1On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews’ enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her. 2And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
3¶ And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.8.3 and besought…: Heb. and she wept, and besought him 4Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king, 5And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be 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 which are in all the king’s provinces:8.5 devised: Heb. the device8.5 which he…: or, who wrote 6For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?8.6 endure…: Heb. be able that I may see
7¶ Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. 8Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh 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 no man reverse. 9Then were the king’s scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language. 10And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus’ name, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries: 11Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey, 12Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon 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 unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.8.13 published: Heb. revealed 14So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.
15¶ And 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.8.15 blue: or, violet 16The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour. 17And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever 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 upon them.
Amri Ya Mfalme Kuhusu Wayahudi
18:1 Mit 22:22-23Siku ile ile Mfalme Ahasuero akampa Malkia Esta shamba la Hamani, adui wa Wayahudi. Naye Mordekai akaja mbele ya mfalme, kwa kuwa Esta alikuwa amesema jinsi anavyohusiana naye. 28:2 Mwa 24:22; Dan 2:48Mfalme akaivua pete yake ya muhuri, ambayo alikuwa amemnyangʼanya Hamani, akampa Mordekai, naye Esta akamweka Mordekai juu ya shamba la Hamani.
38:3 Kut 17:8-16Esta alimsihi tena mfalme, akianguka miguuni pake na kulia. Akamwomba akomeshe mpango mwovu wa Hamani Mwagagi ambao alikuwa ameupanga dhidi ya Wayahudi. 48:4 Es 4:11Kisha mfalme alimnyooshea Esta fimbo yake ya utawala ya dhahabu naye aliinuka na kusimama mbele yake.
5Esta akasema, “Kama ikimpendeza mfalme, nami kama nikipata kibali naye akiona ni jambo lililo sawa kunitendea na kama akipendezwa nami, basi iandikwe amri ya kuzitangua barua zile Hamani mwana wa Hamedatha, Mwagagi, alizotunga na kuandika kuangamiza Wayahudi katika majimbo yote ya mfalme. 6Kwa maana nitawezaje kuvumilia kuona maafa yakiwapata watu wangu? Nitawezaje kuvumilia kuona maangamizi ya jamaa yangu?”
7Mfalme Ahasuero akawajibu Malkia Esta na Mordekai Myahudi, “Kwa sababu Hamani aliwashambulia Wayahudi, nimetoa shamba la Hamani kwa Esta, naye ameangikwa kwenye mti wa kunyongea. 88:8 Es 1:19; Mwa 41:42Basi andika amri nyingine kwa jina la mfalme kwa ajili ya Wayahudi kama unavyoona vyema, kisha uifunge kwa kutia muhuri kwa pete ya mfalme kwa kuwa hakuna andiko lililoandikwa kwa jina la mfalme na kutiwa muhuri kwa pete ya mfalme linaloweza kutanguliwa.”
98:9 Es 1:1; Neh 13:24Mara moja waandishi wa mfalme wakaitwa kwenye siku ya ishirini na tatu, mwezi wa tatu, ndio mwezi wa Siwani. Wakaandika yote Mordekai aliyoamuru kwa Wayahudi, kwa majemadari, watawala na wakuu wa majimbo 127 kuanzia Bara Hindi mpaka Kushi.8:9 Kushi hapa ina maana ya Ethiopia. Maagizo haya yaliandikwa kwa maandishi ya kila jimbo na kwa lugha ya kila mtu pia kwa Wayahudi kwa maandishi yao wenyewe na lugha yao. 10Mordekai aliandika nyaraka kwa jina la Mfalme Ahasuero, akazitia muhuri kwa pete ya mfalme na kuzipeleka kwa njia ya matarishi, ambao waliendesha farasi waendao kasi waliozalishwa maalum kwa ajili ya mfalme.
11Waraka wa mfalme uliwaruhusu Wayahudi katika kila mji kuwa na haki ya kukusanyika na kujilinda wenyewe; kuharibu, kuua na kuangamiza jeshi lolote, taifa lolote au jimbo lile litakalowashambulia wao, wake zao, watoto wao na kuteka mali za adui zao. 12Siku ambayo iliwekwa kwa Wayahudi kufanya hili katika majimbo yote ya Mfalme Ahasuero ilikuwa siku ya kumi na tatu ya mwezi wa kumi na mbili, yaani mwezi wa Adari. 138:13 Es 1:1; Neh 13:24Nakala ya tangazo ilikuwa itolewe kama sheria katika kila jimbo na iweze kujulikana kwa watu wa kila taifa, ili kwamba Wayahudi wawe tayari siku hiyo kulipiza kisasi kwa adui zao.
14Matarishi, wakiwa wamepanda farasi wa kifalme, walitoka mbio wakichochewa na agizo la mfalme. Tangazo lilitolewa pia katika ngome ya mji wa Shushani.
158:15 2Sam 12:30; Mwa 41:42Mordekai akaondoka mbele ya mfalme akiwa amevaa mavazi ya kifalme ya buluu na nyeupe, taji kubwa la dhahabu na joho la zambarau la kitani safi. Na mji wa Shushani ukasherehekea kwa furaha. 168:16 Za 112:4; Yer 29:4-7Kwa maana kwa Wayahudi ulikuwa wakati wa raha na furaha, shangwe na heshima. 178:17 Za 35:27; Kum 11:25Katika kila jimbo na katika kila jiji, popote waraka wa mfalme ulipofika, kulikuwepo furaha na shangwe miongoni mwa Wayahudi, pamoja na karamu na kushangilia. Na watu wengi wa mataifa mengine wakajifanya Wayahudi kwa sababu ya kuwahofu Wayahudi.
