HADASSAH 𐤄𐤃𐤎𐤄
ESTHER
CHAPTER 1
1 And it came to be in the days of Akh'shurush (Akh’shoo’roosh): he is Akh'shurush, who reigned from Hadu (Had’oo) even to Kush (Koosh), over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces,
2 that in those days, when the Sovereign Akh'shurush sat on the throne of his reign, which was in Shushan the palace,
3 in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants; the power of Paras and Mada'ya, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him.
4 He displayed the riches of his esteemed reign and the splendor of his excellent greatness many days, even one hundred and eighty days.
5 When these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven day feast for all the people who were there in Shushan the palace, both great and small, in the court of the garden of the sovereign’s palace.
6 There were hangings of white, green, and blue material, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars. The couches were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red, white, yellow, and black marble.
7 They gave them drinks in golden vessels of various kinds, including royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the sovereign.
8 In accordance with the decree, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had instructed all the officials of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
9 Also U'shath'ya the sovereigness made a feast for the women in the royal house that belonged to Sovereign Akh'shurush.
10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mahuman, Bazatha, Khar'buna (Khar’boona), Bagatha, and Abagtha, Zathar, and Karakas, the seven eunuchs who served in the face of Akh'shurush the sovereign,
11 to bring U'shath'ya the sovereigness before the sovereign with the royal crown, to show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was beautiful.
12 But the sovereigness U'shath'ya refused to come at the sovereign’s decree by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him.
13 Then the king said to the discerned men, who knew the times, for it was the king's custom to consult those who knew law and right ruling;
14 and the next to him were Karashana, Shathar, Ad’matha, Tharash’yash, Maras, Mar’sana, and Mamukan, the seven princes of Paras and Mada'ya, who saw the king's face, and sat first in the reign,
15 "What shall we do to the sovereigness U'shath'ya according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the King Akh'shurush by the eunuchs?"
16 And Mamukan answered before the king and the princes, "U'shath'ya the sovereigness has not done wrong to just the king, but also to all the princes, and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the King Akh'shurush.
17 For this deed of the sovereigness will become known to all women, causing them to show contempt for their husbands, when it is reported, 'King Akh'shurush commanded U'shath'ya the sovereigness to be brought in before him, but she didn't come.'
18 And today, the princesses of Paras and Mada'ya who have heard of the sovereigness's deed will tell all the king's princes. This will cause much contempt and wrath.
19 "If it please the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Paras and the Mada’ya, so that it cannot be altered, that U'shath'ya may never again come before King Akh'shurush; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.
20 When the king's decree which he shall make is published throughout all his reign, for it is great, all the wives will give their husbands esteem, both great and small."
21 This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Mamukan:
22 for he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, that every man should rule his own house, speaking in the language of his own people.
CHAPTER 2
1 After these, when the wrath of King Akh'shurush was ceased, he remembered U'shath'ya, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
2 Then the king's servants who served him said, "Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king.
3 Let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his reign, that they may gather together all the beautiful young virgins to the citadel of Shushan, to the women's house, to the custody of Haga the king's eunuch, keeper of the women. Let preparations be given them;
4 and let the maiden who pleases the king be sovereigness instead of U'shath'ya." The thing pleased the king, and he did so.
5 There was a certain Yahud'ya in the citadel of Shushan, whose name was Mardaka'ya, son of Yayar, son of Shama'ya, son of Qayash, a Yamayan’ya,
6 who had been carried away from Yaru'shalam with the captives who had been carried away with Yakan’Yah king of Yahudah, whom Nabu’khad’natsar the king of Babal had carried away.
7 He brought up Hadassah, that is, Asathar (Esther),* his uncle's daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mardaka'ya took her for his own daughter.
*For the purposes of TRSV, we will use her Restored Yahud’yath Name: HADASSAH. Esther references a pagan deity, and will not be used in this version for this reason. See Exodus 23:13
8 So it came to be, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to the citadel of Shushan, to the custody of Haga, that Hadassah was taken into the king's house, to the custody of Haga, keeper of the women.
9 The maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness from him. He quickly gave her preparations and her portions of food, and the seven choice maidens who were to be given her out of the king's house. He moved her and her maidens to the best place in the women's house.
