KJB Purim Guide

KJ Beginners 212-774-5678 beginners@ckj.org ckj.org/beginners

purim mess ge from rabbi daniel & rachel kraus 2\

happy purim Purim marks one year since the COVID-19 pandemic changed our lives, bringing to mind the words of Megillat Esther, “Venahafoch Hu” - “and it was turned upside down.”

What a year this has been. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, KJB quickly pivoted to ensure its services and programs continued to engage the community, even if we were unable to come together in person.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented us all with many challenges, but it has also revealed to us how truly essential we are to one another as members of this Synagogue community.

Enclosed please find a guide to accompany this year’s KJB Megillah Reading.

As we will read in the Megillah, “‫שׂ֖ן וִי ָקֽר‬ ֹ ‫ש‬ ָׂ ְ ‫ח֑ה ו‬ ָ ‫מ‬ ְ ‫ש‬ ִׂ ְ ‫ת֥ה אֹורָ ֖ה ו‬ ָ ְ ‫הֽי‬ ָ ‫דים‬ ֕ ִ ‫לַי ְּהּו‬,” “and the Jewish people had light and gladness, happiness and honor,” may those days come soon, safely for all. We cannot wait to be able to return together safely at KJ. As we prepare for Purim, Zoom will once again become an extension of our Synagogue walls. We look forward to you joining our Annual Purim Soiree - Virtual Edition for our interactive Megillah reading on Thursday night February 25th at 8 pm.

In blessing, Rabbi Daniel & Rachel Kraus

Table of Contents Purim – unmasked customs and costumes

4

KJB Purim Schedule Purim Class, Off the Beaten track, & Megillah Reading

10

Megillah Fun crossword puzzles, word searches & scrambles

14

Megillat esther hebrew text & english translation

24

Purim message / 3

Pur m — unmasked Customs and costumes 4 \ Purim message

The Meaning The holiday of Purim celebrates the saving of the Persian Jews from the genocidal plans of Haman. Through the wisdom and grace of Mordechai and Esther and the behind-the-scenes machinations of God, certain death was replaced with victory, security and religious freedom. Because Haman is such an obvious predecessor of Hitler and because the Purim story occurs in the Diaspora, it has the ability to resonate deeply with us. We, too, live far from Israel in an assimilated environment. Though we enjoy great privileges, we recognize that our fortunes could change in an instant under the wrong political or social conditions. We, too, have to seek God’s presence in a world where He is hidden.

Unfortunately, most Jews know little more about the holiday than costumes and hamentaschen. The best solution to this problem is to get involved with learning more about your Judaism (like, say, KJB), so you can learn anything and everything you ever wanted to know about Judaism, its holidays and its values. For starters, though, try reading the following summary:

the story As told in the Scroll of Esther (Megillat Esther), the Persian Jews who lived in the period between the First and Second Temples (ca.

500 BCE) were nearly destroyed by the nefarious plot of Haman, a descendant of the Amalekhites, who are the perpetual enemies of the Jews. In a drunken rage, the foolish King Achashverosh killed his wife, Vashti. He then selected Queen Esther, a nice Jewish girl, as his wife.

She hid her Jewish identity. Haman, infuriated by Mordechai’s refusal to bow down to him, decides to annihilate the entire Jewish people and convinces Achashverosh to send out a decree that all the Jews will be killed on the 13th of the month of Adar. Esther, who has concealed her Jewish identity since she came to the palace now has to summon the courage to take her case to the king. After three days of fasting, she appears in the royal court and invites both Achashverosh and Haman to two parties. When she finally reveals that Haman’s plans to kill the Jews would result in Esther’s death as well, the king hangs Haman on the gallows Haman himself had erected for Mordecai.

Though he still refuses to rescind the genocidal decree, he permits a new decree that allows the Jews to defend themselves, which they do, under Mordecai’s direction. The holiday of Purim is celebrated the day after that battle, celebrating the peace after the battle.

Although the megillah never mentions the name of God, there are subtle references to His involvement in the story. The night before

Purim – Unmasked / 5

Esther’s party, the king cannot sleep and discovers (while being read to as a remedy for insomnia) that Mordecai has already saved his life once. This and other nuances show the hand of God subtly influencing events. Mordecai and Esther recorded the story of Purim so that it would live on among the Jews, which is why we still celebrate and read about it today.

The Mitzvot The Fast of Esther Thursday, February 25 (starts 5:23 am, ends 6:13 pm) Esther commanded the Jews to fast for 3 days before she appeared before the king to plead for him to cancel Haman’s plan. Luckily for us, we only fast the day before Purim. It is appropriate to have a solemn day of prayer (before Haman’s plans were undone) before entering into the joyous celebration of Purim. Some say we fast on that day because we had to fight a war and lives – both ours and theirs – were lost. We only celebrate the peace, not the war.

The Reading of the Megillah (Scroll of Esther) Thursday Night, February 25 & Friday, February 26 Esther and Mordechai were convinced that Purim was critically important for the future of the Jews and that “these days should be remembered and done in every generation, every family, every country and every city and that these days of Purim should never pass away from the Jews and their memory should never cease from their children.” (Esther, chap. 9) So they petitioned the Men of the Great Assembly to require that the story of Purim be read publicly once a year, as if it were an urgent letter sent from the capital city announcing that we were saved from certain death. In the uncertain times in which we live, it is good to remember and hope that God has our back and will save us from genocidal maniacs.

The Megillah should be heard by every Jew twice, in the evening and morning of Purim. The reading of the Megillah is considered a form of the joyous Hallel prayer (Psalms 113-117) and so Hallel is not said on Purim.

Gifts to the Poor (Matanot la-Evyonim) One of the specific enactments (see Esther 9:22) made in regard to Purim was to give special gifts to the poor (minimum 2 gifts to 2 poor people) so that no person lacked the means to have a special Purim feast. Some have a custom not to turn away any person who asks for 6 \ Purim – Unmasked

assistance on this day. Some authorities say the mitzva is only fulfilled when the money is given to the poor on the day of Purim itself, so there are special groups that collect money for distribution on Purim day. If you give charity money to any of the KJ Rabbis, we will make sure it is delivered on Purim day.

There is also a custom to give the half shekel, which was a Jewish communal tax given once a year during Temple times. Though both are used for charitable purposes, they should be given separately.

Deliveries of Food (Mishloach Manot) In Esther 9:22, it also mandates that that Jews send prepared foods to their neighbors and friends on this day, to increase the joy and unity among Jews.

The minimum requirement is to give two kinds of food (say, a fruit and a chocolate bar) to one person, but many people have the custom of creating elaborate packages. While this is a beautiful idea, there is no need to overdo it.

Purim Feast (Seudah) Jews are known to mark special days with food, so that no spiritual joy should lack its physical counterpart. Esther specifically required that Purim be a day of “feasting and drinking”. The Purim meal should be a complete and lavish one, including bread and the Grace After Meals. It is also customary to make merry at the meal, telling jokes and performing humorous skits etc. It is also among the observances of the day to become too “drunk” to tell the difference between Haman and Mordechai (or two people dressed as them). While some people scrupulously observe this precept, others content themselves with a glass of wine and/or a short nap. While both are legitimate practices, one must surely be aware that excessive drinking carries other serious risks, both as far as transgressing Jewish law and one’s personal welfare.

Reciting a Prayer of Thanks (“al ha-Nisim”) We insert a special prayer of Thanksgiving in the Amida (Silent Devotion) and in the Grace after Meals on Purim day. This prayer summarizes the Purim story and thanks God for allowing Haman’s plans to be thwarted.

Purim – Unmasked / 7

the customs Costumes It is customary to dress up on Purim, because of the theme of “v’nahafoch hu,” that everything was turned upside down on Purim.

The Jews were going to be destroyed, but in the end, they were saved.

It was going to be a day of mourning and death, but it was flipped into a joyous celebration.

In addition, God’s role is a hidden one in the story of Purim. Though God is clearly in control, His/Her presence is never clearly felt. God is, so to speak, in disguise, using Esther and Mordechai as representatives to channel divine benevolence to the Jews.

In other words, by dressing up, we affirm that God is sometimes hidden in our lives, but that just as we can see behind the costume if we try, we can also see the hidden face of God.

Purim Torah/Purim Shpiel The humor and lightheartedness of Purim is found in intellectual ways as well. Many have the custom on Purim of creating elaborate Purim shpiels, singing funny songs and poking fun at everything in existence. Among some, this resembles Saturday Night Live or standup comedy with a Jewish twist. There have even been several ersatz Talmudic tractates published – such as Masechet Bubbe Ma’aseh (“the Tractate of stories your grandmother told you”) – which look and sound just like regular Talmud, but much funnier.

Wishing you a meaningful and fun Purim!

“For the Jews there was light and joy and happiness and glory” (Esther 8:16)

8 \ Purim – Unmasked

Kurdish Megillah, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Purim – Unmasked / 9

kjb Purim sched le Purim Cl ass, Off the Beaten track, & Megill ah Reading 10 \ KJB Purim Schedule

Fast of Esther Thursday, February 25 (starts 5:23 am, ends 6:13 pm)

Purim Thursday Night, February 25 & Friday, February 26 All are invited to join our interactive Purim Megillah Reading including music, jokes, lchaims and hors devours – Monday night 8:30 p.m, 125 East 85th St. For a full schedule visit ckj.org/purim.

KJB Purim Schedule / 11

12 \ KJB Purim Schedule

KJB Purim Schedule / 13

megill h fun crossword puzzles, word searches & scrambles 14 \ Megillah Fun

chapter 1

Name:

Created with TheTeachersCorner.net Word Searc

Find the words and have fun! Created using Esther 1 TheTeachersCorner.net.

Find the words and have fun!

Name:

Created with TheTeachersCorner.net Word Sea

Esther 1

D

G

E

T

H

Q

I Find P the Y words Q PandHhave R fun!

K I

N

G

Z

P

Q

SD SG JE NT GH VQ Y I RP EY FQ UP SH ER DK U I HN PG EZ DP OQ ES PS UJ RN AG HV BY OR OE AF HU AS SE UD EU RH UP SE I D DO VE QP DU ER OA QH WB VO XO GA MH FA FS AU LE YR RU MS A I DD EV AQ GD SE EO TQ HW I V OX PG IM AF HF NA GL I Y PR OM DA VD NE DA EG PS SE ST UH N I CO YP MI BA VH ZN OG A I LP SO ED MV VN RD ME EP AS HS HU CN RC XY DM EB EV GZ LO KA EL AS ME YM ZV I R EM CE GA UH ZH EC RR VX WD RE ME AG DL OK PE I A MM QY SZ N I NE TC EG SU WZ I E VR EV SW OR BM UA UD DO YP C I YM UQ JS KN TN NT SE HS KW MI YV EE US VO QB ZU CU TD BY SC UY EU PJ I K MT AN GS AH QK TM AY ME KU PV PQ HZ BC AT I B CS EU EE ZP N I

IM HA DG NA I Q AT KA JM AK NP XP WH AB KA N I FC OE NE

HZ GN N I SH UD RN G I LA FK L J EA RN CX OW NA I K SN BF UO RN QH TG I N AS OU SR UG AL SF J L OE SR BC OO QN N I HS MB VU LR JQ GT S I HA I O OS BU BA KS I J SO CS TB LO UQ GN DH EM SV XL I J PG TS AH Q I EO BB AB QK V I LS FC CT YL EU DG WD DE SS XX C I UP ET NA JQ BE BB SA NQ ZV VL VF RC UY TE OD SW I D RS RX AC XU RE I N YJ LB JB TS EN DZ OV TV ER TU HT MO AS A I NR GR UA I X SR J I JY OL KJ ET LE RD SO OT BE RT AH AM AA ZA LN EG VU P I ES RJ SJ I O AK RE VL VR AS SO HB AHASUERUS ALABASTER V P E R S I A R V V A S H MINISTERS BEAUTIFUL AHASUERUS ALABASTER DRINKING HUSBANDS MINISTERS BEAUTIFUL PROVINCE RESPECT DRINKING HUSBANDS MAJESTY REFUSED PROVINCE RESPECT KINGDOM PERSIA MAJESTY REFUSED VASHTI BANQUET KINGDOM PERSIA PURPLE QUEEN VASHTI BANQUET DIADEM WIVES PURPLE QUEEN GOLD MEMUCAN DIADEM WIVES SEVEN WOOL GOLD MEMUCAN SEVEN WOOL

TR I A TA NA DZ J L SE JUDGEMENT T I T N D J S AUTHORITY JUDGEMENT ETHIOPIA AUTHORITY SHUSHAN ETHIOPIA MOSAICS SHUSHAN SILVER MOSAICS MEDIA SILVER WINE MEDIA SAGES WINE MARBLE SAGES KING MARBLE KING Megillah Fun / 15

chapter 2 Unscramble the words! eaagitg hnmaa eowbd iosdeyb icroreuts aoreicmd dmgoikn eoeplp rada snnai raetleto eicposnvr eticd ruicstedton tmemdaaahh nhtithreet cersib deeecr isentg plpeoe osrdre camrsase eldrpun aard ipssesssono riepoamldc aedilyspd snoiism dmebnudufdo snahshu

16 \ Megillah Fun

chapter 3 Unscramble the words! alyor rotnhe lapace rfvao spertec godlne huotdce squreet saeft jasmeyt nmaah bdnigdi edarrppe fldeilufl nwie dinigdb erag happy zseehr lewtah drometpo edcaiomr uibcst demplai lsaoprpo tsaek ngittsi yffit dnsfrei

Megillah Fun / 17

chapter 4Esther 4

Name:

Created with TheTeachersCorner.net Word Searc

Name:

Created with TheTeachersCorner.net Word Sea Find the words and have Created usingand TheTeachersCorner.net.

Find thefun! following words have fun!!!

Esther 4

W

E

E

P

Find N GtheUfollowing R L words Y GandEhave A fun!!!

S H

I

E

S

L

C

NW EE SE TP HI EN RG FU IR RL DY HG UE HA KS HH YE BS KL RC WN HE GS WT SH ZE WR DF UI ER PD EH NU LH NK TH KY PB DK YR RW JH BG HW MS ZZ HW SD IU FE OP GE UN QL RN JT MK RP QD I Y RR TJ KB WH PM OZ AH US HI EF NO RG CU IQ JR BJ RM OR AQ NI DR ET CK RW EP EO UA SU VH I E FN WR HC A I TJ HB AR CO HA GN MD JE DC NR RE FE IU RS TV UI GF TW SH PA BT EH EA LC JH KG AM AJ DD TN JR RF E I SR NT SU SG DT WS QP KB DE OE AL BJ OK I A UA ED KT EJ SR AE MS AN I S DS ED NW SQ RK BD AO I A WB AO DI OU SE PK BE FS MA IM VA HI ND BE MN OS NR EB YA MI DW WA ED LO TS OP AB VF YM E I FV LH CN GB MM JO VN AE LY EM GD AW NE NL RT CO EA PV PY EE SF AL CC KG CM LJ OV TA HL DE RG CA SN YN UR MC WE SP I P WE ES SA UC DK AC CL EO AT EH PD QR OC GS MY CU EM FW LS CI LW UE ZS AU YD EA PC CE DA EE SP ZQ MO XG SM TC RE EF WL BC EL NU WZ OA GY EE AP NC SD DE HS RZ MM VX AS I T RR YE MW RB EE PN RW RO CG EE AA TN HS JD UH YR AM GV FA OI LR EY IM DR GE TP TR AR DC ME SA ZT HH RJ SU AY NA OG UF NO SL EE L I ND RG PT LT EA MD QM US EZ EH NR HS DA DN EO PU SN ZS OE NL BN GR AP I L OE RM WQ LU FE YE ON AH JD ZD CE AP NS GZ NO JN TB PG NA CI NO OR PW RL OF VY IO NA CJ EZ ASHES C A N G COMMANDED ASHES DEATH COMMANDED ESTHER DEATH GATE ESTHER MAIDENS GATE MONEY MAIDENS OBSERVE MONEY PROCLAIMED OBSERVE RELIEF PROCLAIMED SCEPTER RELIEF THIRTY SCEPTER THIRTY 18 \ Megillah Fun

N

J

ASSEMBLE T P N C CRYING ASSEMBLE DECREE CRYING EUNUCHS DECREE GOLDEN EUNUCHS MAIDENS GOLDEN MORDECAI MAIDENS PALACE MORDECAI PROVINCE PALACE ROYAL PROVINCE SHUSHAN ROYAL TREASURY SHUSHAN TREASURY

N

O

P COMMAND R O V I N CRYING COMMAND DESTRUCTION CRYING FASTING DESTRUCTION HATHACH FASTING MESSAGE HATHACH MOURNING MESSAGE PERISH MOURNING QUEEN PERISH SACKCLOTH QUEEN SILENT SACKCLOTH WEEPING SILENT WEEPING

C

E

chapter 5 Unscramble the words! ctour laory eratnecn hotenr ceerstp ldoeng ueeqsrt ingodmk eftas stmjaye doamcdmen ddibing ndegatr lledfufil paeperr dgidbni nmhaa yhpap ezehsr seirnfd tbucsi amldpie amnah satek

Megillah Fun / 19

chapter 6 Name: Complete the crossword below. Created using TheTeachersCorner.net.

Esther 6

Complete the crossword puzzle below 1 2 4

3

Name:

5

Esther 66

Complete the crossword puzzle below 7

8

1 2

9 4

3

5

10 6 7

8 9

11

12 10

13 11

12

14

15

13

14

15

16

16

ross

Created using the Crossword Maker on TheTeachersCorner.n

Down

. what the king couldn't do 1. Haman's wife's name Created using the Crossword Maker on TheTeachersCorner . Haman did this in the square 2. Haman wanted this done to Mordecai Acrossthe king wanted to _______ him Down . Haman thought 4. This is what a diadem is 3. whatto theBigthana king couldn't Haman's wife's name 0. what happened anddo Teresh 5. did 71.across 6. Haman did this in the square 2. Haman wanted this done to Mordecai 1. in the court 8. guard the palace 7. Haman thought the king wanted to _______ him 4. This is what a diadem is 3. what was 10. done forhappened Mordecaito Bigthana and Teresh 9. another term for fancy clothes what 5. did 7 across 4. what the king Haman 12. what king 11. indid thetocourt 8. the guard theordered palace to read 6. Type of 'stock' from which is made 15. Haman's head was on the way home 13. what was doneMordecai for Mordecai 9. another term for______ fancy clothes 14. what the king did to Haman 16. Type of 'stock' from which Mordecai is made

20 \ Megillah Fun

12. what the king ordered to read 15. Haman's head was ______ on the way home way home

chapter 7

Name: Created with TheTeachersCorner.net Word Search

Find the words and have fun! Created using Esther 7 TheTeachersCorner.net.

Find the words and have fun!

Name:

Created with TheTeachersCorner.net Word Search M

B

A

T

K

I

N

G

D

O

M R C Esther 7

T

V

Y

F

U

Z

P

K

R

D

I

H

Z

T

andM have WFind L the S words R E Ofun!

R

D

E

C

A

I

W

AB EA TT XK QI RN XG UD VO JM Q R

FC

U T

W V

O Y

C F

N U

H Z

W P KI

VR SD H I QH UZ OT NW WL KS UR UE

F M

Z O

J R

K D

U E

CI

G A

C S I W

EQ SF

T U

R W O

Y C

E N

D H

P W

H I

SV RS MH TQ UU BO AN NW VK BU SU DF

Z D

JI

K C

U O

I U

G C

C H

S A

H I OT YM GH PF LU RH EI

DS

T H

R Q

O I

Y J

E K

DI

P N

H G

D AS YR GM VT CU EB BA ON NV DB SS M

D E

NI

C Y

O A

U A

C H

H R

A P

ZH DO EY VG IP LL OR QE UO EG ET

D N

H E

Q T

OI

J F

K C

I A

N R

G E

AA YY VG YV BC AE NB QO UN ED TS

M S E X

N F

Y O

A U

A S

H M

R M

P O

HZ ZD SE EV K I AL AO TQ TU

EN

E R

T R

O O

F R

C V

A A

R G

E P

AA HY MV GY RB VA HN HQ EU UE

X JT M

JS

F D

O S

U Y

S Z

M N

M U

O L

MH EZ TS QE KK SA UA MT PT AI

KT

E M R O

R I

O M

R P

V A

A L

G E

P E

OJ NK

M P O A

D A EI

S J

Y J

Z X

EO N E E V E X V E X

KP AI A T N T K A X J N T I O X J N P I O

E

N

I A TE MT HX FQ UR HX

AA SH UM VG BR NM TE TT EQ XK F A HS I U AV TB N T T E X J E F O K F H I A T R R H K K J E F O K M S H H J R R H K K L R B O N M S H H J FEAST WISH L R B O N MAJESTY FEAST EXTERMINATED WISH SILENT MAJESTY ESTHER EXTERMINATED HAMAN SILENT FURY ESTHER COUCH HAMAN HAMAN FURY MORDECAI COUCH HAMAN MORDECAI

IU PV DJ

OP GD TE

IE

XV AH GH ME DU TS EU RM MP IA AX BA FG YM LD T E R M I S H S I L A B F Y L E C S T W S H S I L B P L D N E C S T W D S W O M B P L D N QUEEN D SREQUEST W O M PEOPLE QUEEN BONDSMEN REQUEST TROUBLE PEOPLE ADVERSARY BONDSMEN EVIL TROUBLE DESTROY ADVERSARY RAVISH EVIL IMPALE DESTROY FURY RAVISH IMPALE FURY

TE

IJ M T

P

N U W T LJ A F L S E R E W X W T J A Y W W F S R W M V Z K A Y W W T Q B T M V Z K G F Q Y T Q B T M A A K G F Q Y

M W P D A R J X J O E D W Y K E O R X H F E Y K E O N X H F E E G F O N X WINE KINGDOM E G F M A DESTROYED WINE BONDSWOMEN KINGDOM KING DESTROYED ENEMY BONDSWOMEN TERROR KING BANQUET ENEMY HARBONAH TERROR STAKE BANQUET

A

K

HARBONAH STAKE

Megillah Fun / 21

chapter 8 Unscramble the words! perporyt ynmee rldeevae edtrlae ngepwie gnlfail lepdtot gaiatge odlneg scpetre yastemj lprosoap alsigpen nirettw tahnenaiil evnoripsc sstaedri iectuodrnst dekrdin yptroepr mihncges ngaasit nisteg etdic ekodrev scbires snuomdme actnotidi ornrogesv peoatihi

22 \ Megillah Fun

chapters 9 & 10

Name: Created with TheTeachersCorner.net Word Search Maker

Complete the crossword below. Created using TheTeachersCorner.net.

