 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 shewed her kindred nor her people; as
Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of
Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two
of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which
kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king
Ahasuerus.
22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther
the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's
name.
23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found
out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written
in the book of the chronicles before the king.
Chapter 3
1 After these things
did king Ahasuerus promote 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 bowed not, nor did him reverence.
3 Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said
unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
4 Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he
hearkened not unto them, that 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 bowed not, nor did him reverence,
then was Haman full of wrath.
6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they
had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought
to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom
of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
7 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth
year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before
Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth
month, that is, the month Adar.
8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people
scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces
of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people;
neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the
king's profit to suffer them.
9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may 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 unto
Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee,
the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
12 Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day
of the first month, and there was written according to all that
Haman had commanded unto 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 thereof,
and to every people after their language; in the name of king
Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.
13 And the letters were sent by posts 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, even upon
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 unto all people, that they should
be ready against that day.
15 The posts 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. |