10 Hadassah had not made known her people nor her relatives, because Mardaka'ya had instructed her that she should not make it known.
11 Mardaka'ya walked every day in front of the court of the women's house, to find out how Hadassah did, and what would become of her.
12 Each young woman's turn came to go in to King Akh'shurush after her purification for twelve months, according to the days of their purification accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet fragrances and with preparations for beautifying women.
13 The young woman then came to the king like this: whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the women's house to the king's house.
14 In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second women's house, to the custody of Shash’gaz, the king's eunuch, who kept the concubines. She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she was called by name.
15 Now when the turn of Hadassah, the daughter of Ab'yakha'yal the uncle of Mardaka'ya, who had taken her for his daughter, came to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Haga the king's eunuch, the keeper of the women, advised. Hadassah obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked at her.
16 So Hadassah was taken to King Akh'shurush into his royal house in the tenth month, which is the month of good*, in the seventh year of his reign.
*Most translations will note this as Tabath to mean good, however, Yahud’yath months were not named, with the exception of the first month, Ab’yab.
17 The king loved Hadassah more than all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he placed the royal crown on her head, and made her sovereigness instead of U'shath'ya.
18 Then the king made a great feast for all his princes and his servants, even Hadassah's feast; and he proclaimed a rest in the provinces, and gave gifts according to the king's bounty.
19 When the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mardaka'ya was sitting in the king's gate.
20 Hadassah had not yet made known her relatives nor her people, as Mardaka'ya had commanded her; for Hadassah obeyed Mardaka'ya, like she did when she was brought up by him.
21 In those days, while Mardaka'ya was sitting in the king's gate, two of the king's eunuchs, Bagathan and Tharash, who were doorkeepers, were angry, and sought to lay hands on the King Akh'shurush.
22 This thing became known to Mardaka'ya, who informed Hadassah the sovereigness; and Hadassah informed the king in Mardaka'ya's name.
23 When this matter was investigated, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree; and it was written in the book of words of the days in the king's dwelling.
CHAPTER 3
1 After these King Akh'shurush promoted Haman son of Hama'datha the Agaga'ya, and advanced him, and placed his seat above all the princes who were with him.
2 All the king's servants who were in the king's gate bowed down, and paid homage to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mardaka'ya didn't bow down or pay him homage.
3 Then the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, said to Mardaka'ya, "Why do you disobey the king's commandment?"
4 Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he didn't listen to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mardaka'ya's reason would stand; for he had told them that he was a Yahud'ya.
5 When Haman saw that Mardaka'ya didn't bow down, nor pay him homage, Haman was full of wrath.
6 But he scorned the thought of laying hands on Mardaka'ya alone, for they had made known to him Mardaka'ya's people. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Yahud'ym who were throughout the whole reign of Akh'shurush, even Mardaka'ya's people.
7 In the first month, which is the month first fruits*, in the twelfth year of King Akh'shurush, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, and chose the twelfth month, which is the cloudy month.**
*See note above on Hadassah 2:16. This Sumerian word nisan originates from nayasan, meaning first fruits, relating to the appointed time; see also Lev. 23
**See note above on Hadassah 2:16. Adar means dark or cloudy.
8 Haman said to King Akh'shurush, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your reign, and their laws are different than other people's. They don't keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not for the king's profit to allow them to remain.
9 If it pleases the king, let it be written that they be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who are in charge of the king's business, to bring it into the king's treasuries."
10 The king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman son of Hama'datha the Agaga'ya, the Yahud'ym enemy.
11 And the king said to Haman, "The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as is good in your eyes."
12 Then the king's scribes were called in on the first month, on the thirteenth day of the month; and all that Haman commanded was written to the king's satraps, and to the governors who were over every province, and to the princes of every people, to every province according its writing, and to every people in their language. It was written in the name of King Akh'shurush, and it was sealed with the king's ring.
13 Letters were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Yahud'ym, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the cloudy month, and to plunder their possessions.
14 A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that they should be ready against that day.
15 The couriers went forth in haste by the king's commandment, and the decree was given out in the citadel of Shushan. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.
CHAPTER 4
1 Now when Mardaka'ya found out all that was done, Mardaka'ya tore his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and wailed loudly and bitterly.
