Esther

Chapter 8

Phonetic (Hebrew): bּayּ֣om hah֗u nata֞n hamּe֤leke 'achashsheveroshsh֙ le'esetּe֣r hamּalekּa֔h 'et-bּe֥yt hama֖n tzore֣r hyhvdyym hayּehudi֑ym umaredּoka֗y bּa֚ lipene֣y hamּe֔leke kּiֽy-higּi֥ydah 'esetּe֖r ma֥h hu'-laֽhּ׃

Edified Edition (EDE)That same day King Xerxes gave the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews, to Queen Esther. And Mordecai came into the presence of the king, for Esther had revealed how he was related to her.

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא נָתַ֞ן הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ֙ לְאֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַמַּלְכָּ֔ה אֶת־בֵּ֥ית הָמָ֖ן צֹרֵ֣ר היהודיים הַיְּהוּדִ֑ים וּמָרְדֳּכַ֗י בָּ֚א לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּֽי־הִגִּ֥ידָה אֶסְתֵּ֖ר מַ֥ה הוּא־לָֽהּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּa֨sar hamּe֜leke 'et-tabּa'etּ֗o 'ashshe֤r heֽ'ebiyr֙ meֽhama֔n vaֽyּitּena֖hּ lemaredּoka֑y vatּa֧shsem 'esetּe֛r 'eֽt-maredּoka֖y 'al-bּe֥yt hamaֽn׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai over Haman’s estate.

וַיָּ֨סַר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶת־טַבַּעְתּ֗וֹ אֲשֶׁ֤ר הֶֽעֱבִיר֙ מֵֽהָמָ֔ן וַֽיִּתְּנָ֖הּ לְמָרְדֳּכָ֑י וַתָּ֧שֶׂם אֶסְתֵּ֛ר אֶֽת־מָרְדֳּכַ֖י עַל־בֵּ֥ית הָמָֽן׃פ

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּ֣osep 'esetּe֗r vatּedabּer֙ lipene֣y hamּe֔leke vatּipּo֖l lipene֣y ragela֑yv vatּe֣bekּe vatּitechanּen-l֗o lehaֽ'abiyr֙ 'et-ra'at֙ hama֣n haֽ'agagi֔y ve'et֙ maֽchashshabetּ֔o 'ashshe֥r chashsha֖b 'al-hayּehudiֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Esther spoke again to the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews.

וַתּ֣וֹסֶף אֶסְתֵּ֗ר וַתְּדַבֵּר֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַתִּפֹּ֖ל לִפְנֵ֣י רַגְלָ֑יו וַתֵּ֣בְךְּ וַתִּתְחַנֶּן־ל֗וֹ לְהַֽעֲבִיר֙ אֶת־רָעַת֙ הָמָ֣ן הָֽאֲגָגִ֔י וְאֵת֙ מַֽחֲשַׁבְתּ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָשַׁ֖ב עַל־הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּ֤oshshet hamּe֨leke֙ le'esetּe֔r 'e֖t shsharebi֣t hazּaha֑b vatּa֣qam 'esetּe֔r vaֽtּa'amo֖d lipene֥y hamּeֽleke׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Then the king extended the golden sceptre to Esther, and she rose and stood before him.

וַיּ֤וֹשֶׁט הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ לְאֶסְתֵּ֔ר אֵ֖ת שַׁרְבִ֣ט הַזָּהָ֑ב וַתָּ֣קָם אֶסְתֵּ֔ר וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֖ד לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va֠tּo'mer 'im-'al-hamּe֨leke t֜ob ve'im-matza֧'tiy che֣n lepana֗yv vekashshe֤r hadּabar֙ lipene֣y hamּe֔leke vetoba֥h 'ani֖y bּe'eyna֑yv yikּate֞b lehashshi֣yb 'et-hasּepari֗ym machashshe֜bet hama֤n bּeֽn-hamּeda֨ta'֙ ha'agagi֔y 'ashshe֣r kּata֗b le'abּed֙ 'et-hayּehudi֔ym 'ashshe֖r bּekal-mediyn֥ot hamּeֽleke׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"If it pleases the king," she said, "and if I have found favour in his sight and the matter seems right to the king, let an order be written to overrule the dispatches that Haman devised to destroy the Jews in all the royal provinces."

