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Esther

Chapter 1
1
Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehi֖y bּiyme֣y 'achashshever֑oshsh h֣u 'achashshever֗oshsh hamּoleke֙ meho֣dּu ve'ad-kּ֔ushsh shshe֛ba ve'eshseri֥ym ume'a֖h mediynaֽh׃
Edified Edition (EDE)These events took place during the days of Xerxes, the king who reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, stretching from India to Ethiopia.

וַיְהִ֖י בִּימֵ֣י אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ ה֣וּא אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ הַמֹּלֵךְ֙ מֵהֹ֣דּוּ וְעַד־כּ֔וּשׁ שֶׁ֛בַע וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּמֵאָ֖ה מְדִינָֽה׃

2
Phonetic (Hebrew): bּayּami֖ym hahe֑m kּeshshe֣bet ׀ hamּe֣leke 'achashshever֗oshsh 'a֚l kּisּe֣ malekut֔o 'ashshe֖r bּeshshushsha֥n habּiyraֽh׃
Edified Edition (EDE)In those days, King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the fortress of Susa.

בַּיָּמִ֖ים הָהֵ֑ם כְּשֶׁ֣בֶת ׀ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ עַ֚ל כִּסֵּ֣א מַלְכוּת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ן הַבִּירָֽה׃

3
Phonetic (Hebrew): bּishshena֤t shshaloshsh֙ lemalek֔o 'ashsa֣h mishshetּe֔h lekal-shsara֖yv va'abada֑yv che֣yl ׀ pּara֣s umada֗y haֽpּaretּemi֛ym veshsare֥y hamּediyn֖ot lepanaֽyv׃
Edified Edition (EDE)In the third year of his reign, he gave a great banquet for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces were all present.

בִּשְׁנַ֤ת שָׁלוֹשׁ֙ לְמָלְכ֔וֹ עָשָׂ֣ה מִשְׁתֶּ֔ה לְכָל־שָׂרָ֖יו וַעֲבָדָ֑יו חֵ֣יל ׀ פָּרַ֣ס וּמָדַ֗י הַֽפַּרְתְּמִ֛ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י הַמְּדִינ֖וֹת לְפָנָֽיו׃

4
Phonetic (Hebrew): bּehare'ot֗o 'et-'o֨shsher֙ kּeb֣od malekut֔o ve'e֨t-yeqa֔r tּipe'e֖ret gּedulּat֑o yami֣ym rabּi֔ym shshemoni֥ym ume'a֖t yֽom׃
Edified Edition (EDE)For a full six months, he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the magnificent glory of his majesty.

בְּהַרְאֹת֗וֹ אֶת־עֹ֨שֶׁר֙ כְּב֣וֹד מַלְכוּת֔וֹ וְאֶ֨ת־יְקָ֔ר תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת גְּדוּלָּת֑וֹ יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֔ים שְׁמוֹנִ֥ים וּמְאַ֖ת יֽוֹם׃

5
Phonetic (Hebrew): ubimel֣o't ׀ hayּami֣ym ha'e֗lּeh 'ashsa֣h hamּe֡leke lekal-ha'a֣m hanּimetze'iym֩ bּeshshushsha֨n habּiyra֜h lemigּa֧dol ve'ad-qata֛n mishshetּe֖h shshibe'a֣t yami֑ym bּachatza֕r gּinּa֥t bּiyta֖n hamּeֽleke׃
Edified Edition (EDE)When these days were over, the king gave another banquet lasting seven days for all the people present in the fortress of Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the courtyard of the palace garden.