Esther 9 and 10

Find the words and have fun!

M

W

P

S

A

F

E

A

S

T

I

N

G

V

K

D

Q

Z

L

A

D

D

K

C

A

A

Y

F

O

F

F

I

C

I

A

L

S

D

R

P

U

E

I

A

U

B

E

T

D

R

S

W

O

R

D

F

S

S

T

J

U

D

R

F

U

E

O

F

C

Z

M

X

N

K

D

P

B

F

O

R

T

R

E

S

S

P

D

E

G

U

P

R

U

E

W

L

A

W

E

D

P

O

K

Y

G

L

J

D

P

O

W

E

R

C

S

L

C

S

Q

R

L

Q

M

A

E

U

P

G

T

T

H

I

R

T

E

E

N

T

H

X

H

F

Q

I

N

E

I

H

H

C

R

P

O

E

R

G

B

W

C

B

M

O

R

E

D

C

A

I

I

A

A

N

R

E

R

I

O

O

H

A

M

A

N

X

H

Q

H

F

O

E

S

N

A

L

L

V

A

C

N

E

M

S

D

D

N

H

O

L

I

D

A

Y

U

O

O

E

M

M

C

L

E

E

D

E

E

P

I

P

S

S

K

Z

L

O

I

E

M

Z

B

L

Q

T

O

Z

H

E

Z

U

G

U

O

T

F

S

F

M

S

A

D

A

R

A

M

S

M

A

R

G

O

R

F

D

P

H

K

W

E

O

V

O

I

T

E

Y

A

Z

T

E

E

C

P

P

U

C

N

E

X

Q

H

N

E

V

B

W

R

G

M

S

G

N

X

T

R

R

D

T

M

E

D

D

A

Z

E

A

G

R

Q

N

E

M

I

B

G

E

N

J

A

R

V

A

A

D

D

N

H

P

E

H

N

H

F

C

P

L

E

F

P

D

N

A

O

C

Y

E

H

V

T

A

K

Q

L

S

O

T

I

U

O

E

F

D

T

C

G

E

L

Y

K

M

K

S

A

M

H

O

K

U

I

F

V

M

L

A

O

A

L

S

G

D

R

S

E

Q

A

J

I

M

F

C

A

H

T

L

A

Z

P

E

Y

P

R

I

R

D

V

A

I

C

N

K

C

O

L

D

L

S

A

E

T

F

R

A

K

F

L

E

K

I

I

Z

T

W

E

E

I

C

F

E

L

V

G

W

V

R

O

E

L

Z

D

E

S

T

R

O

Y

I

N

G

F

N

X

R

O

Z

I

T

C

M

I

U

A

E

G

O

S

V

E

G

W

N

O

M

B

S

G

D

R

V

L

N

N

I

K

B

G

L

D

O

R

E

Q

U

E

S

T

N

O

A

G

N

C

A

B

I

P

Z

G

Z

U

H

M

J

S

T

F

P

O

P

U

L

A

R

Z

I

S

F

O

N

Y

Y

A

Q

F

T

T

A

L

R

E

X

E

C

U

T

E

D

I

K

W

J

G

J

M

T

N

M

A

J

E

S

T

Y

R

Q

Z

F

O

U

R

T

E

E

N

T

H

X

V

P

A

S

A

K

Q

S

O

N

S

THIRTEENTH OPPOSITE PEOPLES MOREDCAI FORTRESS SONS REALM MAJESTY IMPALED SPOIL FOES HOLIDAY GRIEF OBLIGATION

PURIM SCROLL ANNALS POPULAR KINDRED TWELFTH POWER OFFICIALS POWERFUL SHUSHAN HAMAN REQUEST DECREE FOURTEENTH

FOUGHT FEASTING OBSERVE JOY COMMANDED GENERATION TRIBUTE PERSIA GOOD EXECUTED ATTACK DEFERENCE SWORD DESTROYING

HAMMEDATHA FULFILLED PROCLAIMED ADAR KILLING MERRYMAKING TRANSFORMED GIFTS DECREE DESCENDANTS MAINLAND MEDIA WELFARE

Megillah Fun / 23

This text contains merged sections from the following versions: Sefaria.org and The Holy Scriptures: A New Translation (JPS 1917).

megi At esther hebrew text & english transl ation 24 \ Megillah Fun

chapter 1

‫פרק א‬

Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus—this is Ahasuerus who reigned, from India to Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces—

‫שוֵרֹ֗וׁש‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫שוֵרֹ֑וׁש הּ֣וא‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מ֣י‬ ֵ ‫בּי‬ ִ ‫ה֖י‬ ִ ְ ‫וַי‬ ‫שׂרִ ֥ים‬ ְ ֶ ‫שבַע וְע‬ ֛ ֶ ׁ ‫הּ֣דּו וְע ַד־ּכּ֔וׁש‬ ֹ ‫מ‬ ֵ ֙‫מלְֵך‬ ֹּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מדִינ ָֽה׃‬ ְ ‫מאָ֖ה‬ ֵ ‫ּו‬

that in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the castle,

‫שוֵרֹ֗וׁש‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֣ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֣בֶת ׀‬ ֶ ְׁ ‫ה֑ם ּכ‬ ֵ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫מ֖ים‬ ִ ָּ ‫בּי‬ ַ ‫בּירָ ֽה׃‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֥ן‬ ַ ׁ ‫בּׁשּו‬ ְ ‫ש֖ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְכּותֹ֔ו‬ ַ ‫ס֣א‬ ֵּ ִ ‫עַ֚ל ּכ‬

in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the army of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him;

‫ת֔ה‬ ֶּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫ש֣ה‬ ָׂ ָ ‫מלְכֹ֔ו ע‬ ָ ְ‫שלֹוׁש֙ ל‬ ָ ׁ ‫שנ ַ֤ת‬ ְ ׁ‫ב‬ ִּ ‫מ ַד֗י‬ ָ ‫ח֣יל ׀ פָּרַ ֣ס ּו‬ ֵ ‫ב ָד֑יו‬ ָ ֲ ‫שׂרָ ֖יו וַע‬ ָ ‫לְכ ָל־‬ ‫מדִינֹ֖ות לְפָנ ָֽיו׃‬ ְּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שׂרֵ ֥י‬ ָ ְ ‫מ֛ים ו‬ ִ ‫ת‬ ּ ְ ְ‫הפַּר‬ ַֽ

when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty, many days, even a hundred and fourscore days.

‫מלְכּותֹ֔ו‬ ַ ‫שר֙ ּכ ְבֹ֣וד‬ ֶ ׁ ֙‫בהַרְ ֹאתֹ֗ו אֶת־ ֹע‬ ְּ ‫ב֔ים‬ ִּ ַ‫מ֣ים ר‬ ִ ָ ‫תפְאֶ֖רֶ ת גְּדּו ּלָתֹ֑ו י‬ ּ ִ ‫וְאֶ֨ת־י ְ ָק֔ר‬ ‫מאַ֖ת יֹֽום׃‬ ְ ‫שמֹונ ִ֥ים ּו‬ ְ ׁ

And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the castle, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace;

‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֡ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֣ה‬ ָׂ ָ ‫האֵ֗לֶּה ע‬ ָ ‫מ֣ים‬ ִ ָּ ‫מלֹ֣ואת ׀ הַי‬ ְ ‫ב‬ ִ ‫ּו‬ ‫בּירָ ֜ה‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֨ן‬ ַ ׁ ‫בּׁשּו‬ ְ ֩‫מצְאִים‬ ְ ִּ ‫העָ֣ם הַנ‬ ָ ‫לְכ ָל־‬ ‫מ֑ים‬ ִ ָ ‫בעַ֣ת י‬ ְ ‫ש‬ ִ ׁ ‫ת֖ה‬ ֶּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫ט֛ן‬ ָ ‫מ ּג ָ֧דֹול וְע ַד־ ָק‬ ִ ְ‫ל‬ ‫מלְֶך׃‬ ּֽ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת֖ן‬ ַ ‫בּי‬ ִ ‫חצַ֕ר ג ִ ּ​ּנ ַ֥ת‬ ֲ ‫ב‬ ַּ

there were hangings of white, fine cotton, and blue, bordered with cords of fine linen and purple, upon silver rods and pillars of marble; the couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of green, and white, and shell, and onyx marble.

And they gave them drink in vessels of gold—the vessels being diverse one from another—and royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.

And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel; for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they

‫בלֵי־בּ֣וץ‬ ְ ‫ח‬ ַ ‫ב‬ ְּ ֙‫תכ֗ ֵלֶת אָחּוז‬ ְ ‫פַ֣ס ּו‬ ּ ְ‫חּ֣ור ׀ כַּר‬ ‫שׁ֑ש‬ ֵ ׁ ‫מ֔ן ע ַל־ ּג ְלִ֥ילֵי ֖כ ֶסֶף וְעַּמּ֣ודֵי‬ ָ ָ ‫וְאַרְ ּג‬ ‫בהַט־‬ ַּ ‫ה֣ב ו ָ ֗כ ֶסֶף עַ֛ל רִ ֽצְפַ֥ת‬ ָ ָ ‫מּטֹ֣ות ׀ ז‬ ִ ‫חֽרֶ ת׃‬ ָ ‫ס‬ ֹ ְ ‫שׁ֖ש ו ְ ַד֥ר ו‬ ֵ ָׁ‫ו‬ ‫מ ּכ ֵלִ֣ים‬ ִ ‫ה֔ב וְכֵלִ֖ים‬ ָ ָ ‫בכְלֵ֣י ז‬ ִּ ֙‫שקֹות‬ ְ ׁ‫ה‬ ַ ְ‫ו‬ ‫מלְֶך׃‬ ּֽ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מלְכּ֛ות רָ ֖ב כְּי ַ֥ד‬ ַ ‫ׁשֹונ ִ֑ים וְי ֵ֥ין‬ ‫ס֣ד‬ ַּ ִ ‫ד֖ת אֵ֣ין אֹנ ֵ֑ס כִּי־כֵ֣ן ׀ י‬ ּ ָ ַ ‫שת ִּי ָ֥ה כ‬ ְ ּ ׁ‫ה‬ ַ ְ‫ו‬ ‫בּיתֹ֔ו לַעֲׂשֹ֖ות כִּרְ צֹ֥ון‬ ֵ ‫מלְֶך עַ֚ל כָּל־רַ ֣ב‬ ּ֗ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫אִיׁש־וָאִֽיׁש׃‬

esther 1 / 25

should do according to every man’s pleasure.

Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.

On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Bizzetha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that ministered in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look on.

But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by the chamberlains; therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times—for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment; and the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat the first in the kingdom: ’What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, forasmuch as she hath not done the bidding of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?’

And Memucan answered before the king and the princes: ‘Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes,

26 \ esther 1

‫ש֑ים‬ ִ ָ ׁ ‫ת֣ה נ‬ ֵּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫ת֖ה‬ ָ ‫ש‬ ְׂ ָ ‫מלְ ּכ ָ֔ה ע‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת֣י‬ ִּ ‫ש‬ ְ ַ ׁ ‫ּג ַ֚ם ו‬ ‫שוֵרֹֽוׁש׃‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֥ ֶ ַ‫ש֖ר ל‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְכּ֔ות‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ב֚ית‬ ֵּ ‫)(ס‬ ‫ב ּ​ּי ָ֑י ִן‬ ַ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שבִיעִ֔י ּכ ְטֹ֥וב לֵב־‬ ְ ּ ׁ‫ה‬ ַ ֙‫בּ​ּיֹום‬ ַ ‫ת֤א‬ ָ ְ ‫בג‬ ִּ ‫ת֨א חַרְ בֹונ ָ֜א‬ ָ ְּ ‫בּז‬ ִ ‫מ֡ר לִ֠מְהּומָן‬ ַ ָ‫א‬ ‫ס֔ים‬ ִ ‫ס֣רִ י‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ַ ֙‫בעַת‬ ְ ‫ש‬ ִ ׁ ‫ת֣ר וְכ ַרְ ּכ ַ֔ס‬ ַ ֵ ‫תא֙ ז‬ ָ ְ ‫בג‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ַ‫ו‬ ‫שוֵרֹֽוׁש׃‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֥ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת֔ים אֶת־פְּנ ֵ֖י‬ ִ ְ‫ש֣ר‬ ָ ׁ‫מ‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ּמלְ ּכ ָ֛ה לִפְנ ֵ֥י‬ ַ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת֧י‬ ִּ ‫ש‬ ְ ַ ׁ ‫הבִיא אֶת־ו‬ ָ ְ‫֠ל‬ ‫מ֤ים‬ ּ ִ ַ ‫הע‬ ֽ ָ ‫מלְכּ֑ות לְהַרְ אֹ֨ות‬ ַ ‫בכ֣ ֶתֶר‬ ְּ ‫ב֥ת מַרְ אֶ֖ה‬ ַ ‫שׂרִ ים֙ אֶת־יָפְי ָּ֔ה ּכ ִֽי־טֹו‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ַ ְ‫ו‬ ‫הֽיא׃‬ ִ ‫ב֣ר‬ ַ ‫ב ְד‬ ִּ ֙‫ת֗י לָבֹוא‬ ִּ ‫ש‬ ְ ַ ׁ ‫מלְ ּכ ָ֣ה ו‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מאֵ֞ן‬ ָ ‫ת‬ ְּ ַ ‫ו‬ ‫ס֑ים וַי ִּ ְק ֹצ֤ף‬ ִ ‫סּרִ י‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בּי ַ֣ד‬ ְ ‫ש֖ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בע ֲרָ ֥ה בֹֽו׃‬ ָּ ‫מתֹ֖ו‬ ָ ‫ח‬ ֲ ַ ‫מ ֹא֔ד ו‬ ְ ֙‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֙ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת֑ים‬ ּ ִ ִ ‫הע‬ ָֽ ‫מ֖ים ֹי ְדעֵ֣י‬ ִ ָ ‫חכ‬ ֲ ַ‫מלְֶך ל‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ו ַֹ ּי֣אמֶר‬ ‫ד֥ת‬ ּ ָ ‫מלְֶך לִפְנ ֵ֕י כָּל־ ֹי ְדעֵ֖י‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ב֣ר‬ ַ ‫ד‬ ּ ְ ֙‫כִּי־כֵן‬ ‫ו ָ ִדֽין׃‬ ‫מתָא‬ ֣ ָ ‫תר֙ אַ ְד‬ ָ ‫ש‬ ֵ ׁ ‫שנ ָ֤א‬ ְ ׁ ְ‫ק ֹר֣ב אֵלָ֗יו כַּר‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ַ ְ‫ו‬ ‫בעַ֞ת‬ ְ ‫ש‬ ִ ׁ ‫מ֥רֶ ס מַרְ סְנ ָ֖א מְמּוכָ֑ן‬ ֶ ‫ש֔יׁש‬ ִ ׁ ְ‫תַר‬ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מ ַד֗י ֹראֵי֙ פְּנ ֵ֣י‬ ָ ‫שׂרֵ ֣י ׀ פָּרַ ֣ס ּו‬ ָ ‫מלְכּֽות׃‬ ַּ ‫ב‬ ַּ ‫שנ ָ֖ה‬ ֹ ׁ ‫ב֥ים רִ א‬ ִ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ ‫ה ֹ ּי‬ ַ ‫ת֑י עַ֣ל ׀‬ ִּ ‫ש‬ ְ ַ ׁ ‫מלְ ּכ ָ֖ה ו‬ ַּ ‫ב‬ ַּ ‫מֽה־ ּלַעֲׂשֹ֔ות‬ ַ ֙‫ּכ ְ ָדת‬ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֣ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ֙‫מר‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מ‬ ַ ‫ת֗ה אֶֽת־‬ ָ ‫ש‬ ְׂ ָ ‫ש֣ר לֹֽא־ע‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫סֽים׃ (ס‬ ִ ‫סּרִ י‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בּי ַ֖ד‬ ְ ‫שוֵרֹ֔וׁש‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ) ֙‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֙ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ו ַֹ ּי֣אמֶר מומכן [מְמּוכָ֗ן] לִפְנ ֵ֤י‬ ‫ת֖ה‬ ָ ְ ‫בּדֹ֔ו ע ָו‬ ַ ְ‫מלְֶך֙ ל‬ ּ֙ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שׂרִ ֔ים לֹ֤א ע ַל־‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ַ ְ‫ו‬ ‫שׂרִ ים֙ וְע ַל־‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מלְ ּכ ָ֑ה ּכ ִ֤י ע ַל־כָּל־‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת֣י‬ ִּ ‫ש‬ ְ ַׁ‫ו‬

and to all the peoples, that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֥ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מדִינֹ֖ות‬ ְ ‫בכ ָל־‬ ְּ ‫ש֕ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מ֔ים‬ ּ ִ ַ ‫הע‬ ָ֣ ‫כָּל־‬ ‫שוֵרֹֽוׁש׃‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ

For this deed of the queen will come abroad unto all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it will be said: The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.

‫ש֔ים‬ ִ ׁ ָּ ‫מלְ ּכ ָה֙ ע ַל־כָּל־הַנ‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ּכ ִֽי־יֵצֵ֤א ְדבַר־‬ ‫באָמְרָ ֗ם‬ ְּ ‫ה֑ן‬ ֶ ‫בע ֵינ ֵי‬ ְּ ‫ה֖ן‬ ֶ ‫בעְלֵי‬ ַּ ‫בזֹ֥ות‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ַ ְ‫ל‬ ‫ב֨יא אֶת־‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ‫מ֞ר ל‬ ַ ָ‫שוֵרֹ֡וׁש א‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֣ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫באָה׃‬ ָֽ ‫מלְ ּכ ָ֛ה לְפָנ ָ֖יו וְל ֹא־‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת֧י‬ ִּ ‫ש‬ ְ ַׁ‫ו‬

And this day will the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the deed of the queen say the like unto all the king’s princes. So will there arise enough contempt and wrath.

If it please the king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus, and that the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.

And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his kingdom, great though it be, all the wives will give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.’

And the word pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan; for he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and speak according to the language of his people.

