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Esther 1
1Now it was in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus who reigned,
from India to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty seven provinces:) 2That in those days,
when the king
Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, 3In the
third year
of his reign, he made a feast to all his princes and his servants. The power of Persia and Media,
the nobles and princes of the provinces, were before him: 4When he showed the riches
of his
glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even one hundred sixty
days. 5And when those days were expired, the king made a feast for seven days in the court
of the garden of the king's palace, to all the people who were
present in Shushan the palace, both to great and small,; 6There 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, on a
pavement of red and blue and white and black, marble. 7And they gave them drink in
vessels
of gold, (the vessels being different from each another,) and royal wine in abundance, according
to the state of the king. 8And the drinking was according to the law; no one was
compelled: for so
the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every
man's pleasure. 9Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house
which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
10When the heart of the king was merry with wine on the seventh day,, he commanded
Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carcas, the seven chamberlains
who served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, 11To bring Vashti the queen before the king
with the royal crown, to show her beauty to the people and the princes: for she was fair to look at.
12But queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains:
therefore the king was very angry and his anger burned in him. 13Then the king said to the wise
men, who knew the times, for so was the king's manner toward all who knew law and
judgment: 14And next to him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena,
and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and who
sat first in the kingdom; 15What shall we do to the queen Vashti according to law, because she has
not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains? 16And Memucan
answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen has not only done wrong to the king,
but also to all the princes and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the king
Ahasuerus. 17For this deed of the queen shall come abroad to all women, so that when it
shall be reported, they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, that king Ahasuerus commanded
Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she did not come. 18Likewise
the ladies of
Persia and Media shall speak this day to all the king's princes, who have heard of the deed of the queen.
Thus there shall arise too much contempt and anger. 19If it please the king, let a royal
commandment
go out from him and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it will not be
altered, So that Vashti does not come anymore before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her
royal estate to another who is better than she. 20And 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 honor
to their husbands, both great and small. 21And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and
the king did according to the word of Memucan: 22For he sent letters into all the king's
provinces, into every province according to its script 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.
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Chapter 2
1After these things, when the anger of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti,
and what she had done and what was decreed against her. 2Then the king's servants who
ministered to him said, Let fair young virgins be sought for the king: 3And let the king appoint
officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young
virgins to Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, to the custody of Hegai keeper of the women,
the king's chamberlain,; and let their things for purification be given to them: 4And let
the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and
he did so. 5Now 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; 6Who 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. 7And 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 took for his own daughter when her father and mother were dead.
8So it was when the king's commandment and his decree was heard and when many
maidens were gathered together to Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was also
brought to the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. 9And the maiden
pleased him and she obtained kindness from him; and he speedily gave her her things for
purification, with such things as belonged to her and seven maidens out of the king's house, who
were fit to be given to her: and he preferred her and her maids to the best place
of the house of
the women. 10Esther had not shown her people nor her family: for Mordecai had charged her
that she should not show it. 11And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the
women's house, to know how Esther did and what would become of her. 12Now when every maid's turn
had come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been there twelve months, according to the
manner of women, (for so were the days of their purification accomplished, that is, six
months with oil of myrrh and six months with sweet odors and with other things for the
purifying of women;) 13Then every maiden came to the king. Whatever she desired was
given her to go with her out of the house of the women to the king's house. 14In the evening she
went and in the morning she returned to the second house of the women, to the custody of
Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, who kept the concubines: she would not come in to the king
any more, except that the king delighted in her and that she would be called by name.
15Now 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 to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's
chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all
of them who looked on her. 16So Esther was taken to king Ahasuerus to his royal house in the
tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 17And the king
loved
Esther above all the women and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the
virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
18Then the king made a great feast to 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. 19And when
the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate. 20Esther
had not yet shown her family nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the
commandment of Mordecai, as when she was brought up with him.
21In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains,
Bigthan and Teresh, of those who kept the door, were angry and sought to lay hands on king
Ahasuerus. 22And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it to Esther the queen;
and Esther
certified the king of it in Mordecai's name. 23And 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.
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Chapter 3
1After these things king Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite,
and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. 2And all the
king's
servants, who were in the king's gate, bowed and reverenced Haman: for the king had
commanded so concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow, nor do him reverence. 3Then the
king's
servants, who were in the king's gate, said to Mordecai, Why do you transgress the king's
commandment? 4Now it was when they spoke daily to him and he did not listen to
them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told
them that he was a Jew. 5And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow, nor show him
reverence, then Haman was full of anger. 6And he scorned to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for
they had shown him the people of Mordecai: therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who
were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
7In 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. 8And Haman said to king Ahasuerus, There is a
certain people
scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; and their
laws are different from all people; neither do they keep the king's laws: therefore it is
not for the
king's profit to suffer them. 9If 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 who have the charge of the
business, to bring it into the king's treasuries. 10And the king took his ring from
his hand and
gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. 11And the king said to
Haman, The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.
