Ahasuerus

1This happened long ago, when Ahasuerus was king. He ruled 127 provinces, from India all the way to Ethiopia.

Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)

NoteA province is one part of a big kingdom, like a state. Ethiopia is a land in Africa, far from India.

2In those days King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne. His throne was in the strong city of Shushan.

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

NoteShushan was a big city where the king lived. It had strong walls to keep enemies out. A throne is the special chair a king sits on.

3In his third year as king, he gave a great feast. He invited his officials and his servants. Army leaders from Persia and Media came. Nobles and rulers of the provinces came too.

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

NoteA feast is a big party with lots of food. Persia and Media were two lands the king ruled. Nobles were rich and important families.

4For 180 days he showed off the riches of his kingdom. He showed everyone how grand and important he was.

When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.

5When those days were over, the king gave another feast. It lasted seven days, in the garden court of his palace. Everyone in Shushan was invited, both important people and ordinary people.

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

NoteA court is an open space outside, with walls around it.

6White and blue cloth hung there. It was tied with cords of fine white and purple linen to silver rings on marble posts. Gold and silver couches stood on a floor of colored stone.

Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.

NoteMarble is a smooth, shiny stone. People used it to build fancy rooms. A couch here is a long seat for lying down while you eat.

7Drinks were served in gold cups. Each cup had its own design. The king's own wine was poured out freely.

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

8The king set no limit on the drinking. No one was forced to drink. He told the palace servants to give each man what he wanted.

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 should do according to every man’s pleasure.

NoteIn those days, people at a feast were often told to keep drinking. This king let each person choose.

9Queen Vashti also gave a feast. It was for the women, in the royal palace of King Ahasuerus.

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

10On the seventh day the king felt merry from the wine. He called seven servants who waited on him: Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas.

On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

NoteThe King James calls these men "chamberlains." They were trusted servants who looked after the king's rooms and his family.

11He told them to bring Queen Vashti to him, wearing her royal crown. He wanted to show the people and the officials how beautiful she was. She was lovely to look at.

To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.

NoteThe king wanted to show her off, the way he had shown off his gold and his riches.

12But Queen Vashti said no. She would not come when the servants brought the king's order. The king was very angry. His anger burned inside him.

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

NoteThe King James says the king was "wroth." That is an old word for very angry.

13Then the king spoke to his wise men, who understood the times. He always asked such men about laws and about what was fair.

Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment:

NoteWise men here means men who studied the laws. Kings asked them what the rules said.

14His closest helpers were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. These seven leaders of Persia and Media could come straight to the king. They held the highest places in the kingdom.

And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king’s face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)

NoteComing straight to the king was a big honor. Most people had to wait a long time to see him.

15The king asked them, "What does the law say to do with Queen Vashti? She did not obey the order my servants brought her."

What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?

16Memucan answered in front of the king and the leaders. "Queen Vashti has not only wronged the king. She has wronged all the leaders and all the people in every province."

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

17"Every woman will hear what the queen did. Then they will look down on their husbands. They will say, 'The king called Queen Vashti, but she would not come.'"

For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.

18The important women of Persia and Media have heard what the queen did. This very day they will talk the same way to all the king's officials. There will be much disrespect and much anger.

Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king’s princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.

NoteThe King James says "contempt." That means treating someone as if they do not matter.

19"If it pleases the king, send out a royal order. Write it in the laws of Persia and Media, which no one is allowed to change. Say that Vashti may never come before the king again. Then give her place as queen to a better woman."

If it please the king, let there go 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 let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.

NoteIn Persia, once a king's law was written down, even the king could not take it back.

20"The king's order will be heard all through his huge kingdom. Then every wife will honor her husband, both the important ones and the ordinary ones."

And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.

21The king and his leaders were pleased with this advice. So the king did what Memucan said.

And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

22He sent letters to every province in his kingdom. Each letter used that province's own writing and its own language. The letters said that every man should rule his own house.

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 that it should be published according to the language of every people.

NoteDifferent lands in the kingdom spoke different languages. So each letter was written in the words that people there could read.

1Later on, King Ahasuerus stopped being angry. He thought about Vashti again. He remembered what she did and what he had ordered done to her.

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

NoteVashti was the king's queen before this. She had told the king no in front of his guests. He sent her away, and she could not be queen anymore.

2The men who served the king had an idea. They said, "Let us look for beautiful young women for the king."

Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:

3"Pick officers in every part of your kingdom. Let them bring the beautiful young women to the palace in Shushan. They will stay in the women's house. Hegai, the king's helper, will watch over them. Let the women be given beauty treatments."

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 palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:

NoteA kingdom this big was split into parts called provinces. Shushan was the city where the king had his palace. The women's house was a big home where the king's women lived. Beauty treatments were sweet oils and perfumes for skin and hair.

4"Then the young woman you like best can be queen instead of Vashti." The king liked this plan, so he did it.

And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

12Each young woman waited twelve months before her turn to see the king. That was the rule for beauty treatments. For six months she used oil of myrrh. For six more months she used sweet perfumes and other things.

Now when every maid’s turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)

NoteMyrrh is a sticky sap that comes out of a tree. It smells sweet. People mixed it into oil and rubbed it on their skin.

13Then each young woman went to the king. She could take with her anything she asked for from the women's house.

Then thus came every maiden 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.

14She went in the evening. In the morning she went to a second house for the king's women. Shaashgaz, the king's helper, took care of them there. She did not go back to the king unless he was pleased with her. He had to ask for her by name.

In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.

NoteKings in those days had many wives. A woman brought to the palace stayed there for the rest of her life.

15Then it was Esther's turn to go to the king. She was the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, who had raised her as his own. She asked for nothing except what Hegai told her to take. Everyone who saw Esther liked her.

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.

16Esther was brought to King Ahasuerus in his royal house. It was the tenth month, called Tebeth. It was the seventh year of the king's rule.

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.

NoteTebeth was a month in the Jewish year. It came at about the same time as our December and January.

17The king loved Esther more than all the other women. He liked her more than any of the others. So he put the royal crown on her head. He made her queen instead of Vashti.

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.

18Then the king held a big feast for all his leaders and servants. He called it Esther's feast. He also let the provinces pay less tax. And he gave out gifts, as a rich king would.

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 state of the king.

NoteTax is money people must give to the king or the government. Letting them pay less was a gift to celebrate.

19Later, young women were gathered a second time. At that time Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate.

And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.

NoteThe city gate was where the king's workers sat and did business. It was like an office. Sitting there meant Mordecai had a job working for the king.

20Esther still had not told anyone about her family or her people. Mordecai had told her not to. She obeyed him, just as she did when he was raising her.

Esther had not yet shewed 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.

21In those days Mordecai sat at the king's gate. Two of the king's helpers, Bigthan and Teresh, guarded the door. They became angry and made a plan to kill King Ahasuerus.

In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

22Mordecai found out about the plan. He told Queen Esther. Esther told the king, and she said the news came from Mordecai.

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

23People looked into the matter and found it was true. So both men were hanged. The whole story was written in the king's record book.

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

NoteTrying to kill a king was punished by death. The king's record book was where important events were written down. Someone could read it aloud to the king later.

1After this, King Ahasuerus gave Haman a big honor. Haman was the son of Hammedatha, from a family called the Agagites. The king made Haman more important than all his other leaders.

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.

NoteAn Agagite came from the family of Agag. Agag was a king long ago whose people fought the Jews. So the name told everyone that Haman's family and Mordecai's family were old enemies.

2All the king's workers at the palace gate bowed low to Haman. They showed him great respect, because the king had ordered it. But Mordecai would not bow. He would not honor Haman at all.

And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

NoteBack then people bowed all the way down to the ground. They touched their face to the dirt in front of a great man. It was how you showed someone was far above you.

3The king's workers at the gate asked Mordecai a question. They said, "Why do you disobey the king's order?"

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

4They said this to him day after day, but he would not listen. So they told Haman about it. They wanted to see if Mordecai would be allowed to keep doing this. Mordecai had told them he was a Jew.

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

NoteA Jew is a person from the family of Israel. Long before this, their country was taken over. Many Jews then lived far from home, in other lands, like Mordecai did.

5Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow or honor him. This made Haman very, very angry.

And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

6Haman learned which people Mordecai belonged to. Then hurting only Mordecai seemed too small to him. So Haman planned to destroy every Jew in the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus. They were Mordecai's people.

And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed 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.

7It was the twelfth year that Ahasuerus was king. In the first month, the month of Nisan, they cast lots in front of Haman. They did this to pick a day and a month. The lot landed on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

In the first month, that 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, that is, the month Adar.

NoteTo cast lots was a way to pick a day by chance. People threw small stones or sticks and watched how they fell. It is a little like rolling dice today.

8Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people spread all through your kingdom. They live among your people in every province. Their rules are different from everyone else's. They do not obey your laws. It is not good for you to let them stay.

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

NoteA province was one big piece of the kingdom, like a state. Each one had its own governor to run it for the king.

9"If it pleases the king, write an order to destroy them. I will pay ten thousand bags of silver into your treasury. That money can pay the men who do the work."

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

NoteTen thousand bags of silver was more money than anyone could count. Each bag weighed about as much as a big dog. It was a huge pile, far more than one person could ever earn.

10The king pulled off the special ring he used to stamp orders. He gave it to Haman, son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, who hated the Jews.

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

NoteThe king's ring had his mark carved into it. He pressed it into soft wax to close a letter. That mark showed the order really came from him. Giving the ring away gave Haman the right to write orders for the king.

11The king said to Haman, "Keep your silver. And these people are yours. Do with them whatever you think is best."

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.

12On the thirteenth day of the first month, the king's writers were called in. They wrote down everything Haman told them to write. The orders went to the king's chief officers, to the governors of every province, and to the leaders of each group of people. Each letter was written in that province's own writing and language. The letters used King Ahasuerus's name and were stamped with his ring.

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

NoteThe king's writers made copies of the order by hand. There was no printing then, so every letter was written out. The kingdom had many peoples who spoke many languages, so each letter was made in a language those people could read.

13Messengers carried the letters to every province of the king. The letters said to destroy and kill all the Jews. That meant young and old, little children and women, all on one day. That day was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar. Their belongings were to be taken too.

And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, 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.

NoteMessengers rode fast horses from town to town. That was the quickest way to send news back then.

14A copy of the order was to be sent to every province. It was read out loud so all the people would know. Then everyone would be ready when that day came.

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

15The messengers hurried out because the king had ordered it. The order was announced in the palace at Shushan. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink. But the whole city of Shushan was upset and confused.

The posts went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.

NoteShushan was the city where the king lived. The palace was a strong fort at the top of the city.

1That night the king could not sleep. So he asked for the book of records. It told about things that had happened in his kingdom. His servants read it out loud to him.

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.

NoteThe book of records was a long scroll. Servants wrote down what happened in the kingdom. A king could look back and see who had helped him.

2The book said that Mordecai had once told about Bigthana and Teresh. They were two of the king's servants who guarded his door. They had planned to kill King Ahasuerus.

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

NoteKing Ahasuerus ruled Persia, a very big country long ago. Some Bibles call him Xerxes. The men who guarded his door were trusted servants who stayed close to him.

3The king asked, "What good thing was given to Mordecai for this?" The servants who waited on him said, "Nothing was done for him."

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.

NoteTo honor someone means to show everyone that they did something good. A king might give a gift, a prize, or a special job.

4The king asked, "Who is out in the courtyard?" Just then Haman came into the outer courtyard of the palace. He wanted to ask the king to hang Mordecai on the tall wooden pole he had built.

And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

NoteA courtyard is an open space inside the palace walls. The tall wooden pole was used to kill people. Haman had built one because he hated Mordecai.

5The king's servants said, "Haman is standing in the courtyard." The king said, "Bring him in."

And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.

6So Haman came in. The king asked him, "What should be done for a man the king wants to honor?" Haman thought to himself, "Who would the king want to honor more than me?"

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 thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?

7So Haman said to the king, "Here is what to do for the man the king wants to honor.

And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,

8Bring out a royal robe that the king himself has worn. Bring a horse the king himself has ridden. A royal crown had been set on its head.

Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:

NoteOnly a king wore a royal robe. Riding the king's own horse was a great honor. A crest is a special decoration. It showed that the horse belonged to the king. A crown is a special hat that a king wears.

9Give the robe and the horse to one of the king's highest officials. Let him dress the man the king wants to honor. Then let him lead the man on the horse through the city square. Someone should call out, 'This is what is done for the man the king wants to honor!'"

And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him 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.

NoteThe city square was an open place where crowds gathered. Everyone standing there would see the man and hear the shouting.

10Then the king said to Haman, "Hurry. Do just what you said. Take the robe and the horse to Mordecai the Jew. He is sitting at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you said."

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.

NoteThe Jews were God's people. Their home was a land far away called Judah. Many had been taken from home and now lived in Persia. Mordecai was one of them. The king's gate was where the king's workers sat and did his business.

11So Haman took the robe and the horse. He dressed Mordecai in the robe. He led him on the horse through the city square. He called out, "This is what is done for the man the king wants to honor!"

Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.