וַ֠תֹּאמֶר אִם־עַל־הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ ט֜וֹב וְאִם־מָצָ֧אתִי חֵ֣ן לְפָנָ֗יו וְכָשֵׁ֤ר הַדָּבָר֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְטוֹבָ֥ה אֲנִ֖י בְּעֵינָ֑יו יִכָּתֵ֞ב לְהָשִׁ֣יב אֶת־הַסְּפָרִ֗ים מַחֲשֶׁ֜בֶת הָמָ֤ן בֶּֽן־הַמְּדָ֨תָא֙ הָאֲגָגִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֣ר כָּתַ֗ב לְאַבֵּד֙ אֶת־הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּכָל־מְדִינ֥וֹת הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּi֠y 'eykaka֤h 'ukal֙ veֽra'i֔ytiy bּara'a֖h 'ashsher-yimetza֣ 'et-'amּi֑y ve'eֽykaka֤h 'ukal֙ veֽra'i֔ytiy bּe'abeda֖n moladetּiֽy׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)"For how can I endure to see the disaster coming on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?"

כִּ֠י אֵיכָכָ֤ה אוּכַל֙ וְֽרָאִ֔יתִי בָּרָעָ֖ה אֲשֶׁר־יִמְצָ֣א אֶת־עַמִּ֑י וְאֵֽיכָכָ֤ה אוּכַל֙ וְֽרָאִ֔יתִי בְּאָבְדַ֖ן מוֹלַדְתִּֽי׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֨'mer hamּe֤leke 'achashsheveroshsh֙ le'esetּe֣r hamּalekּa֔h uֽlemaredּoka֖y hayּehudi֑y hinּe֨h beyt-hama֜n nata֣tּiy le'esetּe֗r ve'oto֙ tּal֣u 'al-ha'e֔tz 'a֛l 'ashsher-shshala֥ch yad֖o byhvdyym bּayּehudiֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, "Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have hanged him on the gallows."

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֹשׁ֙ לְאֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַמַּלְכָּ֔ה וּֽלְמָרְדֳּכַ֖י הַיְּהוּדִ֑י הִנֵּ֨ה בֵית־הָמָ֜ן נָתַ֣תִּי לְאֶסְתֵּ֗ר וְאֹתוֹ֙ תָּל֣וּ עַל־הָעֵ֔ץ עַ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥ח יָד֖וֹ ביהודיים בַּיְּהוּדִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ve֠'atּem kּiteb֨u 'al-hayּehudi֜ym kּatּ֤ob bּe'eֽyneykem֙ bּeshshe֣m hamּe֔leke vechitem֖u bּetabּa֣'at hamּe֑leke kּiֽy-keta֞b 'ashsher-niketּa֣b bּeshshem-hamּe֗leke venachetּ֛om bּetabּa֥'at hamּe֖leke 'e֥yn lehashshiֽyb׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"Now write another decree in the king’s name on behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be reversed."

וְ֠אַתֶּם כִּתְב֨וּ עַל־הַיְּהוּדִ֜ים כַּטּ֤וֹב בְּעֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ בְּשֵׁ֣ם הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְחִתְמ֖וּ בְּטַבַּ֣עַת הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כִּֽי־כְתָ֞ב אֲשֶׁר־נִכְתָּ֣ב בְּשֵׁם־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וְנַחְתּ֛וֹם בְּטַבַּ֥עַת הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֵ֥ין לְהָשִֽׁיב׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּiqּare'֣u sopereֽy-hamּe֣leke bּaֽ'et-ha֠hiy bּacho֨deshsh hashshּeliyshshi֜y hu'-cho֣deshsh siyva֗n bּishsheloshsha֣h ve'eshseriym֮ bּo֒ vayּikּate֣b kּeֽkal-'ashsher-tziua֣h maredּoka֣y 'el-hayּehudi֡ym ve'e֣l ha'achashshedּarepּeniֽym-vehapּachot֩ veshsare֨y hamּediyn֜ot 'ashshe֣r ׀ meho֣dּu ve'ad-kּ֗ushsh shshe֣ba ve'eshseri֤ym ume'ah֙ mediyna֔h mediyna֤h umediynah֙ kּiketaba֔hּ ve'a֥m va'a֖m kּileshshon֑o ve'e֨l-hayּehudi֔ym kּiketaba֖m vekileshshonaֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)At once the royal scribes were summoned on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all Mordecai’s orders to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors, and officials of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia.