12Then the king's scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month and there was
written according to all that Haman had commanded to the king's lieutenants and to the
governors who were over every province and to the rulers of every people of every province
according to its script and to every people after their language; it was written in the name of king
Ahasuerus and sealed with the king's ring. 13And 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 on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the
month Adar and to take the spoil of them for a prey. 14The copy of the writing was
published to
all people for a commandment to be given in every province, that they should be ready against
that day. 15The posts went out, being hurried 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.
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Chapter 4
1When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai tore 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;
2And even
came before the king's gate: for no one might enter into the king's gate clothed with
sackcloth. 3And in every province, wherever 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. 4So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it
to her. Then
the queen was exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai and to take away
his sackcloth from him: but he would not receive it.
5Then Esther called for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to
attend to her and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was and why it
was.
6So Hatach went out to Mordecai to the street of the city, which was before the king's
gate. 7And
Mordecai told him of all that had happened to 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. 8Also he gave him the
copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to show it to Esther,
and to declare it to her and to charge her that she should go in to the king, to make supplication
to him and to make request before him for her people. 9And Hatach came and told Esther the
words of Mordecai. 10Again Esther spoke to Hatach and gave him commandment to Mordecai;
11All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whoever, whether
man or woman, shall come to 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 scepter, that he
may live: but I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days. 12And they told
Esther's words to
Mordecai. 13Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with
yourself that you shall escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. 14For if you altogether
hold your peace at this time, then there shall arise enlargement and deliverance to the Jews from
another place; but you and your father's house shall be destroyed: and who knows whether you
are come to the kingdom for such a time as this? 15Then Esther bade them
to return Mordecai this
answer, 16Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan and fast for me and
do not eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so
will I go in to the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
17So Mordecai
went his way and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
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Chapter 5
1Now it was on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel,
and stood in the
inner court of the king's house, opposite the king's house: and the king sat on his royal throne in
the royal house, opposite the gate of the house. 2And it was so, when the king saw Esther the
queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight: and the king held out to Esther
the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near and touched the top of the scepter.
3Then the king said to her, Queen Esther. What do you want and what is your request?
it shall be
even given you to the half of the kingdom. 4And Esther answered, If it seems good to the king,
let the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him. 5Then the king
said, Cause Haman to hurry, that he may do as Esther has said. So the king and Haman came to
the banquet that Esther had prepared. 6And the king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, What
is your petition? and it shall be granted you: and what is your request? even to the half of the
kingdom it shall be performed. 7Then Esther answered and said, My petition and my request
is; 8If I have found favor 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 tomorrow as the king has said.
9Then Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw
Mordecai in the king's gate, that he did not stand up, nor move for him, he was full of indignation
against Mordecai. 10But Haman restrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called
for his friends and Zeresh his wife. 11And Haman told them of the glory of his riches and the
multitude of his children and all the things in which the king had promoted him and how he
had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. 12Haman also said, Yes, Esther the
queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and
tomorrow I am invited by her also with the king. 13Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see
Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate. 14Then Zeresh said his wife and all his friends to
him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high and tomorrow speak to the king that Mordecai
may be hanged on it: then go in merrily with the king to the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he
caused the gallows to be made.
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Chapter 6
1On that night the king could not sleep and he commanded to bring the book of records of
the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 2And 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 king Ahasuerus. 3And the king said, What honor and dignity has been done to
Mordecai for this? Then the king's servants who ministered to him said, Nothing has been done for him.
4And the king asked, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outer court of
the
king's house, to speak to the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
5And the king's servants said to him, Behold, Haman stands in the court. And the king said, Let
him come in. 6So Haman came in and the king said to him, What shall be done to the man
whom the king delights to honor? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king
delight to do honor more than to myself? 7And Haman answered the king, For the man whom
the king delights to honor, 8Let the royal apparel be brought which the king is used to
wear and the
horse that the king rides on and the royal crown which is set on his head: 9And 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 whom the king delights to honor 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 delights to honor.
10Then the king said to Haman, Hurry, and take the apparel and the horse, as you have
said and
do even so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that you have
spoken. 11Then Haman took the apparel and the horse and arrayed Mordecai and brought him
on horseback through the streets of the city and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done to
the man whom the king delights to honor.
12And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house mourning,
and having his head covered. 13And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing
that had befallen him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, If Mordecai is of the
seed of the Jews, before whom you have begun to fall, you shall not prevail against him, but
shall surely fall before him. 14And while they were yet talking with him, the king's
chamberlains, came and hurried to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
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Chapter 7
1So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. 2And the king said
again to
Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is your petition, queen Esther? and it
shall be granted you: and what is your request? and it shall be performed, even to the half
of the
kingdom. 3Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in your sight, O king,
and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition and my people at my request:
4For 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, even though the enemy could not
equal the king's damage. 5Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said to Esther the
queen, Who is he and where is he, who does presume in his heart to do so? 6And Esther said,
The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the
queen.
