Seeking Vashti’s Successor

1  אַחַר֙ (After) הַדְּבָרִ֣ים (the things) הָאֵ֔לֶּה (these), כְּשֹׁ֕ךְ (at the subsiding) חֲמַ֖ת (of the rage) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (of King) אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ (Ahasuerus), זָכַ֤ר (he remembered) אֶת־ (-) וַשְׁתִּי֙ (Vashti) וְאֵ֣ת (and) אֲשֶׁר־ (what) עָשָׂ֔תָה (she had done) וְאֵ֥ת (and) אֲשֶׁר־ (what) נִגְזַ֖ר (had been decreed) עָלֶֽיהָ׃ (against her), 2  וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ (and said) נַעֲרֵֽי־ (the young men) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king) מְשָׁרְתָ֑יו (who ministered to him), יְבַקְשׁ֥וּ (Let them seek) לַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (for the king) נְעָר֥וֹת (young women), בְּתוּל֖וֹת (virgins) טוֹב֥וֹת (beautiful) מַרְאֶֽה׃ (of appearance). 3  וְיַפְקֵ֨ד (And let appoint) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (the king) פְּקִידִים֮ (overseers) בְּכָל־ (in all) מְדִינ֣וֹת (the provinces) מַלְכוּתוֹ֒ (of his kingdom), וְיִקְבְּצ֣וּ (and they shall gather) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (every) נַעֲרָֽה־ (young woman), בְ֠תוּלָה (virgin) טוֹבַ֨ת (beautiful) מַרְאֶ֜ה (of appearance), אֶל־ (to) שׁוּשַׁ֤ן (Susa) הַבִּירָה֙ (the citadel) אֶל־ (to) בֵּ֣ית (the house) הַנָּשִׁ֔ים (of the women), אֶל־ (into) יַ֥ד (the hand) הֵגֶ֛א (of Hegai) סְרִ֥יס (the eunich) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king), שֹׁמֵ֣ר (the keeper) הַנָּשִׁ֑ים (of the women), וְנָת֖וֹן (and they are to be given) תַּמְרוּקֵיהֶֽן׃ (their cosmetics). 4  וְהַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ה (And the young woman) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (who) תִּיטַב֙ (is good) בְּעֵינֵ֣י (in the eyes) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king), תִּמְלֹ֖ךְ (shall be queen) תַּ֣חַת (in place) וַשְׁתִּ֑י (of Vashti).

וַיִּיטַ֧ב (And was good) הַדָּבָ֛ר (this word) בְּעֵינֵ֥י (in the eyes) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king), וַיַּ֥עַשׂ (and he did) כֵּֽן׃ס (so).

Esther Finds Favor

5  אִ֣ישׁ (A man), יְהוּדִ֔י (a Jew), הָיָ֖ה (there was) בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן (in Susa) הַבִּירָ֑ה (the citadel), וּשְׁמ֣וֹ (and his name) מָרְדֳּכַ֗י (was Mordecai), בֶּ֣ן (son) יָאִ֧יר (of Jair), בֶּן־ (son) שִׁמְעִ֛י (of Shimei), בֶּן־ (son) קִ֖ישׁ (of Kish), אִ֥ישׁ (a man) יְמִינִֽי׃ (of Benjamin), 6  אֲשֶׁ֤ר (who) הָגְלָה֙ (had been removed) מִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔יִם (from Jerusalem) עִם־ (with) הַגֹּלָה֙ (the exiles) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) הָגְלְתָ֔ה (had been removed) עִ֖ם (with) יְכָנְיָ֣ה (Jeconiah) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יְהוּדָ֑ה (of Judah), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whom) הֶגְלָ֔ה (had removed) נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֖ר (Nebuchadnezzar) מֶ֥לֶךְ (king) בָּבֶֽל׃ (of Babylon).