וּבִמְל֣וֹאת ׀ הַיָּמִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה עָשָׂ֣ה הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ לְכָל־הָעָ֣ם הַנִּמְצְאִים֩ בְּשׁוּשַׁ֨ן הַבִּירָ֜ה לְמִגָּ֧דוֹל וְעַד־קָטָ֛ן מִשְׁתֶּ֖ה שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים בַּחֲצַ֕ר גִּנַּ֥ת בִּיתַ֖ן הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

6
Phonetic (Hebrew): ch֣ur ׀ kּarepּa֣s uteke֗let 'achuz֙ bּechabeley-b֣utz ve'aregּama֔n 'al-gּeli֥yley ke֖sep ve'amּ֣udey shshe֑shsh mitּ֣ot ׀ zaha֣b vake֗sep 'a֛l riֽtzepa֥t bּahat-vashshe֖shsh veda֥r vesochaֽret׃
Edified Edition (EDE)The garden was decorated with white and blue linen curtains, fastened with silver rings and purple cords to marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic floor of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones.

ח֣וּר ׀ כַּרְפַּ֣ס וּתְכֵ֗לֶת אָחוּז֙ בְּחַבְלֵי־ב֣וּץ וְאַרְגָּמָ֔ן עַל־גְּלִ֥ילֵי כֶ֖סֶף וְעַמּ֣וּדֵי שֵׁ֑שׁ מִטּ֣וֹת ׀ זָהָ֣ב וָכֶ֗סֶף עַ֛ל רִֽצְפַ֥ת בַּהַט־וָשֵׁ֖שׁ וְדַ֥ר וְסֹחָֽרֶת׃

7
Phonetic (Hebrew): vehashsheqot֙ bּikele֣y zaha֔b vekeli֖ym mikּeli֣ym shshoni֑ym veye֥yn malek֛ut ra֖b kּeya֥d hamּeֽleke׃
Edified Edition (EDE)Drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was abundant, as was fitting for a king.

וְהַשְׁקוֹת֙ בִּכְלֵ֣י זָהָ֔ב וְכֵלִ֖ים מִכֵּלִ֣ים שׁוֹנִ֑ים וְיֵ֥ין מַלְכ֛וּת רָ֖ב כְּיַ֥ד הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

8
Phonetic (Hebrew): vehashshּetiyּa֥h kadּa֖t 'e֣yn 'one֑s kּiy-ke֣n ׀ yisּa֣d hamּe֗leke 'a֚l kּal-ra֣b bּeyt֔o la'ashs֖ot kּiretz֥on 'iyshsh-va'iֽyshsh׃
Edified Edition (EDE)By the king’s command, no guest was forced to drink more than they wished, for the king had instructed his officials to let every man do as he pleased.

וְהַשְּׁתִיָּ֥ה כַדָּ֖ת אֵ֣ין אֹנֵ֑ס כִּי־כֵ֣ן ׀ יִסַּ֣ד הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ עַ֚ל כָּל־רַ֣ב בֵּית֔וֹ לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת כִּרְצ֥וֹן אִישׁ־וָאִֽישׁ׃

9
Phonetic (Hebrew): gּa֚m vashshetּi֣y hamּalekּa֔h 'ashseta֖h mishshetּe֣h nashshi֑ym bּe֚yt hamּalek֔ut 'ashshe֖r lamּe֥leke 'achashsheverֽoshsh׃s
Edified Edition (EDE)Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.

גַּ֚ם וַשְׁתִּ֣י הַמַּלְכָּ֔ה עָשְׂתָ֖ה מִשְׁתֵּ֣ה נָשִׁ֑ים בֵּ֚ית הַמַּלְכ֔וּת אֲשֶׁ֖ר לַמֶּ֥לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃ס

10
Phonetic (Hebrew): bּayּom֙ hashshּebiy'i֔y kּet֥ob leb-hamּe֖leke bּayּa֑yin 'ama֡r li֠mehuman bּizּeta֨ charebona֜ bּigeta֤ va'abageta'֙ zeta֣r vekarekּa֔s shshibe'at֙ hasּa֣riysi֔ym hameshsha֣reti֔ym 'et-pּene֖y hamּe֥leke 'achashsheverֽoshsh׃
Edified Edition (EDE)On the seventh day, when the king was in high spirits from the wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him to perform a specific task.

בַּיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י כְּט֥וֹב לֵב־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בַּיָּ֑יִן אָמַ֡ר לִ֠מְהוּמָן בִּזְּתָ֨א חַרְבוֹנָ֜א בִּגְתָ֤א וַאֲבַגְתָא֙ זֵתַ֣ר וְכַרְכַּ֔ס שִׁבְעַת֙ הַסָּ֣רִיסִ֔ים הַמְשָׁ֣רְתִ֔ים אֶת־פְּנֵ֖י הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃

11
Phonetic (Hebrew): le֠habiy 'et-vashshetּi֧y hamּalekּa֛h lipene֥y hamּe֖leke bּeke֣ter malek֑ut lehare'֨ot haֽ'amּi֤ym vehashsּariym֙ 'et-yapeya֔hּ kּiֽy-toba֥t mare'e֖h hiֽy'׃
Edified Edition (EDE)He ordered them to bring Queen Vashti before him, wearing her royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and the nobles, for she was very lovely to look at.

לְ֠הָבִיא אֶת־וַשְׁתִּ֧י הַמַּלְכָּ֛ה לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בְּכֶ֣תֶר מַלְכ֑וּת לְהַרְא֨וֹת הָֽעַמִּ֤ים וְהַשָּׂרִים֙ אֶת־יָפְיָ֔הּ כִּֽי־טוֹבַ֥ת מַרְאֶ֖ה הִֽיא׃

12
Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּema'e֞n hamּalekּa֣h vashshetּi֗y labo'֙ bּideba֣r hamּe֔leke 'ashshe֖r bּeya֣d hasּariysi֑ym vayּiqetzo֤p hamּe֨leke֙ me'o֔d vachamat֖o bּa'ara֥h bֽo׃
Edified Edition (EDE)However, Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command, and when the eunuchs told this to the king, he became furious and burned with anger.

וַתְּמָאֵ֞ן הַמַּלְכָּ֣ה וַשְׁתִּ֗י לָבוֹא֙ בִּדְבַ֣ר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּיַ֣ד הַסָּרִיסִ֑ים וַיִּקְצֹ֤ף הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ מְאֹ֔ד וַחֲמָת֖וֹ בָּעֲרָ֥ה בֽוֹ׃

13
Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֣'mer hamּe֔leke lachakami֖ym yode'e֣y hֽa'itּi֑ym kּiy-ken֙ dּeba֣r hamּe֔leke lipene֕y kּal-yode'e֖y dּa֥t vadiֽyn׃
Edified Edition (EDE)The king then spoke to his wise men, the experts in such matters, for it was his custom to consult those who knew law and justice.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לַחֲכָמִ֖ים יֹדְעֵ֣י הָֽעִתִּ֑ים כִּי־כֵן֙ דְּבַ֣ר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לִפְנֵ֕י כָּל־יֹדְעֵ֖י דָּ֥ת וָדִֽין׃

14
Phonetic (Hebrew): vehaqּaro֣b 'ela֗yv kּareshshena֤ shshetar֙ 'adema֣ta tareshshi֔yshsh me֥res maresena֖ memuka֑n shshibe'a֞t shsare֣y ׀ pּara֣s umada֗y ro'ey֙ pּene֣y hamּe֔leke hayּoshshebi֥ym ri'shshona֖h bּamּalekֽut׃
Edified Edition (EDE)The closest advisors were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. These seven princes of Persia and Media had direct access to the king and held the highest positions in the kingdom.

וְהַקָּרֹ֣ב אֵלָ֗יו כַּרְשְׁנָ֤א שֵׁתָר֙ אַדְמָ֣תָא תַרְשִׁ֔ישׁ מֶ֥רֶס מַרְסְנָ֖א מְמוּכָ֑ן שִׁבְעַ֞ת שָׂרֵ֣י ׀ פָּרַ֣ס וּמָדַ֗י רֹאֵי֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ הַיֹּשְׁבִ֥ים רִאשֹׁנָ֖ה בַּמַּלְכֽוּת׃

15
Phonetic (Hebrew): kּedat֙ maֽh-lּa'ashs֔ot bּamּalekּa֖h vashshetּi֑y 'a֣l ׀ 'ashshe֣r loֽ'-'ashseta֗h 'eֽt-ma'amar֙ hamּe֣leke 'achashshever֔oshsh bּeya֖d hasּariysiֽym׃s
Edified Edition (EDE)The king asked them, "According to the law, what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs?"

