Esther 9:1-21 ▼

1 NOW in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the time drew near for the king's decree and his commandment to be put into execution, in the day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to overpower them (though the edict was turned to the contrary so that the Jews should have rule over those that hated them),

2 The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Akhshirash to attack such as sought their hurt; and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.

3 And all the princes of the provinces and the commanders of the armies and the governors and those who were employed in the king's work honored the Jews because the fear of the king fell upon them.

4 For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai grew greater and greater.

5 Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the sword and slaughter and destruction, and did what they would to those who hated them.

6 And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.

7 And they slew Shepiroth and Dalcon and Aspoth and

8 Parlat and Adalia and Derath

9 And Aprasmoth and Disai and Adri and Zoth,

10 The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammadatha, the enemy of the Jews; but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

11 On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.

12 And the king said to Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace and the ten sons of Ha man; what have they done in the rest of the provinces? Now what is your petition? And it shall be granted you; and what is your request further? And it shall be done for you.

13 Then Esther said, Let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according to this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged on the gallows.

14 And the king commanded it so to be done; and the decree was given in Shushan, and the ten sons of Ha man were hanged.

15 For the Jews who were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the same month, and slew three hundred men in Shushan; but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

16 And the rest of the Jews who were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together to defend their lives, and had rest from their enemies and slew of those who hated them seventy-five thousand, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

17 They began on the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same they rested

18 And made it a day of feasting and gladness;

19 Therefore the Jews who are scattered, who dwell in widely separated towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting and a good day, and send portions one to another.

20 And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Akhshirash, both near and far.

21 To agree among themselves that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,