THE BOOK OF
ESTHER
Esther 8 ©
The king gives Haman’s house to Esther, v. 1, etc. Mordecai comes before the king, who gives him the ring, which he had formerly given to Haman, 2. Esther, the queen, petitions the king again, that Haman’s wicked design against the Jews may yet be further frustrated, 3. She finds favor with the king, 4. And makes further request unto him, 5. The king grants her whatsoever she desires, 7. And the same is written unto the governors in all the provinces, 9. It is sent in the king’s name by posts in all places, 10. The sum of the decree, 11. Mordecai’s glory and ornament, 15. Great joy is among the Jews, and many nations join themselves to the Jews, 17.
ON1 that day did the king Ahasuerus give 2the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai 3came before the king; for Esther 4had told 5what he was unto her.
And the king took off his ring, 6which he had taken from Haman, and 7gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
¶And Esther 8spake yet again before the king, and fell down 9at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away 10the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.
Then the king 11held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,
And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and 12the thing seem right 13before the king, and I be 14pleasing in his eyes, 15let it be written to reverse the letters 16devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces:
For 17how can I endure to see the evil that shall 18come 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 19the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon 20the gallows, because he 21laid his hand upon the Jews.
22Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, 23in the king's name, and seal it 24with the king’s ring: 25for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king’s ring, 26may no man reverse.
Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, 27the 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 28lieutenants,a and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are 29from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, 30unto every province according to the writing thereof, 31and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on 32horseback, and riders on mules, 33camels, and 34young dromedaries:
Wherein the king 35granted the Jews which were 36in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand 37for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that 38would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take 39the spoil of them for a prey,
40Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is 41the month Adar.
The 42copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be 43ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
So 44the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree 45was given at Shushan the palace.
¶And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with 46a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and 47the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
The Jews had 48light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
And 49in 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 50good day. And many 51of the people of the land 52became Jews; for 53the fear of the Jews fell upon them.