2 He came even before the king's gate, for no one is allowed inside the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
3 In every province, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Yahud'ym, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4 Hadassah's maidens and her eunuchs came and told her this, and the sovereigness was exceedingly grieved. She sent clothing to Mardaka'ya, to replace his sackcloth; but he didn't receive it.
5 Then Hadassah called for Hathak, one of the king's eunuchs, whom he had appointed to attend her, and commanded him to go to Mardaka'ya, to find out what this was, and why it was.
6 So Hathak went out to Mardaka'ya, to city square which was before the king's gate.
7 Mardaka'ya told him of all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Yahud'ym.
8 He also gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Shushan to destroy them, to show it to Hadassah, and to declare it to her, and to urge her to go in to the king, to make supplication to him, and to make request before him, for her people.
9 Hathak came and told Hadassah the words of Mardaka'ya.
10 Then Hadassah spoke to Hathak, and gave him a command to Mardaka'ya:
11 "All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, know, that whoever, whether man or woman, comes to the king into the inner court without being called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king might hold out the golden scepter, that he may dwell. I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days."
12 They told to Mardaka'ya Hadassah's words.
13 Then Mardaka'ya asked them return answer to Hadassah, "Don't think to yourself that you will escape in the king's house any more than all the Yahud'ym.
14 For if you remain silent now, then relief and saving will come to the Yahud'ym from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Who knows if you haven't come to the reign for such a time as this?"
15 Then Hadassah asked them to answer Mardaka'ya,
16. "Go, gather together all the Yahud'ym who are there in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I and my maidens will also fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish."
17 So Mardaka'ya went his way, and did according to all that Hadassah had commanded him.
CHAPTER 5
1 And it came to be on the third day that Hadassah put on her royal clothing, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, next to the king's house. The king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, next to the entrance of the house.
2 When the king saw Hadassah the sovereigness standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Hadassah the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Hadassah came near, and touched the top of the scepter.
3 Then the king asked her, "What would you like, sovereigness Hadassah? What is your request? It shall be given you even to the half of the reign."
4 And Hadassah answered, "If it is good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him."
5 Then the king said, "Bring Haman quickly, so that it may be done as Hadassah has said." So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Hadassah had prepared.
6 And the king said to Hadassah at the banquet of wine, "What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the reign it shall be performed."
7 Then Hadassah answered and said, "My petition and my request is this:
8 If 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 will prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said."
9 Then Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart, but when Haman saw Mardaka'ya in the king's gate, that he didn't stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mardaka'ya.
10 Nevertheless Haman restrained himself, and went home. There, he sent and called for his friends and Zarash his wife.
11 Haman recounted to them the esteem of his riches, the multitude of his children, all in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
12 Haman also said, "Yes, Hadassah the sovereigness let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow I am also invited by her together with the king.
13 Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mardaka'ya the Yahud'ya sitting at the king's gate."
14 Then Zarash his wife and all his friends said to him, "Let a tree be made, fifty cubits high, and in the rising speak to the king about hanging Mardaka'ya on it. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet." This pleased Haman, so he had the tree made.
CHAPTER 6
1 On that night, the king couldn't sleep. He commanded the Book of Records of the chronicles to be brought, and they were read to the king.
2 It was found written that Mardaka'ya had told of Bagathana and Tharash, two of the king's eunuchs, who were doorkeepers, who had tried to lay hands on the King Akh'shurush.
3 The king said, "What esteem and greatness has been bestowed on Mardaka'ya for this?" Then the king's servants who attended him said, "Nothing has been done for him."
4 The king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had come into the outer court of the king's house, to speak to the king about hanging Mardaka'ya on the tree that he had prepared for him.
5 The king's servants said to him, "Behold, Haman stands in the court." The king said, "Let him come in."
6 So Haman came in. The king said to him, "What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to value?” Now Haman said in his heart, "Who would the king delight to value more than myself?"
7 Haman said to the king, "For the man whom the king delights to value,
8 let royal clothing be brought which the king uses to wear, and the horse that the king rides on, and on the head of which a crown royal is placed.
9 Let the clothing and the horse be brought to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man whom the king delights to value with them, and have him ride on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, 'Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to value!’”