‫פָֽרַ ס־‬ ּ ‫שרֹ֣ות‬ ָׂ ‫מ֣רְ נ ָה ׀‬ ַ ‫תּא‬ ֹ ‫הּיֹ֨ום ה ַּז ֶ֜ה‬ ַ ְֽ ‫ו‬ ‫מלְ ּכ ָ֔ה‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ב֣ר‬ ַ ‫ד‬ ּ ְ ‫שמְעּו֙ אֶת־‬ ֽ ָ ׁ ‫ש֤ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מ ַד֗י‬ ָ ‫ּו‬ ‫קצ ֶף׃‬ ֽ ָ ָ ‫ב ָּ​ּזיֹ֥ון ו‬ ִ ‫מלְֶך ּוכ ְ ַד֖י‬ ּ֑ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שׂרֵ ֣י‬ ָ ‫לְ ֹכ֖ל‬ ֙‫מלְכּות‬ ַ ‫מלְֶך טֹ֗וב יֵצֵ֤א ְדבַר־‬ ּ֣ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫אִם־ע ַל־‬ ‫מ ַד֖י וְלֹ֣א‬ ָ ‫ת֥י פָֽרַ ס־ּו‬ ֵ ‫ב ָד‬ ְּ ‫ת֛ב‬ ֵ ָ ‫מ ּלְפָנ ָ֔יו וְי ִ ּכ‬ ִ ֙‫ת֗י לִפְנֵי‬ ִּ ‫ש‬ ְ ַ ׁ ‫תבֹ֜וא ו‬ ָ ‫ש֨ר לֹֽא־‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫יַעֲבֹ֑ור‬ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת֣ן‬ ּ ֵ ִ ‫תּה֙ י‬ ָ ‫מלְכּו‬ ַ ‫שוֵרֹ֔וׁש ּו‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֣ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מֽנ ָּה׃‬ ֶּ ‫מ‬ ִ ‫ב֥ה‬ ָ ‫תּ֖ה הַּטֹו‬ ָ ‫לִרְ עּו‬ ֙ ‫ש‬ ‫ה‬ ֶׂ ֲ ‫שר־יַע‬ ֶֽ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֤ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫תגָ֨ם‬ ְ ִ‫פ‬ ּ ֩‫מע‬ ַ ‫ש‬ ְ ִ ׁ ‫ו ְנ‬ ‫ש֗ים‬ ִ ׁ ָּ ‫ה֑יא וְכ ָל־הַנ‬ ִ ‫ב֖ה‬ ָּ ַ‫מלְכּותֹ֔ו ּכ ִ֥י ר‬ ַ ‫בכ ָל־‬ ְּ ‫טֽן׃‬ ָ ‫מ ּג ָדֹ֖ול וְע ַד־ ָק‬ ִ ְ‫ה֔ן ל‬ ֶ ‫בעְלֵי‬ ַ ְ‫תנּ֤ו י ְ ָקר֙ ל‬ ְּ ִ ‫י‬ ‫שׂרִ ֑ים‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ַ ְ ‫מלְֶך ו‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בע ֵינ ֵ֥י‬ ְּ ‫ב֔ר‬ ָ ‫ד‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ַ ֙‫טב‬ ַ ‫וַי ִּי‬ ‫ב֥ר מְמּוכָֽן׃‬ ַ ‫מלְֶך ּכ ִ ְד‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ו ַ ּ֥י ַע ַׂש‬ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מדִינֹ֣ות‬ ְ ‫ספָרִ ים֙ אֶל־כָּל־‬ ְ ‫שלַ֤ח‬ ְ ׁ ִּ ‫וַי‬ ‫בּ֔ה וְאֶל־עַ֥ם‬ ָ ‫ת‬ ָ ְ ‫מדִינָה֙ ּכ ִכ‬ ְ ‫מדִינ ָ֤ה ּו‬ ְ ‫אֶל־‬ ‫ש ׂרֵ ֣ר‬ ֹ ֙‫היֹ֤ות כָּל־אִיׁש‬ ְ ִ‫וָעָ֖ם ּכ ִלְׁשֹונֹ֑ו ל‬ ‫ב֖ר ּכ ִלְׁשֹ֥ון עַּמֹֽו׃ (פ‬ ֵּ ‫מ ַד‬ ְ ‫בבֵיתֹ֔ו ּו‬ ְּ )

esther 1 / 27

chapter 2

‫פרק ב‬

After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was assuaged, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

‫מ֖ת‬ ַ ‫ח‬ ֲ ‫שְ֕ך‬ ֹ ְׁ ‫האֵ֔לֶּה ּכ‬ ָ ‫דבָרִ ֣ים‬ ְּ ‫ה‬ ַ ֙‫חר‬ ַ ַ‫א‬ ‫תי֙ וְאֵ֣ת‬ ִּ ‫ש‬ ְ ַ ׁ ‫שוֵרֹ֑וׁש זָכַ֤ר אֶת־ו‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֣ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שר־נִג ְז ַ֖ר עָלֶֽיהָ׃‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ש֔תָה וְאֵ֥ת‬ ָׂ ָ ‫שר־ע‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ

Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him: ‘Let there be sought for the king young virgins fair to look on;

‫ב ְקׁשּ֥ו‬ ַ ְ ‫ת֑יו י‬ ָ ְ‫שר‬ ָ ׁ‫מ‬ ְ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מרּ֥ו נַע ֲרֵ ֽי־‬ ְ ‫ו ַֹיּא‬ ‫בּתּולֹ֖ות טֹובֹ֥ות מַרְ אֶֽה׃‬ ְ ‫מלְֶך נְעָרֹ֥ות‬ ּ֛ ֶ ַ‫ל‬

and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the castle, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hegai the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their ointments be given them; and let the maiden that pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti.’

And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

There was a certain Jew in Shushan the castle, whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair the son of Shimei the son of Kish, a Benjamite, who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives that had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter; for she had neither father nor mother, and the maiden was of beautiful form and fair to look on; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.

28 \ esther 2

‫מדִינֹ֣ות‬ ְ ‫בכ ָל־‬ ְּ ֮‫פְקִידִים‬ ּ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֣ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫וְיַפְ ֵק֨ד‬ ‫ב֠תּולָה‬ ְ ‫בצּ֣ו אֶת־כָּל־נַע ֲרָ ֽה־‬ ְּ ‫מלְכּותֹו֒ וְי ִ ְק‬ ַ ‫בּירָ ה֙ אֶל־‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֤ן‬ ַ ׁ ‫ב֨ת מַרְ אֶ֜ה אֶל־ׁשּו‬ ַ ‫טֹו‬ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫הגֶ֛א סְרִ ֥יס‬ ֵ ‫ש֔ים אֶל־י ַ֥ד‬ ִ ׁ ָּ ‫ב֣ית הַנ‬ ֵּ ‫הֽן׃‬ ֶ ‫תמְרּוקֵי‬ ּ ַ ‫ש֑ים ו ְנָתֹ֖ון‬ ִ ׁ ָּ ‫מ֣ר הַנ‬ ֵ ‫ש‬ ֹ ׁ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בע ֵינ ֵ֣י‬ ְּ ֙‫טב‬ ַ ‫תּי‬ ִ ‫ש֤ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫הֽנַּע ֲרָ ֗ה‬ ַ ְ‫ו‬ ‫בּע ֵינ ֵ֥י‬ ְ ‫ב֛ר‬ ָ ‫ד‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ט֧ב‬ ַ ‫ת֑י וַי ִּי‬ ִּ ‫ש‬ ְ ַ ׁ ‫תחַת ו‬ ּ֣ ַ ‫מלְֹ֖ך‬ ְ ‫ת‬ ִּ ‫מלְֶך וַיּ֥ ַע ַׂש ּכ ֵֽן׃ (ס‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ) ‫שמֹ֣ו‬ ְ ׁ ‫בּירָ ֑ה ּו‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֣ן‬ ַ ׁ ‫בּׁשּו‬ ְ ‫אִ֣יׁש י ְהּו ִד֔י הָי ָ֖ה‬ ‫בּן־ ִק֖יׁש אִ֥יׁש‬ ֶ ‫מעִ֛י‬ ְ ‫ש‬ ִ ׁ ‫בּן־‬ ֶ ‫ב֣ן יָאִ֧יר‬ ֶּ ‫דכַ֗י‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫מָר‬ ‫יְמִינ ִֽי׃‬ ֙ ָ‫ה ֹּגל‬ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שלַ֔י ִם ע ִם־‬ ָ ׁ ‫הגְלָה֙ מִירּ֣ו‬ ָ ‫ש֤ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך־י ְהּו ָד֑ה‬ ֽ ֶ ‫ת֔ה עִ֖ם יְכ ָנְי ָ֣ה‬ ָ ְ‫הגְל‬ ָ ‫ש֣ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫בֽל׃‬ ֶ ‫ב‬ ָּ ‫מ֥לְֶך‬ ֶ ‫הגְלָ֔ה נ ְבּוכַדְנ ֶא ּצ ַ֖ר‬ ֶ ‫ש֣ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ת ֙ר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫ה֤יא א‬ ִ ‫ס֗ה‬ ָּ ‫ה ַד‬ ֲ ‫מ֜ן אֶת־‬ ֵ ‫ה֨י ֹא‬ ִ ְ ‫וַי‬ ‫דדֹ֔ו ּכ ִ֛י אֵ֥ין לָּ֖ה אָ֣ב וָאֵ֑ם וְהַנַּע ֲרָ ֤ה‬ ֹּ ‫בּת־‬ ַ ָ֙ ‫ב֙י‬ ‫ה‬ ִ ָ‫במֹ֤ות א‬ ְ ‫ב֣ת מַרְ אֶ֔ה ּו‬ ַ ‫תאַר֙ ו ְטֹו‬ ּ֙ ֹ ‫יְפַת־‬ ‫בֽת׃‬ ַ ְ‫דכַ֛י לֹ֖ו ל‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫חּ֧ה מָר‬ ָ ‫מּ֔ה לְ ָק‬ ּ ָ ִ‫וְא‬ ‫מלְֶך֙ ו ְ ָדתֹ֔ו‬ ּ֙ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫דבַר־‬ ּ ְ ‫מ֤ע‬ ַ ‫ש‬ ָ ּ ׁ‫ה‬ ִ ‫ב‬ ְּ ‫ה֗י‬ ִ ְ ‫וַי‬ ‫ש֥ן‬ ַ ׁ ‫ב֞ץ נְעָרֹ֥ות רַ ּבֹ֛ות אֶל־ׁשּו‬ ֵ ‫ק‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ִ ‫ב‬ ְ ֽ‫ּו‬

So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was published, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the castle, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her ointments, with her portions, and the seven maidens, who were meet to be given her out of the king’s house; and he advanced her and her maidens to the best place in the house of the women.

Esther had not made known her people nor her kindred; for Mordecai had charged her that she should not tell it.

And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what would become of her.

Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that it had been done to her according to the law for the women, twelve months—for so were the days of their anointing accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six month with sweet odours, and with other ointments of the women — when then the maiden came unto the king, whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king’s house.

In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the

‫תר֙ אֶל־‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫ת ּלָ ַק֤ח א‬ ּ ִ ַ ‫הגָ֑י ו‬ ֵ ‫בּירָ ֖ה אֶל־י ַ֣ד‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שים׃‬ ֽ ִ ׁ ָּ ‫מ֥ר הַנ‬ ֵ ‫ש‬ ֹ ׁ ‫הגַ֖י‬ ֵ ‫מלְֶך אֶל־י ַ֥ד‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ב֣ית‬ ֵּ ‫חסֶד‬ ֶ֣ ‫ש֣א‬ ָׂ ּ ‫ת‬ ּ ִ ַ ‫בע ֵינ ָיו֮ ו‬ ְ ‫ט֨ב הַנַּע ֲרָ ֣ה‬ ַ ‫תּי‬ ִ ַ‫ו‬ ‫ה וְאֶת־‬ ָ ‫תמְרּו ֶק֤י‬ ּ ַ ‫בהֵל אֶת־‬ ַ ְ ‫לְפָנ ָיו֒ ו ַ֠י‬ ‫שבַע הַנְּעָרֹ֔ות‬ ֣ ֶ ׁ ֙‫ת֣ת לָּ֔ה וְאֵת‬ ֵ ָ‫ה ל‬ ָ֙ ‫ת‬ ֙ ֶ ‫מָנֹו‬ ‫ה‬ ָ ֶ ּ֧‫שנ‬ ַ ְ ׁ ‫מלְֶך וַי‬ ּ֑ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ב֣ית‬ ֵּ ‫מ‬ ִ ‫הָרְ ֻאיֹ֥ות ֽלָתֶת־לָּ֖ה‬ ‫שים׃‬ ֽ ִ ׁ ָּ ‫ב֥ית הַנ‬ ֵּ ‫ה לְטֹ֖וב‬ ָ ‫ת֛י‬ ֶ ‫וְאֶת־נַע ֲרֹו‬ ‫מּ֖ה וְאֶת־‬ ּ ָ ַ ‫ת֔ר אֶת־ע‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫ה ּג ִ֣ידָה א‬ ִ ‫ל ֹא־‬ ‫ש֥ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫דכַ֛י צ ִּו ָ֥ה עָלֶ֖י‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫תּ֑ה ּכ ִ֧י מָר‬ ּ ָ ‫מֹֽולַ ְד‬ ‫ת ּג ִֽיד׃‬ ַ ‫ל ֹא־‬ ‫ה ּלְֵ֔ך לִפְנ ֵ֖י‬ ַ ‫ת‬ ְ ‫מ‬ ִ ֙‫דכַי‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫בכ ָל־יֹ֣ום וָיֹ֔ום מָר‬ ְ ‫ּו‬ ‫שלֹ֣ום‬ ְ ׁ ‫דעַת֙ אֶת־‬ ֙ ַ ָ‫ש֑ים ל‬ ִ ׁ ָּ ‫בּית־הַנ‬ ֵ ‫חצַ֣ר‬ ֲ ‫בּֽה׃‬ ָּ ‫ש֖ה‬ ֶׂ ָ ‫ת֔ר ּומַה־יֵּע‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫א‬ ‫תר֩ נַע ֲרָ ֨ה ו ְנַע ֲרָ ֜ה לָבֹ֣וא ׀‬ ּ ֹ ַ ‫ה ּג ִ֡יע‬ ַ ‫ב‬ ְ ‫ּו‬ ‫היֹ֨ות לָּ֜ה‬ ֱ ֩‫קץ‬ ֵּ ‫מ‬ ִ ‫שוֵרֹ֗וׁש‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֣ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫אֶל־‬ ‫חדֶׁש ּכ ִ֛י ּכ ֵ֥ן‬ ֔ ֹ ‫ש֣ר‬ ָׂ ָ ‫שנ ֵ֣ים ע‬ ְ ׁ ֙‫שים‬ ִ ׁ ָּ ‫ּכ ְ ָד֤ת הַנ‬ ֙‫שים‬ ִ ׁ ‫ח ָד‬ ֳ ‫ש֤ה‬ ָ ּ ׁ‫ש‬ ִ ׁ ‫ה֑ן‬ ֶ ‫מ֣י מְרּוקֵי‬ ֵ ְ ‫מלְאּ֖ו י‬ ְ ִ‫י‬ ‫מ֔ים‬ ִ ‫ש‬ ָׂ ‫ב‬ ְּ ‫ב‬ ַּ ֙‫שים‬ ִ ׁ ‫ח ָד‬ ֳ ‫ש֤ה‬ ָ ּ ׁ‫ש‬ ִ ְ ׁ ‫מ֔ר ו‬ ֹּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֣מֶן‬ ֶ ׁ‫ב‬ ְּ ‫שים׃‬ ֽ ִ ׁ ָּ ‫תמְרּו ֵק֖י הַנ‬ ַ ‫ב‬ ְ ‫ּו‬ ֩ ֵ‫מלְֶך א‬ ‫ת‬ ּ֑ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫באָ֣ה אֶל־‬ ָּ ‫הֽנַּע ֲרָ ֖ה‬ ַ ‫ּובָז ֶ֕ה‬ ‫מּּ֔ה‬ ָ ִ ‫תֽן לָּה֙ לָבֹ֣וא ע‬ ֵ ָ ‫מ֜ר י ִּ֤נ‬ ַ ‫תּא‬ ֹ ‫ש֨ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫כָּל־‬ ‫מלְֶך׃‬ ּֽ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ב֥ית‬ ֵּ ‫ש֖ים ע ַד־‬ ִ ׁ ָּ ‫ב֥ית הַנ‬ ֵּ ‫מ‬ ִ ‫ב֞ה‬ ָ ‫ש‬ ָ ׁ ‫ה֣יא‬ ִ ‫בקֶר‬ ֹּ ‫ב‬ ַ ֠‫באָ֗ה ּו‬ ָ ‫ה֣יא‬ ִ ‫בעֶ֣רֶ ב ׀‬ ָּ ‫שגַ֛ז‬ ְ ׁ ֲ ‫שע‬ ֽ ַ ׁ ‫שנ ִ֔י אֶל־י ַ֧ד‬ ֵ ׁ ֙‫שים‬ ִ ׁ ָּ ‫ב֤ית הַנ‬ ֵּ ‫אֶל־‬ ‫ש֑ים ל ֹא־‬ ִ ְׁ ‫פִֽילַג‬ ּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מ֣ר‬ ֵ ‫ש‬ ֹ ׁ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫סְרִ ֥יס‬ ‫בּ֛ה‬ ָּ ‫חפֵ֥ץ‬ ָ ‫מלְֶך ּכ ִ֣י אִם־‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫תבֹ֥וא עֹוד֙ אֶל־‬ ָ ‫שם׃‬ ֵֽ ׁ‫ב‬ ְ ‫מלְֶך ו ְנִקְרְ אָ֥ה‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ

esther 2 / 29

king’s chamberlain, who kept the concubines; she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and she were called by name.

Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the bounty of the king.

And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, and Mordecai sat in the king’s gate— Esther had not yet made known her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her; for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him— in those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s

30 \ esther 2

‫ד֣ד‬ ֹּ ‫ח֣י ִל‬ ַ ‫אבִי‬ ֲ ‫בּת־‬ ַ ‫ת֣ר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫תּר־א‬ ֹ ַ ‫ה ּג ִ֣יע‬ ַ ‫ב‬ ְ ‫ּו‬ ‫ב֜ת לָבֹ֣וא‬ ַ ְ‫שר֩ לָ ַקֽח־לֹ֨ו ל‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫דכַ֡י‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫מָר‬ ‫ב֔ר ּכ ִ֠י אִ֣ם‬ ָ ‫ד‬ ּ ָ ֙‫שה‬ ָ ׁ ‫ב ְק‬ ִ ‫מלְֶך לֹ֤א‬ ּ֗ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫אֶל־‬ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫הגַ֥י סְרִ יס־‬ ֵ ‫מ֛ר‬ ַ ‫ש֥ר יֹא‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫אֶת־‬ ‫ח֔ן‬ ֵ ‫ש֣את‬ ֵׂ ֹ‫תר֙ נ‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫ה֤י א‬ ִ ‫ת‬ ּ ְ ַ ‫ש֑ים ו‬ ִ ׁ ָּ ‫מ֣ר הַנ‬ ֵ ‫ש‬ ֹ ׁ ‫בע ֵינ ֵ֖י כָּל־ ֹראֶֽיהָ׃‬ ְּ ֙‫שו ֵרֹוׁש‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֤ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת֜ר אֶל־‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫ת ּלָ ַק֨ח א‬ ִּ ַ ‫ו‬ ‫שׂירִ ֖י הּוא־‬ ִ ֲ ‫הע‬ ָ ‫חדֶׁש‬ ֹ֥ ‫ב‬ ַּ ‫מלְכּותֹ֔ו‬ ַ ‫ב֣ית‬ ֵּ ‫אֶל־‬ ‫מלְכּותֹֽו׃‬ ַ ְ‫ש֖בַע ל‬ ֶ ׁ ‫שנ ַת־‬ ְ ׁ‫ב‬ ִּ ‫ב֑ת‬ ֵ ‫ט‬ ֵ ‫חדֶׁש‬ ֹ֣ ‫ש֔ים‬ ִ ׁ ָּ ‫מכָּל־הַנ‬ ִ ֙‫תר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫מלְֶך אֶת־א‬ ּ֤ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ה֨ב‬ ַ ֱ‫וַיֶּא‬ ‫בּתּולֹ֑ת‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מכָּל־‬ ִ ‫ח֛סֶד לְפָנ ָ֖יו‬ ֶ ָ ‫ח֥ן ו‬ ֵ ‫שׂא־‬ ָּ ‫ת‬ ִּ ַ ‫ו‬ ‫ה‬ ָ ֶ ‫מלִי ֖כ‬ ְ ַּ ‫שּ֔ה וַי‬ ָ ׁ ‫ברֹא‬ ְּ ֙‫מלְכּות‬ ַ ‫שׂם ּֽכ ֶתֶר־‬ ֶ ָ ‫ו ַ ּ֤י‬ ‫תֽי׃‬ ִּ ‫ש‬ ְ ַ ׁ ‫תחַת ו‬ ּ֥ ַ ֙‫שׂרָ יו‬ ָ ‫ת֣ה גָדֹ֗ול לְכ ָל־‬ ֶּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֜ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ו ַ ּ֨י ַע ַׂש‬ ‫ח֤ה‬ ָ ָ ‫ת֑ר וַהֲנ‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫ת֣ה א‬ ֵּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫ב ָד֔יו אֵ֖ת‬ ָ ֲ ‫וַע‬ ‫מלְֶך׃‬ ּֽ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שאֵ֖ת כְּי ַ֥ד‬ ְׂ ‫מ‬ ַ ‫ת֥ן‬ ּ ֵ ‫ש֔ה ו ַ ִּי‬ ָׂ ָ ‫מדִינֹות֙ ע‬ ּ ְ ַ‫ל‬ ‫ש֥ב‬ ֵ ׁ ‫דכַ֖י ֹי‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫שנ ִ֑ית ּומָר‬ ֵ ׁ ‫בּתּולֹ֖ות‬ ְ ‫ב֥ץ‬ ֵ ‫ק‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ִ ‫ב‬ ְ ‫ּו‬ ‫מלְֶך׃‬ ּֽ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שע ַר־‬ ַֽ ׁ‫ב‬ ְּ ‫מּ֔ה‬ ּ ָ ַ ‫תּה֙ וְאֶת־ע‬ ּ ָ ‫מ ּ֤ג ֶדֶת מֹֽולַ ְד‬ ַ ‫ת֗ר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫אֵ֣ין א‬ ‫מ֤ר‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מ‬ ַ ‫דכָ֑י וְאֶת־‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫ה מָר‬ ָ ‫ש֛ר צ ִּו ָ֥ה עָלֶ֖י‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ַ ‫ּכ‬ ‫ת֥ה‬ ָ ְ ‫ש֛ר הָי‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ַ ‫ש֔ה ּכ‬ ָׂ ‫ת֣ר ֹע‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫דכַי֙ א‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫מָר‬ ‫באָמְנ ָ֖ה אִּתֹֽו׃ (ס‬ ְ ) ‫שע ַר־‬ ַֽ ׁ‫ב‬ ְּ ‫ש֣ב‬ ֵ ׁ ‫דכַ֖י ֹי‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫ה֔ם ּומָר‬ ֵ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫מ֣ים‬ ִ ָּ ‫בּי‬ ַ ‫ס֤י‬ ֵ ‫שנ ֵֽי־סָרִ י‬ ְ ׁ ‫ת֜רֶ ׁש‬ ֶ ָ ‫ת֨ן ו‬ ָ ְ ‫בג‬ ִּ ֩‫מלְֶך ָקצַף‬ ּ֑ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ח י ָ֔ד‬ ַ ֹ ‫ש ֣ל‬ ְ ׁ ִ‫בקְׁשּו֙ ל‬ ַ ְ ‫ס֔ף וַי‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שמְרֵ ֣י‬ ֹ ּ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ֙‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֙ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שוֵֽרֹׁש׃‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ב‬ ַּ

chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those that kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.

And the thing became known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther told the king thereof in Mordecai’s name.

