meta: {"file": "/data/tomer/Sefaria-Export/txt/Tanakh/Writings/Esther/English/The Koren Jerusalem Bible.txt"}
text: Esther
  אסתר
  The Koren Jerusalem Bible
  
  
  Esther
  
  
  
  
  
  Now it came to pass in the days of Aĥashverosh, (this is Aĥashverosh who reigned, from Hoddu as far as Kush, a hundred and twenty seven provinces:)
  that in those days, when the king Aĥashverosh sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the capital,
  in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants; the military power of Paras and Maday, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:
  when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, namely a hundred and eighty days.
  And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast for all the people that were present in Shushan the capital, both for great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace:
  there were hangings of white, of fine cotton, and blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple on silver rods and pillars of marble: the divans were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of alabaster, marble, pearl and precious stone.
  And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse from one another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the king’s bounty.
  And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.
  Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women, in the royal house which belonged to king Aĥashverosh.
  On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Bizzeta, Ĥarvona, Bigta, and Avagta, Zetar, and Karkas, the seven chamberlains who served in the presence of Aĥashverosh the king,
  to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.
  But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore the king was very wrathful, and his anger burned in him.
  Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
  and the next to him was Karshena, Shetar, Admata, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memukhan, the seven princes of Paras and Maday, who saw the king’s face, and who sat the first in the kingdom;)
  What shall we do to the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not performed the bidding of the king Aĥashverosh by the chamberlains?
  And Memukhan answered before the kingand the princes, Vashti the queen has not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples who are in all the provinces of the king Aĥashverosh.
  For this deed of the queen will be made known to all the women, so as to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it shall be reported that the king Aĥashverosh commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
  And the princesses of Paras and Maday, who have heard of the deed of the queen, shall be telling of it today to all the king’s princes. Thus shall there be contempt and wrath in plenty.
  If it please the king, let a royal commandment go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of Paras and Maday, so that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before king Aĥashverosh; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.
  And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his kingdom, which is great, all the wives shall give honour to their husbands, both to high and low.
  And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memukhan:
  for he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to its writing, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and speak according to the language of his people.
  
  
  
  After thesethings, when the wrath of king Aĥashverosh was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
  Then the king’s servants who ministered to him said, Let fair young virgins be sought for the king:
  and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins to Shushan the capital, to the house of the women, to the custody of Hege the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their ointment be given them:
  and let the girl who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
  Now in Shushan the capital there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordokhay, the son of Ya᾽ir, the son of Shim῾i, the son of Qish, a Binyaminite;
  who had been exiled from Yerushalayim with the captivity which had been carried away into exile with Yekhonya king of Yehuda, whom Nevukhadneżżar the king of Bavel had carried away into exile.
  And he brought up Hadassa, that is, Ester, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the girl was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordokhay took her for his own daughter.
  So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree were heard, and when many young girls were gathered together to Shushan the capital, to the custody of Hegay, that Ester was brought also to the king’s house, to the custody of Hegay, keeper of the women.
  And the girl pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her ointments, and her appointed rations, and the seven maids chosen to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he advanced her and her maids to the best place in the house of the women.
  Ester had not made known her people or her descent: for Mordokhay had charged her that she should not tell.
  And Mordokhay walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Ester did, and what should become of her.
  Now when every girl’s turn was come to go in to king Aĥashverosh, after she had been twelve months under the regulations for the women, (for so were the days of their anointing, namely, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other ointments of the women;)
  this is how the girl would come to the king: whatever she desired would be given her to take with her out of the house of the women into the king’s house:
  in the evening she would go, and on the morrow she would return to the second house of the women, to the custody of Sha῾ashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, who kept the concubines: she would come in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she were called by name.
  Now when the turn of Ester, the daughter of Aviĥayil the uncle of Mordokhay, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in to the king, she requested nothing but what Hegay the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Ester obtained favour in the sight of all those who looked upon her.
  So Ester was taken to king Aĥashverosh into his royal house in the tenth month, which is the month Tevet, in the seventh year of his reign.
  And the king loved Ester more than all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
  Then the king made a great feast for all his princes and his servants, Ester’s feast; and he granted a remission of taxes to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.
  And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordokhay was sitting at the king’s gate.
  Ester had not yet made known her kindred or her people; as Mordokhay had charged her: for Ester carried out the bidding of Mordokhay, just as when she was brought up with him.
  In those days, while Mordokhay sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigtan and Teresh, of those who kept the door, became disaffected, and sought to lay hands on the king Aĥashverosh.
  And the thing became known to Mordokhay, who told it to Ester the queen; and Ester reported it to the king in Mordokhay’s name.
  And when inquiry was made of the matter, it was found out; so that they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.
  