כְּדָת֙ מַֽה־לַּעֲשׂ֔וֹת בַּמַּלְכָּ֖ה וַשְׁתִּ֑י עַ֣ל ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־עָשְׂתָ֗ה אֶֽת־מַאֲמַר֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ בְּיַ֖ד הַסָּרִיסִֽים׃ס

16
Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֣'mer mvmkn memuka֗n lipene֤y hamּe֨leke֙ vehashsּari֔ym lo֤ 'al-hamּe֨leke֙ lebadּ֔o 'aveta֖h vashshetּi֣y hamּalekּa֑h kּi֤y 'al-kּal-hashsּariym֙ ve'al-kּal-ha֣'amּi֔ym 'ashshe֕r bּekal-mediyn֖ot hamּe֥leke 'achashsheverֽoshsh׃
Edified Edition (EDE)In the presence of the king and the princes, Memucan replied, "Queen Vashti has done wrong not only to the king, but also to all the princes and all the people in all the provinces of King Xerxes."

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מומכן מְמוּכָ֗ן לִפְנֵ֤י הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ וְהַשָּׂרִ֔ים לֹ֤א עַל־הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ לְבַדּ֔וֹ עָוְתָ֖ה וַשְׁתִּ֣י הַמַּלְכָּ֑ה כִּ֤י עַל־כָּל־הַשָּׂרִים֙ וְעַל־כָּל־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֕ר בְּכָל־מְדִינ֖וֹת הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃

17
Phonetic (Hebrew): kּiֽy-yetze֤ debar-hamּalekּah֙ 'al-kּal-hanּashshi֔ym lehabez֥ot bּa'eleyhe֖n bּe'eyneyhe֑n bּe'amera֗m hamּe֣leke 'achashshever֡oshsh 'ama֞r lehabi֨y 'et-vashshetּi֧y hamּalekּa֛h lepana֖yv velo'-baֽ'ah׃
Edified Edition (EDE)He continued, "For the queen’s conduct will become known to all women, causing them to look on their husbands with contempt. They will say, 'King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.'"

כִּֽי־יֵצֵ֤א דְבַר־הַמַּלְכָּה֙ עַל־כָּל־הַנָּשִׁ֔ים לְהַבְז֥וֹת בַּעְלֵיהֶ֖ן בְּעֵינֵיהֶ֑ן בְּאָמְרָ֗ם הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֡וֹשׁ אָמַ֞ר לְהָבִ֨יא אֶת־וַשְׁתִּ֧י הַמַּלְכָּ֛ה לְפָנָ֖יו וְלֹא־בָֽאָה׃

18
Phonetic (Hebrew): veֽhayּ֨om hazּe֜h tּo'ma֣renah ׀ shsar֣ot pּaֽras-umada֗y 'ashshe֤r shshaֽme'u֙ 'et-dּeba֣r hamּalekּa֔h leko֖l shsare֣y hamּe֑leke ukeda֖y bּizּay֥on vaqaֽtzep׃
Edified Edition (EDE)"This very day, the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s conduct will respond in the same way to all the king’s princes, and there will be no end of contempt and anger."

