From: "FamilyNet"
Bible Reading for September 30
Esther 1
[1] Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which
reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty
provinces:)
[2] That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his
kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, [3] In the third year of his reign,
he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and
Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:
[4] When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his
excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days. [5] And when
these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were
present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the
court of the garden of the king's palace; [6] Where were white, green, and
blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings
and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of
red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.
[7] And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse
one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the
king.
[8] 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.
[9] Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which
belonged to king Ahasuerus.
[10] On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he
commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas,
the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, [11]
To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the
people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. [12] But the
queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains:
therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
[13] Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the
king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment: [14] And the next unto
him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the
seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat
the first in the kingdom;) [15] What shall we do unto the queen Vashti
according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king
Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
[16] And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen
hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all
the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus. [17] For this
deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise
their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus
commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
[18] Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the
king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there
arise too much contempt and wrath.
[19] If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let
it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not
altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give
her royal estate unto another that is better than she. [20] And when the
king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his
empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour,
both to great and small. [21] And the saying pleased the king and the princes;
and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
[22] For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province
according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language,
that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be
published according to the language of every people.
Esther 2
[1] After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he
remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
[2] Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair
young virgins sought for the king: [3] And let the king appoint officers in
all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair
young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women unto the
custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their
things for purification be given them:
[4] And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And
the thing pleased the king; and he did so. [5] Now in Shushan the palace there
was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of
Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; [6] Who had been carried away from
Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of
Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
[7] And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she
had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom
Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter. [8]
So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and
when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the
custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the
custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. [9] And the maiden pleased him, and she
obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for
purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which
were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and
her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.
[10] Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had
charged her that she should not shew it. [11] And Mordecai walked every day
before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should
become of her. [12] Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king
Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of
the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit,
six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other
things for the purifying of the women;)
[13] Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was
given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.
[14] In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second
house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which
kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king
delighted in her, and that she were called by name. [15] 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.
[16] So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth
month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. [17] And
the king loved Esther above 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. [18] Then the king made a
great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he
made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the
king. [19] And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then
Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
[20] Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had
charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was
brought up with him.
[21] In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's
chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth,
and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. [22] And the thing was known to
Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king
thereof in Mordecai's name. [23] And when inquisition was made of the matter,
it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was
written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
Esther 3
[1] 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.
[2] And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and
reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai
bowed not, nor did him reverence.
[3] Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto
Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment? [4] Now it came to
pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that
they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had
told them that he was a Jew. [5] And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not,
nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
[6] And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed
him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews
that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of
Mordecai.
[7] In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king
Ahasuerus, 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. [8] And
Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and
dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws
are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it
is not for the king's profit to suffer them. [9] If it please the king, let it
be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of
silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it
into the king's treasuries. [10] And the king took his ring from his hand, and
gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. [11]
And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to
do with them as it seemeth good to thee. [12] Then were the king's scribes
called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written
according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to
the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people
of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after
their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with
the king's ring. [13] 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.
[14] The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province
was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.
[15] The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the
decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to
drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.
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