“1 On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the
Jews’ enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king;
for Esther had told what he [was] unto her. 2 And the king took off his
ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And
Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.”
“3 And Esther spake 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 sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and
stood before the king, 5 And said, If it please the king, and if I have
found favour in his sight, and the thing [seem] right before the king,
and I [be] pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the
letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he
wrote to destroy the Jews which [are] in all the king’s provinces: 6 For
how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how
can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred? 7 Then the king
Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I
have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the
gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. 8 Write ye also for the
Jews, as it liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal [it] with the
king’s ring: for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and
sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse. 9 Then were the king’s
scribes called at that time in the third month, that [is], the month
Sivan, on the three and twentieth [day] thereof; and it was written
according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the
lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which [are]
from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto
every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people
after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and
according to their language. 10 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus’
name, and sealed [it] with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on
horseback, [and] riders on mules, camels, [and] young dromedaries: 11
Wherein the king granted the Jews which [were] in every city to gather
themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay,
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 Upon one day in all the provinces of king
Ahasuerus, [namely], upon 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 unto all people, and that
the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their
enemies. 14 [So] the posts that rode upon 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 great 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 honour. 17
And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever 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 upon them.” (Esther 8:1-17 AV)
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