Inspire Catholic Bible - Esther - Flipbook - Page 6
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E s t h e r 2 : 1 9
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19 Even after all the young women had been transferred to the second
harem* and Mordecai had become a palace official,* 20 Esther continued
to keep her family background and nationality a secret. She was still fol
lowing Mordecai’s directions, just as she did when she lived in his home.
Mordecai’s Loyalty to the King
21 One day as Mordecai was on duty at the king’s gate, two of the king’s
eunuchs, Bigthana* and Teresh—who were guards at the door of the
king’s private quarters—became angry at King Xerxes and plotted to
assassinate him. 22 But Mordecai heard about the plot and gave the in
formation to Queen Esther. She then told the king about it and gave
Mordecai credit for the report. 23 When an investigation was made and
Mordecai’s story was found to be true, the two men were impaled on
a sharpened pole. This was all recorded in The Book of the History of
King Xerxes’ Reign.
Haman’s Plot against the Jews
S ome time later King Xerxes promoted Haman son of Hammedatha
the Agagite over all the other nobles, making him the most powerful
official in the empire. 2 All the king’s officials would bow down before
Haman to show him respect whenever he passed by, for so the king had
commanded. But Mordecai refused to bow down or show him respect.
3 Then the palace officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why are
you disobeying the king’s command?” 4 They spoke to him day after day,
but still he refused to comply with the order. So they spoke to Haman
about this to see if he would tolerate Mordecai’s conduct, since Morde
cai had told them he was a Jew.
5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or show him
respect, he was filled with rage. 6 He had learned of Mordecai’s nation
ality, so he decided it was not enough to lay hands on Mordecai alone.
Instead, he looked for a way to destroy all the Jews throughout the entire
empire of Xerxes.
7 So in the month of April,* during the twelfth year of King Xerxes’
reign, lots were cast in Haman’s presence (the lots were called purim) to
determine the best day and month to take action. And the day selected
was March 7, nearly a year later.*
8 Then Haman approached King Xerxes and said, “There is a certain
race of people scattered through all the provinces of your empire who
keep themselves separate from everyone else. Their laws are different
from those of any other people, and they refuse to obey the laws of the
king. So it is not in the king’s interest to let them live. 9 If it please the
king, issue a decree that they be destroyed, and I will give 10,000 large
sacks* of silver to the government administrators to be deposited in
the royal treasury.”
10 The king agreed, confirming his decision by removing his signet
ring from his finger and giving it to Haman son of Hammedatha the
Agagite, the enemy of the J ews. 11 The king said, “The money and the
people are both yours to do with as you see fit.”
12 So on April 17* the king’s secretaries were summoned, and a decree
was written exactly as Haman dictated. It was sent to the king’s highest
3
2:19a The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. 2:19b Hebrew and Mordecai was sitting in the gate
of the king.
2:21 Hebrew Bigthan; compare 6:2. 3:7a Hebrew in the first month, the month of
Nisan. This month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred within the months of April and May
474 b.c.; also see note on 2:16. 3:7b As in 3:13, which reads the thirteenth day of the twelfth month,
the month of Adar; Hebrew reads in the twelfth month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. The date
selected was March 7, 473 b.c.; also see note on 2:16. 3:9 Hebrew 10,000 talents, about 375 tons
or 340 metric tons in weight. 3:12 Hebrew On the thirteenth day of the first month, of the ancient
Hebrew lunar calendar. This day was April 17, 474 b.c.; also see note on 2:16.
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