7  וַיְהִ֨י (And he was) אֹמֵ֜ן (supporting) אֶת־ (-) הֲדַסָּ֗ה (Hadassah)— הִ֤יא (she is) אֶסְתֵּר֙ (Esther)— בַּת־ (daughter) דֹּד֔וֹ (of his uncle), כִּ֛י (for) אֵ֥ין (there was not) לָ֖הּ (unto her) אָ֣ב (father) וָאֵ֑ם (or mother), וְהַנַּעֲרָ֤ה (and the young woman was) יְפַת־ (lovely) תֹּ֙אַר֙ (of form) וְטוֹבַ֣ת (and beautiful) מַרְאֶ֔ה (of appearance), וּבְמ֤וֹת (and at the death) אָבִ֙יהָ֙ (of her father) וְאִמָּ֔הּ (and her mother) לְקָחָ֧הּ (had taken her) מָרְדֳּכַ֛י (Mordecai) ל֖וֹ (to himself) לְבַֽת׃ (for a daughter).

8  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass) בְּהִשָּׁמַ֤ע (in the hearing) דְּבַר־ (of the word) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (of the king) וְדָת֔וֹ (and his decree), וּֽבְהִקָּבֵ֞ץ (that were gathered) נְעָר֥וֹת (young women) רַבּ֛וֹת (many) אֶל־ (to) שׁוּשַׁ֥ן (Susa) הַבִּירָ֖ה (the citadel), אֶל־ (into) יַ֣ד (the hand) הֵגָ֑י (of Hegai), וַתִּלָּקַ֤ח (and was taken) אֶסְתֵּר֙ (Esther) אֶל־ (into) בֵּ֣ית (the house) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king), אֶל־ (into) יַ֥ד (the hand) הֵגַ֖י (of Hegai), שֹׁמֵ֥ר (the keeper) הַנָּשִֽׁים׃ (of the women). 9  וַתִּיטַ֨ב (And was good) הַנַּעֲרָ֣ה (the young woman) בְעֵינָיו֮ (in his eyes), וַתִּשָּׂ֣א (and she lifted up) חֶ֣סֶד (kindness) לְפָנָיו֒ (before his face), וַ֠יְבַהֵל (and he hurried to give) אֶת־ (-) תַּמְרוּקֶ֤יהָ (her cosmetics), וְאֶת־ (and) מָנוֹתֶ֙הָ֙ (her portions) לָתֵ֣ת (he gave) לָ֔הּ (to her) וְאֵת֙ (and) שֶׁ֣בַע (seven) הַנְּעָר֔וֹת (young women) הָרְאֻי֥וֹת (chosen) לָֽתֶת־ (to give) לָ֖הּ (to her) מִבֵּ֣ית (from the house) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (of the king), וַיְשַׁנֶּ֧הָ (and he changed her) וְאֶת־ (and) נַעֲרוֹתֶ֛יהָ (her young women) לְט֖וֹב (for the good) בֵּ֥ית (of the house) הַנָּשִֽׁים׃ (of the women).

10  לֹא־ (Not) הִגִּ֣ידָה (had declared) אֶסְתֵּ֔ר (Esther) אֶת־ (-) עַמָּ֖הּ (her people) וְאֶת־ (and) מֽוֹלַדְתָּ֑הּ (her kindred), כִּ֧י (for) מָרְדֳּכַ֛י (Mordecai) צִוָּ֥ה (had laid a charge) עָלֶ֖יהָ (on her) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) לֹא־ (not) תַגִּֽיד׃ (she should declare it). 11  וּבְכָל־ (And in every) י֣וֹם (day) וָי֔וֹם (and day) מָרְדֳּכַי֙ (Mordecai) מִתְהַלֵּ֔ךְ (was going about) לִפְנֵ֖י (before the face of) חֲצַ֣ר (the court) בֵּית־ (of the house) הַנָּשִׁ֑ים (of the women) לָדַ֙עַת֙ (to know) אֶת־ (-) שְׁל֣וֹם (the peace) אֶסְתֵּ֔ר (of Esther), וּמַה־ (and what) יֵּעָשֶׂ֖ה (was being done) בָּֽהּ׃ (with her).

