Family Verses

Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that {were} with him.

And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. {enemy: or, oppressor}

And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, {even} upon the thirteenth {day} of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and {to take} the spoil of them for a prey.

For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, {then} shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for {such} a time as this? {enlargement: Heb. respiration}

Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife. {called...: Heb. caused to come}

And Haman told them of 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.

Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made. {gallows: Heb. tree}

And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every {thing} that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai {be} of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.

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 it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which {are} in all the king's provinces: {devised: Heb. the device} {which he...: or, who wrote}

The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.

And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and 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: or what {is} thy request further? and it shall be done.