Ahasuerus

1So the king and Haman came to eat the meal Esther had made.

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

NoteA banquet was a big special meal with lots of food and drink. Haman was the king's most important helper, and everyone had to bow to him.

2While they drank their wine on this second day, the king asked again. "Queen Esther, what do you want? I will give it to you. What are you asking for? I will do it, even if you ask for half my kingdom."

And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.

NoteThe King James says "petition" and "request." Both words just mean something you ask for. "Even to the half of the kingdom" was a king's fancy way of saying he would give almost anything. He did not really plan to hand over half his land.

3Queen Esther answered him. "King, if you are pleased with me, and if it seems good to you, then this is what I ask. Please let me live. And please let my people live too.

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:

Note"If I have found favour in thy sight" is an old way of saying "if you like me." Esther's people were the Jews. The king did not know that Esther was a Jew, because she had kept it secret.

4Someone has sold me and my people to be killed. Every one of us is meant to die. If we had only been sold to be servants, I would have stayed quiet. That trouble would not have been worth bothering you about."

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 tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage.

NoteHaman had promised the king a huge pile of silver for the chance to kill the Jews. That is why Esther says her people were "sold." The King James word "bondmen" means slaves, people who are owned and must work without pay. Esther says even that would not have been worth bothering the king about.

5Then King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther a question. "Who is this man? Where is he? Who would dare to plan such a thing?"

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

NoteAhasuerus is also called Xerxes. He was king of Persia, a very big country far away, long ago. The King James words "durst presume in his heart" mean "dared to plan such a thing."

6Esther said, "The one against us is this wicked man, Haman!" Then Haman was terrified in front of the king and queen.

And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

Note"Adversary" is an old word for someone who works against you. It means enemy.

7The king was very angry. He got up from his wine and went out to the palace garden. Haman stayed behind and begged Queen Esther to spare his life. He could see the king had already decided something terrible for him.

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

NoteThe palace had a big garden right outside the room where they ate. Haman stayed behind because only the king or the queen could save him now.

8The king came back in from the garden to the room where they had been eating. Haman had thrown himself down on the couch where Esther was resting. The king said, "Will he even attack the queen while I am here in the house?" As soon as the king said this, servants covered Haman's face.

Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.

NoteAt big meals in those days, people lay down on long couches to eat. They did not sit on chairs. So Esther was lying on a couch, and Haman threw himself down beside her to beg. The king walked in and thought Haman was hurting her. Covering someone's face was a sign that the person was about to be killed.

9Harbonah was one of the king's servants who worked close to him. He said, "There is also a tall wooden pole standing at Haman's house. It is fifty cubits high. Haman built it to hang Mordecai on. And Mordecai is the one who warned the king and saved him." The king said, "Hang Haman on it!"

And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.

NoteThe King James calls Harbonah a "chamberlain." That means a servant who worked inside the palace, close to the king. A cubit is about as long as a grown-up's arm from elbow to fingertips, around eighteen inches. Fifty cubits is about seventy-five feet, taller than most houses. The King James word "gallows" means a tall wooden frame or pole used to kill people. Mordecai was Esther's cousin, and he had raised her like a father. Earlier he had heard about a plan to hurt the king and warned him.

10So they hanged Haman on the pole he had built for Mordecai. Then the king was not angry anymore.

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

1That same day, King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther everything Haman owned. Haman had been the enemy of the Jews. Then Mordecai came in to see the king. That was because Esther had told the king what Mordecai was to her.

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.

NoteThe Jews were God's people. Their families came from the land of Israel. Long ago armies took many of them far away. Now they lived all over this king's lands. Earlier in this book, Mordecai was Esther's cousin, and he had raised her like his own daughter.

2The king took off his special ring. He had taken that ring back from Haman. He gave it to Mordecai. Esther put Mordecai in charge of all Haman's things.

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.

NoteThe king's ring was like a stamp. It pressed his mark into soft wax. That mark showed an order really came from the king. Giving the ring away meant giving someone huge power.

3Esther spoke to the king again. She fell down at his feet and cried. She begged him to stop the cruel plan of Haman the Agagite. Haman had made that plan to hurt the Jews.

And Esther spake 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.

Note"Agagite" tells us Haman's family. They came from a people who had fought the Jews long ago. So Haman hated the Jews before he ever met them.

4The king held out his gold staff toward Esther. So Esther got up and stood in front of the king.

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

NoteA king held a long gold rod called a scepter. Nobody could walk up to this king without being called. If the king held out his scepter, it meant you were safe.

5She said, "If it makes the king happy, and if he likes me, and if this seems right to him, please write a new order. Cancel the letters that Haman wrote. Haman was the son of Hammedatha the Agagite. His letters said to kill the Jews in every part of your kingdom.

And 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 which are in all the king’s provinces:

NoteA province is one part of a big kingdom, a little like a state. This king ruled many of them.

6How could I stand to watch this trouble come to my people? How could I stand to watch my own family be killed?"

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?

7Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, "Look, I gave Haman's things to Esther. And Haman was hanged, because he tried to hurt the Jews.

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.

NoteThe gallows was a tall wooden pole. People were killed on it where everyone could see. Haman had built this one to kill Mordecai.

8Now you may write whatever you want about the Jews. Write it in my name. Seal it with my ring. No one can cancel an order written in the king's name and sealed with his ring."

Write ye also for 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.

NoteIn Persia this was the rule: once an order was sealed with the king's ring, nobody could take it back. Not even the king. So Haman's first order still stood. They had to write a second order instead.

9So the king's writers were called right away. It was the twenty-third day of the third month, called Sivan. They wrote down everything Mordecai told them. The letters went to the Jews and to all the leaders and rulers of the provinces. There were 127 provinces, from India all the way to Ethiopia. Each province got a letter in its own writing. Each group of people got one in their own language. The Jews got one in their writing and their language too.

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

NoteThe king's writers were called scribes. Writing was their whole job. Most people back then could not read or write at all.

10Mordecai wrote in King Ahasuerus's name and sealed it with the king's ring. He sent the letters out with riders on fast horses from the king's own stables.

And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus’ name, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:

NoteRiders carried messages the way mail does today. Fresh horses waited along the road. A rider handed the letter to the next rider. This was the fastest way to send news.

11The letters said the Jews in every city could gather together and protect themselves. They could destroy any army from any people or province that came to attack them. This included their women and children. They could also take their enemies' things.

Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,

NoteThe first order let people attack the Jews. That order could not be canceled. So this new order let the Jews fight back and protect their families.

12This was to happen on one single day everywhere in the king's kingdom. That day was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, called Adar.

Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

NoteAdar was the last month of their year. It came around our February and March. So this day was still about nine months away. That gave everyone time to get ready.

13A copy of the order was to be sent to every province. It was read out loud to everyone. That way the Jews would be ready on that day to fight back against their enemies.

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

Note"Published" here means read out loud in the streets. That is how news traveled when few people could read.

14The riders hurried out on the king's fast horses. The king told them to go quickly. The order was also read out in the palace at Shushan.

So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.

NoteShushan, also called Susa, was the city where the king lived. It was in the land we now call Iran.

15Mordecai left the king wearing royal clothes of blue and white. He wore a big gold crown and a purple robe of fine cloth. The whole city of Shushan cheered and was happy.

And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

NoteBlue and white were the king's own colors. Purple cloth cost a great deal of money. Only kings and very rich people wore it. Mordecai's clothes showed everyone the king honored him.

16For the Jews it was a bright and happy time. They were full of joy, and people honored them.

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

Note"Light" here does not mean real light. It is a picture of feeling happy and safe again.

17The king's order reached every province and every city. Everywhere it came, the Jews were happy and glad. They had big meals and a day of celebrating. Many other people in the land joined the Jews, because they were now afraid of them.

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

NoteThese people joined the Jews. That meant worshiping the Jews' God and living the way they lived.

1The day came at last. It was the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month. That was the day the king's order was to be carried out. The enemies of the Jews had hoped to beat them that day. But the opposite happened. The Jews beat the ones who hated them.

Now in the twelfth month, that 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 power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)

NoteAdar is a month on the Jewish calendar. It falls near the end of winter, about our February or March. Earlier the king had let people attack the Jews on this one day.

2The Jews came together in their cities all over the king's lands. They stood ready to fight the people who wanted to hurt them. No one could stand up to them. Everyone was afraid of 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 fell upon all people.

3All the leaders of the provinces helped the Jews. So did the governors and the king's other officers. They helped because they were afraid of Mordecai.

And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.

NoteA province was one part of the king's huge kingdom. A governor was the leader in charge of a province.

4Mordecai was now very important in the king's palace. People all over the king's lands heard about him. He kept growing stronger and stronger.

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

NoteA palace is the very large house where a king lives and rules. Being important there meant Mordecai worked close to the king.

5So the Jews struck down all their enemies with swords. They killed them and did what they wanted to those who hated them.

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

6In the strong walled city of Susa, the Jews killed five hundred men.

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

NoteSusa was the city where the king lived. It had thick, strong walls around it to keep enemies out.

7They also killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, and Aspatha.

And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,

8Also Poratha, Adalia, and Aridatha.

And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,

9Also Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha.

And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,

10These ten men were the sons of Haman, who was the son of Hammedatha. Haman had been the enemy of the Jews. The Jews killed his ten sons. But they did not take any of their things.

The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.

NoteLong ago, people who won a fight usually took the losers' money and things. These Jews chose to take nothing at all.

11That same day, someone told the king how many were killed in Susa.

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

12The king said to Queen Esther, "In Susa the Jews have killed five hundred men. They also killed Haman's ten sons. What must they have done in the rest of my lands? Now, what do you want? I will give it to you. Ask me for anything, and I will do it."

And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done.

13Esther answered, "If it pleases the king, let the Jews in Susa do tomorrow what they did today. And let the bodies of Haman's ten sons be hung on the tall wooden pole."

Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which 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.

NoteThis was a tall wooden pole. A body was hung up high on it so everyone in the city could see.

14The king said it should be done. An order was given in Susa. And they hung the bodies of Haman's ten sons.

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

15So the Jews in Susa came together again on the fourteenth day of Adar. They killed three hundred men there. But they did not take any of their things.

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

16The other Jews in the king's lands also came together. They stood up to save their own lives. They got rid of their enemies and had peace at last. They killed seventy-five thousand people who hated them. But they did not take any of their things.

But 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 their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,

1King Ahasuerus made everyone in his kingdom pay taxes. Even the lands far across the sea had to pay.

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

NoteTaxes are money that people had to pay the king. King Ahasuerus ruled a very big land called Persia. His name sounds like uh-haz-yoo-EER-us. The lands "far across the sea" were faraway places he also ruled.

2The king did many strong and mighty things. He also made Mordecai a very great man. All of this was written down in the record books of the kings of Media and Persia.

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

NoteKings long ago kept big books about all they did. The King James calls them "the book of the chronicles." A chronicle is a written record of what happened. Media and Persia were two lands with one king over both.

3Mordecai the Jew was second in power to King Ahasuerus. He was a leader among the Jews. His own people loved him and looked up to him. He worked for the good of his people. He spoke words of peace to them all.

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

NoteA Jew was one of God's people, whose home was the land of Israel. Long before this, many Jews were carried far away to Persia. Mordecai lived there, and he was still a Jew. "Second in power" means only the king was above him. To "speak peace" meant to work so people were safe and happy.