‫ת֣ר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫דכַ֔י וַי ַּ ּג ֵ֖ד לְא‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫בר֙ לְמָר‬ ָ ‫ד‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫וַי ִּו ָּ ַד֤ע‬ ‫ש֥ם‬ ֵ ׁ‫ב‬ ְּ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ַ‫ת֛ר ל‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫ת֧אמֶר א‬ ּ ֹ ַ ‫מלְ ּכ ָ֑ה ו‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫דכָֽי׃‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫מָר‬ ‫ה֖ם‬ ֶ ‫שנ ֵי‬ ְ ׁ ‫תלּ֥ו‬ ּ ָ ִּ ‫מצֵ֔א וַי‬ ּ ָ ִּ ‫בר֙ וַי‬ ָ ‫ד‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫קׁ֤ש‬ ּ ַ ‫וַי ְ ֻב‬ ‫מ֖ים לִפְנ ֵ֥י‬ ִ ָּ ‫דבְרֵ ֥י הַי‬ ּ ִ ‫ס֛פֶר‬ ֵ ‫ב‬ ְּ ‫ת֗ב‬ ֵ ָ ‫ע ַל־עֵ֑ץ וַי ִּ ּכ‬ ‫מלְֶך׃ (פ‬ ּֽ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ )

And when inquisition was made of the matter, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree; and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.

chapter 3 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed down, and prostrated themselves before Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not down, nor prostrated himself before him.

Then the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, said unto Mordecai: ‘Why transgressest thou the king’s commandment?’

Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew.

‫פרק ג‬ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֨ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ֩‫דל‬ ּ ַ ִ ‫האֵ֗לֶּה ּג‬ ָ ‫דבָרִ ֣ים‬ ְּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ח֣ר ׀‬ ַ ַ‫א‬ ‫אגָגִ֖י‬ ֲ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫מ ָד֛תָא‬ ְּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בֽן־‬ ֶּ ‫מ֧ן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫שוֵרֹ֜וׁש אֶת־‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מעַ֕ל כָּל־‬ ֵ ‫סאֹ֔ו‬ ְ ִ ‫שם֙ אֶת־ ּכ‬ ֶׂ ָ ‫שאֵ֑הּו ו ַ ּ֙י‬ ְׂ ּ ַ ‫ו ַֽי ְנ‬ ‫ש֥ר אִּתֹֽו׃‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫שׂרִ ֖ים‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֗ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֣ע ַר‬ ַ ׁ‫ב‬ ְּ ‫שר־‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֜ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ב ֵד֨י‬ ְ ַ ‫וְכ ָל־ע‬ ‫מ֔ן כִּי־כֵ֖ן צ ִו ָּה־לֹ֣ו‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ‫תּחֲוִים֙ ל‬ ַ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ֽ ִ ‫ֹכּרְ עִ֤ים ּו‬ ‫תחֲו ֶֽה׃‬ ַּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ ִֽ ‫דכַ֔י לֹ֥א יִכ ְרַ ֖ע וְלֹ֥א י‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫מ֨ר‬ ָ ‫מלְֶך ּו‬ ּ֑ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שע ַר‬ ַ֥ ׁ‫ב‬ ְּ ‫שר־‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֛ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ב ֵד֥י‬ ְ ַ ‫מרּ֜ו ע‬ ְ ‫ו ַֹ ּי֨א‬ ‫ב֔ר אֵ֖ת‬ ֵ ‫ת֣ה עֹו‬ ּ ָ ַ‫ע ַ א‬ ֙ ‫מּדּ֙ו‬ ַ ‫דכָ֑י‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫מלְֶך לְמָר‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מלְֶך׃‬ ּֽ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מצ ְו ַ֥ת‬ ִ ‫ה֗י באמרם [ ּכ ְאָמְרָ ֤ם] אֵלָיו֙ יֹ֣ום וָיֹ֔ום‬ ִ ְ ‫וַי‬ ֙‫מ֗ן לִרְ אֹות‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ‫ה֑ם וַי ַּ ּג ִ֣ידּו ל‬ ֶ ‫אלֵי‬ ֲ ‫מ֖ע‬ ַ ‫ש‬ ָ ׁ ‫וְלֹ֥א‬ ‫ה֖ם‬ ֶ ָ‫ה ּג ִ֥יד ל‬ ִ ‫דכַ֔י ּכ ִֽי־‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫דבְרֵ ֣י מָר‬ ּ ִ ֙‫הֲיַֽעַמְדּו‬ ‫שר־הּ֥וא י ְהּו ִדֽי׃‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ

esther 3 / 31

And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not down, nor prostrated himself before him, then was Haman full of wrath.

But it seemed contemptible in his eyes to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had made known to him the people of Mordecai; wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus: ‘There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from those of every people; neither keep they the king’s laws; therefore it profiteth not the king to suffer them.

If it please the king, let it be written that they be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those that have the charge of the king’s business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.’

And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’enemy.

And the king said unto Haman: ‘The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.’

32 \ esther 3

ַ ‫דכַ֔י ֹכּרֵ ֥ע‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫מ֔ן כִּי־אֵ֣ין מָר‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫ו ַ ּי ַ֣רְ א‬ ‫מֽה׃‬ ָ ‫ח‬ ֵ ‫מ֖ן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫מלֵ֥א‬ ּ ָ ִּ ‫תחֲו ֶ֖ה לֹ֑ו וַי‬ ַּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ֽ ִ ‫ּו‬ ‫בּדֹ֔ו‬ ַ ְ‫דכַ֣י ל‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫במָר‬ ְּ ֙‫שלֹ֤ח יָד‬ ְ ׁ ִ‫בע ֵינ ָ֗יו ל‬ ְּ ‫ו ַ ּ֣י ִבֶז‬ ‫קׁ֣ש‬ ֵּ ‫ב‬ ַ ְ ‫דכָ֑י וַי‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫ה ּג ִ֥ידּו לֹ֖ו אֶת־עַ֣ם מָר‬ ִ ‫ּכ ִֽי־‬ ‫ש֛ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מ֧יד אֶת־כָּל־הַי ְּהּו ִד֛ים‬ ִ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫ה‬ ַ ְ‫מ֗ן ל‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫דכָֽי׃‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫שוֵרֹ֖וׁש עַ֥ם מָר‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְכּ֥ות‬ ַ ‫בכ ָל־‬ ְּ ֙‫שנַת‬ ְ ׁ‫ב‬ ִּ ‫ס֔ן‬ ָ ‫חדֶׁש נ ִי‬ ֣ ֹ ‫ח֤דֶׁש הָרִ אׁשֹון֙ הּוא־‬ ֹ ‫ב‬ ַּ ‫פִ֣יל‬ ּ ‫ה‬ ִ ‫שוֵרֹ֑וׁש‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ַ‫שׂרֵ ֔ה ל‬ ְ ֶ ‫ת֣ים ע‬ ֵּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ ‫מּיֹ֧ום ׀ לְיֹ֛ום‬ ִ ‫מ֗ן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫ּפּור֩ הּ֨וא הַּגֹורָ ֜ל לִפְנ ֵ֣י‬ ‫חדֶׁש‬ ֥ ֹ ‫ש֖ר הּוא־‬ ָׂ ָ ‫שנ ֵים־ע‬ ְ ׁ ‫חדֶׁש‬ ֥ ֹ ְ‫חדֶׁש ל‬ ֹ֛ ‫מ‬ ֵ ‫ּו‬ ‫א ָדֽר׃ (ס‬ ֲ ) ‫שנֹ֣ו‬ ְ ֶ ׁ ‫שוֵרֹ֔וׁש י‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֣ ֶ ַ‫מן֙ ל‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫ו ַֹ ּי֤אמֶר‬ ‫מ֔ים‬ ּ ִ ַ ‫הע‬ ָֽ ‫ב֣ין‬ ֵּ ֙‫מפֹרָ ד‬ ְ ‫מפ ֻּז ָ֤ר ּו‬ ְ ‫ח֗ד‬ ָ ֶ‫ע ַם־א‬ ‫שנֹ֣ות‬ ֹ ׁ ‫ה֞ם‬ ֶ ‫תָ֑ך ו ְ ָדתֵי‬ ֶ ‫מלְכּו‬ ַ ‫מדִינֹ֣ות‬ ְ ‫ב ֹכ֖ל‬ ְּ ‫ש֔ים‬ ִׂ ‫מלְֶך֙ אֵינ ָ֣ם ֹע‬ ּ֙ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת֤י‬ ֵ ‫ד‬ ּ ָ ‫מכָּל־עָ֗ם וְאֶת־‬ ִ ‫חֽם׃‬ ָ ‫שו ֶ֖ה לְהַנ ִּי‬ ֹ ׁ ‫מלְֶך אֵין־‬ ּ֥ ֶ ַ‫וְל‬ ‫ב ָד֑ם‬ ְּ ַ‫ת֖ב לְא‬ ֵ ָ ‫מלְֶך טֹ֔וב י ִ ּכ‬ ּ֣ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫אִם־ע ַל־‬ ֙‫שקֹול‬ ְ ׁ ֶ‫אלָפִ֜ים ּכ ִכַּר־ ּ֗כ ֶסֶף א‬ ֲ ‫ש֨רֶ ת‬ ֶׂ ֲ ‫וַע‬ ‫ב֖יא אֶל־גִּנ ְז ֵ֥י‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ‫מלָאכָ֔ה ל‬ ְּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֣י‬ ֵׂ ‫ע ַל־י ְ ֵדי֙ ֹע‬ ‫מלְֶך׃‬ ּֽ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מעַ֣ל יָדֹ֑ו‬ ֵ ‫בעְּתֹ֖ו‬ ַּ ‫ט‬ ַ ‫מלְֶך אֶת־‬ ּ֛ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ו ַ ּ֧י ָסַר‬ ‫אגָגִ֖י צֹרֵ ֥ר‬ ֲ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫דתָא‬ ָ֛ ‫מ‬ ְּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בֽן־‬ ֶּ ‫מ֧ן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ‫תּנ ָּ֗ה ל‬ ְ ִּ ‫ו ַֽי‬ ‫הַי ְּהּו ִדֽים׃‬ ‫הכּ֖ ֶסֶף נָתּ֣ון לְָ֑ך‬ ַ ‫מ֔ן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ‫מלְֶך֙ ל‬ ּ֙ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ו ַֹ ּי֤אמֶר‬ ‫בע ֵינ ֶֽיָך׃‬ ְּ ‫העָ֕ם לַעֲׂשֹ֥ות ּבֹ֖ו ּכ ַּטֹ֥וב‬ ָ ְ‫ו‬ ‫חדֶׁש הָרִ אׁשֹ֗ון‬ ֹ֣ ‫ב‬ ַּ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֜ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ספְרֵ ֨י‬ ֹ ֩‫וַי ִּ ָקּרְ אּו‬ ‫ת֣ב ּֽכ ְכ ָל־‬ ֵ ָ ‫ש֣ר יֹום֮ ּבֹו֒ וַי ִּ ּכ‬ ָׂ ָ ‫ש֨ה ע‬ ָ ׁ ‫שלֹו‬ ְ ׁ‫ב‬ ִּ

Then were the king’s scribes called in the first month, on the thirteenth day thereof, and there was written, according to all that Haman commanded, unto the king’s satraps, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the princes of every people; to every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and it was sealed with the king’s ring.

And letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

The copy of the writing, to be given out for a decree in every province, was to be published unto all peoples, that they should be ready against that day.

The posts went forth in haste by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given out in Shushan the castle; and the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

chapter 4 Now when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;

‫מלְֶך‬ ּ ֶ ֠‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש ַדּרְ פְּנ ֵֽי־‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מ֡ן אֶ֣ל‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫שר־צ ִּו ָ֣ה‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מדִינ ָ֗ה‬ ְ ‫מדִינ ָ֣ה ּו‬ ְ ‫ש֣ר ׀ ע ַל־‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫פַחֹ֞ות‬ ּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫וְֽאֶל־‬ ֙‫מדִינָה‬ ְ ‫מדִינ ָ֤ה ּו‬ ְ ‫ש֤רֵ י עַם֙ וָעָ֔ם‬ ָׂ ‫וְאֶל־‬ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֤ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֨ם‬ ֵ ׁ‫ב‬ ְּ ‫בּ֔ה וְעַ֥ם וָעָ֖ם ּכ ִלְׁשֹונֹ֑ו‬ ָ ‫ת‬ ָ ְ ‫ּכ ִכ‬ ‫בע ַת‬ ַּ֥ ‫ט‬ ַ ‫ב‬ ְּ ‫ת֖ם‬ ָּ ‫ח‬ ְ ֶ ‫ת֔ב ו ְנ‬ ּ ָ ְ ‫שו ֵ ֹרׁש֙ נִכ‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך׃‬ ּֽ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בּי ַ֣ד הָרָ צ ִים֮ אֶל־כָּל־‬ ְ ‫ספָרִ ֜ים‬ ְ ‫ח‬ ַ ‫שלֹ֨ו‬ ְ ִ ׁ ‫ו ְנ‬ ‫ב֣ד‬ ֵּ ַ‫ה ֹר֣ג ּולְא‬ ֲ ַ‫מ֡יד ל‬ ִ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫ה‬ ַ ְ‫מלְֶך֒ ל‬ ֶּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מדִינֹ֣ות‬ ְ ‫ט֤ף‬ ַ ‫ה֠י ְּהּודִים מ ִּ֨נ ַע ַר וְע ַד־ז ָ ֵק֜ן‬ ַ ‫אֶת־כָּל־‬ ‫ש֛ר‬ ָׂ ָ ‫ש֥ה ע‬ ָ ׁ ‫שלֹו‬ ְ ׁ‫ב‬ ִּ ‫ח֔ד‬ ָ ֶ‫ביֹ֣ום א‬ ְּ ֙‫שים‬ ִ ָ ׁ ‫ו ְנ‬ ‫א ָד֑ר‬ ֲ ‫חדֶׁש‬ ֣ ֹ ‫ש֖ר הּוא־‬ ָׂ ָ ‫שנ ֵים־ע‬ ְ ׁ ‫חדֶׁש‬ ֥ ֹ ְ‫ל‬ ‫שלָלָ֖ם לָבֹֽוז׃‬ ְ ׁ ‫ּו‬ ‫מדִינ ָ֣ה‬ ְ ‫בכ ָל־‬ ְּ ֙‫דת‬ ּ ָ ‫תֽן‬ ֵ ָ ‫ת֗ב לְה ִּ֤נ‬ ָ ְ ‫ה ּכ‬ ַ ‫שג ֶן‬ ֶ֣ ׁ‫ת‬ ְ ַ‫פ‬ ּ ‫היֹ֥ות‬ ְ ִ‫מ֑ים ל‬ ּ ִ ַ ‫הע‬ ֽ ָ ‫מדִינ ָ֔ה ּג ָלּ֖וי לְכ ָל־‬ ְ ‫ּו‬ ‫ת ִד֖ים לַּיֹ֥ום ה ַּז ֶֽה׃‬ ִ ֲ‫ע‬ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ב֣ר‬ ַ ‫ב ְד‬ ִּ ֙‫הֽרָ צִ֞ים יָצְאּ֤ו דְחּופִים‬ ָ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֤ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ְ ‫בּירָ ֑ה ו‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֣ן‬ ַ ׁ ‫בּׁשּו‬ ְ ‫תּנ ָ֖ה‬ ְ ִ ‫ד֥ת נ‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ַ ְ‫ו‬ ‫ש֖ן‬ ָ ׁ ‫העִ֥יר ׁשּו‬ ָ ְ ‫שּתֹ֔ות ו‬ ְ ׁ ִ‫שבּ֣ו ל‬ ְ ָ ׁ ‫מן֙ י‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ‫ו‬ ‫)נָבֹֽוכ ָה׃ (פ‬

‫פרק ד‬ ‫ש֔ה‬ ָׂ ֲ ‫ש֣ר נַע‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫דכַ֗י י ָ ַדע֙ אֶת־כָּל־‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫ּומָר‬ ‫ש֖ק‬ ַׂ ‫בׁ֥ש‬ ַּ ְ‫בג ָ ָד֔יו וַיִּל‬ ְּ ‫דכַי֙ אֶת־‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫וַיִּקְרַ ֤ע מָר‬ ‫העִ֔יר וַי ִּזְעַ֛ק זְע ָ ָק֥ה‬ ָ ‫בתֹ֣וְך‬ ְּ ֙‫וָאֵ֑פֶר וַיֵּצֵא‬ ‫ג ְ ֹדלָ֖ה ּומָרָ ֽה׃‬

esther 4 / 33

and he came even before the king’s gate; for none might enter within the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.

And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

And Esther’s maidens and her chamberlains came and told it her; and the queen was exceedingly pained; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai; and to take his sackcloth from off him; but he accepted it not.

Then called Esther for Hathach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and charged him to go to Mordecai, to know what this was, and why it was.

So Hathach went forth to Mordecai unto the broad place of the city, which was before the king’s gate.

And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and the exact sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.

Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Shushan to destroy them, to show it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her; and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him, for her people.

And Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

34 \ esther 4

‫מלְֶך ּכ ִ֣י אֵ֥ין‬ ּ֑ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שע ַר־‬ ֽ ַ ׁ ‫וַיָּבֹ֕וא עַ֖ד לִפְנ ֵ֣י‬ ‫שׂק׃‬ ֽ ָ ‫בלְבּ֥וׁש‬ ִּ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֥ע ַר‬ ַ ׁ ‫לָבֹ֛וא אֶל־‬ ‫ש֨ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ֙‫מדִינ ָ֗ה מְקֹום‬ ְ ‫מדִינ ָ֣ה ּו‬ ְ ‫בכ ָל־‬ ְ ‫ּו‬ ֙‫מ ּג ִ֔יע ַ אֵ֤בֶל גָּדֹול‬ ַ ֙‫מלְֶך וְדָתֹו‬ ּ֤ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫דבַר־‬ ְּ ‫ש֣ק וָאֵ֔פֶר‬ ַׂ ‫פֵ֑ד‬ ּ ‫ס‬ ְ ‫מ‬ ִ ‫בכִ֖י ּו‬ ְ ‫לַי ְּהּו ִד֔ים וְצֹ֥ום ּו‬ ‫בֽים׃‬ ִּ ַ‫י ֻ ּצ ַ֖ע לָֽר‬ ָ֙ ‫ס֙י‬ ‫ה‬ ֶ ‫ת֤ר וְסָרִ י‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫תּבֹואינ ָה נַעֲרֹ֨ות א‬ ָ ַ֠ ‫ו‬ ‫מ ֹא֑ד‬ ְ ‫מלְ ּכ ָ֖ה‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ח֥ל‬ ַ ְ‫חל‬ ַ ‫ת‬ ְ ‫ת‬ ּ ִ ַ ‫ו ַ ַּי ּג ִ֣ידּו לָּ֔ה ו‬ ‫דכַ֗י‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫ב֣יׁש אֶֽת־מָר‬ ִּ ְ‫הל‬ ַ ְ‫בג ָ ִד֜ים ל‬ ְּ ‫שלַ֨ח‬ ְ ׁ‫ת‬ ִּ ַ ‫ו‬ ‫בֽל׃‬ ֵּ ‫מעָלָ֖יו וְלֹ֥א ִק‬ ֵ ‫שּקֹ֛ו‬ ַׂ ‫ס֥יר‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ‫ּול‬ ֙‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֙ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ס֤י‬ ֵ ‫סּרִ י‬ ָ ‫מ‬ ִ ‫תְ֜ך‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ֲ ַ‫ת֨ר ל‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫תקְרָ א֩ א‬ ִּ ַ ‫ו‬ ‫דכָ֑י‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫תצ ַּו ֵ֖הּו עַֽל־מָר‬ ְּ ַ ‫ה ו‬ ָ ‫מ֣יד לְפָנ ֶ֔י‬ ִ ֱ ‫הע‬ ֶ ‫ש֣ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ַה־ז ֶֽה׃‬ ּ ‫ַה־ז ֶ֖ה וְע ַל־מ‬ ּ ‫לָ ַד֥ע ַת מ‬ ‫העִ֔יר‬ ָ ‫דכָ֑י אֶל־רְ חֹ֣וב‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫תְ֖ך אֶֽל־מָר‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ֲ ‫וַיֵּצֵ֥א‬ ‫מלְֶך׃‬ ּֽ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שע ַר־‬ ֽ ַ ׁ ‫ש֖ר לִפְנ ֵ֥י‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ש֣ר קָרָ ֑הּו‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫דכַ֔י אֵ֖ת כָּל־‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫וַיַּגֶּד־לֹ֣ו מָר‬ ֙‫מן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫מ֤ר‬ ַ ָ‫ש֨ר א‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ה ּ֗כ ֶסֶף‬ ַ ‫ש֣ת‬ ַ ׁ ָ‫וְאֵ֣ת ׀ פָּר‬ ‫מלְֶך ביהודיים‬ ּ֛ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שקֹול ע ַל־גִּנ ְז ֵ֥י‬ ְ ׁ ִ ֠‫ל‬ ‫ב ָדֽם׃‬ ְּ ַ‫בּי ְּהּו ִד֖ים] לְא‬ ַ [ ‫ת֨ן‬ ּ ַ ִ ‫שר־נ‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ה ָדּת‬ ַ֠ ‫תֽב־‬ ָ ְ ‫שג ֶן ּכ‬ ֶ֣ ׁ‫ת‬ ְ ַ‫פ‬ ּ ‫וְאֶת־‬ ‫שמִי ָדם֙ נָ֣תַן לֹ֔ו לְהַרְ אֹ֥ות‬ ְ ׁ‫ה‬ ַ ְ‫ש֤ן ל‬ ָ ׁ ‫בּׁשּו‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫ה ּג ִ֣יד לָּ֑ה ּולְצַּוֹ֣ות עָלֶ֗י‬ ַ ְ‫ת֖ר ּול‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫אֶת־א‬ ‫קׁ֥ש‬ ֵּ ‫ב‬ ַ ְ‫תחַנ ֶּן־לֹ֛ו ּול‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ֽ ִ ְ‫מלְֶך ל‬ ּ֧ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫לָבֹ֨וא אֶל־‬ ‫מּֽה׃‬ ּ ָ ַ ‫מ ּלְפָנ ָ֖יו ע ַל־ע‬ ִ ‫דבְרֵ ֥י‬ ּ ִ ‫ת֔ר אֵ֖ת‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫תְ֑ך וַי ַּ ּג ֵ֣ד לְא‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ֲ ‫וַיָּבֹ֖וא‬ ‫דכָֽי׃‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫מָר‬

Then Esther spoke unto Hathach, and gave him a message unto Mordecai: ’All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live; but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.’

