Esther, Chapter 8:

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Verses from Esther, Chapter 8 of the book of Esther in the Bible.

Esther - Old Testament — Esther – Old Testament

The king's edict in favor of the Jews

1. That same day, King Xerxes gave Queen Esther all the possessions of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai was brought before the king, for Esther had revealed that he was her relative.
2. The king took off his signet ring, which had previously belonged to Haman, and gave it to Mordecai; and Esther appointed Mordecai as administrator of Haman's property.
3. Esther again begged the king, weeping at his feet, to revoke the evil plan of Haman the Agagite against the Jews.
4. Then the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, and she stood up before him and said:
5. “If it pleases the king, if I can count on his favor and if he thinks it right, let an order be written to revoke the letters written by Haman, son of Hamedata the Agagite, which aimed at the destruction of the Jews in all provinces of the empire.
6. For how can I bear to see the calamity that will come upon my people? How will I bear the destruction of my own family?”
7. King Xerxes answered Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew: “I have already hanged Haman and given his possessions to Esther, because he plotted against the Jews.
8. Now write another order in the name of the king, in favor of the Jews, as you wish, and seal it with the king's signet ring, for no decree written in the name of the king and sealed with his ring can be revoked.” .
9. This happened on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. The king's scribes were summoned and wrote down all of Mordecai's orders for the Jews, the satraps, the governors, and the nobles of the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India to Ethiopia. These orders were written in the language and writing of each province, according to the language and writing of the Jews.
10. Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the letters with the king's seal ring, and sent them by messengers mounted on fast horses, which were used in the royal stables.
11. The king's decree granted the Jews of each city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill and annihilate any armed force of any people or province that attacked them, their wives and their children, and also the right to plunder the goods of your enemies.
12. This decree took effect in the provinces of King Xerxes on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar.
13. A copy of the decree was published as law in each province and circulated among all peoples, so that the Jews would be prepared to take revenge on their enemies on that day.
14. The messengers, mounted on fast horses from the king's stables, departed in haste, driven by the king's order. The decree was also published in the citadel of Susa.
15. Mordecai came out from the king's presence wearing royal robes of blue and white, a great crown of gold, and a robe of fine purple linen. And the city of Susa was radiant with joy.
16. For the Jews, it was a time of celebration, joy, jubilation and honor.
17. In every province and in every city, wherever the king's decree reached, there was joy and celebration among the Jews, with banquets and celebrations. And many of the people of the different lands became Jews, for the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.