  
  
  After these things king Aĥashverosh promoted Haman the son of Hammedata the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.
  And all the king’s servants, who were in the king’s gate, bowed, and did obeisance to Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordokhay did not bow, or do him obeisance.
  Then the king’s servants, who were in the king’s gate, said to Mordokhay, Why dost thou transgress the king’s commandment?
  Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he did not hearken to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordokhay’s words would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.
  And when Haman saw that Mordokhay did not bow or do him obeisance, then Haman was full of wrath.
  But he disdained to lay hands on Mordokhay alone; for they had told him the people of Mordokhay: so that Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Aĥashverosh, the people of Mordokhay.
  In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Aĥashverosh, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.
  And Haman said to king Aĥashverosh, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are different from all people; nor do they keep the king’s laws: therefore it is of no benefit to the king to tolerate them.
  If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will weigh out ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.
  And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedata the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.
  And the king said to Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to thee.
  Then the king’s scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written according to all that Haman had commanded to the king’s satraps, and to the governors who were over every province, and to the rulers of every people; to every province according to its writing, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Aĥashverosh was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring.
  And the letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, namely, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for plunder.
  The copy of the writing, to be given out as a law in every province, was published to all the peoples, that they might be ready for that day.
  The couriers went out in haste by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the capital. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was in consternation.
  
  
  
  When Mordokhay perceived all that was done, Mordokhay rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
  and came even before the king’s gate: though none might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.
  And in every province, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
  So Ester’s maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly distressed; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordokhay, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he would not accept it.
  Then Ester called for Hatakh, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a message for Mordokhay, to learn what this was, and why it was.
  So Hatakh went out to Mordokhay, to the broad place of the city, which was before the king’s gate.
  And Mordokhay told him of all that had happened to him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for destroying the Jews.
  Also he gave him a copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to show it to Ester, and to declare it to her, and to charge her that she should go in to the king, to make supplication to him, and to entreat him for her people.
  And Hatakh came and told Ester the words of Mordokhay.
  Again Ester spoke to Hatakh, and gave him a message for Mordokhay;
  All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whoever, whether man or woman, shall come to the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law for him, namely to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.
  And they told Ester’s words to Mordokhay.
  Then Mordokhay commanded to answer Ester, Do not think in thy heart that thou shalt escape in the king’s house any more than all the other Jews.
  For if thou dost at all remain silent at this time, then shall relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from elsewhere; but thou and thy father’s house shall perish: and who knows whether thou art not come to royal estate for such a time as this?
  Then Ester bade them return Mordokhay this answer,
  Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night and day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise, and so I will go in to the king, though it is against the law: and if I perish, I perish.
  So Mordokhay went his way, and did according to all that Ester had commanded him.
  
  
  
  Now it came to pass on the third day, that Ester put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, opposite the gate of the house.
  And so it was, that when the king saw Ester the queen standing in the court, she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Ester the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Ester drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
  Then the king said to her, What is thy wish, queen Ester? and what is thy request? it shall be given thee even to half the kingdom.
  And Ester answered, If it seem good to the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.
  Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Ester has said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Ester had prepared.
  And the king said to Ester during the wine drinking, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to half the kingdom it shall be performed.
  Then Ester answered, and said, My petition and my request is –
  if I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.
  Then Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordokhay in the king’s gate, that he did not stand or stir for him, he was full of indignation against Mordokhay.
  Nevertheless Haman restrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
  And Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
  Haman said moreover, Even Ester the queen let no one come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow also I am invited to her with the king.
  Yet all this avails me nothing, as long as I see Mordokhay the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.
  Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and tomorrow speak to the king that Mordokhay may be hanged on it: then go in cheerfully with the king to the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.
  
  
  
  Onthat night the king could not sleep, so he commanded the book of records of the chronicles to be brought; and they were read before the king.
  And it was found written, that Mordokhay had told of Bigtana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hands on the king Aĥashverosh.
  And the king said, What honour and dignity have been done to Mordokhay for this? Then the king’s servants that ministered to him said, Nothing has been done for him.
  And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outer court of the king’s house, to speak to the king about hanging Mordokhay on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
  And the king’s servants said to him, Behold, Haman is standing in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.
  So Haman came in. And the king said to him, What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?
  And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delights to honour,
  let the royal apparel be brought which the king has worn, and the horse that the king rides upon, and on the head of which a royal crown is placed;
  and let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man whom the king delights to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honour.
  Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do so to Mordokhay the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all thou hast spoken.
  Then Haman took the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordokhay, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honour.
  And Mordokhay came back to the king’s gate. But Haman hastened to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
  And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had befallen him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, If Mordokhay, before whom thou hast begun to fall, be of the seed of the Jews, then thou shalt not prevail against him, but thou shalt surely fall before him.
  And while they were yet talking with him, the king’s chamberlains came, and brought Haman hurriedly to the banquet that Ester had prepared.
  