And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words.

‫תצ ַּו ֵ֖הּו אֶֽל־‬ ּ ְ ַ ‫תְ֔ך ו‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ֲ ַ‫תר֙ ל‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫ת֤אמֶר א‬ ֹּ ַ ‫ו‬ ‫דכָֽי׃‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫מָר‬ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֜ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מדִינֹ֨ות‬ ְ ‫מלְֶך וְע ַם־‬ ּ֡ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ב ֵד֣י‬ ְ ַ ‫כָּל־ע‬ ‫ש֣ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ש֡ה‬ ָ ּ ׁ ִ‫ש֣ר כָּל־אִ֣יׁש וְא‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫יֹֽו ְדעִ֗ים‬ ‫מ֜ית‬ ִ ‫הפְּנ ִי‬ ַ ‫חצֵ֨ר‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ֶ ‫מלְֶך֩ אֶל־‬ ֶּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫יָבֹֽוא־אֶל־‬ ‫מ֔ית ֠לְבַד‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ‫ח֤ת ָדּתֹו֙ ל‬ ַ ַ‫ש֣ר לֹֽא־י ִ ָקּרֵ ֗א א‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ב֥יט‬ ִ ְ‫שר‬ ַ ׁ ‫מלְֶך אֶת־‬ ּ֛ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שיט־לֹ֥ו‬ ִ ׁ ‫ש֨ר יֹֽו‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מ‬ ֵ ‫ה֖ב וְחָי ָ֑ה וַאֲנ ִ֗י לֹ֤א נִקְרֵ ֙אתי֙ לָבֹ֣וא‬ ָ ָּ ‫הַז‬ ‫ש֥ים יֹֽום׃‬ ִ ׁ ‫שלֹו‬ ְ ׁ ‫מלְֶך ז ֶ֖ה‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫אֶל־‬ ‫תֽר׃ (פ‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫דבְרֵ ֥י א‬ ּ ִ ‫דכָ֔י אֵ֖ת‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫)וַי ַּ ּג ִ֣ידּו לְמָר‬

Then Mordecai bade them to return answer unto Esther: ‘Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.

‫ת֑ר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫ש֣יב אֶל־א‬ ִ ׁ‫ה‬ ָ ְ‫דכַ֖י ל‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫ו ַֹ ּי֥אמֶר מָר‬ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בּית־‬ ֵ ‫מלֵ֥ט‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ִ ְ‫שְ֔ך ל‬ ֵ ׁ ְ‫מ֣י בְנַפ‬ ּ ִ ‫ת ַד‬ ּ ְ ‫אַל־‬ ‫מכָּל־הַי ְּהּו ִדֽים׃‬ ִ

For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then will relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy father’s house will perish; and who knoweth whether thou art not come to royal estate for such a time as this?’

֒‫ה ֹזּאת‬ ַ ‫בעֵ֣ת‬ ָּ ֮‫שי‬ ִ ׁ ‫תחֲרִ י‬ ּ ַ ‫החֲרֵ ׁ֣ש‬ ַ ‫ּכ ִ֣י אִם־‬ ‫מקֹ֣ום‬ ָּ ‫מ‬ ִ ֙‫ה ּצ ָלָ֞ה יַעֲמֹ֤וד לַי ְּהּודִים‬ ַ ְ ‫רֶ ֣ו ַח ו‬ ַ ‫מ֣י יֹו ֵד֔ע‬ ִ ‫ב֑דּו ּו‬ ֵ ‫תּא‬ ֹ ‫ב֖יְך‬ ִ ָ‫ת ּובֵית־א‬ ּ ְ ַ֥‫ח֔ר וְא‬ ֵ ַ‫א‬ ‫מלְכּֽות׃‬ ּ ַ ַ‫ת ל‬ ּ ְ ַ ‫ה ּ֖ג ַע‬ ִ ‫אִם־לְעֵ֣ת ּכ ָ ֹז֔את‬

Then Esther bade them return answer unto Mordecai: ’Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day; I also and my maidens will fast in like manner; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.’

So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

‫דכָֽי׃‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫ש֥יב אֶֽל־מָר‬ ִ ׁ‫ה‬ ָ ְ‫ת֖ר ל‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫ת֥אמֶר א‬ ֹּ ַ ‫ו‬ ‫מצְאִ֣ים‬ ְ ִּ ‫הֽנ‬ ַ ‫לְֵך֩ ּכ ְנֹ֨וס אֶת־כָּל־הַי ְּהּו ִד֜ים‬ ‫תּאכְלּ֨ו וְאַל־‬ ֹ ‫ש֗ן וְצּ֣ומּו ע֠ ָלַי וְאַל־‬ ָ ׁ ‫בּׁשּו‬ ְ ‫שת יָמִים֙ לַ֣יְלָה וָיֹ֔ום גַּם־אֲנ ִ֥י‬ ֶ ֹׁ ֤‫של‬ ְ ׁ ‫שּתּ֜ו‬ ְ ׁ‫ת‬ ִּ ֙‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֙ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בכֵ֞ן אָבֹ֤וא אֶל־‬ ְ ‫ת֖י אָצּ֣ום ּכ ֵ֑ן ּו‬ ַ ‫ו ְנַע ֲ ֹר‬ ‫תּי׃‬ ִ ‫ב ְד‬ ָֽ ָ‫תּי א‬ ִ ‫ב֖ ְד‬ ַ ָ‫ש֥ר א‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ַ ‫ד֔ת וְכ‬ ּ ָ ַ ‫ש֣ר לֹֽא־כ‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ת֥ה‬ ָ ְּ ‫שר־צ ִו‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫דכָ֑י ו ַ ּ֕י ַע ַׂש ּכ ְ ֹכ֛ל‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫ב֖ר מָר‬ ֹ ֲ ‫ו ַֽיַּע‬ ‫תֽר׃ (ס‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫)עָלָ֖יו א‬

esther 4 / 35

chapter 5

‫פרק ה‬

Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house; and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the entrance of the house.

֙‫תר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫בׁ֤ש א‬ ַּ ְ‫תל‬ ּ ִ ַ ‫ש֗י ו‬ ִ ׁ ‫שלִי‬ ְ ּ ׁ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בּיֹ֣ום‬ ַּ ‫ה֣י ׀‬ ִ ְ ‫וַי‬ ֙‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֙ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בּית־‬ ֵ ‫חצַ֤ר‬ ֲ ‫ב‬ ַּ ‫מ֞ד‬ ֹ ֲ ‫תע‬ ּ ַ ַֽ ‫מלְכּ֔ות ו‬ ַ ‫ש֞ב‬ ֵ ׁ ‫מלְֶך יֹו‬ ֶּ ‫ה‬ ַ ְ֠ ‫מלְֶך ו‬ ּ֑ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ב֣ית‬ ֵּ ‫מ֔ית נֹ֖כ ַח‬ ִ ‫הפְּנ ִי‬ ַ ‫מלְכּ֔ות ֖נֹכ ַח‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ב֣ית‬ ֵ ‫ב‬ ְּ ֙‫מלְכּותֹו‬ ַ ‫ס֤א‬ ֵּ ִ ‫ע ַל־ ּכ‬ ‫בֽי ִת׃‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫פֶתַח‬ ּ֥

And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.

‫מלְ ּכ ָ֗ה‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת֣ר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫מלְֶך אֶת־א‬ ּ֜ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫הי֩ כ ִרְ אֹ֨ות‬ ִ ְ ‫וַי‬ ‫שט‬ ֶ ׁ ‫בע ֵינ ָ֑יו וַּיֹ֨ו‬ ְּ ‫ח֖ן‬ ֵ ‫שאָ֥ה‬ ְׂ ָ ‫חצֵ֔ר נ‬ ָ ‫ב‬ ֶּֽ ֙‫מ֙ ֶדת‬ ֶ ‫ֹע‬ ֙‫הב‬ ָ ָּ ‫ב֤יט הַז‬ ִ ְ‫שר‬ ַ ׁ ‫ת֗ר אֶת־‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫מלְֶך לְא‬ ּ֜ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ב ֹר֥אׁש‬ ְּ ‫ת ּג ַ֖ע‬ ּ ִ ַ ‫ת֔ר ו‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫תקְרַ ֣ב א‬ ּ ִ ַ ‫בּיָדֹ֔ו ו‬ ְ ‫ש֣ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫בֽיט׃ (ס‬ ִ ְ‫שר‬ ַ ּ ׁ‫ה‬ ַ )

Then said the king unto her: ‘What wilt thou, queen Esther? for whatever thy request, even to the half of the kingdom, it shall be given thee.’

‫ת֣ר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫ּמ֔לְֶך מַה־ ּלְָ֖ך א‬ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ֙‫ו ַֹ ּי֤אמֶר לָּה‬ ‫חצִ֥י‬ ֲ ‫תְ֛ך ע ַד־‬ ֵ ‫ש‬ ָ ׁ‫ק‬ ָּ ‫ב‬ ַּ ‫מלְ ּכ ָ֑ה ּומַה־‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫תֽן לְָֽך׃‬ ֵ ָ ‫מלְכּ֖ות וְי ִּ֥נ‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ

And Esther said: ‘If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.’

‫מלְֶך טֹ֑וב‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת֔ר אִם־ע ַל־‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫ת֣אמֶר א‬ ֹּ ַ ‫ו‬ ‫ת֖ה‬ ֶּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫הּיֹ֔ום אֶל־‬ ַ ֙‫מן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ ‫מלְֶך ו‬ ּ֤ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫יָבֹ֨וא‬ ‫ש֥יתִי לֹֽו׃‬ ִׂ ָ ‫שר־ע‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ

Then the king said: ‘Cause Haman to make haste, that it may be done as Esther hath said.’ So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

‫מ֔ן לַעֲׂשֹ֖ות‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫מהֲרּו֙ אֶת־‬ ַ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ו ַֹ ּי֣אמֶר‬ ‫מ֔ן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ ‫מלְֶך֙ ו‬ ּ֙ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ב֤א‬ ֹ ָּ ‫ת֑ר וַי‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫ב֣ר א‬ ַ ‫ד‬ ּ ְ ‫אֶת־‬ ‫תֽר׃‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫ת֥ה א‬ ָ ‫ש‬ ְׂ ָ ‫שר־ע‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ת֖ה‬ ֶּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫אֶל־‬

And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine: ‘Whatever thy petition, it shall be granted thee; and whatever thy request, even to the half of the kingdom, it shall be performed.’

Then answered Esther, and said: ‘My petition and my request is—

36 \ esther 5

‫ת֣ה ה ַּי ַ֔י ִן‬ ֵּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫ב‬ ְּ ֙‫תר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫מלְֶך לְא‬ ּ֤ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ו ַֹ ּי֨אמֶר‬ ‫תְ֛ך‬ ֵ ‫ש‬ ָ ׁ‫ק‬ ָּ ‫ב‬ ַּ ‫תֽן לְָ֑ך ּומַה־‬ ֵ ָ ‫תְ֖ך וְי ִּ֣נ‬ ֵ ָ‫שאֵל‬ ְ ּ ׁ ‫מַה־‬ ‫תעָֽׂש׃‬ ֵ ְ ‫מלְכּ֖ות ו‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫חצִ֥י‬ ֲ ‫ע ַד־‬ ‫תֽי׃‬ ִ ‫ש‬ ָ ׁ‫ק‬ ָּ ‫ב‬ ַ ‫ת֖י ּו‬ ִ ָ‫שאֵל‬ ְ ׁ ‫מ֑ר‬ ַ ‫תּא‬ ֹ ַ ‫ת֖ר ו‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫תע ַן א‬ ּ֥ ַ ַ ‫ו‬

if I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request—let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to-morrow as the king hath said.’

Then went Haman forth that day joyful and glad of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, Haman was filled with wrath against Mordecai.

Nevertheless Haman refrained himself, and went home; and he sent and fetched his friends and Zeresh his wife.

And Haman recounted unto them the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and everything as to how the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

Haman said moreover: ‘Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to-morrow also am I invited by her together with the king.

Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.’

Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him: ‘Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon; then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet.’

And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

‫מלְֶך וְאִם־ע ַל־‬ ּ֗ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בע ֵינ ֵ֣י‬ ְּ ‫ח֜ן‬ ֵ ‫מצָ֨אתִי‬ ָ ‫אִם־‬ ‫ת֔י וְלַעֲׂשֹ֖ות‬ ִ ָ‫שאֵ֣ל‬ ְ ׁ ‫תת֙ אֶת־‬ ֵ ָ‫מלְֶך֙ טֹ֔וב ל‬ ּ֙ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מ֗ן אֶל־‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ ‫מלְֶך ו‬ ּ֣ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת֑י יָבֹ֧וא‬ ִ ‫ש‬ ָ ׁ‫ק‬ ָּ ‫ב‬ ַּ ‫אֶת־‬ ‫ח֥ר‬ ָ ‫מ‬ ָ ‫ה֔ם ּו‬ ֶ ָ‫ש֣ה ל‬ ֶׂ ֱ ‫ש֣ר אֶֽע‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ֙‫תה‬ ֶּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מלְֶך׃‬ ּֽ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ב֥ר‬ ַ ‫ש֖ה ּכ ִ ְד‬ ֶׂ ֱ ‫אֶֽע‬ ‫ח וְטֹ֣וב לֵ֑ב‬ ַ ‫מ‬ ֵ֖ ‫ש‬ ָׂ ‫ההּ֔וא‬ ַ ‫בּיֹ֣ום‬ ַּ ֙‫מן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫וַיֵּצֵ֤א‬ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֗ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֣ע ַר‬ ַ ׁ‫ב‬ ְּ ‫דכַ֜י‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫מ֨ן אֶֽת־מָר‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ֩‫וְכ ִרְ אֹות‬ ‫מ֛ן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫מלֵ֥א‬ ּ ָ ִּ ‫מּ֔נּו וַי‬ ֶּ ‫מ‬ ִ ‫וְל ֹא־ ָקם֙ וְל ֹא־ז ָ֣ע‬ ‫מֽה׃‬ ָ ‫ח‬ ֵ ‫דכַ֖י‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫עַֽל־מָר‬ ‫שלַ֛ח‬ ְ ׁ ִּ ‫בּיתֹ֑ו וַי‬ ֵ ‫מ֔ן וַיָּבֹ֖וא אֶל־‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫פַ֣ק‬ ּ ַ‫תא‬ ְ ִּ ‫וַי‬ ‫שּתֹֽו׃‬ ְ ׁ ִ‫ב֖יו וְאֶת־ז ֶ֥רֶ ׁש א‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ֲ ‫ב֥א אֶת־ ֹא‬ ֵ ָּ ‫וַי‬ ‫שרֹ֖ו ו ְ ֹר֣ב‬ ְ ׁ ָ ‫מ֛ן אֶת־ ּכ ְבֹ֥וד ע‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫ה֥ם‬ ֶ ָ‫פֵ֨ר ל‬ ּ ‫ס‬ ַ ְ ‫וַי‬ ‫מלְֶך֙ וְאֵ֣ת‬ ּ֙ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫דלֹ֤ו‬ ּ ְ ִ ‫ש֨ר ּג‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫בּנ ָ֑יו וְאֵת֩ כָּל־‬ ָ ‫מלְֶך׃‬ ּֽ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ב ֵד֥י‬ ְ ַ ‫שׂרִ ֖ים וְע‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שאֹ֔ו ע ַל־‬ ְׂ ּ ִ ‫ש֣ר נ‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ת֨ר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫הבִיאָה֩ א‬ ֵ ‫מן֒ אַ֣ף ל ֹא־‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ֮‫מר‬ ֶ ‫ו ַֹיּא‬ ‫ת֥ה‬ ֶּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מלְֶך אֶל־‬ ּ֛ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מלְ ּכ ָ֧ה ע ִם־‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ח֛ר‬ ָ ‫מ‬ ָ ְ‫ת֑י וְג ַם־ל‬ ִ ‫ש֖תָה ּכ ִ֣י אִם־אֹו‬ ָׂ ָ ‫שר־ע‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך׃‬ ּֽ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫אֲנ ִ֥י ָקֽרּוא־לָּ֖ה ע ִם־‬ ‫ש֨ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫בכ ָל־עֵ֗ת‬ ְּ ‫שו ֶ֖ה לִ֑י‬ ֹ ׁ ‫וְכ ָל־ז ֶ֕ה אֵינ ֶּ֥נּו‬ ‫ש֖ב‬ ֵ ׁ ‫דכַ֣י הַי ְּהּו ִד֔י יֹו‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫אֲנ ִ֤י ֹראֶה֙ אֶת־מָר‬ ‫מלְֶך׃‬ ּֽ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֥ע ַר‬ ַ ׁ‫ב‬ ְּ ‫ב֗יו‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ֲ ‫א‬ ֽ ֹ ‫שּתֹ֜ו וְכ ָל־‬ ְ ׁ ִ‫ת֣אמֶר לֹו֩ ז ֶ֨רֶ ׁש א‬ ֹּ ַ ‫ו‬ ‫בקֶר ׀‬ ֹּ֣ ‫ב‬ ַ ‫מה֒ ּו‬ ּ ָ ַ‫ש֣ים א‬ ִ ּ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫ח‬ ֲ ‫ה‬ ַּ ‫ב‬ ֹ֣ ָ ‫יַֽע ֲׂשּו־עֵץ֮ ּג‬ ‫דכַי֙ עָלָ֔יו‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫תלּ֤ו אֶֽת־מָר‬ ְ ִ ‫מלְֶך וְי‬ ּ֗ ֶ ַ‫מ֣ר ל‬ ֹ ֱ‫א‬ ‫ח‬ ַ ‫מ‬ ֵ֑ ‫ש‬ ָׂ ‫ת֖ה‬ ֶּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מלְֶך אֶל‬ ּ֥ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בֽא־ע ִם־‬ ֹ ‫ּו‬ ‫העֵֽץ׃ (פ‬ ָ ‫מ֖ן ו ַ ּ֥י ַע ַׂש‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫ב֛ר לִפְנ ֵ֥י‬ ָ ‫ד‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ט֧ב‬ ַ ‫)וַי ִּי‬

esther 5 / 37

chapter 6 On that night could not the king sleep; and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles, and they were read before the king.

‫פרק ו‬ ‫מלְֶך ו ַֹ ּי֗אמֶר‬ ּ֑ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שנ ַ֣ת‬ ְ ׁ ‫ההּ֔וא נ ָ ְד ָד֖ה‬ ַ ‫ב ּלַ֣יְלָה‬ ַּ ‫דבְרֵ ֣י‬ ּ ִ ֙‫ס֤פֶר הַזִּכְרֹנֹות‬ ֵ ‫ב֞יא אֶת־‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ‫ל‬ ‫מלְֶך׃‬ ּֽ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫היּ֥ו נִקְרָ אִ֖ים לִפְנ ֵ֥י‬ ְ ִּ ‫מ֔ים וַי‬ ִ ָּ ‫הַי‬

And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, of those that kept the door, who had sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.

‫דכַ֜י ע ַל־‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫ה ּג ִ֨יד מָר‬ ִ ֩‫שר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מצֵ֣א כָתּ֗וב‬ ּ ָ ִּ ‫וַי‬ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ס֣י‬ ֵ ‫שנֵי֙ סָרִ י‬ ְ ׁ ‫ת֗רֶ ׁש‬ ֶ ָ ‫ת֣נ ָא ו‬ ָ ְ ‫בג‬ ִּ ‫ח י ָ֔ד‬ ַ ֹ ‫ש ֣ל‬ ְ ׁ ִ‫בקְׁשּו֙ ל‬ ִּ ‫ש֤ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ס֑ף‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שמְרֵ ֖י‬ ֹ ּ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫שוֵרֹֽוׁש׃‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ב‬ ַּ

And the king said: ‘What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this?’ Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him: ‘There is nothing done for him.’

‫ש֞ה י ְ ָק֧ר ּוג ְדּו ּלָ֛ה‬ ָׂ ֲ ‫מֽה־נַּע‬ ַ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ו ַֹ ּי֣אמֶר‬ ֙‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֙ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מרּ֜ו נַע ֲרֵ ֤י‬ ְ ‫דכַ֖י ע ַל־ז ֶ֑ה ו ַֹ ּי֨א‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫לְמָר‬ ‫בֽר׃‬ ָ ‫ד‬ ּ ָ ‫ש֥ה עִּמֹ֖ו‬ ָׂ ֲ ‫ת֔יו ל ֹא־נַע‬ ָ ְ‫ש֣ר‬ ָ ׁ‫מ‬ ְ

And the king said: ‘Who is in the court?’—Now Haman was come into the outer court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.— And the king’s servants said unto him: ‘Behold, Haman standeth in the court.’ And the king said: ‘Let him come in.’