7And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his anger 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. 8Then the king returned out of the palace garden to the
place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen on the bed on which Esther was. Then
the king said, 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. 9And 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, stands in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him on it.
10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's anger
was pacified.
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Chapter 8
1On that day the king Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman the Jews' enemy to Esther the
queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was to her. 2And the
king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set
Mordecai over the house of Haman.
3And Esther spoke once more before the king and fell down at his feet and pleaded with him
with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite and his device that he had devised
against the Jews. 4Then the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther. So Esther arose and
stood before the king, 5And said, If it please the king and if I have found favor in his sight and
the thing seems right before the king and I am 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 who are in all the king's provinces: 6For how can I endure to see the evil that
shall come
to my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my relatives? 7Then king
Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the
house of Haman and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he laid his hand on the
Jews. 8Write also for the Jews, as you like, 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, no man may
reverse. 9Then the king's scribes were called at that time in the third month, that
is, the month
Sivan, on the twenty third day; and it was written according to all that Mordecai
commanded to the Jews and to the lieutenants and the deputies and rulers of the provinces
which are from India to Ethiopia, one hundred twenty seven provinces, to every province
according to its script and to every people after their language and to the Jews according to
their writing and according to their language. 10And he wrote in the name of king Ahasuerus and
sealed it with the king's ring and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on
mules, camels, and young dromedaries: 11In which the king granted the Jews who
were in every city to
gather themselves together and to stand for their life, to destroy, to kill and to cause to perish,
all the power of the people and province who would assault them, both little ones and women,
and to take the spoil of them for a prey, 12On one day in all the provinces of king
Ahasuerus,
namely, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
13The copy of the
writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published to all people and that
the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
14So the posts
who rode on mules and camels went out, being hurried and pressed on by the king's
commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.
15And 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. 16The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor.
17And in
every province and in every city, wherever 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 on them.
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Chapter 9
1Now 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 who hated them;) 2The 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 on all people. 3And 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 on them. 4For Mordecai was great in the king's house,
and his
fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai grew greater and greater.
5Thus the Jews struck all their enemies with the stroke of the sword and slaughter and
destruction and did what they would to those who hated them. 6And in Shushan the palace the
Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. 7And Parshandatha and Dalphon and Aspatha,
8And Poratha and Adalia and Aridatha, 9And Parmashta and Arisai and Aridai,
and Vajezatha,
10They killed the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha the enemy of the Jews but they did not
lay their hand on the spoil. 11On that day the number of those who were killed in Shushan
the palace was brought before the king. 12And the king asked Esther the queen, The Jews have
killed 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 your petition? and it shall be
granted to you: or what is your request further? and it shall be done. 13Then said
Esther, If it
pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according
to this day's decree and let Haman's ten sons be hanged on the gallows. 14And the king
commanded it to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten
sons. 15For the Jews who were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the
fourteenth day
also of the month Adar and killed three hundred men at Shushan; but they did not
lay their hand on the spoils. 16But the other Jews who were in the king's provinces
gathered themselves
together and stood for their lives and had rest from their enemies and killed of their foes seventy five
thousand, but they did not lay their hands on the prey, 17On the thirteenth day of the
month of Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same they rested and made it a day of feasting and
gladness. 18But the Jews who were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth
day,
and on the fourteenth; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested and made it a day of
feasting and gladness. 19Therefore the Jews of the villages, who dwelled in the unwalled towns,
made the fourteenth day of the month of Adar a day of gladness and feasting and a good day and
of sending portions one to another.
20And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the
provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21To establish this among
them, that they
should keep the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,
22As
the days in which the Jews rested from their enemies and the month which was turned to them
from sorrow to joy and from mourning to a good day: that they should make them days of
feasting and joy and of sending portions to one another and gifts to the poor. 23And the Jews
undertook to do as they had begun and as Mordecai had written to them; 24Because 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, to consume them and to destroy them;
25But
when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he
devised against the Jews, should return on his own head and that he and his sons should be
hanged on the gallows. 26Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur.
Therefore for all the words of this letter and of that which they had seen concerning this matter,
and which had come to them, 27The Jews ordained and took on them and on their seed and on
all such as joined themselves to them, so it would not fail, that they would keep these two
days according to their writing and according to their appointed time every year;
28And 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. 29Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail,
and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim. 30And he
sent the letters to all the Jews, to the hundred twenty seven provinces of the kingdom of
Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth, 31To 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 decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.
32And the
decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.
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Chapter 10
1And king Ahasuerus laid a tax on the land and on the isles of the sea.
2And all the acts
of his power and of his might and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the
king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and
Persia? 3For Mordecai the Jew was next to king Ahasuerus and great among the Jews and
accepted of the multitude of his brothers, seeking the wealth of his people and speaking peace
to all his seed.
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