12  וּבְהַגִּ֡יעַ (And in the approaching) תֹּר֩ (of the turn) נַעֲרָ֨ה (of young woman) וְנַעֲרָ֜ה (by young woman) לָב֣וֹא׀ (to come in) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (King) אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ (Ahasuerus), מִקֵּץ֩ (from the end) הֱי֨וֹת (of being there) לָ֜הּ (for her), כְּדָ֤ת (according to the law) הַנָּשִׁים֙ (of the women), שְׁנֵ֣ים (two) עָשָׂ֣ר (and ten) חֹ֔דֶשׁ (months)— כִּ֛י (for) כֵּ֥ן (thus) יִמְלְא֖וּ (were filled) יְמֵ֣י (the days) מְרוּקֵיהֶ֑ן (of their beautification): שִׁשָּׁ֤ה (Six) חֳדָשִׁים֙ (months) בְּשֶׁ֣מֶן (with the oil) הַמֹּ֔ר (of myrrh), וְשִׁשָּׁ֤ה (and six) חֳדָשִׁים֙ (months) בַּבְּשָׂמִ֔ים (with the spices) וּבְתַמְרוּקֵ֖י (and with the cosmetics) הַנָּשִֽׁים׃ (of women). 13  וּבָזֶ֕ה (And at this) הַֽנַּעֲרָ֖ה (the young woman) בָּאָ֣ה (would go) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (the king); אֵת֩ (-) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) תֹּאמַ֜ר (she said) יִנָּ֤תֵֽן (was given) לָהּ֙ (to her) לָב֣וֹא (to come) עִמָּ֔הּ (with her) מִבֵּ֥ית (from the house) הַנָּשִׁ֖ים (of the women) עַד־ (to) בֵּ֥ית (the house) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (of the king). 14  בָּעֶ֣רֶב׀ (In the evening) הִ֣יא (she) בָאָ֗ה (would go in), וּ֠בַבֹּקֶר (and in the morning) הִ֣יא (she) שָׁבָ֞ה (would return) אֶל־ (to) בֵּ֤ית (the house) הַנָּשִׁים֙ (of the women) שֵׁנִ֔י (second), אֶל־ (into) יַ֧ד (the hand) שַֽׁעֲשְׁגַ֛ז (of Shaashgaz) סְרִ֥יס (the eunuch) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king) שֹׁמֵ֣ר (keeper) הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑ים (of the concubines). לֹא־ (Not) תָב֥וֹא (would she come in) עוֹד֙ (again) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), כִּ֣י (except) אִם־ (if) חָפֵ֥ץ (delighted) בָּ֛הּ (in her) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) וְנִקְרְאָ֥ה (and called for her) בְשֵֽׁם׃ (by name).

15  וּבְהַגִּ֣יעַ (And in the approaching) תֹּר־ (of the turn) אֶסְתֵּ֣ר (of Esther) בַּת־ (daughter) אֲבִיחַ֣יִל (of Abihail) דֹּ֣ד (uncle) מָרְדֳּכַ֡י (of Mordecai), אֲשֶׁר֩ (whom) לָקַֽח־ (he had taken) ל֨וֹ (to himself) לְבַ֜ת (for a daughter), לָב֣וֹא (to come in) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (the king), לֹ֤א (not) בִקְשָׁה֙ (did she seek) דָּבָ֔ר (a thing) כִּ֠י (except) אִ֣ם (for) אֶת־ (-) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that which) יֹאמַ֛ר (had said) הֵגַ֥י (Hegai) סְרִיס־ (the eunuch) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king), שֹׁמֵ֣ר (keeper) הַנָּשִׁ֑ים (of the women). וַתְּהִ֤י (And) אֶסְתֵּר֙ (Esther) נֹשֵׂ֣את (lifted up) חֵ֔ן (favor) בְּעֵינֵ֖י (in the eyes) כָּל־ (of all) רֹאֶֽיהָ׃ (seeing her).

16  וַתִּלָּקַ֨ח (And was taken) אֶסְתֵּ֜ר (Esther) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ (King) אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ֙ (Ahasuerus) אֶל־ (into) בֵּ֣ית (the house) מַלְכוּת֔וֹ (of royalty) בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ (in the month) הָעֲשִׂירִ֖י (the tenth), הוּא־ (it is) חֹ֣דֶשׁ (the month) טֵבֵ֑ת (of Tebeth), בִּשְׁנַת־ (in year) שֶׁ֖בַע (seven) לְמַלְכוּתֽוֹ׃ (of his reign).