  
  
  So the king and Haman came to drink with Ester the queen.
  And the king said again to Ester on the second day at the wine drinking, What is thy petition, queen Ester? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed even to half the kingdom.
  Then Ester the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:
  for we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to be annihilated. But if we had been sold merely for bondmen and bondwomen, I would have held my tongue, since the affliction would not have equalled the king’s damage.
  Then the king Aĥashverosh answered and said to Ester the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?
  And Ester said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was struck with terror before the king and the queen.
  And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Ester the queen; for he saw that evil was determined against him by the king.
  Then the king returned out of the palace garden to the place of the wine drinking; and Haman was fallen upon the divan whereon Ester lay. Then the king said, Will he even assault the queen in my own presence in the house? As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.
  And Ĥarvona, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman has made for Mordokhay, who had spoken good for the king, stands in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him on that.
  So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordokhay. Then the king’s wrath was pacified.
  
  
  
  On that day king Aĥashverosh gave the house of Haman the Jews’ enemy to Ester the queen. And Mordokhay came before the king; for Ester had told him what he was to her.
  And the king took off his ring which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordokhay. And Ester set Mordokhay over the house of Haman.
  And Ester spoke once more before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to avert the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his scheme that he had devised against the Jews.
  Then the king held out the golden sceptre towards Ester. So Ester arose, and stood before the king,
  and said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedata the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces:
  for how can I endure to see the evil that shall befall my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?
  Then the king Aĥashverosh said to Ester the queen and to Mordokhay the Jew, Behold, I have given Ester the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he would lay his hand upon the Jews.
  Write also as you please about the Jews in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring: but the writing which is already written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, cannot be revoked.
  Then the king’s scribes were called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the twenty third day of the month; and an order was written, according to all that Mordokhay commanded, to the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces, from Hoddu as far as Kush, a hundred and twenty seven provinces, to every province according to its writing, and to every people according to their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
  And he wrote in the name of king Aĥashverosh, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, riding on the swift horses used in the royal service, bred from the stud mares:
  by these the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand up for themselves, to destroy, to slay, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might assault them, with their little ones and women, and to plunder their goods;
  on one day in all the provinces of king Aĥashverosh, namely, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
  The copy of the writing to be given out for a commandment in every province was to be published to all the peoples, and that the Jews should be ready by that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
  So the couriers who rode on horseback, riding on the swift horses used in the royal service, went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the capital.
  And Mordokhay went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a wrap of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
  The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
  And in every province, and in every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.
  
  
  
  Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put into execution, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over those who hated them;)
  the Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Aĥashverosh, to lay hands on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all the peoples.
  And all the rulers of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors, and the royal officials, supported the Jews; because the fear of Mordokhay had fallen upon them.
  For Mordokhay was great in the king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for the man Mordokhay grew greater and greater.
  Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with slaughter, and destruction, and did as they pleased to those who hated them.
  And in Shushan the capital the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men,
  and they also slew
  				Parshandata,and
  				Dalfon,and
  				Aspata,
  and
  				Porata,and
  				Adalya,and
  				Aridata,
  and
  				Parmashta,and
  				Arisay,and
  				Ariday,and
  				Vayzata,
  the ten
  				sons of Haman the son of Hammedata, the enemy of the Jews; but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.
  On that day the number of those who were slain in Shushan the capital was brought before the king.
  And the king said to Ester the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the capital, and also the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what more dost thou request? and it shall be done.
  Then Ester said, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according to this day’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.
  And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman’s ten sons.
  For the Jews who were in Shushan gathered themselves together also on the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.
  But the other Jews who were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood up for themselves, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy five thousand, (but they did not lay their hands on the plunder,)
  on the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
  But the Jews who were at Shushan gathered together on the thirteenth of the month, and on the fourteenth of it; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
  Therefore the Jews of the villages, who dwell in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and holiday, and of sending choice portions to one another.
  And Mordokhay wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of the king Aĥashverosh, both near and far,
  to enjoin upon them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, year by year,
  as the days on which the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned to them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning to holiday: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending choice portions to one another, and gifts to the poor.
  And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordokhay had written to them;
  because Haman the son of Hammedata, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had schemed against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, (that is, the lot,) to consume them, and to destroy them;
  but when Ester came before the king, he gave orders in writing that his wicked scheme, which he had devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.
  Therefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore because of all the words of this letter, and of what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had befallen them,
  the Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all who joined themselves to them, that they should unfailingly keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;
  and that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, or the memorial of them perish from their seed.
  Then Ester the queen, the daughter of Aviĥayil, and Mordokhay the Jew, wrote with all emphasis, to confirm this second letter of Purim.
  And he sent letters to all the Jews, to the hundred and twenty seven provinces of the kingdom of Aĥashverosh, in words of peace and truth,
  to confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordokhay the Jew and Ester the queen had enjoined on them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, with regard to the fastings and the order of lamentation.
  And the decree of Ester confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.
  
  
  
  And the king Aĥashverosh laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.
  And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the full account of the greatness of Mordokhay, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Maday and Paras?
  For Mordokhay the Jew was next to king Aĥashverosh, and great among the Jews, and accepted by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.