So Haman came in. And the king said unto him: ‘What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour?’—Now Haman said in his heart: ‘Whom would the king delight to honour besides myself?’— And Haman said unto the king: ‘For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, let royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and on whose head a crown royal is set;

38 \ esther 6

‫חצַ֤ר‬ ֲ ַ‫ב֗א ל‬ ָּ ‫מ֣ן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ ‫חצֵ֑ר ו‬ ָ ‫ב‬ ֶ ‫מ֣י‬ ִ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ו ַֹ ּי֥אמֶר‬ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֔ ֶ ַ‫מ֣ר ל‬ ֹ ‫ח֣יצֹונ ָ֔ה לֵא‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ַ ֙‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֙ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בּית־‬ ֵ ‫שר־‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫העֵ֖ץ‬ ָ ‫דכַ֔י ע ַל־‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫לִתְלֹות֙ אֶֽת־מָר‬ ‫הכִ֥ין לֹֽו׃‬ ֵ ‫מ֖ן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫מלְֶך֙ אֵלָ֔יו ה ִּנ ֵ֥ה‬ ּ֙ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מרּ֜ו נַע ֲרֵ ֤י‬ ְ ‫ו ַֹ ּי֨א‬ ‫מלְֶך יָבֹֽוא׃‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫חצֵ֑ר ו ַֹ ּי֥אמֶר‬ ָ ‫ב‬ ֶּ ‫מ֣ד‬ ֵ ‫ֹע‬ ‫מלְֶך מַה־לַעֲׂשֹ֕ות‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ֙‫מן֒ ו ַֹ ּי֤אמֶר לֹו‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ֮‫וַי ָּבֹוא‬ ‫בּי ָקרֹ֑ו ו ַֹ ּי֤אמֶר‬ ִ ‫חפֵ֣ץ‬ ָ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֥ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫באִ֕יׁש‬ ָּ ‫מלְֶך לַעֲׂשֹ֥ות‬ ּ֛ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫פ֥ץ‬ ֹּ ‫ח‬ ְ ַ ‫מ֞י י‬ ִ ְ‫בלִּבֹ֔ו ל‬ ְּ ֙‫מן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫מֽנ ִּי׃‬ ֶּ ‫מ‬ ִ ‫ת֥ר‬ ֵ ‫י ְ ָק֖ר יֹו‬ ‫ש֥ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך אִ֕יׁש‬ ּ֑ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מ֖ן אֶל־‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫ו ַֹ ּי֥אמֶר‬ ‫בּי ָקרֹֽו׃‬ ִ ‫חפֵ֥ץ‬ ָ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֥ר ֽלָבַׁש־ּבֹ֖ו‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְכּ֔ות‬ ַ ‫ב֙יאּו֙ לְבּ֣וׁש‬ ִ ָ‫י‬ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ֙‫ש֨ר רָ כַ֤ב עָלָיו‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך וְסּ֗וס‬ ּ֑ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ברֹא ׁשֹֽו׃‬ ְּ ‫מלְכּ֖ות‬ ַ ‫ת֛ן ּ֥כ ֶתֶר‬ ּ ַ ִ ‫ש֥ר נ‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ַ‫ו‬

and let the apparel and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man therewith whom the king delighteth to honour, and cause him to ride on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him: Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.’

Then the king said to Haman: ‘Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate; let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.’

Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and caused him to ride through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him: ‘Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.’

‫שׂרֵ ֤י‬ ָּ ‫מ‬ ִ ‫הּסּ֗וס ע ַל־י ַד־אִ֞יׁש‬ ַ ְ ‫ה ּלְבּ֜וׁש ו‬ ַ ‫ו ְנָתֹ֨ון‬ ‫האִ֔יׁש‬ ָ ‫ב֙יׁשּו֙ אֶת־‬ ִּ ְ‫הל‬ ִ ְ ‫מ֔ים ו‬ ִ ‫ת‬ ּ ְ ְ‫הפַּר‬ ֽ ַ ֙‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֙ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בֽי ָקרֹ֑ו וְהִרְ כִּי ֻב֤הּו‬ ִּ ‫חפֵ֣ץ‬ ָ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֥ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫העִ֔יר וְקָרְ אּ֣ו לְפָנ ָ֔יו‬ ָ ‫בּרְ חֹ֣וב‬ ִ ֙‫ע ַל־הַּסּוס‬ ‫חפֵ֥ץ‬ ָ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֥ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ש֣ה לָאִ֔יׁש‬ ֶׂ ָ ‫ּ֚כ ָכ ָה יֵע‬ ‫בּי ָקרֹֽו׃‬ ִ ‫מהֵר ַק֣ח אֶת־‬ ֠ ַ ‫מ֗ן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ‫מלְֶך ל‬ ּ֜ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ו ַֹ ּי֨אמֶר‬ ּ ָ ְ‫ב֔ר‬ ‫ת‬ ַּ ‫ד‬ ּ ִ ‫ש֣ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ַ ‫ה ּלְבּ֤וׁש וְאֶת־הַּסּוס֙ ּכ‬ ַ ‫ש֖ב‬ ֵ ׁ ‫דכַ֣י הַי ְּהּו ִד֔י הַּיֹו‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫שׂה־כֵן֙ לְמָר‬ ֵ ֲ ‫וַֽע‬ ‫ש֥ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מ ֹּכ֖ל‬ ִ ‫ב֔ר‬ ָ ‫ד‬ ּ ָ ‫פֵ֣ל‬ ּ ‫ת‬ ּ ַ ‫מלְֶך אַל־‬ ּ֑ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֣ע ַר‬ ַ ׁ‫ב‬ ְּ ‫תּ׃‬ ָ ְ‫בֽר‬ ַּ ‫ד‬ ִּ ‫הּסּ֔וס‬ ַ ‫ה ּלְבּ֣וׁש וְאֶת־‬ ַ ‫מן֙ אֶת־‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫ק֤ח‬ ּ ַ ‫ו ַ ִּי‬ ‫בּרְ חֹ֣וב‬ ִ ֙‫ב֙הּו‬ ֵ ‫דכָ֑י וַי ַּרְ כִּי‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫בׁ֖ש אֶֽת־מָר‬ ֵּ ְ‫וַיַּל‬ ‫ש֣ה לָאִ֔יׁש‬ ֶׂ ָ ‫העִ֔יר וַיִּקְרָ ֣א לְפָנ ָ֔יו ּ֚כ ָכ ָה יֵע‬ ָ ‫בּי ָקרֹֽו׃‬ ִ ‫חפֵ֥ץ‬ ָ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֥ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ

And Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house, mourning and having his head covered.

֙‫מן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ ‫מלְֶך ו‬ ּ֑ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֣ע ַר‬ ַ ׁ ‫דכַ֖י אֶל־‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫שב מָר‬ ָ ָ ׁ ‫ו ַ ּ֥י‬ ‫חפּ֥וי ֹרֽאׁש׃‬ ֲ ַ ‫ב֖ל ו‬ ֵ ָ‫בּיתֹ֔ו א‬ ֵ ‫ח֣ף אֶל־‬ ַ ‫נ ִ ְד‬

And Haman recounted unto Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him: ‘If Mordecai, before whom thou hast begun to fall, be of the seed of the Jews, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.’

‫ב֔יו‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ֲ ֣‫שּתֹו֙ ּולְכ ָל־ ֹא‬ ְ ׁ ִ‫מ֜ן לְז ֶ֤רֶ ׁש א‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫פֵ֨ר‬ ּ ‫ס‬ ַ ְ ‫וַי‬ ‫מ֜יו‬ ָ ָ ‫חכ‬ ֲ ‫ש֣ר קָרָ ֑הּו ו ַֹ ּי֩אמְרּו֩ לֹ֨ו‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫אֵ֖ת כָּל־‬ ‫שּתֹ֗ו אִ֣ם מ ִּז ֶ֣רַ ע הַי ְּהּו ִד֡ים‬ ְ ׁ ִ‫ו ְז ֶ֣רֶ ׁש א‬ ֙‫פ֤ל לְפָנ ָיו‬ ּ ֹ ְ ‫ת לִנ‬ ָ ‫חּלֹ֨ו‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ַ ֩‫שר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫דכַ֞י‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫מָר‬ ‫תּפֹ֖ול לְפָנ ָֽיו׃‬ ּ ִ ‫ל ֹא־תּוכַ֣ל לֹ֔ו ּכ ִֽי־נָפֹ֥ול‬

While they were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and hastened to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.

‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ס֥י‬ ֵ ‫בּרִ ֣ים עִּמֹ֔ו וְסָרִ י‬ ְ ‫מ ַד‬ ְ ֙‫עֹו ָדם‬ ‫מ֔ן אֶל־‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫ב֣יא אֶת־‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ‫ה֙לּו֙ ל‬ ִ ‫ב‬ ְ ַּ ‫ה ּג ִ֑יעּו וַי‬ ִ ‫תֽר׃‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫ת֥ה א‬ ָ ‫ש‬ ְׂ ָ ‫שר־ע‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ת֖ה‬ ֶּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִּ ‫ה‬ ַ

esther 6 / 39

chapter 7 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.

And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine: ‘Whatever thy petition, queen Esther, it shall be granted thee; and whatever thy request, even to the half of the kingdom, it shall be performed.’

‫פרק ז‬ ‫ת֥ר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫שּתֹ֖ות ע ִם־א‬ ְ ׁ ִ‫מ֔ן ל‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ ‫מלְֶך֙ ו‬ ּ֙ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ב֤א‬ ֹ ָּ ‫וַי‬ ‫מלְ ּכ ָֽה׃‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ֙‫שנִי‬ ֵ ּ ׁ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בּיֹ֤ום‬ ַּ ‫ת֜ר ּג ַ֣ם‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫מלְֶך לְא‬ ּ֨ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ֩‫מר‬ ֶ ‫ו ַֹיּא‬ ‫ת֥ר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫תְ֛ך א‬ ֵ ָ‫שאֵל‬ ְ ּ ׁ ‫ת֣ה ה ַּי ַ֔י ִן מַה־‬ ֵּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫ב‬ ְּ ‫תְ֛ך‬ ֵ ‫ש‬ ָ ׁ‫ק‬ ָּ ‫ב‬ ַּ ‫תֽן לְָ֑ך ּומַה־‬ ֵ ָ ‫מלְ ּכ ָ֖ה וְת ִּ֣נ‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫תעָֽׂש׃‬ ֵ ְ ‫מלְכּ֖ות ו‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫חצִ֥י‬ ֲ ‫ע ַד־‬

Then Esther the queen answered and said: ‘If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request;

‫מ֔ר אִם־‬ ַ ‫תּא‬ ֹ ַ ‫מלְ ּכ ָה֙ ו‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת֤ר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫תע ַן א‬ ּ֨ ַ ַ ‫ו‬ ‫מלְֶך וְאִם־ע ַל־‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ֙‫בע ֵינ ֶ֙יָך‬ ְּ ‫ח֤ן‬ ֵ ‫מצָ֨אתִי‬ ָ ‫ת֔י‬ ִ ָ‫שאֵ֣ל‬ ְ ׁ‫ב‬ ִּ ֙‫שי‬ ִ ׁ ְ‫ת ּּֽנ ָתֶן־לִ֤י נַפ‬ ִ ‫מלְֶך טֹ֑וב‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫תֽי׃‬ ִ ‫ש‬ ָ ׁ‫ק‬ ָּ ‫ב‬ ַ ‫ב‬ ְּ ‫מ֖י‬ ּ ִ ַ ‫וְע‬

for we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my peace, for the adversary is not worthy that the king be endamaged.’

‫הרֹ֣וג‬ ֲ ַ‫מ֖יד ל‬ ִ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫ה‬ ַ ְ‫מ֔י ל‬ ּ ִ ַ ‫מ ּכ ַ֙רְ נּו֙ אֲנ ִ֣י וְע‬ ְ ִ ‫ּכ ִ֤י נ‬ ‫שפָחֹ֤ות‬ ְ ׁ ִ‫ב ִד֨ים וְל‬ ָ ֲ ‫ב֑ד ְ֠ואִּלּו לַע‬ ֵּ ַ‫ּולְא‬ ‫שו ֶ֖ה‬ ֹ ׁ ‫ה ּצ ָ֛ר‬ ַ ‫תּי ּכ ִ֣י אֵ֥ין‬ ִ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ ֔ ַ‫החֱר‬ ֶ ֙‫מ ּכ ַ֙רְ נּו‬ ְ ִ‫נ‬ ‫מלְֶך׃ (ס‬ ּֽ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בּנ ֵ֥ז ֶק‬ ְ )

Then spoke the king Ahasuerus and said unto Esther the queen: ‘Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?’

And Esther said: ‘An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman.’

Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.

And the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden; but Haman remained to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.

Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was

40 \ esther 7

‫ת֣ר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫שוֵרֹ֔וׁש ו ַֹ ּי֖אמֶר לְא‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֣ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ֙‫מר‬ ֶ ‫ו ַֹ ּי֙א‬ ‫מ֣י הּ֥וא זֶה֙ וְאֵֽי־ז ֶ֣ה הּ֔וא‬ ִ ‫מלְ ּכ ָ֑ה‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מלָאֹ֥ו לִּבֹ֖ו לַעֲׂשֹ֥ות ּכ ֵֽן׃‬ ְ ‫שר־‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מ֥ן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫ת֔ר אִ֚יׁש צַ֣ר ו ְאֹוי ֵ֔ב‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫ת֣אמֶר־א‬ ֹּ ַ ‫ו‬ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מ ּלִפְנ ֵ֥י‬ ִ ‫בעַ֔ת‬ ְ ִ ‫מ֣ן נ‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ ‫הָרָ ֖ע ה ַּז ֶ֑ה ו‬ ‫מלְ ּכ ָֽה׃‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ְ‫ו‬ ‫ת֣ה ה ַּי ַ֔י ִן‬ ֵּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִּ ‫מ‬ ִ ֙‫חמָתֹו‬ ֲ ‫ב‬ ַּ ‫מלְֶך ָק֤ם‬ ּ֜ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ְ‫ו‬ ‫קׁ֤ש‬ ֵּ ‫ב‬ ַ ְ‫מ֗ד ל‬ ַ ָ ‫מ֣ן ע‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ ‫ת֑ן ו‬ ָ ‫בּי‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫אֶל־ג ִ ּ​ּנ ַ֖ת‬ ‫מלְ ּכ ָ֔ה ּכ ִ֣י רָ אָ֔ה‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת֣ר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫מא‬ ֽ ֵ ֙‫ע ַל־נַפְׁשֹו‬ ‫מלְֶך׃‬ ּֽ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מאֵ֥ת‬ ֵ ‫ת֥ה אֵלָ֛יו הָרָ עָ֖ה‬ ָ ְ‫ּכ ִֽי־כָל‬

fallen upon the couch whereon Esther was. Then said the king: ‘Will he even force the queen before me in the house?’ As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.

‫ב֣ית ׀‬ ֵּ ‫ת֜ן אֶל־‬ ָ ‫בּי‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מג ִ ּ​ּנ ַ֨ת‬ ִ ֩‫שב‬ ָ ׁ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֡ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ְ‫ו‬ ֙‫טה‬ ָּ ‫מ‬ ִּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מן֙ נֹפֵ֔ל ע ַל־‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ ‫ת֣ה ה ַּי ַ֗י ִן ו‬ ֵּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫הג ַם‬ ֠ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ה ו ַֹ ּי֣אמֶר‬ ָ ‫ת֣ר עָלֶ֔י‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫ש֣ר א‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ב֗ר‬ ָ ‫ד‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ב֑י ִת‬ ָּ ‫ב‬ ַּ ‫מ֖י‬ ּ ִ ִ ‫מלְ ּכ ָ֛ה ע‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫לִכְּבֹ֧וׁש אֶת־‬ ‫חפּֽו׃ (ס‬ ָ ‫מ֖ן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫מלְֶך ּופְנ ֵ֥י‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫פִ֣י‬ ּ ‫מ‬ ִ ֙‫)יָצָא‬

Then said Harbonah, one of the chamberlains that were before the king: ‘Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman hath made for Mordecai, who spoke good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman.’ And the king said: ‘Hang him thereon.’

‫ס֜ים‬ ִ ‫סּרִ י‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ח֨ד מִן־‬ ָ ֶ‫ח֠רְ בֹונ ָה א‬ ַ ‫ו ַֹ ּי֣אמֶר‬ ‫ש֪ה‬ ָׂ ָ ‫שר־ע‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫העֵ֣ץ‬ ָ ‫מלְֶך ּג ַ֣ם הִנ ֵּה־‬ ּ֗ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫לִפְנ ֵ֣י‬ ‫בּר־טֹ֣וב ע ַל־‬ ֶ ‫ד‬ ּ ִ ‫ש֧ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫דכַ֞י‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫מ֟ן ֽלְמָר‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫ש֣ים‬ ִ ּ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫ח‬ ֲ ‫ה‬ ַּ ‫ב‬ ֹ֖ ָ ‫מ֔ן ּג‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫ב֣ית‬ ֵ ‫ב‬ ְּ ֙‫מד‬ ֵ ‫מלְֶך ֹע‬ ּ֗ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת ֻל֥הּו עָלָֽיו׃‬ ּ ְ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מ֑ה ו ַֹ ּי֥אמֶר‬ ּ ָ ַ‫א‬

So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath assuaged.

‫הכִ֣ין‬ ֵ ‫שר־‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫העֵ֖ץ‬ ָ ‫מ֔ן ע ַל־‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫וַיִּתְלּו֙ אֶת־‬ ‫ש ֽכ ָכ ָה׃ (פ‬ ָ ׁ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מ֥ת‬ ַ ‫ח‬ ֲ ַ ‫דכָ֑י ו‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫)לְמָר‬

chapter 8

‫פרק ח‬

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.

֙‫שו ֵרֹוׁש‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֤ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת֞ן‬ ַ ָ ‫ההּ֗וא נ‬ ַ ‫בּיֹ֣ום‬ ַּ ‫מ֖ן צֹרֵ ֣ר‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫ב֥ית‬ ֵּ ‫מלְ ּכ ָ֔ה אֶת־‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת֣ר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫לְא‬ ‫ב֚א לִפְנ ֵ֣י‬ ָּ ‫דכַ֗י‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫היהודיים [הַי ְּהּו ִד֑ים] ּומָר‬ ‫מ֥ה הּוא־לָּֽה׃‬ ַ ‫ת֖ר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫ה ּג ִ֥ידָה א‬ ִ ‫מלְֶך ּכ ִֽי־‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ

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.

֙‫העֱבִיר‬ ֶֽ ‫ש֤ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫בעְּתֹ֗ו‬ ַּ ‫ט‬ ַ ‫מּ֜לְֶך אֶת־‬ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ו ַ ּ֨י ָסַר‬ ‫ת֛ר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫שׂם א‬ ֶ ‫ת‬ ּ֧ ָ ַ ‫דכָ֑י ו‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫תּנ ָּ֖ה לְמָר‬ ְ ִּ ‫מ֔ן ו ַֽי‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫מ‬ ֵֽ ‫מֽן׃ (פ‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫ב֥ית‬ ֵּ ‫דכַ֖י ע ַל־‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫)אֶֽת־מָר‬

And Esther spoke 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.

‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בר֙ לִפְנ ֵ֣י‬ ֵּ ‫ת ַד‬ ּ ְ ַ ‫ת֗ר ו‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫וַּתֹ֣וסֶף א‬ ‫תחַנ ֶּן־לֹ֗ו‬ ְ ‫ת‬ ּ ִ ַ ‫בְךּ ו‬ ְ ‫ת‬ ּ֣ ֵ ַ ‫פ֖ל לִפְנ ֵ֣י רַ גְלָ֑יו ו‬ ֹּ ‫ת‬ ִּ ַ ‫ו‬ ֙‫אגָגִ֔י וְאֵת‬ ֲ ‫ה‬ ֽ ָ ‫מ֣ן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ֙‫העֲבִיר֙ אֶת־רָ עַת‬ ַֽ ְ‫ל‬ ‫ש֖ב ע ַל־הַי ְּהּו ִדֽים׃‬ ַ ׁ‫ח‬ ָ ‫ש֥ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫בּתֹ֔ו‬ ְ ‫ש‬ ַ ׁ‫ח‬ ֲ ‫מ‬ ַֽ

Then the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre. So Esther arose, and stood before the king.

‫ב֣ט‬ ִ ְ‫שר‬ ַ ׁ ‫ת֔ר אֵ֖ת‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫מלְֶך֙ לְא‬ ּ֙ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שט‬ ֶ ׁ ‫וַּיֹ֤ו‬ ‫מ֖ד לִפְנ ֵ֥י‬ ֹ ֲ ‫תע‬ ּ ַ ַֽ ‫ת֔ר ו‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫תקָם א‬ ּ֣ ָ ַ ‫ה֑ב ו‬ ָ ָּ ‫הַז‬ ‫מלְֶך׃‬ ּֽ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ esther 8 / 41

And she 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 that are in all the king’s provinces; 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?’

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.

Write ye also concerning 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.’

Then were the king’s scribes called at that time, in the third month, which is the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, even to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, a 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.

