<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">At the end of the twelve months that were required for the women,<n id="1" /> when the turn of each young woman arrived to go to King Ahasuerus &#8211; for in this way they had to fulfill their time of cosmetic treatment: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfume and various ointments used by women &#8211;

Throughout each and every province where the king&#8217;s edict and law were announced<n id="1" /> there was considerable<n id="2" /> mourning among the Jews, along with fasting, weeping, and sorrow.<n id="3" /> Sackcloth and ashes were characteristic<n id="4" /> of many.

&#8220;Don&#8217;t imagine that because you are part of the king&#8217;s household you will be the one Jew<n id="1" /> who will escape. If you keep quiet at this time, liberation and protection for the Jews will appear<n id="2" /> from another source,<n id="3" /> while you and your father&#8217;s household perish. It may very well be<n id="4" /> that you have achieved royal status<n id="5" /> for such a time as this!&#8221;p>

When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she met with his approval.<n id="1" /> The king extended to Esther the gold scepter that was in his hand, and Esther approached and touched the end of the scepter.p>

Throughout every province and throughout every city where the king&#8217;s edict and his law arrived, the Jews experienced happiness and joy, banquets and holidays. Many of the resident peoples<n id="1" /> pretended<n id="2" /> to be Jews, because the fear of the Jews had overcome them.<n id="3" />p>

<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.

For this reason these days are known as <i>Purimi>, after the name of <i>puri>.

<p class="bodytext">When it became the turn of Esther daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai (who had raised her as if she were his own daughter<n id="1" />) to go to the king, she did not request anything except what Hegai the king&#8217;s eunuch, who was overseer of the women, had recommended. Yet Esther met with the approval of all who saw her.