Inspire Catholic Bible - Esther - Flipbook - Page 3
Esther
Mordecai’s Dream
In* the second year of the reign of King Xerxes* the Great, on the
first day of the new year,* Mordecai son of Jair, son of Shimei, son
of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, had a dream. 2 He was a Jew living
in the city of Susa, and he was an important man who worked in the
king’s palace. 3 He was a descendant* of the captives whom King Nebu
chadnezzar of Babylon had taken from Jerusalem when he took King
Jehoiachin* of Judea, captive.
4 This was Mordecai’s dream: There was clamor and confusion, thun
der and earthquakes, and tumult upon the earth! 5 Two great dragons
came forward, ready to fight one another. 6 At their terrible roar, every
nation prepared for war, to fight against the righteous nation. 7 It was
a day of darkness and gloom, of troubles and distress, of suffering and
great confusion upon the earth. 8 The entire righteous nation was dis
traught; the people feared impending evil and prepared for death. 9 But
then the people cried to God, and a great overflowing river burst forth
from a tiny spring. 10 Light from the rising sun burst forth, and the
humble were exalted and destroyed the nobles.
11 When he woke up from this dream that revealed what God was
going to do, Mordecai began thinking about what it might mean. He
kept turning it over in his mind, anxious to understand every detail of
the dream.
12 One time Mordecai was resting in the king’s courtyard with
Bigthana and Teresh,* the king’s eunuchs who were guards of the court
yard. 13 He overheard them discussing a conspiracy, so he investigated
their plans and discovered that they were about to kill King Xerxes. So
Mordecai warned the king about the plot. 14 The king had the two men
interrogated, and after they confessed, he had them executed. 15 The
king made an official record of what had happened, and Mordecai also
wrote down the events. 16 The king ordered Mordecai to serve in the
palace and gave him a reward. 17 But Haman son of Hammedatha the
Agagite,* a man highly regarded by the king, sought to harm Mordecai
and his people because of what had happened to the king’s two eunuchs.
A
knows
Who
if perhaps you
were made
queen
for
just such
a time
as this?
Esther 4:14
The King’s Banquet
These events happened in the days of King Xerxes,* who reigned over
127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia.* 2 At that time Xer
xes ruled his empire from his royal throne at the fortress of Susa. 3 In the
third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials.
He invited all the military officers of Persia and Media as well as the
princes and nobles of the provinces. 4 The celebration lasted 180 days—a
1
A:1a The portions designated as chapters A, B, C, D, E, and F are not included in the Hebrew text
of Esther. They are here translated from the Greek version. A:1b Greek Ahasuerus, another name
for Xerxes; also throughout the book of Esther. A:1c Greek On the first day of the month of Nisan.
A number of dates in the book of Esther can be cross-checked with dates in surviving Persian
records and related accurately to our modern calendar. This dream occurred on March 26, 484 b.c.
A:3a Greek He was one.
A:3b Greek Jeconiah, a variant name for Jehoiachin. A:12 Greek
Gabatha and Tharra; compare 2:21 and 6:2. A:17 Greek a Bougean.
1:1a Hebrew Ahasuerus,
another name for Xerxes; also throughout the book of Esther. Xerxes reigned 486–465 b.c.
1:1b Hebrew to Cush.
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