10 Then the king said to Haman, "Hurry and take the clothing and the horse, as you have said, and do this for Mardaka'ya the Yahud'ya, who sits at the king's gate. Let nothing fail of all that you have spoken."
11 Then Haman took the clothing and the horse, and arrayed Mardaka'ya, and had him ride through the city square, and proclaimed before him, "Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to value!”
12 Mardaka'ya came back to the king's gate, but Haman hurried to his house, mourning and having his head covered.
13 Haman recounted to Zarash his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his discerned men and Zarash his wife said to him, "If Mardaka'ya, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Yahud'ym descent, you will not prevail against him, but you will surely fall before him."
14 While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs came, and hurried to bring Haman to the banquet that Hadassah had prepared.
CHAPTER 7
1 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Hadassah the sovereigness.
2 The king said again to Hadassah on the second day at the banquet of wine, "What is your petition, sovereigness Hadassah? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the reign it shall be performed."
3 Then Hadassah the sovereigness answered, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my being be given me at my petition, and my people at my request.
4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondservants and bondmaids, I would have kept silent, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king's loss."
5 Then King Akh'shurush said to Hadassah the sovereigness, "Who is he, and where is he who dared presume in his heart to do so?"
6 Hadassah said, "An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman!" Then Haman was afraid before the king and the sovereigness.
7 The king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden. Haman stood up to make request for his being to Hadassah the sovereigness; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman had fallen on the couch where Hadassah was. Then the king said, "Will he even assault the sovereigness in front of me in the house?" As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.
9 Then Khar'bunah, one of the eunuchs who were with the king said, "Behold, the tree fifty cubits high, which Haman has made for Mardaka'ya, who spoke good for the king, is standing at Haman's house." The king said, "Hang him on it!"
10 So they hanged Haman on the tree that he had prepared for Mardaka'ya. Then was the king's wrath abated.
CHAPTER 8
1 On that day, King Akh'shurush gave the house of Haman, the Yahud'ym enemy, to Hadassah the sovereigness. And Mardaka'ya came before the king; for Hadassah had told what he was to her.
2 And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mardaka'ya. Hadassah appointed Mardaka'ya over the house of Haman.
3 And Hadassah spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and begged him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agaga'ya, and his device that he had devised against the Yahud'ym.
4 Then the king held out to Hadassah the golden sceptre. So Hadassah arose, and stood before the king.
5 And she said, "If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the matter seem right to the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, son of Hama'datha the Agaga'ya, which he wrote to destroy the Yahud'ym who are in all the king's provinces.
6 For how can I endure to see the evil that would come to my people? How can I endure to see the destruction of my relatives?"
7 Then King Akh'shurush said to Hadassah the sovereigness and to Mardaka'ya the Yahud'ya, "See, I have given Hadassah the house of Haman, and him they have hanged on the tree, because he laid his hand on the Yahud'ym.
8 And you write concerning the Yahud'ym, as it pleases you, 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, may not be reversed by any man."
9 Then the king's scribes were called at that time, in the third month of time*, on the twenty-third day of the month; and it was written according to all that Mardaka'ya commanded to the Yahud'ym, and to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from Hadu to Kush, one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, and to the Yahud'ym in their writing, and in their language.
*Derives from sayun or sayoon, known as sivan, also meaning time or season.
10 He wrote in the name of King Akh'shurush, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by courier on horseback, riding on royal horses that were bread from swift steeds.
11 In those letters, the king granted the Yahud'ym who were in every city to gather themselves together, and to defend their beings, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to plunder their possessions,
12 on one day in all the provinces of King Akh'shurush, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the cloudy month.
13 A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that the Yahud'ym should be ready for that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
14 So the couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. The decree was given out in the citadel of Shushan.
15 Mardaka'ya went out of the face of the king in royal clothing of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple; and the city of Shushan shouted and was glad.
16 The Yahud'ym had light, and gladness, and joy, and esteem.
17 And in every province, and in every city, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Yahud'ym had gladness, joy, a feast, and a good day. Many from among the peoples of the land became Yahud'ym; for the fear of the Yahud'ym was fallen on them.