וַיִּקָּרְא֣וּ סֹפְרֵֽי־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ בָּֽעֵת־הַ֠הִיא בַּחֹ֨דֶשׁ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֜י הוּא־חֹ֣דֶשׁ סִיוָ֗ן בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֣ה וְעֶשְׂרִים֮ בּוֹ֒ וַיִּכָּתֵ֣ב כְּֽכָל־אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֣ה מָרְדֳּכַ֣י אֶל־הַיְּהוּדִ֡ים וְאֶ֣ל הָאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנִֽים־וְהַפַּחוֹת֩ וְשָׂרֵ֨י הַמְּדִינ֜וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ מֵהֹ֣דּוּ וְעַד־כּ֗וּשׁ שֶׁ֣בַע וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים וּמֵאָה֙ מְדִינָ֔ה מְדִינָ֤ה וּמְדִינָה֙ כִּכְתָבָ֔הּ וְעַ֥ם וָעָ֖ם כִּלְשֹׁנ֑וֹ וְאֶ֨ל־הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים כִּכְתָבָ֖ם וְכִלְשׁוֹנָֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּiketּo֗b bּeshshem֙ hamּe֣leke 'achashshevero֔shsh vayּachetּo֖m bּetabּa֣'at hamּe֑leke vayּishshela֣ch separi֡ym bּeyad֩ haratzi֨ym bּasּusi֜ym rokebe֤y hare֨keshsh֙ haֽ'achashshetּerani֔ym bּene֖y haֽramּakiֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king’s signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king.

וַיִּכְתֹּ֗ב בְּשֵׁם֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֹ֔שׁ וַיַּחְתֹּ֖ם בְּטַבַּ֣עַת הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח סְפָרִ֡ים בְּיַד֩ הָרָצִ֨ים בַּסּוּסִ֜ים רֹכְבֵ֤י הָרֶ֨כֶשׁ֙ הָֽאֲחַשְׁתְּרָנִ֔ים בְּנֵ֖י הָֽרַמָּכִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ashsher֩ nata֨n hamּe֜leke layּehudi֣ym ׀ 'ashshe֣r bּekal-'iyr-va'i֗yr lehiqּahel֮ vela'amo֣d 'al-napeshsham֒ lehashshemiyd֩ velaharo֨g ule'abּe֜d 'et-kּal-che֨yl 'a֧m umediyna֛h hatzּari֥ym 'ota֖m ta֣p venashshi֑ym ushshelala֖m labֽoz׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill, and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their families, and to plunder their property.

אֲשֶׁר֩ נָתַ֨ן הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לַיְּהוּדִ֣ים ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּכָל־עִיר־וָעִ֗יר לְהִקָּהֵל֮ וְלַעֲמֹ֣ד עַל־נַפְשָׁם֒ לְהַשְׁמִיד֩ וְלַהֲרֹ֨ג וּלְאַבֵּ֜ד אֶת־כָּל־חֵ֨יל עַ֧ם וּמְדִינָ֛ה הַצָּרִ֥ים אֹתָ֖ם טַ֣ף וְנָשִׁ֑ים וּשְׁלָלָ֖ם לָבֽוֹז׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): bּey֣om 'echa֔d bּekal-mediyn֖ot hamּe֣leke 'achashshever֑oshsh bּishsheloshsha֥h 'ashsa֛r lecho֥deshsh shsheneym-'ashsa֖r hu'-cho֥deshsh 'adaֽr׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The day appointed for this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

