Esther 9:31-32
New Catholic Bible
31 Thus, there were established, for their appointed time, these days of Purim that Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had designated for the Jews, and as they had established for themselves and for their race, the duty of fasting and supplication. 32 Esther’s decree confirmed these rules concerning Purim, and it was recorded in the book.
Chapter 10
The Greatness of Mordecai.1 King Ahasuerus imposed tribute throughout the land to its distant shores.2 And all his acts of power and might, as well as an account of the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king promoted, are set down in the book of the annals of the kings of Media and Persia.3 Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his fellow Jews because he worked for the good of his people and was the herald of peace for his whole race.
Epilogue
Chapter F
Mordecai’s Dream Fulfilled.[a]1 Then Mordecai said: “All this is God’s doing,2 for I remember the dream I had about these events, and not one of them has failed to be fulfilled—3 the tiny spring that became a river, the light that shone, the sun, the abundance of water. The river is Esther, whom the king married and established as queen.4 The two dragons are Haman and myself.5 The nations are those who joined together to extinguish the name of the Jews.6 And my nation is Israel who cried to God for deliverance and was saved.
“The Lord has saved his people and delivered us from all these evils. God has performed great signs and wonders such as have never before occurred among the nations.7 To accomplish this he prepared two lots,[b] one for the people of God and one for all the nations.8 These lots were cast at the prescribed hour and time, on the day of judgment before God and all the nations.9 And God remembered his people and rendered a verdict of justice in favor of his heritage.
10 “Therefore, they are to assemble with joy and gladness before God and celebrate these days in the month of Adar, on the fourteenth and fifteenth of that month, from generation to generation among his people Israel forever.”
A Postscript about Purim.11 In the fourth year[c] of the reign of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, Dositheus, who said he was a priest and Levite, and his son, Ptolemy, brought to Egypt the preceding letter about Purim, saying that it was genuine and had been translated by Lysimachus, son of Ptolemy, of the community of Jerusalem.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Esther 9:32 Historically, it is not very likely that a Jew could have carried out the high functions of Mordecai at the Persian court. He has such importance in the present Book that it could also be called “Mordecai the Jew.” Hence, the Feast of Purim was at times known as Mordecai’s Day (2 Mac 15:36).
- Esther 9:32 Two lots: the Greek text here gives a more religious interpretation of Purim, speaking of lots prepared by God to ascertain the destiny of the people of God and that of all the nations. (See Est 3:7 for another explanation for the name of the feast.) Hence, we know that in 114 B.C. a Jewish community in Egypt received the Book of Esther from the established community in Judea, most likely in connection with the Feast of Purim of which the text speaks.
- Esther 9:32 Fourth year: probably 114 B.C. There were three Ptolemys who had a wife called Cleopatra: Ptolemy VIII (114 B.C.), Ptolemy XII (77 B.C.), and Ptolemy XIV (48 B.C.). Most scholars favor the first here. The preceding letter: a reference to the entire Book of Esther, probably including some of the Additions as well.
