Old/New Testament
Haman Plans to Destroy the Jews
3 After these ·things happened [events], King ·Xerxes [L Ahasuerus] ·honored [promoted; L made great] Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite [C a descendant of King Agag of the Amalekites, the hated enemies of Israel (which Saul failed to eradicate; 1 Sam. 15); Ex. 17:8–15; Deut. 23:3–6]. He ·gave him a new rank that was [exalted/elevated him] ·higher than [above] all the ·important men [nobles; officials]. 2 All the ·royal officers [king’s ministers; officials] at the king’s gate would bow down and ·kneel before [pay homage to] Haman, as the king had ·ordered [commanded]. But Mordecai would not bow down or ·show him honor [pay him homage; C because he was a hated Amalekite].
3 Then the ·royal officers [ministers; officials] at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why don’t you obey the king’s command?” 4 And they said this to him every day. When he did not listen to them, they told Haman. They wanted to see if Haman would ·accept [tolerate; L let stand] Mordecai’s behavior because Mordecai had told them he was a Jew.
5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down to him or ·honor [pay homage to] him, he became ·very angry [enraged]. 6 He ·thought of himself as too important [disdained; thought it beneath him] to ·try to kill [lay hands on] only Mordecai. He had been told who the people of Mordecai were, so he looked for a way to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, in all of ·Xerxes’ [L Ahasuerus’s] ·kingdom [empire].
7 It was in the first month [C April] of the twelfth year [C about 474 bc; approximately a year later] of King ·Xerxes’ [L Ahasuerus’s] ·rule [reign]—the month of Nisan. Pur (that is, the lot [C dice-like objects]) was thrown before Haman to choose a day and a month. ·So […and; …until] the twelfth month, the month of Adar, was chosen.
8 Then Haman said to King ·Xerxes [L Ahasuerus], “There is ·a certain group of [L one] people ·scattered [dispersed and spread] among the ·other people [nations; L peoples] in all the ·states [provinces] of your ·kingdom [empire]. Their ·customs [laws] are different from those of all the other ·people [nations; L peoples], and they do not ·obey [observe; keep] the king’s laws. It is not ·right for you [in the king’s interest] to allow them to ·continue living in your kingdom [remain; L cause them to rest]. 9 If it ·pleases [L is good to] the king, let ·an order be given [it be decreed] to destroy those people. Then I will pay ·seven hundred fifty thousand pounds [L ten thousand talents] of silver to ·those who do the king’s [the officials who carry out this] business, and they will put it into the royal treasury.”
10 So the king took his signet ring off his hand and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the ·enemy [persecutor; oppressor] of the Jews. 11 Then the king said to Haman, “The ·money [L silver] and the people are yours [C perhaps telling Haman to keep his money, or that he could have the Jews’ money, or that he could spend his money this way if he wished; see 4:7]. Do with them as ·you please [L is good in your eyes].”
12 On the thirteenth day of the first month [C April 17], the royal ·secretaries [scribes] were called, and they wrote out all of Haman’s ·orders [commands]. They wrote to the king’s governors and to the ·captains of the soldiers [high officials] in each ·state [province] and to the ·important men [nobles] of each ·group of people [nation]. The ·orders [edicts; decrees] were written in the ·writing [script] of each ·state [province] and in the language of each people. They were written in the name of King ·Xerxes [L Ahasuerus] and sealed with his signet ring. 13 ·Letters [Dispatches; Scrolls] were sent by ·messengers [couriers] to all the king’s ·empire [L provinces] ordering them to destroy, kill, and ·completely wipe out [annihilate] all the Jews, young and old, including women and little children. It was to happen on a single day—the thirteenth day of the twelfth month [C March 7, about twelve months later], which was Adar. And they could ·take [plunder; confiscate] ·everything the Jewish people owned [L their possessions]. 14 A copy of the ·order [edict; decree] was given out as a law in every ·state [province] so all the ·people [nations; L peoples] would be ready for that day.
15 The ·messengers [couriers] set out, ·hurried [spurred on; impelled] by the king’s command, as soon as the ·order [edict; decree] was given in the ·palace [citadel; fortress] at Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was ·in confusion [bewildered; in an uproar].