CHAPTER 9
1 Now in the twelfth month, which is the cloudy month, on the thirteenth day of the month, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, on the day that the enemies of the Yahud'ym waited to conquer them, but it was turned out the opposite happened, that the Yahud'ym conquered those who hated them,
2 The Yahud'ym gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the King Akh'shurush, to lay hands on those who wanted to harm them. No one could withstand them, because the fear of them had fallen on all the people.
3 And all the princes of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and those who did the king's business helped the Yahud'ym, because the fear of Mardaka'ya had fallen on them.
4 For Mardaka'ya was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces; for the man Mardaka'ya grew greater and greater.
5 And the Yahud'ym struck all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with slaughter and destruction, and did what they wanted to those who hated them.
6 In the citadel of Shushan, the Yahud'ym killed and destroyed five hundred men.
7 And they slew Parshan’datha, Dal’pun, As’patha,
8 And Puratha, Adal’ya, and Arya’datha,
9 And Parmash’tha, and Aryas’ya, and Arda’ya, and U’ya’zatha,
10 the ten sons of Haman son of Hama'datha, the Yahud'ym enemy, but they didn't lay their hand on the plunder.
11 On that day, the number of those who were slain in the citadel of Shushan was brought before the king.
12 The king said to Hadassah the sovereigness, "The Yahud'ym have slain and destroyed five hundred men in the citadel of Shushan, including the ten sons of Haman; what then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces! Now what is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your further request? It shall be done."
13 Then Hadassah said, "If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Yahud'ym who are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according to this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged on the tree."
14 The king commanded this to be done. A decree was given out in Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.
15 The Yahud'ym who were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the cloudy month, and killed three hundred men in Shushan; but they didn't lay their hand on the spoil.
16 The other Yahud'ym who were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, defended their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of those who hated them; but they didn't lay their hand on the plunder.
17 This was done on the thirteenth day of the cloudy month; and on the fourteenth day of that month they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
18 But the Yahud'ym who were in Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth and on the fourteenth days of the month; and on the fifteenth day of that month, they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
19 Therefore the Yahud'ym of the villages, who live in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the cloudy month a day of gladness and feasting, a good day, and a day of sending portions of food to one another.
20 And Mardaka'ya wrote these words, and sent letters to all the Yahud'ym who were in all the provinces of the king Akh'shurush, both near and far,
21 to establish among them that they should keep the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the cloudy month yearly,
22 as the days in which the Yahud'ym had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned to them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions of food to one another, and gifts to the needy.
23 And the Yahud'ym accepted to do as they had begun, as Mardaka'ya had written to them;
24 because Haman son of Hama'datha, the Agaga'ya, the enemy of all the Yahud'ym, had plotted against the Yahud'ym to destroy them, and had cast "Pur," that is the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;
25 but when this became known to the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he had devised against the Yahud'ym, should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the tree.
26 Therefore they called these days "Pur'ym," from the name "Pur." Therefore because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and that which had come to them,
27 the Yahud'ym established, and imposed on themselves, and on their descendants, and on all those who joined themselves to them, so that it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to what was written, and according to its appointed time, every year;
28 and that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Pur'ym should not fail from among the Yahud'ym, nor the memory of them perish from their seed.
29 Then Hadassah the sovereigness, the daughter of Ab'yakha'yal, and Mardaka'ya the Yahud'ya, wrote with all authority to confirm this second letter of Pur'ym.
30 And he sent letters to all the Yahud'ym, to the hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the reign of Akh'shurush, with words of shalum (peace) and truth,
31 to confirm these days of Pur'ym in their appointed times, as Mardaka'ya the Yahud'ya and Hadassah the sovereigness had decreed, and as they had imposed upon themselves and their descendants, in the matter of the fastings and their cry.
32 The commandment of Hadassah confirmed these matters of Pur'ym; and it was written in the book.
CHAPTER 10
1 King Akh'shurush laid a tribute on the land, and on the islands of the sea.
2 All the acts of his power and of his might, and the full account of the greatness of Mardaka'ya, to which the king advanced him, aren't they written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Mada'ya and Paras?
3 For Mardaka'ya the Yahud'ya was next to King Akh'shurush, and great among the Yahud'ym, and accepted by the multitude of his brothers, seeking the good of his people, and speaking shalum (peace) to all his descendants.