Inspire Catholic Bible - Esther - Flipbook - Page 16
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Esther 9:32
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descendants to establish the times of fasting and mourning.) 32 So the
command of Esther confirmed the practices of Purim, and it was all
written down in the records.
The Greatness of Xerxes and Mordecai
King Xerxes imposed a tribute throughout his empire, even to
the distant coastlands. 2 His great achievements and the full ac
count of the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king had promoted, are
recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Media and Persia.
3 Mordecai the Jew became the prime minister, with authority next to
that of King Xerxes himself. He was very great among the J ews, who held
him in high esteem, because he continued to work for the good of his
people and to speak up for the welfare of all their descendants.
10
Mordecai Interprets His Dream
M
ordecai said, “God has done these things.* 2 I remember the dream
I had concerning these same things, and all of it has been fulfilled.
3 There was a small spring that grew into a river, and there was light and
sun and plenty of water. The river is Esther, whom the king married and
made queen. 4 The two dragons are Haman and myself. 5 The nations are
those who banded together to wipe out the Jews. 6 My nation is Israel,
who cried out to God and was saved. The Lord delivered us from all these
evil schemes; God has performed great signs and wonders among the
Gentiles. 7 For this reason he made two lots (called purim), one for the
people of God and the other for all the Gentiles. 8 When the appointed
day, hour, and moment came for the lots to be cast as God and all the
Gentiles watched, 9 God remembered his people and vindicated his spe
cial possession. 10 So people will gather together for two specified days
in late winter* and celebrate this day with joy and gladness before God.
This festival will be celebrated from generation to generation forever
among God’s people, Israel.”
F
Postscript
the fourth year of the reign of Ptolemy Soter* and Cleopatra,
Dositheus and his son Ptolemy brought to Egypt* the preceding letter
about Purim. Dositheus said he was a priest and a Levite, and his son
was a resident of Jerusalem. They asserted that the letter was authentic
and that it had been translated by Lysimachus, Ptolemy’s son.
11 In
F:1 See note at A:1a. F:10 Greek in the month of Adar, on the fourteenth and fifteenth of
that month. These two days of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar usually occur in March.
F:11b Greek
F:11a Greek lacks Soter. The fourth year of Ptolemy Soter’s reign was 113 b.c.
lacks to Egypt.
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