Mordecai Asks Esther to Help
4 When Mordecai ·heard [learned] about all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on ·rough cloth [burlap; sackcloth] and ashes [C signs of grief or repentance], and went out into the city ·crying [wailing] loudly and ·painfully [bitterly]. 2 But Mordecai went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one was allowed to enter that gate dressed in ·rough cloth [burlap; sackcloth]. 3 As the king’s ·order [edict; decree] reached every area, there was great ·sadness and loud crying [mourning] among the Jews. They fasted and ·cried out loud [wept and wailed], and many of them lay down on ·rough cloth [burlap; sackcloth] and ashes [C signs of grief or repentance].
4 When Esther’s ·servant girls [maids; attendants] and eunuchs came to her and told her about Mordecai, she was ·very upset and afraid [deeply distressed; overcome with anguish]. She sent clothes for Mordecai to put on instead of the ·rough cloth [burlap; sackcloth], but he would not ·wear [accept] them. 5 Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs chosen by the king to serve her. Esther ordered him to find out what was bothering Mordecai and why.
6 So Hathach went to Mordecai, who was in the city square in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told Hathach everything that had happened to him, and he told Hathach about the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasury for the ·killing [destruction] of the Jews. 8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the ·order [edict; decree] to ·kill [destroy] the Jews, which had been ·given [issued] in Susa. He wanted Hathach to show it to Esther and to ·tell her about [explain] it. And Mordecai told him to ·order [direct; instruct] Esther to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and to ·plead with [petition] him for her people.
9 Hathach went back and reported to Esther everything Mordecai had ·said [instructed]. 10 Then Esther told Hathach to tell Mordecai, 11 “All the ·royal officers [ministers; officials] and people of the ·royal [king’s] ·states [provinces] know that no man or woman may ·go [come] to the king in the inner courtyard ·without being called [uninvited]. ·There is [He has] only one law about this: Anyone who enters must be put to death unless the king holds out his gold scepter. Then that person may live. And I have not been ·called [summoned; invited] to go to the king for thirty days.”
12 Esther’s ·message [L words] was given to Mordecai. 13 Then Mordecai sent back ·word [this answer/reply] to Esther: “Just because you ·live in [are part of] the king’s ·palace [L house], don’t ·think [imagine] that out of all the Jews you alone will escape. 14 If you keep ·quiet [silent] at this time, ·someone else will help and save the Jews [liberation/relief and protection/deliverance for the Jews will arise/appear from another place], but you and your ·father’s family [relatives] will all die. And who knows, you may have ·been chosen queen [come to your royal position; L come to the kingdom] for just such a time as this.”
15 Then Esther sent this answer to Mordecai: 16 “Go and ·get [assemble] all the Jews in Susa together. ·For my sake [On my behalf], fast; do not eat or drink for three days, night ·and [or] day. I and my ·servant girls [maids; attendants] will also fast. Then I will go to the king, even though it is against the law, and if I die, I die.”
17 So Mordecai went away and did everything Esther had ·told [commanded; instructed] him to do.
Esther Speaks to the King
5 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner courtyard of the king’s ·palace [L house], ·facing [in front of; across from] the king’s ·hall [quarters; L house]. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, ·facing the doorway [across from the entrance]. 2 When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, ·he was pleased [L she obtained grace in his eyes]. He ·held out [extended] to her the gold scepter that was in his hand, so Esther ·went forward [approached; came near] and touched the ·end [tip] of it.
3 The king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What ·do you want to ask me [is your request]? I will give you as much as half of my kingdom.”
4 Esther answered, “My king, if it pleases ·you [L the king], come today with Haman to a banquet that I have prepared for ·you [L him].”
5 Then the king said, “·Bring [Find] Haman quickly so we may do what Esther ·asks [desires].”
So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. 6 As they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, “Now, what ·are you asking for [is your petition]? I will ·give it to you [grant it]. What is ·it you want [your request]? ·I will give you [Ask for] as much as half of my kingdom and it shall be done.”
7 Esther answered, “This is ·what I want [my request] and ·what I ask for [my petition]. 8 My king, if ·you are pleased with me [L I have found favor in the king’s sight] and if it ·pleases [seems good to] you, ·give me what I ask for [grant my petition] and do what I ·want [request]. Come with Haman tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for you. Then I will ·answer your question about what I want [do as the king says/wishes].”
Haman’s Plans Against Mordecai
9 Haman left the king’s ·palace [L house] that day happy and ·content [L good of heart]. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and saw that Mordecai did not ·stand up [rise] or tremble ·with fear before him [in his presence], Haman ·became very angry with [was filled with rage against] Mordecai. 10 But he ·controlled his anger [restrained himself] and went home.
