Thursday, 5/23/24 - Esther 3 & 4
Haman’s Plot to Destroy the Jews
3 1 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.
3 Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?” 4 Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.
5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. 6 Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.
7 In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.
8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.”
10 So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11 “Keep the money,” the king said to Haman, “and do with the people as you please.”
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 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 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—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder 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.
15 The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered.
Mordecai Persuades Esther to Help
4 1 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3 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.
4 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. 5 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.
6 So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 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. 8 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.
9 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 the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter 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 at this time, relief and deliverance 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?”
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast 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.”
17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.
3 1 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.
3 Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?” 4 Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.
5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. 6 Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.
7 In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.
8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.”
10 So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11 “Keep the money,” the king said to Haman, “and do with the people as you please.”
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 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 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—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder 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.
15 The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered.
Mordecai Persuades Esther to Help
4 1 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3 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.
4 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. 5 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.
6 So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 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. 8 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.
9 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 the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter 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 at this time, relief and deliverance 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?”
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast 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.”
17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.
Recent
Friday, December 6 - Overview: Hebrews (Bible Project) & Hebrews 1:1-4; 4:12-16
December 6th, 2024
Thursday, December 5 - Overview: Philemon (Bible Project) & Philemon
December 5th, 2024
Wednesday, December 4 - Overview: Titus (Bible Project)
December 4th, 2024
Tuesday, December 3 - 2 Timothy 3:10-4:22
December 3rd, 2024
Monday, December 2 - Overview: 2 Timothy (Bible Project)
December 2nd, 2024
Archive
2024
January
Monday, 1/22/24 - Overview Genesis 1-11 (Bible Project)Tuesday, 1/23/24 - Genesis 1-2:4aWednesday, 1/24/24 - Genesis 2:4-2:25Thursday, 1/25/24 - Genesis 3Friday, 1/26/24 - Overview: Genesis 12-50 (Bible Project)Monday, 1/29/24 - Genesis 12 & 15Tuesday, 1/30/24 - Genesis 21:1-21; 22:1-19Wednesday, 1/31/24 - Genesis 24; 25:19-34
February
Thursday, 2/1/24 - Genesis 27Friday, 2/2/24 - Genesis 28-29:14Monday, 2/5/24 - Genesis 29:15 - 30:24Tuesday, 2/6/24 - Genesis 32:3-33:17Wednesday, 2/7/24 - Genesis 37Thursday, 2/8/24 - Genesis 39-40Friday, 2/9/24 - Genesis 41Monday, 2/12/24 - Genesis 42 & 43Tuesday, 2/13/24 - Genesis 44 & 45Wednesday, 2/14/24 - Genesis 46; 50:15-26Thursday, 2/15/24 - Overview: Exodus 1-18 (Bible Project)Friday, 2/16/24 - Exodus 1 - 2Monday, 2/19/24 - Exodus 3 - 4Tuesday, 2/20/24 - Exodus 7 & 11Wednesday, 2/21/24 - Exodus 12 - 13:2, 17-22Thursday, 2/22/24 - Exodus 14Friday, 2/23/24 - Exodus 16 - 17:7, 18Monday, 2/26/24 - Overview: Exodus 19-40 (Bible Project)Tuesday, 2/27/24 - Exodus 19-20:21Wednesday, 2/28/24 - Exodus 32Thursday, 2/29/24 - Exodus 33 & 34
March
Friday, 3/1/24 - Overview: Leviticus (Bible Project)Monday, 3/4/24 - Leviticus 16Tuesday, 3/5/24 - Leviticus 25Wednesday, 3/6/24 - Overview: Numbers (Bible Project) & Numbers 6:22-27; 9:15-23Thursday, 3/7/24 - Numbers 11 & 12Friday, 3/8/24 - Numbers 13 & 14Monday, 3/11/24 - Overview: Deuteronomy (Bible Project)Tuesday, 3/12/24 - Deuteronomy 4:1-40Wednesday, 3/13/24 - Deuteronomy 6-7:11Thursday, 3/14/24 - Deuteronomy 18:15-22; 31:1-8; 34Friday, 3/15/24 - Overview: Joshua (Bible Project)Monday, 3/18/24 - Joshua 1 & 2Tuesday, 3/19/24 - Joshua 3; 5:13 - 6:27Wednesday, 3/20/24 - Joshua 24Thursday, 3/21/24 - Overview: Judges (Bible Project)Friday, 3/22/24 - Judges 2Monday, 3/25/24 - Judges 4Tuesday, 3/26/24 - Judges 6 & 7Wednesday, 3/27/24 - Judges 13 & 14Thursday, 3/28/24 - Judges 15 & 16Friday, 3/29/24 - Overview: Ruth (Bible Project)
April
Monday, 4/1/24 - Ruth 1 & 2Tuesday, 4/2/24 - Ruth 3 & 4Wednesday, 4/3/24 - Overview: 1 Samuel (Bible Project)Thursday, 4/4/24 - 1 Samuel 1 & 3Friday, 4/5/24 - 1 Samuel 8 & 9Monday, 4/8/24 - 1 Samuel 10Tuesday, 4/9/24 - 1 Samuel 13:1-15; 1 Samuel 15Wednesday, 4/10/24 - 1 Samuel 16Thursday, 4/11/24 - 1 Samuel 17Friday, 4/12/24 - 1 Samuel 18 & 19Monday, 4/15/24 - 1 Samuel 20Tuesday, 4/16/24 - 1 Samuel 24 & 25Wednesday, 4/17/24 - 1 Samuel 31Thursday, 4/18/24 - Overview: 2 Samuel (Bible Project)Friday, 4/19/24 - 2 Samuel 1:1 - 2:7Monday, 4/22/24 - 2 Samuel 5 & 7Tuesday, 4/23/24 - 2 Samuel 11 & 12Wednesday, 4/24/24 - 2 Samuel 15:1-31Thursday, 4/25/24 - 2 Samuel 18-19:8Friday, 4/26/24 - 2 Samuel 24Monday, 4/29/24 - Overview 1 & 2 Kings (Bible Project)Tuesday, 4/30/24 - 1 Kings 1:1-2:12
May
Wednesday, 5/1/24 - 1 Kings 3 & 10Thursday, 5/2/24 - 1 Kings 11Friday, 5/3/24 - 1 Kings 17 - 18:19Monday, 5/6/24 - 1 Kings 18:20-19:21Tuesday, 5/7/24 - 1 Kings 22Wednesday, 5/8/24 - 2 Kings 2 & 5:1-19Thursday, 5/9/24 - 2 Kings 6:1-23Friday, 5/10/24 - 2 Kings 17Monday, 5/13/24 - 2 Kings 22-23:30Tuesday, 5/14/24 - 2 Kings 25Wednesday, 5/15/24 - Overview: 1 & 2 Chronicles (Bible Project)Thursday, 5/16/24 - Overview: Ezra-Nehemiah (Bible Project)Friday, 5/17/24 - Ezra 1Monday, 5/20 - Nehemiah 1 & 2Tuesday, 5/21/24 - Overview: Esther (Bible Project)Wednesday, 5/22/24 - Esther 1 & 2Thursday, 5/23/24 - Esther 3 & 4Friday, 5/24/24 - Overview: Job (Bible Project)Monday, 5/27/24 - Job 1-3Tuesday, 5/28/24 - Job 15-17Wednesday, 5/29/24 - Job 38Thursday, 5/30/24 - Job 42Friday, 5/31/24 - Overview: Psalms (Bible Project)