And they wrote in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, riding on swift steeds

42 \ esther 8

‫מלְֶך טֹ֜וב וְאִם־‬ ּ֨ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫תּאמֶר אִם־ע ַל־‬ ֹ ַ֠ ‫ו‬ ‫בר֙ לִפְנ ֵ֣י‬ ָ ‫ד‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֤ר‬ ֵ ׁ ָ ‫ח֣ן לְפָנ ָ֗יו וְכ‬ ֵ ‫מצָ֧אתִי‬ ָ ‫ש֣יב‬ ִ ׁ‫ה‬ ָ ְ‫ת֞ב ל‬ ֵ ָ ‫בע ֵינ ָ֑יו י ִ ּכ‬ ְּ ‫ב֥ה אֲנ ִ֖י‬ ָ ‫מלְֶך ו ְטֹו‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בֽן־‬ ֶּ ‫מ֤ן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫שבֶת‬ ֶ֜ ׁ‫ח‬ ֲ ‫מ‬ ַ ‫ספָרִ ֗ים‬ ְּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫אֶת־‬ ‫בד֙ אֶת־‬ ֵּ ַ‫ת֗ב לְא‬ ַ ָ ‫ש֣ר ּכ‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫אגָגִ֔י‬ ֲ ‫ה‬ ָ ֙‫תא‬ ָ ֙‫מ ָד‬ ְּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מלְֶך׃‬ ּֽ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מדִינֹ֥ות‬ ְ ‫בכ ָל־‬ ְּ ‫ש֖ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫הַי ְּהּו ִד֔ים‬ ‫שר־‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫בּרָ עָ֖ה‬ ָ ‫ּכ ִ֠י אֵיכָכָ֤ה אּוכַל֙ ו ְֽרָ אִ֔יתִי‬ ‫מ֑י וְאֵֽיכָכָ֤ה אּוכַל֙ ו ְֽרָ אִ֔יתִי‬ ּ ִ ַ ‫מצָ֣א אֶת־ע‬ ְ ִ‫י‬ ‫תֽי׃ (ס‬ ּ ִ ‫ב ַד֖ן מֹולַ ְד‬ ְ ָ‫בא‬ ְּ ) ‫ת֣ר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫שו ֵ ֹרׁש֙ לְא‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֤ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ו ַֹ ּי֨אמֶר‬ ‫דכַ֖י הַי ְּהּו ִד֑י ה ִּנ ֵ֨ה בֵית־‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫מלְ ּכ ָ֔ה ּוֽלְמָר‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫העֵ֔ץ‬ ָ ‫תלּ֣ו ע ַל־‬ ּ ָ ֙‫ת֗ר וְאֹתֹו‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫תּי לְא‬ ִ ֣‫ת‬ ַ ָ ‫מ֜ן נ‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫שלַ֥ח יָדֹ֖ו ביהודיים‬ ָ ׁ ‫שר־‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫עַ֛ל‬ ‫בּי ְּהּו ִדֽים׃‬ ַ [] ‫תבּ֨ו ע ַל־הַי ְּהּו ִד֜ים ּכ ַּטֹ֤וב‬ ְ ִ ‫תּם ּכ‬ ֶ ַ‫וְ֠א‬ ‫בע ַת‬ ַּ֣ ‫ט‬ ַ ‫ב‬ ְּ ‫תמּ֖ו‬ ְ ‫ח‬ ִ ְ ‫מלְֶך ו‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֣ם‬ ֵ ׁ‫ב‬ ְּ ֙‫בעֵֽינ ֵיכֶם‬ ְּ ‫שם־‬ ֵ ׁ‫ב‬ ְּ ‫ת֣ב‬ ּ ָ ְ ‫שר־נִכ‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ת֞ב‬ ָ ְ ‫מלְֶך ּכ ִֽי־כ‬ ּ֑ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מלְֶך אֵ֥ין‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בע ַת‬ ַּ֥ ‫ט‬ ַ ‫ב‬ ְּ ‫חּתֹ֛ום‬ ְ ַ ‫מלְֶך ו ְנ‬ ּ֗ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שיב׃‬ ִֽ ׁ‫ה‬ ָ ְ‫ל‬ ‫ההִיא‬ ַ֠ ‫בע ֵת־‬ ָּֽ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֣ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ספְרֵ ֽי־‬ ֹ ‫וַי ִּ ָקּרְ אּ֣ו‬ ‫חדֶׁש סִיו ָ֗ן‬ ֣ ֹ ‫ש֜י הּוא־‬ ִ ׁ ‫שלִי‬ ְ ּ ׁ‫ה‬ ַ ‫חדֶׁש‬ ֹ֨ ‫ב‬ ַּ ‫ת֣ב ּֽכ ְכ ָל־‬ ֵ ָ ‫שׂרִ ים֮ ּבֹו֒ וַי ִּ ּכ‬ ְ ֶ ‫ש֣ה וְע‬ ָ ׁ ‫שלֹו‬ ְ ׁ‫ב‬ ִּ ‫דכַ֣י אֶל־הַי ְּהּו ִד֡ים וְאֶ֣ל‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫שר־צ ִּו ָ֣ה מָר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מדִינֹ֜ות‬ ְּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שׂרֵ ֨י‬ ָ ְ ‫הפַּחֹות֩ ו‬ ַ ְ ‫ש ַדּרְ פְּנ ִֽים־ו‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫שׂרִ ֤ים‬ ְ ֶ ‫שבַע וְע‬ ֣ ֶ ׁ ‫הּ֣דּו וְע ַד־ּכּ֗וׁש‬ ֹ ‫מ‬ ֵ ‫ש֣ר ׀‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫בּ֔ה‬ ָ ‫ת‬ ָ ְ ‫מדִינָה֙ ּכ ִכ‬ ְ ‫מדִינ ָ֤ה ּו‬ ְ ‫מדִינ ָ֔ה‬ ְ ֙‫מאָה‬ ֵ ‫ּו‬ ‫ב֖ם‬ ָ ‫ת‬ ָ ְ ‫שנֹ֑ו וְאֶ֨ל־הַי ְּהּו ִד֔ים ּכ ִכ‬ ֹ ׁ ְ‫וְעַ֥ם וָעָ֖ם ּכ ִל‬ ‫וְכִלְׁשֹונ ָֽם׃‬ ‫ת֖ם‬ ֹּ ‫ח‬ ְ ַּ ‫שו ֵ ֹרׁ֔ש וַי‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֣ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ֙‫שם‬ ֵ ׁ‫ב‬ ְּ ‫ת֗ב‬ ּ ֹ ְ ‫וַיִּכ‬ ֩‫בּיַד‬ ְ ‫ספָרִ ֡ים‬ ְ ‫שלַ֣ח‬ ְ ׁ ִּ ‫מלְֶך וַי‬ ּ֑ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בע ַת‬ ַּ֣ ‫ט‬ ַ ‫ב‬ ְּ

that were used in the king’s service, bred of the stud; that the king had granted the Jews that were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, and to slay, and to cause to perish, all the forces of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey, upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

The copy of the writing, to be given out for a decree in every province, was to be published unto all the peoples, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

So the posts that rode upon swift steeds that were used in the king’s service went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment; and the decree was given out in Shushan the castle.

And Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a rob of fine linen and purple; and the city of Shushan shouted and was glad.

The Jews had light and gladness, and joy and honour.

And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness and joy, a feast and a good day. And many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews was fallen upon them.

֙‫ב֤י הָרֶ ֙כֶׁש‬ ֵ ְ ‫ס֜ים ֹרכ‬ ִ ‫בּ​ּסּו‬ ַ ‫הָרָ צִ֨ים‬ ‫מכִֽים׃‬ ּ ָ ַ‫הֽר‬ ָ ‫בּנ ֵ֖י‬ ְ ‫תּרָ נ ִ֔ים‬ ְ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ה‬ ָֽ ‫ש֣ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך לַי ְּהּו ִד֣ים ׀‬ ּ֜ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת֨ן‬ ַ ָ ‫שר֩ נ‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מ֣ד ע ַל־‬ ֹ ֲ ‫הל֮ וְלַע‬ ֵ ‫ק‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ִ ְ‫בכ ָל־ע ִיר־וָעִ֗יר ל‬ ְּ ‫ב֜ד אֶת־‬ ֵּ ַ‫ה ֹר֨ג ּולְא‬ ֲ ַ‫שמִיד֩ וְל‬ ְ ׁ‫ה‬ ַ ְ‫שם֒ ל‬ ָ ׁ ְ‫נַפ‬ ‫ט֣ף‬ ַ ‫ת֖ם‬ ָ ‫הצָּרִ ֥ים ֹא‬ ַ ‫מדִינ ָ֛ה‬ ְ ‫ח֨יל עַ֧ם ּו‬ ֵ ‫כָּל־‬ ‫שלָלָ֖ם לָבֹֽוז׃‬ ְ ׁ ‫ש֑ים ּו‬ ִ ָ ׁ ‫ו ְנ‬ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֣ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מדִינֹ֖ות‬ ְ ‫בכ ָל־‬ ְּ ‫ח֔ד‬ ָ ֶ‫ביֹ֣ום א‬ ְּ ‫חדֶׁש‬ ֥ ֹ ְ‫ש֛ר ל‬ ָׂ ָ ‫ש֥ה ע‬ ָ ׁ ‫שלֹו‬ ְ ׁ‫ב‬ ִּ ‫שוֵרֹ֑וׁש‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫א ָדֽר׃‬ ֲ ‫חדֶׁש‬ ֥ ֹ ‫ש֖ר הּוא־‬ ָׂ ָ ‫ׁשְנ ֵים־ע‬ ‫מדִינ ָ֣ה‬ ְ ‫בּכ ָל־‬ ְ ֙‫דת‬ ּ ָ ‫תֽן‬ ֵ ָ ‫ת֗ב לְה ִּ֤נ‬ ָ ְ ‫ה ּכ‬ ַ ‫שג ֶן‬ ֶ֣ ׁ‫ת‬ ְ ַ‫פ‬ ּ ‫היֹ֨ות‬ ְ ִ‫מ֑ים וְל‬ ּ ִ ַ ‫הע‬ ָ ‫מדִינ ָ֔ה ּג ָלּ֖וי לְכ ָל־‬ ְ ‫ּו‬ ]֙‫היהודיים [הַי ְּהּו ִד֤ים] עתודים [עֲתִידִים‬ ‫הֽם׃‬ ֶ ‫מאֹיְבֵי‬ ֵ ‫לַּיֹ֣ום ה ַּז ֶ֔ה לְהִנ ָּ ֵק֖ם‬ ‫תּרָ נ ִ֔ים‬ ְ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ה‬ ֽ ָ ֙‫ב֤י הָרֶ ֙כֶׁש‬ ֵ ְ ‫הָרָ צִ֞ים ֹרכ‬ ‫מּ֑לְֶך‬ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ב֣ר‬ ַ ‫ב ְד‬ ִּ ‫הלִ֥ים ּודְחּופִ֖ים‬ ָ ‫ב‬ ֹ ‫מ‬ ְ ‫יָֽצְאּ֛ו‬ ‫בּירָ ֽה׃ (פ‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֥ן‬ ַ ׁ ‫בּׁשּו‬ ְ ‫תּנ ָ֖ה‬ ְ ִ ‫ד֥ת נ‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ַ ְ ‫)ו‬ ‫בלְבּ֤וׁש‬ ִּ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֗ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מ ּלִפְנ ֵ֣י‬ ִ ‫דכַ֞י יָצָ֣א ׀‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫ּומָר‬ ֙‫הב‬ ָ ָ ‫ט֤רֶ ת ז‬ ֶ ֲ ‫תכ֣ ֵלֶת וָחּ֔ור וַע‬ ּ ְ ֙‫מלְכּות‬ ַ ‫העִ֣יר‬ ָ ְ ‫מ֑ן ו‬ ָ ָ ‫תכ ְרִ ֥יְך ּבּ֖וץ וְאַרְ ּג‬ ַ ְ ‫גְּדֹולָ֔ה ו‬ ‫מחָה׃‬ ֵֽ ‫ש‬ ָׂ ְ ‫הלָ֖ה ו‬ ֲ ָ ‫ש֔ן צ‬ ָ ׁ ‫ׁשּו‬ ‫שׂ֖ן וִי ָקֽר׃‬ ֹ ‫ש‬ ָׂ ְ ‫חה ו‬ ָ֑ ‫מ‬ ְ ‫ש‬ ִׂ ְ ‫ת֥ה אֹורָ ֖ה ו‬ ָ ְ ‫הֽי‬ ָ ‫דים‬ ֕ ִ ‫לַי ְּהּו‬ ‫בכ ָל־עִ֣יר וָעִ֗יר‬ ְ ‫מדִינ ָ֜ה ּו‬ ְ ‫מדִינ ָ֨ה ּו‬ ְ ‫בכ ָל־‬ ְ ‫ּו‬ ַ ‫מ ּג ִ֔יע‬ ַ ֙‫מלְֶך וְדָתֹו‬ ּ֤ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫דבַר־‬ ּ ְ ‫ש֨ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ֙‫מְקֹום‬ ‫ת֖ה וְיֹ֣ום‬ ֶּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫שׂ​ׂשֹון֙ לַי ְּהּו ִד֔ים‬ ָ ְ ‫ח֤ה ו‬ ָ ‫מ‬ ְ ‫ש‬ ִׂ ‫ה ִד֔ים‬ ֲ ַ ‫מתְי‬ ֽ ִ ֙‫האָ֙רֶ ץ‬ ָ ‫מ֤י‬ ּ ֵ ַ ‫מע‬ ֽ ֵ ‫ב֞ים‬ ִּ ַ‫טֹ֑וב ו ְר‬ ‫הֽם׃‬ ֶ ‫פַחַד־הַי ְּהּו ִד֖ים עֲלֵי‬ ּֽ ‫ּכ ִֽי־נָפַ֥ל‬ esther 8 / 43

chapter 9 Now in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have rule over them; whereas it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them; the Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt; and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them was fallen upon all the peoples.

And all the princes of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors, and they that did the king’s business, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai was fallen upon them.

For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went forth throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.

And the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with slaughter and destruction, and did what they would unto them that hated them.

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

And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha, and Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,

44 \ esther 9

‫פרק ט‬ ‫א ָד֗ר‬ ֲ ‫חדֶׁש‬ ֣ ֹ ‫חדֶׁש הּוא־‬ ֜ ֹ ‫ש֨ר‬ ָׂ ָ ‫שנ ֵים֩ ע‬ ְ ׁ‫ב‬ ִ ‫ּו‬ ַ ‫ה ּג ִ֧יע‬ ִ ‫ש֨ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ש֥ר יֹום֙ ּבֹ֔ו‬ ָׂ ָ ‫ש֨ה ע‬ ָ ׁ ‫שלֹו‬ ְ ׁ‫ב‬ ִּ ‫ש֨ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫בּיֹ֗ום‬ ַּ ‫העָׂשֹ֑ות‬ ֵ ְ‫מלְֶך ו ְ ָדתֹ֖ו ל‬ ּ֛ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫דבַר־‬ ְּ ‫ה֔ם‬ ֶ ‫ב‬ ָּ ‫שלֹ֣וט‬ ְ ׁ ִ‫ב֤י הַי ְּהּודִים֙ ל‬ ֵ ְ ‫ברּ֜ו אֹי‬ ְּ ‫ש‬ ִׂ ‫שלְטּ֧ו הַי ְּהּו ִד֛ים‬ ְ ִ ׁ ‫ש֨ר י‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫הפֹ֣וְך הּ֔וא‬ ֲ ַ ‫ו ְנ‬ ‫הֽם׃‬ ֶ ‫ש ׂנְאֵי‬ ֹ ‫ב‬ ְּ ‫מּה‬ ָ ֖‫ה‬ ֵ ֙‫מדִינֹות‬ ְ ‫בכ ָל־‬ ְּ ‫ה֗ם‬ ֶ ‫בע ָרֵ י‬ ְּ ‫הלּ֨ו הַי ְּהּו ִד֜ים‬ ֲ ‫נ ִ ְק‬ ‫ש֖י‬ ֵ ׁ ‫ב ְק‬ ַ ‫מ‬ ְ ‫ב‬ ִּ ‫ח י ָ֔ד‬ ַ ֹ ‫ש ֣ל‬ ְ ׁ ִ‫שוֵרֹ֔וׁש ל‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֳ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֣ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ה֔ם ּכ ִֽי־נָפַ֥ל‬ ֶ ‫מ֣ד לִפְנ ֵי‬ ַ ָ ‫ת֑ם וְאִיׁש֙ ל ֹא־ע‬ ָ ָ ‫רָ ֽע‬ ‫מֽים׃‬ ּ ִ ַ ‫הע‬ ָ ‫ד֖ם ע ַל־כָּל־‬ ָּ ‫ח‬ ְ ַ‫פ‬ ּ ‫ש ַדּרְ פְּנ ִ֣ים‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ ‫מדִינֹ֜ות ו‬ ְּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫שׂרֵ ֨י‬ ָ ‫וְכ ָל־‬ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֔ ֶ ַ‫ש֣ר ל‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ֙‫מלָאכָה‬ ְּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֤י‬ ֵׂ ‫פַחֹ֗ות ו ְ ֹע‬ ּ ‫ה‬ ַ ְ‫ו‬ ‫פַחַד־‬ ּֽ ‫שאִ֖ים אֶת־הַי ְּהּו ִד֑ים ּכ ִֽי־נָפַ֥ל‬ ְׂ ּ ַ ‫מְנ‬ ‫הֽם׃‬ ֶ ‫דכַ֖י עֲלֵי‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫מָר‬ ‫מעֹ֖ו‬ ְ ‫ש‬ ָ ְ ׁ ‫מלְֶך ו‬ ּ֔ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ב֣ית‬ ֵ ‫ב‬ ְּ ֙‫ּכ ִֽי־גָ֤דֹול מָרְ ֳדּכַי‬ ‫דכַ֖י‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫האִ֥יׁש מָר‬ ָ ‫מדִינֹ֑ות ּכ ִֽי־‬ ְּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בכ ָל־‬ ְּ ‫הֹולְֵ֣ך‬ ‫)הֹולְֵ֥ך וְגָדֹֽול׃ (פ‬ ‫ח֥רֶ ב‬ ֶ ‫מכַּת־‬ ַ ‫ה֔ם‬ ֶ ‫בכ ָל־ ֹא֣יְבֵי‬ ְּ ֙‫וַיַּ​ּכּ֤ו הַי ְּהּודִים‬ ‫ה֖ם כִּרְ צֹונ ָֽם׃‬ ֶ ‫ש ׂנְאֵי‬ ֹ ‫ב‬ ְ ‫ב ָד֑ן ו ַ ּֽי ַעֲׂשּ֥ו‬ ְ ַ‫ה֖רֶ ג וְא‬ ֶ ְ‫ו‬ ‫ב֔ד‬ ֵּ ַ‫בּירָ ֗ה הָרְ גּ֤ו הַי ְּהּודִים֙ וְא‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֣ן‬ ַ ׁ ‫ּובְׁשּו‬ ‫מאֹ֖ות אִֽיׁש׃‬ ֵ ‫מׁ֥ש‬ ֵ ‫ח‬ ֲ ‫דלְפֹ֖ון וְאֵ֥ת ׀‬ ּֽ ַ ‫דתָא וְאֵ֥ת ׀‬ ּ֛ ָ ְ ‫שנ‬ ַ ׁ ְ‫וְאֵ֧ת ׀ פַּר‬ ‫פָתָא׃‬ ּֽ ‫ס‬ ְ ַ‫א‬ ‫א ַדלְי ָ֖א וְאֵ֥ת ׀‬ ֲ ‫וְאֵ֧ת ׀ ּפֹורָ ֛תָא וְאֵ֥ת ׀‬ ‫דתָא׃‬ ֽ ָ ‫אֲרִ י‬

and Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vaizatha, the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jews’enemy, slew they; but on the spoil they laid not their hand.

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

And the king said unto Esther the queen: ‘The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the castle, and the ten sons of Haman; what then have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces! Now whatever thy petition, it shall be granted thee; and whatever thy request further, it shall be done.’

Then said Esther: ‘If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews that are in Shushan to do to-morrow also according unto this day’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.’

And the king commanded it so to be done; and a decree was given out in Shushan; and they hanged Haman’s ten sons.

And the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men in Shushan; but on the spoil they laid not their hand.

And the other Jews that were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of them that hated them seventy and five thousand—but on the spoil they laid not their hand—.