Then Haman called together his friends and his wife, Zeresh. 11 He ·told [boasted/recounted to] them ·how wealthy he was [L of the glory of his riches] and how many sons he had [C ten; 9:10]. He also told them all the ways the king had ·honored [L magnified] him and how the king had ·placed him higher than [exalted him over] his ·important men [nobles] and his ·royal officers [ministers; officials]. 12 He also said, “I’m the only person Queen Esther ·invited [L caused] to come with the king to the banquet she gave. And tomorrow also the queen has asked me to be her guest with the king. 13 But all this does not ·really make me happy [satisfy me] ·when [as long as] I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”
14 Then Haman’s wife, Zeresh, and all his friends said, “Have a ·seventy-five-foot [L fifty cubits] ·platform [gallows; pole] built, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai ·hanged [impaled] on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and be ·happy [content; joyful].” Haman ·liked [was pleased/delighted by] this suggestion, so he ordered the ·platform [gallows; pole] to be built.
22 But, upon arriving, the ·officers [temple police] could not find the apostles. So they went back and reported to the leaders. 23 They said, “·The jail was [L We found the jail] closed and locked, and the guards were standing at the doors. But when we opened the doors, ·the jail was empty [L we found no one inside]!” 24 Hearing this, the captain of the Temple guards and the ·leading [T chief] priests were ·confused [puzzled; confounded] and wondered what ·was happening [or this might lead to].
25 Then someone came and told them, “Listen [L Look]! The men you put in ·jail [prison] are standing in the Temple [courts] teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain and ·his men [the officers/attendants; C the temple police] went out and brought the apostles back. But they did not use force, because they were afraid the people would stone them to death.
27 They brought the apostles to the ·meeting [L Sanhedrin; 4:15] and made them stand before the leaders. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in that name [C of Jesus]. But look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are ·trying [wishing; intending] to make us responsible for this man’s ·death [L blood].”
29 Peter and the other apostles answered, “We must obey God, not ·human authority [L people]! 30 You ·killed [murdered] Jesus by hanging him on a ·cross [L tree]. But God, the God of our ancestors, raised Jesus up from the dead! 31 Jesus is the One whom God ·raised [exalted] to be on his right ·side [L hand], as ·Leader [Prince; Ruler] and Savior. Through him, ·the people of Israel [L Israel] could ·change their hearts and lives [repent] and have their sins forgiven. 32 We ·saw all these things happen [L testify to/are witnesses of these things]. The Holy Spirit, whom God has given to all who obey him, also ·proves [or testifies that] these things are true.”
33 When the leaders heard this, they became ·angry [furious] and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee [C a member of a religious party that strictly observed OT laws, added traditions, and represented a minority on the Sanhedrin] named Gamaliel [C Paul’s teacher; 22:3] stood up in the ·meeting [L Sanhedrin; 4:15]. He was a teacher of the law, and all the people respected him. He ordered the ·apostles [L men] to leave the meeting for a little while. 35 Then he said, “·People of Israel [L Men, Israelites], be careful what you are planning to do to these men. 36 ·Remember when [or Some time ago] Theudas ·appeared [L rose up]? He ·said [claimed] he was ·a great man [L somebody], and about four hundred men joined him. But he was killed, and all his followers were scattered; they ·were able to do nothing [failed; came to nothing]. 37 Later, a man named ·Judas came from Galilee [or Judas the Galilean appeared/arose] at the time of the ·registration [census; C of people and possessions, for tax purposes; Judas led a tax revolt]. He also led a group of followers and ·was killed [perished], and all his followers were scattered. 38 And so now I tell you: Stay away from these men, and leave them alone. If their ·plan [or activity; endeavor] comes from human ·authority [or origin], it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You might even ·be [find yourselves] fighting against God himself!”
The leaders ·agreed with [were convinced by] what Gamaliel said. 40 They called the apostles in, ·beat [flogged; whipped] them, and ·told [commanded] them not to speak in the name of Jesus again. Then they let them go free. 41 The apostles left the ·meeting [L presence of the Sanhedrin/council; 4:15] ·full of joy [rejoicing] because they were ·given the honor [or considered worthy by God] of suffering disgrace for ·Jesus [L the name]. 42 Every day in the Temple [courts] and in people’s homes they continued teaching the people and ·telling [proclaiming] the ·Good News [Gospel] —that Jesus is the ·Christ [Messiah].
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