12 Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language(A) of each people all Haman’s orders to the king’s satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself and sealed(B) with his own ring. 13 Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews(C)—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar,(D) and to plunder(E) their goods. 14 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 they would be ready for that day.(F)

15 The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa.(G) The king and Haman sat down to drink,(H) but the city of Susa was bewildered.(I)

Mordecai Persuades Esther to Help

When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes,(J) put on sackcloth and ashes,(K) and went out into the city, wailing(L) loudly and bitterly. But he went only as far as the king’s gate,(M) because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.

So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews.(N) He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.

Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned(O) the king has but one law:(P) that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter(Q) to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent(R) at this time, relief(S) and deliverance(T) for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”(U)

15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast(V) for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”(W)

17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

Esther’s Request to the King

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes(X) and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s(Y) hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.(Z)

Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom,(AA) it will be given you.”

“If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”

“Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks.”

So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. As they were drinking wine,(AB) the king again asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom,(AC) it will be granted.”(AD)

Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: If the king regards me with favor(AE) and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet(AF) I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”

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