Mordecai Honored

6 That night the king could not sleep;^(A) so he ordered the book of the chronicles,^(B) the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. ² It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.^(C)

³ “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked.

“Nothing has been done for him,”^(D) his attendants answered.

⁴ The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.

⁵ His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.”

“Bring him in,” the king ordered.

⁶ When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”

Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” ⁷ So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, ⁸ have them bring a royal robe^(E) the king has worn and a horse^(F) the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. ⁹ Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!^(G)’”

¹⁰ “Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”

¹¹ So Haman got^(H) the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”

¹² Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered^(I) in grief, ¹³ and told Zeresh^(J) his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.

His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall^(K) has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!”^{(L) 14} While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet^(M) Esther had prepared.

Haman Impaled

7 So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet,^{(N) 2} and as they were drinking wine^(O) on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom,^(P) it will be granted.^(Q)”

³ Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor^(R) with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. ⁴ For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated.^(S) If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.^[a]”

⁵ King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?”

⁶ Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!”

Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. ⁷ The king got up in a rage,^(T) left his wine and went out into the palace garden.^(U) But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate,^(V) stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.

⁸ Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch^(W) where Esther was reclining.^(X)

The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?”^(Y)

As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.^{(Z) 9} Then Harbona,^(AA) one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits^[b](AB) stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.”

The king said, “Impale him on it!”^{(AC) 10} So they impaled^(AD) Haman^(AE) on the pole^(AF) he had set up for Mordecai.^(AG) Then the king’s fury subsided.^(AH)

The King’s Edict in Behalf of the Jews

8 That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman,^(AI) the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came into the presence of the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. ² The king took off his signet ring,^(AJ) which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman’s estate.^(AK)

³ Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite,^(AL) which he had devised against the Jews. ⁴ Then the king extended the gold scepter^(AM) to Esther and she arose and stood before him.

⁵ “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor^(AN) and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. ⁶ For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?”^(AO)

⁷ King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have impaled^(AP) him on the pole he set up. ⁸ Now write another decree^(AQ) in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal^(AR) it with the king’s signet ring^(AS)—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.”^(AT)

⁹ At once the royal secretaries were summoned—on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all Mordecai’s orders to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors and nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush.^[c](AU) These orders were written in the script of each province and the language of each people and also to the Jews in their own script and language.^{(AV) 10} Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king’s signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king.

¹¹ The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children,^[d] and to plunder^(AW) the property of their enemies. ¹² The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar.^{(AX) 13} A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so that the Jews would be ready on that day^(AY) to avenge themselves on their enemies.

¹⁴ The couriers, riding the royal horses, went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa.^(AZ)

The Triumph of the Jews

¹⁵ When Mordecai^(BA) left the king’s presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold^(BB) and a purple robe of fine linen.^(BC) And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration.^{(BD) 16} For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy,^(BE) gladness and honor.^{(BF) 17} In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy^(BG) and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear^(BH) of the Jews had seized them.^(BI)

9 On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar,^(BJ) the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand^(BK) over those who hated them.^{(BL) 2} The Jews assembled in their cities^(BM) in all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those determined to destroy them. No one could stand against them,^(BN) because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid of them. ³ And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and the king’s administrators helped the Jews,^(BO) because fear of Mordecai had seized them.^{(BP) 4} Mordecai^(BQ) was prominent^(BR) in the palace; his reputation spread throughout the provinces, and he became more and more powerful.^(BS)

⁵ The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them,^(BT) and they did what they pleased to those who hated them. ⁶ In the citadel of Susa, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. ⁷ They also killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, ⁸ Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, ⁹ Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai and Vaizatha, ¹⁰ the ten sons^(BU) of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews.^(BV) But they did not lay their hands on the plunder.^(BW)

¹¹ The number of those killed in the citadel of Susa was reported to the king that same day. ¹² The king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman in the citadel of Susa. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? It will also be granted.”^(BX)

¹³ “If it pleases the king,” Esther answered, “give the Jews in Susa permission to carry out this day’s edict tomorrow also, and let Haman’s ten sons^(BY) be impaled^(BZ) on poles.”

