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Text -- Esther 9:1-22 (NET)
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The Jews Prevail over Their Enemies
9:1 In the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar ), on its thirteenth day , the edict of the king and his law were to be executed . It was on this day that the enemies of the Jews had supposed that they would gain power over them. But contrary to expectations , the Jews gained power over their enemies .
9:2 The Jews assembled themselves in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to strike out against those who were seeking their harm . No one was able to stand before them, for dread of them fell on all the peoples .
9:3 All the officials of the provinces , the satraps , the governors and those who performed the king’s business were assisting the Jews , for the dread of Mordecai had fallen on them.
9:4 Mordecai was of high rank in the king’s palace , and word about him was spreading throughout all the provinces . His influence continued to become greater and greater .
9:5 The Jews struck all their enemies with the sword , bringing death and destruction , and they did as they pleased with their enemies .
9:6 In Susa the citadel the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men .
9:7 In addition, they also killed Parshandatha , Dalphon , Aspatha ,
9:8 Poratha , Adalia , Aridatha ,
9:9 Parmashta , Arisai , Aridai , and Vaizatha ,
9:10 the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha , the enemy of the Jews . But they did not confiscate their property .
9:11 On that same day the number of those killed in Susa the citadel was brought to the king’s attention.
9:12 Then the king said to Queen Esther , “In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman ! What then have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces ? What is your request ? It shall be given to you. What other petition do you have? It shall be done .”
9:13 Esther replied , “If the king is so inclined , let the Jews who are in Susa be permitted to act tomorrow also according to today’s law , and let them hang the ten sons of Haman on the gallows .”
9:14 So the king issued orders for this to be done . A law was passed in Susa , and the ten sons of Haman were hanged .
9:15 The Jews who were in Susa then assembled on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar , and they killed three hundred men in Susa . But they did not confiscate their property .
9:16 The rest of the Jews who were throughout the provinces of the king assembled in order to stand up for themselves and to have rest from their enemies . They killed seventy-five thousand of their adversaries , but they did not confiscate their property .
9:17 All of this happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar . They then rested on the fourteenth day and made it a day for banqueting and happiness .
The Origins of the Feast of Purim
9:18 But the Jews who were in Susa assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth days, and rested on the fifteenth , making it a day for banqueting and happiness .
9:19 This is why the Jews who are in the rural country – those who live in rural cities – set aside the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a holiday for happiness , banqueting , holiday , and sending gifts to one another .
9:20 Mordecai wrote these matters down and sent letters to all the Jews who were throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus , both near and far ,
9:21 to have them observe the fourteenth and the fifteenth day of the month of Adar each year
9:22 as the time when the Jews gave themselves rest from their enemies – the month when their trouble was turned to happiness and their mourning to a holiday . These were to be days of banqueting , happiness , sending gifts to one another , and providing for the poor .
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