בְּי֣וֹם אֶחָ֔ד בְּכָל־מְדִינ֖וֹת הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֛ר לְחֹ֥דֶשׁ שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֖ר הוּא־חֹ֥דֶשׁ אֲדָֽר׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): pּateshshe֣gen hakּeta֗b lehinּa֤teֽn dּat֙ bּekal-mediyna֣h umediyna֔h gּal֖uy lekal-ha'amּi֑ym velihey֨ot hyhvdyym hayּehudi֤ym 'tvdym 'atiydiym֙ layּ֣om hazּe֔h lehinּaqe֖m me'oyebeyheֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

פַּתְשֶׁ֣גֶן הַכְּתָ֗ב לְהִנָּ֤תֵֽן דָּת֙ בְּכָל־מְדִינָ֣ה וּמְדִינָ֔ה גָּל֖וּי לְכָל־הָעַמִּ֑ים וְלִהְי֨וֹת היהודיים הַיְּהוּדִ֤ים עתודים עֲתִידִים֙ לַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה לְהִנָּקֵ֖ם מֵאֹיְבֵיהֶֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): haratzi֞ym rokebe֤y hare֨keshsh֙ haֽ'achashshetּerani֔ym yaֽtze'֛u mebohali֥ym udechupi֖ym bּideba֣r hamּe֑leke vehadּa֥t nitּena֖h bּeshshushsha֥n habּiyraֽh׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)The couriers, riding the royal horses, raced out, spurred on by the king’s command. The edict was also issued in the fortress of Susa.

הָרָצִ֞ים רֹכְבֵ֤י הָרֶ֨כֶשׁ֙ הָֽאֲחַשְׁתְּרָנִ֔ים יָֽצְא֛וּ מְבֹהָלִ֥ים וּדְחוּפִ֖ים בִּדְבַ֣ר הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְהַדָּ֥ת נִתְּנָ֖ה בְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ן הַבִּירָֽה׃פ

Phonetic (Hebrew): umaredּoka֞y yatza֣ ׀ milּipene֣y hamּe֗leke bּileb֤ushsh malekut֙ tּeke֣let vach֔ur va'ate֤ret zahab֙ gּedola֔h vetakeri֥yke bּ֖utz ve'aregּama֑n veha'i֣yr shshushsha֔n tzahala֖h veshsameֽchah׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When Mordecai left the king’s presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold, and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration.

וּמָרְדֳּכַ֞י יָצָ֣א ׀ מִלִּפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ בִּלְב֤וּשׁ מַלְכוּת֙ תְּכֵ֣לֶת וָח֔וּר וַעֲטֶ֤רֶת זָהָב֙ גְּדוֹלָ֔ה וְתַכְרִ֥יךְ בּ֖וּץ וְאַרְגָּמָ֑ן וְהָעִ֣יר שׁוּשָׁ֔ן צָהֲלָ֖ה וְשָׂמֵֽחָה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): layּehudi֕ym haֽyeta֥h 'ora֖h veshsimecha֑h veshsashso֖n viyqaֽr׃

Edified Edition (EDE)For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honour.

לַיְּהוּדִ֕ים הָֽיְתָ֥ה אוֹרָ֖ה וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה וְשָׂשֹׂ֖ן וִיקָֽר׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ubekal-mediyna֨h umediyna֜h ubekal-'i֣yr va'i֗yr meqom֙ 'ashshe֨r dּebar-hamּe֤leke vedato֙ magּi֔y'a shsimecha֤h veshsashson֙ layּehudi֔ym mishshetּe֖h vey֣om t֑ob verabּi֞ym meֽ'amּe֤y ha'a֨retz֙ miֽteyahadi֔ym kּiֽy-napa֥l pּaֽchad-hayּehudi֖ym 'aleyheֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had fallen on them.

וּבְכָל־מְדִינָ֨ה וּמְדִינָ֜ה וּבְכָל־עִ֣יר וָעִ֗יר מְקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דְּבַר־הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ וְדָתוֹ֙ מַגִּ֔יעַ שִׂמְחָ֤ה וְשָׂשׂוֹן֙ לַיְּהוּדִ֔ים מִשְׁתֶּ֖ה וְי֣וֹם ט֑וֹב וְרַבִּ֞ים מֵֽעַמֵּ֤י הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ מִֽתְיַהֲדִ֔ים כִּֽי־נָפַ֥ל פַּֽחַד־הַיְּהוּדִ֖ים עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