¹⁴ So the king commanded that this be done. An edict was issued in Susa, and they impaled^(CA) the ten sons of Haman. ¹⁵ The Jews in Susa came together on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and they put to death in Susa three hundred men, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.^(CB)

¹⁶ Meanwhile, the remainder of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also assembled to protect themselves and get relief^(CC) from their enemies.^(CD) They killed seventy-five thousand of them^(CE) but did not lay their hands on the plunder.^{(CF) 17} This happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting^(CG) and joy.

¹⁸ The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth, and then on the fifteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy.

¹⁹ That is why rural Jews—those living in villages—observe the fourteenth of the month of Adar^(CH) as a day of joy and feasting, a day for giving presents to each other.^(CI)

Purim Established

²⁰ Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, ²¹ to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar ²² as the time when the Jews got relief^(CJ) from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration.^(CK) He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food^(CL) to one another and gifts to the poor.^(CM)

²³ So the Jews agreed to continue the celebration they had begun, doing what Mordecai had written to them. ²⁴ For Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite,^(CN) the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast the pur^(CO) (that is, the lot^(CP)) for their ruin and destruction.^{(CQ) 25} But when the plot came to the king’s attention,^[e] he issued written orders that the evil scheme Haman had devised against the Jews should come back onto his own head,^(CR) and that he and his sons should be impaled^(CS) on poles.^{(CT) 26} (Therefore these days were called Purim, from the word pur.^(CU)) Because of everything written in this letter and because of what they had seen and what had happened to them, ²⁷ the Jews took it on themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should without fail observe these two days every year, in the way prescribed and at the time appointed. ²⁸ These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never fail to be celebrated by the Jews—nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants.

²⁹ So Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail,^(CV) along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim. ³⁰ And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in the 127 provinces^(CW) of Xerxes’ kingdom—words of goodwill and assurance— ³¹ to establish these days of Purim at their designated times, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had decreed for them, and as they had established for themselves and their descendants in regard to their times of fasting^(CX) and lamentation.^{(CY) 32} Esther’s decree confirmed these regulations about Purim, and it was written down in the records.

The Greatness of Mordecai

10 King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire, to its distant shores.^{(CZ) 2} And all his acts of power and might, together with a full account of the greatness of Mordecai,^(DA) whom the king had promoted,^(DB) are they not written in the book of the annals^(DC) of the kings of Media and Persia? ³ Mordecai the Jew was second^(DD) in rank^(DE) to King Xerxes,^(DF) preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.^(DG)

Ezra Comes to Jerusalem

7 After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes^(A) king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah,^(B) the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,^{(C) 2} the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok,^(D) the son of Ahitub,^{(E) 3} the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, ⁴ the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, ⁵ the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas,^(F) the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest— ⁶ this Ezra^(G) came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted^(H) him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.^{(I) 7} Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.^(J)

⁸ Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. ⁹ He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him.^{(K) 10} For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching^(L) its decrees and laws in Israel.

King Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra

¹¹ This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the Lord for Israel:

²⁷ Praise be to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart^(AD) to bring honor^(AE) to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way ²⁸ and who has extended his good favor^(AF) to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me,^(AG) I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

List of the Family Heads Returning With Ezra

8 These are the family heads and those registered with them who came up with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:^(AH)

The Return to Jerusalem

¹⁵ I assembled them at the canal that flows toward Ahava,^(AN) and we camped there three days. When I checked among the people and the priests, I found no Levites^(AO) there. ¹⁶ So I summoned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of learning, ¹⁷ and I ordered them to go to Iddo, the leader in Kasiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his fellow Levites, the temple servants^(AP) in Kasiphia, so that they might bring attendants to us for the house of our God. ¹⁸ Because the gracious hand of our God was on us,^(AQ) they brought us Sherebiah,^(AR) a capable man, from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah’s sons and brothers, 18 in all; ¹⁹ and Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and nephews, 20 in all. ²⁰ They also brought 220 of the temple servants^(AS)—a body that David and the officials had established to assist the Levites. All were registered by name.

²¹ There, by the Ahava Canal,^(AT) I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey^(AU) for us and our children, with all our possessions. ²² I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers^(AV) and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone^(AW) who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.^(AX)” ²³ So we fasted^(AY) and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

²⁴ Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, namely, Sherebiah,^(AZ) Hashabiah and ten of their brothers, ²⁵ and I weighed out^(BA) to them the offering of silver and gold and the articles that the king, his advisers, his officials and all Israel present there had donated for the house of our God. ²⁶ I weighed out to them 650 talents^[h] of silver, silver articles weighing 100 talents,^[i] 100 talents^[j] of gold, ²⁷ 20 bowls of gold valued at 1,000 darics,^[k] and two fine articles of polished bronze, as precious as gold.

²⁸ I said to them, “You as well as these articles are consecrated to the Lord.^(BB) The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of your ancestors. ²⁹ Guard them carefully until you weigh them out in the chambers of the house of the Lord in Jerusalem before the leading priests and the Levites and the family heads of Israel.” ³⁰ Then the priests and Levites received the silver and gold and sacred articles that had been weighed out to be taken to the house of our God in Jerusalem.

³¹ On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal^(BC) to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us,^(BD) and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. ³² So we arrived in Jerusalem, where we rested three days.^(BE)

³³ On the fourth day, in the house of our God, we weighed out^(BF) the silver and gold and the sacred articles into the hands of Meremoth^(BG) son of Uriah, the priest. Eleazar son of Phinehas was with him, and so were the Levites Jozabad^(BH) son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui.^{(BI) 34} Everything was accounted for by number and weight, and the entire weight was recorded at that time.

³⁵ Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls^(BJ) for all Israel,^(BK) ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs and, as a sin offering,^[l] twelve male goats.^(BL) All this was a burnt offering to the Lord. ³⁶ They also delivered the king’s orders^(BM) to the royal satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates,^(BN) who then gave assistance to the people and to the house of God.^(BO)

Ezra’s Prayer About Intermarriage

9 After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate^(BP) from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites,^(BQ) Ammonites,^(BR) Moabites,^(BS) Egyptians and Amorites.^{(BT) 2} They have taken some of their daughters^(BU) as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled^(BV) the holy race^(BW) with the peoples around them. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness.”^(BX)

³ When I heard this, I tore^(BY) my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down appalled.^{(BZ) 4} Then everyone who trembled^(CA) at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of this unfaithfulness of the exiles. And I sat there appalled^(CB) until the evening sacrifice.

⁵ Then, at the evening sacrifice,^(CC) I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands^(CD) spread out to the Lord my God ⁶ and prayed:

The People’s Confession of Sin

10 While Ezra was praying and confessing,^(DH) weeping^(DI) and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. ² Then Shekaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam,^(DJ) said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful^(DK) to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel.^{(DL) 3} Now let us make a covenant^(DM) before our God to send away^(DN) all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. ⁴ Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.”

⁵ So Ezra rose up and put the leading priests and Levites and all Israel under oath^(DO) to do what had been suggested. And they took the oath. ⁶ Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he was there, he ate no food and drank no water,^(DP) because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.

⁷ A proclamation was then issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem for all the exiles to assemble in Jerusalem. ⁸ Anyone who failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, in accordance with the decision of the officials and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.

⁹ Within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin^(DQ) had gathered in Jerusalem. And on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people were sitting in the square before the house of God, greatly distressed by the occasion and because of the rain. ¹⁰ Then Ezra^(DR) the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful; you have married foreign women, adding to Israel’s guilt.^{(DS) 11} Now honor^[n] the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives.”^(DT)

¹² The whole assembly responded with a loud voice:^(DU) “You are right! We must do as you say. ¹³ But there are many people here and it is the rainy season; so we cannot stand outside. Besides, this matter cannot be taken care of in a day or two, because we have sinned greatly in this thing. ¹⁴ Let our officials act for the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at a set time, along with the elders and judges^(DV) of each town, until the fierce anger^(DW) of our God in this matter is turned away from us.” ¹⁵ Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai^(DX) the Levite, opposed this.

¹⁶ So the exiles did as was proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, one from each family division, and all of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to investigate the cases, ¹⁷ and by the first day of the first month they finished dealing with all the men who had married foreign women.

Those Guilty of Intermarriage

⁴⁴ All these had married foreign women, and some of them had children by these wives.^[p]