And day after day Mordecai used to walk back and forth in front of the court of the harem in order to learn how Esther was doing<n id="1" /> and what might happen to her.p>

<p class="bodytext">Esther replied, &#8220;If the king is so inclined,<n id="1" /> let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.&#8221;

While at the banquet of wine, the king said to Esther, &#8220;What is your request? It shall be given to you. What is your petition? Ask for as much as half the kingdom,<n id="1" /> and it shall be done!&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">While they were still speaking with him, the king&#8217;s eunuchs arrived. They quickly brought Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.p>

<p class="bodytext">Then King Ahasuerus responded<n id="1" /> to Queen Esther, &#8220;Who is this individual? Where is this person to be found who is presumptuous enough<n id="2" /> to act in this way?&#8221;p>

All the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and those who performed the king&#8217;s business were assisting the Jews, for the dread of Mordecai had fallen on them.

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.p>

to have them observe the fourteenth and the fifteenth day of the month of Adar each year

When those days<n id="1" /> were completed, the king then provided a seven-day<n id="2" /> banquet for all the people who were present<n id="3" /> in Susa the citadel, for those of highest standing to the most lowly.<n id="4" /> It was held in the court located in the garden of the royal palace.

Esther was still not divulging her lineage or her people,<n id="1" /> just as Mordecai had instructed her.<n id="2" /> Esther continued to do whatever Mordecai said, just as she had done when he was raising her.p>

<p class="bodytext">Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, &#8220;There is a particular people<n id="1" /> that is dispersed and spread among the inhabitants<n id="2" /> throughout all the provinces of your kingdom whose laws differ from those of all other peoples. Furthermore, they do not observe the king&#8217;s laws. It is not appropriate for the king to provide a haven for them.<n id="3" />

If the king is so inclined,<n id="1" /> let an edict be issued<n id="2" /> to destroy them. I will pay ten thousand talents of silver<n id="3" /> to be conveyed to the king&#8217;s treasuries for the officials who carry out this business.&#8221;p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now when Mordecai became aware of all that had been done, he<n id="1" /> tore his garments and put on sackcloth and ashes. He went out into the city, crying out in a loud<n id="2" /> and bitter voice.

Haman said, &#8220;Furthermore, Queen Esther invited<n id="1" /> only me to accompany the king to the banquet that she prepared! And also tomorrow I am invited<n id="2" /> along with the king.

Then let this clothing and this horse be given to one of the king&#8217;s noble officials. Let him<n id="1" /> then clothe the man whom the king wishes to honor, and let him lead him about through the plaza of the city on the horse, calling<n id="2" /> before him, &#8216;So shall it be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!&#8217;&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">The king then said to Haman, &#8220;Go quickly! Take the clothing and the horse, just as you have described, and do as you just indicated to Mordecai the Jew who sits at the king&#8217;s gate. Don&#8217;t neglect<n id="1" /> a single thing of all that you have said.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">So Haman took the clothing and the horse, and he clothed Mordecai. He led him about on the horse throughout the plaza of the city, calling before him, &#8220;So shall it be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!&#8221;p>

On the second day of the banquet of wine the king asked Esther, &#8220;What is your request, Queen Esther? It shall be granted to you. And what is your petition? Ask up to half the kingdom, and it shall be done!&#8221;p>

Harbona,<n id="1" /> one of the king&#8217;s eunuchs, said, &#8220;Indeed, there is the gallows that Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke out in the king&#8217;s behalf. It stands near Haman&#8217;s home and is seventy-five feet<n id="2" /> high.&#8221;p> <p class="bodytext">The king said, &#8220;Hang him on it!&#8221;

<t /><p class="bodytext">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.