וְֽהַיּ֨וֹם הַזֶּ֜ה תֹּאמַ֣רְנָה ׀ שָׂר֣וֹת פָּֽרַס־וּמָדַ֗י אֲשֶׁ֤ר שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ אֶת־דְּבַ֣ר הַמַּלְכָּ֔ה לְכֹ֖ל שָׂרֵ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וּכְדַ֖י בִּזָּי֥וֹן וָקָֽצֶף׃

19
Phonetic (Hebrew): im-'al-hamּe֣leke t֗ob yetze֤ debar-malekut֙ milּepana֔yv veyikּate֛b bּedate֥y paֽras-umada֖y velo֣ ya'ab֑or 'ashshe֨r loֽ'-tab֜o vashshetּi֗y lipeney֙ hamּe֣leke 'achashshever֔oshsh umalekutahּ֙ yitּe֣n hamּe֔leke lire'uta֖hּ hatּoba֥h mimּeֽnּah׃
Edified Edition (EDE)"Therefore, if it pleases the king, let a royal decree be issued by him and recorded in the laws of Persia and Media, so that it cannot be changed. Let it state that Vashti is never again to come into the presence of King Xerxes, and let the king give her royal position to someone better than she."

אִם־עַל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ ט֗וֹב יֵצֵ֤א דְבַר־מַלְכוּת֙ מִלְּפָנָ֔יו וְיִכָּתֵ֛ב בְּדָתֵ֥י פָֽרַס־וּמָדַ֖י וְלֹ֣א יַעֲב֑וֹר אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־תָב֜וֹא וַשְׁתִּ֗י לִפְנֵי֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ וּמַלְכוּתָהּ֙ יִתֵּ֣ן הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לִרְעוּתָ֖הּ הַטּוֹבָ֥ה מִמֶּֽנָּה׃

20
Phonetic (Hebrew): venishshema'֩ pּitega֨m hamּe֤leke 'ashsheֽr-ya'ashseh֙ bּekal-malekut֔o kּi֥y rabּa֖h hi֑y vekal-hanּashshi֗ym yitּen֤u yeqar֙ leba'eleyhe֔n lemigּad֖ol ve'ad-qataֽn׃
Edified Edition (EDE)"When the king’s decree is proclaimed throughout all his vast empire, all women will give honour to their husbands, from the greatest to the least."

וְנִשְׁמַע֩ פִּתְגָ֨ם הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ אֲשֶֽׁר־יַעֲשֶׂה֙ בְּכָל־מַלְכוּת֔וֹ כִּ֥י רַבָּ֖ה הִ֑יא וְכָל־הַנָּשִׁ֗ים יִתְּנ֤וּ יְקָר֙ לְבַעְלֵיהֶ֔ן לְמִגָּד֖וֹל וְעַד־קָטָֽן׃

21
Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּiytab֙ hadּaba֔r bּe'eyne֥y hamּe֖leke vehashsּari֑ym vayּa֥'ashs hamּe֖leke kּideba֥r memukaֽn׃
Edified Edition (EDE)The king and the princes were pleased with this advice, and the king did exactly as Memucan proposed.

וַיִּיטַב֙ הַדָּבָ֔ר בְּעֵינֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְהַשָּׂרִ֑ים וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ כִּדְבַ֥ר מְמוּכָֽן׃

22
Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּishshela֤ch separiym֙ 'el-kּal-mediyn֣ot hamּe֔leke 'el-mediyna֤h umediynah֙ kּiketaba֔hּ ve'el-'a֥m va'a֖m kּileshshon֑o lihey֤ot kּal-'iyshsh֙ shsore֣r bּebeyt֔o umedabּe֖r kּileshsh֥on 'amּֽo׃p
Edified Edition (EDE)He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language. The decree proclaimed that every man should be the master in his own household and should speak his own native language.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח סְפָרִים֙ אֶל־כָּל־מְדִינ֣וֹת הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֶל־מְדִינָ֤ה וּמְדִינָה֙ כִּכְתָבָ֔הּ וְאֶל־עַ֥ם וָעָ֖ם כִּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ לִהְי֤וֹת כָּל־אִישׁ֙ שֹׂרֵ֣ר בְּבֵית֔וֹ וּמְדַבֵּ֖ר כִּלְשׁ֥וֹן עַמּֽוֹ׃פ