Esther Becomes Queen

17  וַיֶּאֱהַ֨ב (And loved) הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ (the king) אֶת־ (-) אֶסְתֵּר֙ (Esther) מִכָּל־ (more than all) הַנָּשִׁ֔ים (the women), וַתִּשָּׂא־ (and she lifted) חֵ֥ן (favor) וָחֶ֛סֶד (and kindness) לְפָנָ֖יו (before his face) מִכָּל־ (more than all) הַבְּתוּלֹ֑ת (the virgins). וַיָּ֤שֶׂם (And he set) כֶּֽתֶר־ (a crown) מַלְכוּת֙ (of royalty) בְּרֹאשָׁ֔הּ (on her head) וַיַּמְלִיכֶ֖הָ (and made her queen) תַּ֥חַת (in place) וַשְׁתִּֽי׃ (of Vashti).

18  וַיַּ֨עַשׂ (And made) הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (the king) מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה (feast) גָד֗וֹל (great) לְכָל־ (for all) שָׂרָיו֙ (his officials) וַעֲבָדָ֔יו (and servants)— אֵ֖ת (-) מִשְׁתֵּ֣ה (the feast) אֶסְתֵּ֑ר (of Esther)— וַהֲנָחָ֤ה (and a time of rest) לַמְּדִינוֹת֙ (for the provinces) עָשָׂ֔ה (he made), וַיִּתֵּ֥ן (and he gave) מַשְׂאֵ֖ת (gifts) כְּיַ֥ד (according to the hand) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (of the king).

19  וּבְהִקָּבֵ֥ץ (And were gathered) בְּתוּל֖וֹת (the virgins) שֵׁנִ֑ית (a second time), וּמָרְדֳּכַ֖י (and Mordecai) יֹשֵׁ֥ב (was sitting) בְּשַֽׁעַר־ (at the gate) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (of the king). 20  אֵ֣ין (Not) אֶסְתֵּ֗ר (Esther) מַגֶּ֤דֶת (was declaring) מֽוֹלַדְתָּהּ֙ (her kindred) וְאֶת־ (and) עַמָּ֔הּ (her people), כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (as) צִוָּ֥ה (had laid a charge) עָלֶ֖יהָ (on her) מָרְדֳּכָ֑י (Mordecai), וְאֶת־ (and) מַאֲמַ֤ר (the command) מָרְדֳּכַי֙ (of Mordecai) אֶסְתֵּ֣ר (Esther) עֹשָׂ֔ה (did) כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (as when) הָיְתָ֥ה (she was) בְאָמְנָ֖ה (in her being brought up) אִתּֽוֹ׃ס (by him).

Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy

21  בַּיָּמִ֣ים (In the days) הָהֵ֔ם (those) וּמָרְדֳּכַ֖י (and Mordecai) יֹשֵׁ֣ב (was sitting) בְּשַֽׁעַר־ (at the gate) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (of the king) קָצַף֩ (became angry), בִּגְתָ֨ן (Bigthan) וָתֶ֜רֶשׁ (and Teresh), שְׁנֵֽי־ (two) סָרִיסֵ֤י (of the eunuchs) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (of the king), מִשֹּׁמְרֵ֣י (from the keepers) הַסַּ֔ף (of the threshold), וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙ (and they sought) לִשְׁלֹ֣חַ (to stretch out) יָ֔ד (a hand) בַּמֶּ֖לֶךְ (against King) אֲחַשְׁוֵֽרֹשׁ׃ (Ahasuerus).

22  וַיִּוָּדַ֤ע (And became known) הַדָּבָר֙ (the matter) לְמָרְדֳּכַ֔י (to Mordecai) וַיַּגֵּ֖ד (and he declared it) לְאֶסְתֵּ֣ר (to Esther) הַמַּלְכָּ֑ה (the queen). וַתֹּ֧אמֶר (And spoke) אֶסְתֵּ֛ר (Esther) לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (to the king) בְּשֵׁ֥ם (in the name) מָרְדֳּכָֽי׃ (of Mordecai).

23  וַיְבֻקַּ֤שׁ (And was sought out) הַדָּבָר֙ (the matter), וַיִּמָּצֵ֔א (and was found), וַיִּתָּל֥וּ (and were hanged) שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם (the two of them) עַל־ (on) עֵ֑ץ (a tree), וַיִּכָּתֵ֗ב (and it was written) בְּסֵ֛פֶר (in the Book) דִּבְרֵ֥י (of the Words) הַיָּמִ֖ים (of the Days) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃פ (of the king).