Mordecai

5A Jewish man lived in the palace city of Shushan. His name was Mordecai. He was the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish. His family came from the tribe of Benjamin.

Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;

NoteA Jew is one of God's people, the people of Israel. Long ago that family grew into twelve big groups called tribes. Benjamin was the name of one tribe.

6Long before, Mordecai had been taken away from Jerusalem. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took many people away as prisoners. Jeconiah, the king of Judah, was taken away too.

Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

NoteJerusalem was the Jewish people's main city. An army from a land called Babylon captured it. The soldiers took many people far away to live in Babylon. Jeconiah was the king they took.

7Mordecai raised his cousin Hadassah, who was also called Esther. Her father and mother had died, so she had no parents. She was lovely to look at. Mordecai took her in and raised her as his own daughter.

And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.

NoteHadassah was her Jewish name. Esther was the name people used in Persia. Many people then had two names, one for each language.

8The king's order was announced everywhere. Many young women were brought to the palace in Shushan for Hegai to care for. Esther was taken to the king's house too. She was put in Hegai's care, since he watched over the women.

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

9Hegai liked Esther and was kind to her. He quickly gave her beauty treatments and special food. He chose seven servant girls from the king's house to help her. He moved her and her helpers to the best rooms in the women's house.

And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.

10Esther did not tell anyone about her family or her people. Mordecai had told her to keep it a secret.

Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.

11Every day Mordecai walked back and forth outside the women's house. He wanted to know if Esther was well and what was happening to her.

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

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.

1Mordecai found out everything that had happened. He tore his clothes in sorrow. He put on rough sackcloth and ashes. Then he walked into the middle of the city, crying out loudly and bitterly.

When Mordecai perceived 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;

NoteMordecai was Esther's older cousin. He took care of her after her parents died. Sackcloth was rough, scratchy cloth, a bit like a sack. People put it on to show they were very sad. Tearing your clothes and sitting in ashes showed sorrow too. Anyone who saw you knew that something terrible had happened.

2He came as far as the king's gate. He could go no farther. No one wearing sackcloth was allowed to go in through that gate.

And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.

NoteThe king's gate was not just a doorway. It was where the king's helpers sat and did their work. Sad clothes were not allowed to come inside it. The king was meant to see only cheerful things.

3The king's order went out to every province, or region. Everywhere it came, the Jews were very sad. They fasted, which means they went without food. They cried and wailed. Many of them lay down in sackcloth and ashes.

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.

NoteThe Jews were God's people. Their homeland was far away from here. Many of them now lived in this king's lands. The king's order said that all of them would be killed.

4Esther's maids and palace servants came and told her about Mordecai. The queen was filled with sorrow. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear instead of the sackcloth. But he would not take them.

So Esther’s maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.

NoteEsther was the queen, and she was also a Jew. Nobody in the palace knew that yet. Mordecai had told her to keep it secret.

5Then Esther called for Hatach. He was one of the palace servants the king had picked to help her. She told him to go to Mordecai. He was to ask what was wrong and why.

Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.

6So Hatach went out to Mordecai. He found him in the open square of the city, right in front of the king's gate.

So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king’s gate.

7Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him. He even told the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasury to have the Jews destroyed.

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

NoteHaman was the king's most important helper. He hated Mordecai and all the Jews. He had offered the king a huge pile of silver for his plan. A treasury is the room where a king keeps his money.

8Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written order made in Shushan to destroy the Jews. Hatach was to show it to Esther and explain it. He was to urge her to go to the king. She should beg him and plead for her people.

Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew 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.

NoteShushan was the city where the king's palace stood. When this king wrote an order, it could never be changed. Not even the king himself could take it back.

9Hatach went back to Esther. He told her everything Mordecai had said.

And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

10Then Esther spoke to Hatach again. She gave him a message to carry back to Mordecai.

Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;

11She said, "All the king's servants and all the people in his lands know one rule. Any man or woman who goes into the king's inner court without being called must be put to death. The only way to live is if the king holds out his gold staff to that person. And the king has not called for me for thirty days now."

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 of his to put him 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.

NoteThe inner court was the room just outside the king's throne. Nobody was allowed to walk in without being invited. The rule was meant to keep the king safe. The King James Version calls the gold staff a "sceptre." It was a long, shiny rod that showed the king's power. Holding it out to someone meant, "You may come in."

12So they told Mordecai what Esther had said.

And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words.

13Mordecai sent this answer back to Esther: "Do not think you will be safe just because you live in the king's palace. You will not escape when the other Jews do not.

Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.

14If you stay quiet at a time like this, help and rescue for the Jews will come from somewhere else. But you and your family will die. And who knows? Maybe you became queen for a moment just like this one."

For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

15Then Esther sent this answer back to Mordecai:

Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

16"Go and gather all the Jews who are here in Shushan. Fast for me. Do not eat or drink anything for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast the same way. Then I will go to the king, even though it breaks the law. If I die, then I die."

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 likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

NoteFasting means going without food on purpose. People fasted when they were praying about something very serious. Three days with no food or water is very hard.

17So Mordecai went and did everything Esther had told him to do.

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

NoteMordecai was older than Esther and had raised her. Now he did what she asked. She was the queen, and this was her plan.

9That day Haman went out feeling happy and glad. But at the king's gate he saw Mordecai. Mordecai did not stand up or act afraid of him at all. So Haman was filled with anger at Mordecai.

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

NoteThe king's gate was the big doorway of the palace. The king's workers sat there and did their jobs. Mordecai worked there. When an important man walked by, people were supposed to stand up and bow. Mordecai would not do that for Haman.

10Even so, Haman held his anger in. He went home and sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh.

Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.

11Haman told them how rich he was and how many sons he had. He told them all the ways the king had honored him. The king had made him more important than all the other leaders and servants.

And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

NoteBack then, having many sons made a man look important and lucky. So Haman bragged about his sons the same way he bragged about his money.

12Haman also said, "And that is not all. Queen Esther invited no one but me to eat with the king. Tomorrow she has invited me to come again with 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 am I invited unto her also with the king.

13"But none of this makes me happy. Not while I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."

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

NoteThe Jews were God's people. Their home was the land of Israel, far away. Armies had carried many of them off to live in Persia, where this story happens. Mordecai was one of them.

14His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Have a tall wooden pole built for hanging a man. Make it fifty cubits high. In the morning, ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the meal with the king and enjoy yourself." Haman liked this idea, so he had the pole built.

Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow 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.

NoteA cubit is about as long as a grown-up's arm from the elbow to the fingertips. That is around eighteen inches. Fifty cubits is about seventy-five feet, taller than most houses. Hanging a man that high was meant to shame him where everyone could see.

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.

12Then Mordecai went back to the king's gate. But Haman hurried home with his head covered. He was full of sadness and shame.

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

NoteLong ago people covered their heads when they felt very sad or ashamed. It let others see how they felt inside.

13Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, "Mordecai is a Jew. You have already started to fall in front of him. You will not win against him. You will surely fall."

And Haman told 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 be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.

NoteAdvisers were people whose job was to help someone decide what to do. Here, to fall means to lose, not to trip and land on the ground.

14They were still talking with him when the king's servants came. They hurried Haman away to the dinner Esther had made ready.

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

NoteEsther was the queen. She had already invited the king and Haman to a special dinner.