‫ס֔י וְאֵ֥ת ׀‬ ַ ‫תא֙ וְאֵ֣ת ׀ אֲרִ י‬ ָּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ ֙‫מ‬ ַ ְ‫וְאֵ֤ת ׀ פַּר‬ ‫אֲרִ ַד֖י וְאֵ֥ת ׀ וַי ְזָֽתָא׃‬ ‫דתָא צֹרֵ ֥ר‬ ָ֛ ‫מ‬ ְּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בֽן־‬ ֶּ ‫מ֧ן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫בּנ ֵ֨י‬ ְ ‫שׂרֶ ת‬ ֶ ֲ ֠‫ע‬ ‫שלְחּ֖ו אֶת־‬ ָ ׁ ‫ב ּ​ּז ָ֔ה לֹ֥א‬ ִ ‫ב‬ ַ֨ ‫הַי ְּהּו ִד֖ים הָרָ ֑גּו ּו‬ ‫י ָ ָדֽם׃‬ ‫ההֲרּוגִ֛ים‬ ֽ ַ ‫פַ֧ר‬ ּ ‫ס‬ ְ ‫מ‬ ִ ‫ב֣א‬ ָּ ‫ההּ֗וא‬ ַ ‫בּיֹ֣ום‬ ַּ ‫מלְֶך׃ (ס‬ ּֽ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בּירָ ֖ה לִפְנ ֵ֥י‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ש֥ן‬ ַ ׁ ‫בּׁשּו‬ ְ ) ‫ש֣ן‬ ַ ׁ ‫בּׁשּו‬ ְ ‫מלְ ּכ ָ֗ה‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת֣ר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫מלְֶך לְא‬ ּ֜ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ו ַֹ ּי֨אמֶר‬ ‫מׁ֧ש‬ ֵ ‫ח‬ ֲ ‫ב֜ד‬ ֵּ ַ‫בּירָ ֡ה הָרְ גּו֩ הַי ְּהּו ִד֨ים וְא‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מ֔ן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫בּנ ֵֽי־‬ ְ ‫ש֣רֶ ת‬ ֶׂ ֲ ‫מאֹ֣ות אִ֗יׁש וְאֵת֙ ע‬ ֵ ‫מ֣ה עָׂשּ֑ו‬ ֶ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֖ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מדִינֹ֥ות‬ ְ ‫שאָ֛ר‬ ְ ׁ‫ב‬ ִּ ‫תְ֥ך‬ ֵ ‫ש‬ ָ ׁ‫ק‬ ָּ ‫ב‬ ַּ ‫תֽן לְָ֔ך ּומַה־‬ ֵ ָ ‫תְך֙ וְי ִּ֣נ‬ ֵ ָ‫שאֵֽל‬ ְ ּ ׁ ‫ּומַה־‬ ‫תעָֽׂש׃‬ ֵ ְ ‫עֹ֖וד ו‬ ‫מלְֶך טֹ֔וב‬ ּ֣ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫תר֙ אִם־ע ַל־‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫ת֤אמֶר א‬ ֹּ ַ ‫ו‬ ‫ש֔ן‬ ָ ׁ ‫בּׁשּו‬ ְ ‫ש֣ר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ֙‫ח֗ר לַי ְּהּודִים‬ ָ ‫מ‬ ָ ‫ת֣ן גַּם־‬ ֵ ָּ ‫י ִנ‬ ‫בּנ ֵֽי־‬ ְ ‫ש֥רֶ ת‬ ֶׂ ֲ ‫הּיֹ֑ום וְאֵ֛ת ע‬ ַ ‫לַעֲׂשֹ֖ות ּכ ְ ָד֣ת‬ ‫העֵֽץ׃‬ ָ ‫תלּ֥ו ע ַל־‬ ְ ִ ‫מ֖ן י‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫ד֖ת‬ ּ ָ ‫ת֥ן‬ ֵ ָּ ‫תּנ‬ ִ ַ ‫העָׂשֹ֣ות ּכ ֵ֔ן ו‬ ֽ ֵ ְ‫מלְֶך֙ ל‬ ּ֙ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ו ַֹ ּי֤אמֶר‬ ‫תלּֽו׃‬ ּ ָ ‫מ֖ן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫בּנ ֵֽי־‬ ְ ‫ש֥רֶ ת‬ ֶׂ ֲ ‫ש֑ן וְאֵ֛ת ע‬ ָ ׁ ‫בּׁשּו‬ ְ ‫שר־‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ]‫הלּ֞ו היהודיים [הַי ְּהּו ִד֣ים‬ ֲ ‫ק‬ ּ ָ ִ ‫ו ַ ּֽי‬ ‫חדֶׁש‬ ֣ ֹ ְ‫שר֙ ל‬ ָׂ ָ ‫בעָ֤ה ע‬ ָּ ְ‫ביֹ֣ום אַר‬ ְּ ‫ש֗ן ּג ַ֠ם‬ ָ ׁ ‫בּׁשּו‬ ְ ‫מאֹ֖ות אִ֑יׁש‬ ֵ ‫שלֹׁ֥ש‬ ְ ׁ ‫ש֔ן‬ ָ ׁ ‫א ָד֔ר ו ַ ּֽי ַהַרְ גּ֣ו בְׁשּו‬ ֲ ‫שלְחּ֖ו אֶת־י ָ ָדֽם׃‬ ָ ׁ ‫ב ּ​ּז ָ֔ה לֹ֥א‬ ִ ‫ב‬ ַ֨ ‫ּו‬ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֜ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מדִינֹ֨ות‬ ְ ‫ב‬ ִּ ֩‫שר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫שאָ֣ר הַי ְּהּו ִד֡ים‬ ְ ׁ ‫ּו‬ ַ֙ ‫ש֗ם וְנֹ֙ו‬ ‫ח‬ ָ ׁ ְ‫מ֣ד ע ַל־נַפ‬ ֹ ָ ‫הלּ֣ו ׀ וְע‬ ֲ ‫נ ִ ְק‬ ‫ש֥ה‬ ָ ּ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫ח‬ ֲ ‫ה֔ם‬ ֶ ‫שׂ֣נְאֵי‬ ֹ ‫ב‬ ְּ ֙‫ה ֹרג‬ ָ ְ ‫ה֔ם ו‬ ֶ ‫מ ֹא֣יְבֵי‬ ֵ ‫שלְחּ֖ו אֶת־י ָ ָדֽם׃‬ ֽ ָ ׁ ‫ב ּ​ּז֔ ָה ֥ל ֹא‬ ִ ‫ב‬ ַ֨ ‫ע ִים אָ֑לֶף ּו‬ ֖ ‫ב‬ ְ ‫ש‬ ִ ְ ׁ‫ו‬ esther 9 / 45

on the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and on the fourteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

‫ח‬ ַ ‫א ָד֑ר וְנֹ֗ו‬ ֲ ‫חדֶׁש‬ ֣ ֹ ְ‫ש֖ר ל‬ ָׂ ָ ‫ש֥ה ע‬ ָ ֹׁ ‫של‬ ְ ׁ ‫בּיֹום־‬ ְ ‫שׂ֣ה ֹאתֹ֔ו יֹ֖ום‬ ֹ ָ ‫שר֙ ּבֹ֔ו וְע‬ ָׂ ָ ‫בעָ֤ה ע‬ ָּ ְ‫באַר‬ ְּ ‫חֽה׃‬ ָ ‫מ‬ ְ ‫ש‬ ִׂ ְ ‫ת֥ה ו‬ ּ ֶ ‫ׁש‬ ְ ‫מ‬ ִ

But the Jews that were in Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness and they ate.

‫ש֗ן‬ ָ ׁ ‫בּׁשּו‬ ְ ‫שר־‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ]‫והיהודיים [וְהַי ְּהּו ִד֣ים‬ ‫בעָ֥ה‬ ָּ ְ‫באַר‬ ְ ‫שר֙ ּבֹ֔ו ּו‬ ָׂ ָ ‫ש֤ה ע‬ ָ ֹׁ ‫של‬ ְ ׁ‫ב‬ ִּ ֙‫נ ִ ְקהֲלּו‬ ‫שׂ֣ה‬ ֹ ָ ‫שר֙ ּבֹ֔ו וְע‬ ָׂ ָ ‫ש֤ה ע‬ ָ ּ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫ח‬ ֲ ‫ב‬ ַּ ‫ח‬ ַ ‫ש֖ר ּבֹ֑ו וְנֹ֗ו‬ ָׂ ָ ‫ע‬ ‫חֽה׃‬ ָ ‫מ‬ ְ ‫ש‬ ִׂ ְ ‫ת֥ה ו‬ ֶּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫ֹאתֹ֔ו יֹ֖ום‬

Therefore do the Jews of the villages, that dwell in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, to enjoin them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly, the days wherein the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

And the Jews took upon them to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them; because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast pur, that is, the lot,

46 \ esther 9

]‫הפְּרָ ז ִ֗ים‬ ַ [ ‫ע ַל־ ּכ ֵ֞ן הַי ְּהּו ִד֣ים הפרוזים‬ ‫ש֗ים אֵ֠ת יֹ֣ום‬ ִׂ ‫הפְּרָ זֹות֒ ֹע‬ ַ ‫בע ָרֵ ֣י‬ ְּ ֮‫שבִים‬ ְ ׁ ‫ה ֹ ּי‬ ַ ‫ח֥ה‬ ָ ‫מ‬ ְ ‫ש‬ ִׂ ‫א ָד֔ר‬ ֲ ‫חדֶׁש‬ ֣ ֹ ְ‫שר֙ ל‬ ָׂ ָ ‫בעָ֤ה ע‬ ָּ ְ‫אַר‬ ‫מנֹ֖ות אִ֥יׁש‬ ָ ‫ח‬ ַ ‫שלֹ֥ו‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫ת֖ה וְיֹ֣ום טֹ֑וב ּו‬ ֶּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫ּו‬ ‫)לְרֵ עֵֽהּו׃ (פ‬ ‫האֵ֑לֶּה‬ ָ ‫דבָרִ ֖ים‬ ְּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫דכַ֔י אֶת־‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫ת֣ב מָר‬ ּ ֹ ְ ‫וַיִּכ‬ ֙‫שר‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ספָרִ ֜ים אֶל־כָּל־הַי ְּהּו ִד֗ים‬ ְ ‫שלַ֨ח‬ ְ ׁ ִּ ‫וַי‬ ‫שוֵרֹ֔וׁש‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֣ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ֙‫מדִינֹות‬ ְ ‫בכ ָל־‬ ְּ ‫ב֖ים וְהָרְ חֹו ִקֽים׃‬ ִ ‫ה ְקּרֹו‬ ַ ‫ש֗ים אֵ֠ת יֹ֣ום‬ ִׂ ‫היֹ֣ות ֹע‬ ְ ִ‫הם֒ ל‬ ֶ ‫לְקַיֵּם֮ עֲלֵי‬ ‫א ָד֔ר וְאֵ֛ת יֹום־‬ ֲ ‫חדֶׁש‬ ֣ ֹ ְ‫שר֙ ל‬ ָׂ ָ ‫בעָ֤ה ע‬ ָּ ְ‫אַר‬ ‫שנ ָֽה׃‬ ָ ְ ׁ ‫שנ ָ֖ה ו‬ ָ ׁ ‫בכ ָל־‬ ְּ ‫ש֖ר ּבֹ֑ו‬ ָׂ ָ ‫ש֥ה ע‬ ָ ּ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫ח‬ ֲ ֙ ‫ה֤ם הַי ְּהּודִי‬ ‫ם‬ ֶ ‫ב‬ ָ ‫שר־נ ָ֨חּו‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מ֗ים‬ ִ ָּ ‫כַּי‬ ‫ה֤ם‬ ֶ ָ‫פְַ֨ך ל‬ ּ ‫ה‬ ְ ֶ ‫שר֩ נ‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ח֗דֶׁש‬ ֹ ‫ה‬ ַ ְ ‫ה֔ם ו‬ ֶ ‫מאֹ֣ויְבֵי‬ ֵ ‫מאֵ֖בֶל לְיֹ֣ום טֹ֑וב‬ ֵ ‫ח֔ה ּו‬ ָ ‫מ‬ ְ ‫ש‬ ִׂ ְ‫מִי ָּגֹון֙ ל‬ ‫ח֔ה‬ ָ ‫מ‬ ְ ‫ש‬ ִׂ ְ ‫ת֣ה ו‬ ֶּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ֙‫מי‬ ֵ ְ ‫ת֗ם י‬ ָ ‫לַעֲׂשֹ֣ות אֹו‬ ‫תנֹ֖ות‬ ָּ ‫מ‬ ַ ‫ח מָנֹות֙ אִ֣יׁש לְרֵ עֵ֔הּו ּו‬ ַ ‫שלֹ֤ו‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫ּו‬ ‫ֽלָאֶבְיֹונ ִֽים׃‬ ‫חּ֖לּו‬ ֵ ‫ה‬ ֵ ‫שר־‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫בל֙ הַי ְּהּו ִד֔ים אֵ֥ת‬ ֵּ ‫ו ְ ִק‬ ‫דכַ֖י‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫ת֥ב מָר‬ ַ ָ ‫שר־ ּכ‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫לַעֲׂשֹ֑ות וְאֵ֛ת‬ ‫הֽם׃‬ ֶ ‫אלֵי‬ ֲ

to discomfit them, and to destroy them; but when ashe came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he had devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head; and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

Wherefore they called these days Purim, after the name of pur.

Therefore because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and that which had come unto them, the Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to the writing thereof, and according to the appointed time thereof, every year; and that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.

Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote down all the acts of power, to confirm this second letter of Purim.

And he sent letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,

‫אגָגִ֗י צֹרֵ ר֙ כָּל־‬ ֲ ‫ה‬ ֽ ָ ‫דתָא‬ ָ֜ ‫מ‬ ְּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫בֽן־‬ ֶּ ‫מ֨ן‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ֩‫ּכ ִי‬ ‫ב ָד֑ם‬ ְּ ַ‫ש֥ב ע ַל־הַי ְּהּו ִד֖ים לְא‬ ַ ׁ‫ח‬ ָ ‫הַי ְּהּו ִד֔ים‬ ‫מ֖ם‬ ָּ ‫ה‬ ֻ ְ‫פִ֥יל ּפּור֙ הּ֣וא הַּגֹורָ ֔ל ל‬ ּ ‫ה‬ ִ ְ‫ו‬ ‫ב ָדֽם׃‬ ְּ ַ‫ּוֽלְא‬ ‫ספֶר‬ ֵּ֔ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מ֣ר ע ִם־‬ ַ ָ‫מלְֶך֒ א‬ ֶּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫באָּה֮ לִפְנ ֵ֣י‬ ֹ ‫ב‬ ְ ‫ּו‬ ‫ש֥ב‬ ַ ׁ‫ח‬ ָ ‫שר־‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫בּתֹ֧ו הָרָ עָ֛ה‬ ְ ‫ש‬ ַ ׁ‫ח‬ ֲ ‫מ‬ ַ ‫יָׁשּ֞וב‬ ‫תלּ֥ו ֹאתֹ֛ו‬ ָ ְ ‫ע ַל־הַי ְּהּו ִד֖ים ע ַל־רֹאׁשֹ֑ו ו‬ ‫העֵֽץ׃‬ ָ ‫בּנ ָ֖יו ע ַל־‬ ָ ‫וְאֶת־‬ ֙ ‫האֵ֤לֶּה פּורִ י‬ ‫ם‬ ָ ‫מ֨ים‬ ִ ָּ ‫ע ַל־ ּכ ֵ֡ן ָקֽרְ אּו֩ לַי‬ ‫דבְרֵ ֖י‬ ּ ִ ‫הּפּ֔ור ע ַל־ ּכ ֵ֕ן ע ַל־כָּל־‬ ַ ‫ש֣ם‬ ֵ ׁ ‫ע ַל־‬ ‫מ֥ה‬ ָ ‫מֽה־רָ אּ֣ו ע ַל־ ּ֔כ ָכ ָה ּו‬ ָ ‫ה ֹּז֑את ּו‬ ַ ‫האִ ּג ֶ֣רֶ ת‬ ָ ‫הֽם׃‬ ֶ ‫אלֵי‬ ֲ ַ ‫ה ּג ִ֖יע‬ ִ ‫ה֨ם‬ ֶ ‫בלּ֣ו] הַי ְּהּודִים֩ ׀ עֲלֵי‬ ְּ ‫קִיְּמּ֣ו וקבל [ו ְ ִק‬ ֙‫הם‬ ֶ ‫׀ וְע ַל־ז ַרְ עָ֜ם וְעַ֨ל כָּל־הַנִּלְו ִ֤ים עֲלֵי‬ ‫שנ ֵ֤י‬ ְ ׁ ‫ש֗ים אֵ֣ת‬ ִׂ ‫היֹ֣ות ֹע‬ ְ ִ‫וְלֹ֣א יַעֲבֹ֔ור ל‬ ‫בכ ָל־‬ ְּ ‫ב֖ם וְכ ִזְמ ַּנ ָ֑ם‬ ָ ‫ת‬ ָ ְ ‫האֵ֔לֶּה ּכ ִכ‬ ָ ֙‫הַיָּמִים‬ ‫שנ ָֽה׃‬ ָ ְ ׁ ‫שנ ָ֖ה ו‬ ָ ׁ ‫בכ ָל־‬ ְּ ‫ש֜ים‬ ִׂ ֲ ‫האֵלֶּה נ ִזְכָּרִ ֨ים ו ְנַע‬ ָ֠ ‫מ֣ים‬ ִ ָּ ‫וְהַי‬ ‫מדִינ ָ֥ה‬ ְ ‫ח֔ה‬ ָ ָ‫פ‬ ּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫חה֙ ּו‬ ָ ָ‫פ‬ ּ ‫ש‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫ּדֹ֣ור וָדֹ֗ור‬ ‫האֵ֗לֶּה‬ ָ ‫מ֞י הַּפּורִ ֣ים‬ ֵ ‫מדִינ ָ֖ה וְעִ֣יר וָעִ֑יר וִי‬ ְ ‫ּו‬ ‫מּתֹ֣וְך הַי ְּהּו ִד֔ים ו ְזִכ ְרָ ֖ם ל ֹא־‬ ִ ֙‫לֹ֤א יַֽעַבְרּו‬ ‫)יָסּ֥וף מִז ַּרְ עָֽם׃ (ס‬ ‫ח֛י ִל‬ ַ ‫אבִי‬ ֲ ‫מלְ ּכ ָ֧ה בַת־‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת֨ר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫תּב א‬ ֹ ְ ‫תכ‬ ּ ִ ַ֠ ‫ו‬ ‫תקֶף לְק ַּי ֵ֗ם‬ ּ֑ ֹ ‫דכַ֥י הַי ְּהּו ִד֖י אֶת־כָּל־‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫ּומָר‬ ‫שנ ִֽית׃‬ ֵ ּ ׁ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ה ֹּז֖את‬ ַ ‫אֵ֣ת אִ ּג ֶ֧רֶ ת הַּפּורִ ֛ים‬ ‫ספָרִ ֜ים אֶל־כָּל־הַי ְּהּו ִד֗ים אֶל־‬ ְ ‫שלַ֨ח‬ ְ ׁ ִּ ‫וַי‬ ‫מלְכּ֖ות‬ ַ ‫מדִינ ָ֔ה‬ ְ ֙‫מאָה‬ ֵ ‫שׂרִ ֤ים ּו‬ ְ ֶ ‫שבַע וְע‬ ֶ֨ ׁ ‫מֽת׃‬ ֶ ֱ‫שלֹ֖ום וֶא‬ ָ ׁ ‫דבְרֵ ֥י‬ ּ ִ ‫שוֵרֹ֑וׁש‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ

esther 9 / 47

to confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had ordained for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.

And the commandment of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.

‫ה֗ם‬ ֶ ‫בּזְמַנ ֵּי‬ ִ ‫האֵ֜לֶּה‬ ָ ‫ה ֻפּרִ ֨ים‬ ַ ֩‫מי‬ ֵ ְ ‫לְק ַּי ֵ֡ם אֵת־י‬ ֙‫דכַ֤י הַי ְּהּו ִדי‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫ה֜ם מָר‬ ֶ ‫שר֩ ק ִּי ַ֨ם עֲלֵי‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ַ ‫ּכ‬ ‫ש֛ר קִיְּמּ֥ו ע ַל־‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ַ ‫מלְ ּכ ָ֔ה וְכ‬ ַּ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ת֣ר‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫וְא‬ ‫ה ֹּצמֹ֖ות‬ ַ ‫דבְרֵ ֥י‬ ּ ִ ‫ש֖ם וְע ַל־ז ַרְ עָ֑ם‬ ָ ׁ ְ‫נַפ‬ ‫תֽם׃‬ ָ ‫ו ְזַע ֲ ָק‬ ‫ה ֻפּרִ ֖ים‬ ַ ‫דבְרֵ ֥י‬ ּ ִ ‫ת֔ר ק ִּי ַ֕ם‬ ֵּ ‫ס‬ ְ ֶ‫מ֣ר א‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מ‬ ַ ‫ּו‬ ‫ספֶר׃ (פ‬ ֵּֽ ‫ב‬ ַּ ‫ת֖ב‬ ּ ָ ְ ‫האֵ֑לֶּה ו ְנִכ‬ ָ )

chapter 10

‫פרק י‬

And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.

]‫שוֵרֹ֧וׁש ׀‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ [ ‫מלְֶך אחשרש‬ ּ֨ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ֩‫שם‬ ֶׂ ָּ ‫וַי‬ ‫האָ֖רֶ ץ וְא ִּי ֵ֥י ה ַּי ָֽם׃‬ ָ ‫מ֛ס ע ַל־‬ ַ

And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai, how the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?

֙‫שת‬ ַ ׁ ָ‫תקְּפֹו֙ ּוגְבּ֣ורָ תֹ֔ו ּופָר‬ ָ ‫ש֤ה‬ ֵׂ ֲ ‫מע‬ ַ ‫וְכ ָל־‬ ‫מלְֶך הֲלֹוא־‬ ּ֑ ֶ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫דלֹ֖ו‬ ּ ְ ִ ‫ש֥ר ּג‬ ֶ ׁ‫א‬ ֲ ‫דכַ֔י‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫גְּדֻ ּלַ֣ת מָר‬ ‫מ֔ים‬ ִ ָּ ‫דבְרֵ ֣י הַי‬ ּ ִ ֙‫ס֙פֶר‬ ֵ ‫ב֗ים ע ַל־‬ ִ ‫ה֣ם כְּתּו‬ ֵ ‫מ ַד֥י ּופָרָ ֽס׃‬ ָ ‫מלְכֵ֖י‬ ַ ְ‫ל‬

For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren; seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his seed.

‫מלְֶך‬ ּ֣ ֶ ַ‫שנֶה֙ ל‬ ְ ׁ‫מ‬ ִ ‫דכַ֣י הַי ְּהּו ִד֗י‬ ּ ֳ ְ‫ּכ ִ֣י ׀ מָר‬ ‫שוֵרֹ֔וׁש וְג ָדֹול֙ לַי ְּהּו ִד֔ים ו ְרָ צּ֖וי לְ ֹר֣ב‬ ְ ׁ‫ח‬ ַ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫שלֹ֖ום‬ ָ ׁ ‫ב֥ר‬ ֵ ‫ח֑יו ֹדּרֵ ׁ֥ש טֹוב֙ לְעַּמֹ֔ו ו ְ ֹד‬ ָ ֶ‫א‬ ‫לְכ ָל־ז ַרְ עֹֽו׃‬

‫ליהודים היתה אורה‬ ‫ושמחה וששון ויקר‬

48 \ esther 10

KJ Beginners 212-774-5678 beginners@ckj.org ckj.org/beginners