New American Standard Bible 1995

Esther 2

Vashti’s Successor Sought

1Afterאַחַר֙'a.CharH310theseהָאֵ֔לֶּהha.'E.lehH428thingsהַדְּבָרִ֣יםha.de.va.RimH1697when the angerחֲמַ֖תcha.MatH2534of Kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325had subsidedכְּשֹׁ֕ךְke.ShokhH7918,he rememberedזָכַ֤רza.KharH2142Vashtiוַשְׁתִּי֙vash.TiH2060and whatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834she had doneעָשָׂ֔תָה'a.Sa.tahH6213andwhatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834had been decreedנִגְזַ֖רnig.ZarH1504againstעָלֶֽיהָ׃'a.Lei.haH5921her.

2Then the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428attendantsנַעֲרֵֽי־na.'a.rei-H5288,who servedמְשָׁרְתָ֑יוme.sha.re.TavH8334him, saidוַיֹּאמְר֥וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “Let beautifulטוֹב֥וֹתto.VotH2896youngנְעָר֥וֹתne.'a.RotH5291virginsבְּתוּל֖וֹתbe.tu.LotH1330be soughtיְבַקְשׁ֥וּye.vak.ShuH1245for the kingלַמֶּ֛לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428.

3Let the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428appointוְיַפְקֵ֨דve.yaf.KedH6485overseersפְּקִידִים֮pe.ki.DimH6496inallבְּכָל־be.kholH3605the provincesמְדִינ֣וֹתme.di.NotH4082of his kingdomמַלְכוּתוֹ֒mal.khu.ToH4438that they may gatherוְיִקְבְּצ֣וּve.yik.be.TzuH6908everyכָּל־kol-H3605beautifulטוֹבַ֨תto.VatH2896youngנַעֲרָֽה־na.'a.rah-H5291virginבְ֠תוּלָהVe.tu.lahH1330to the citadelהַבִּירָה֙ha.bi.RahH1002of Susaשׁוּשַׁ֤ןshu.ShanH7800,to the haremבֵּ֣ית הַנָּשִׁ֔יםbeit ha.na.ShimH1004 H802,into the custodyיַ֥דyadH3027ofHegaiהֵגֶ֛אhe.Ge'H1896,the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428eunuchסְרִ֥יסse.RisH5631,who is in chargeשֹׁמֵ֣רsho.MerH8104of the womenהַנָּשִׁ֑יםha.na.ShimH802; andlet their cosmeticsתַּמְרוּקֵיהֶֽן׃tam.ru.kei.HenH8562be givenוְנָת֖וֹןve.na.TonH5414them.

4Then let the youngוְהַֽנַּעֲרָ֗הve.ha.na.'a.RahH5291ladyH5291whoאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834pleasesתִּיטַב֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣יti.Tav be.'ei.NeiH3190 H5869the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428be queenתִּמְלֹ֖ךְtim.LokhH4427in placeתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478of Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֑יvash.TiH2060.”And the matterהַדָּבָ֛רha.da.VarH1697pleasedוַיִּיטַ֧ב בְּעֵינֵ֥יvai.yi.Tav be.'ei.NeiH3190 H5869the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,and he didוַיַּ֥עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213accordinglyכֵּֽן׃ סKenH3651.

5Nowthere was at the citadelהַבִּירָ֑הha.bi.RahH1002in Susaבְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ןbe.shu.ShanH7800a Jewיְהוּדִ֔יye.hu.DiH3064whose nameוּשְׁמ֣וֹu.she.MoH8034wasMordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֗יma.re.do.KhaiH4782,the sonבֶּ֣ןbenH1121of Jairיָאִ֧ירya.'IrH2971,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Shimeiשִׁמְעִ֛יshim.'IH8096,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Kishקִ֖ישׁkishH7027,a BenjamiteH376 H3228,

6whoאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834had been takenH1540into exileהָגְלָה֙ha.ge.LahH1540from Jerusalemמִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔יִםmi.Ru.sha.La.yimH3389with the captivesהַגֹּלָה֙ha.go.LahH1473whoאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834had been exiledהָגְלְתָ֔הha.ge.le.TahH1540with Jeconiahיְכָנְיָ֣הye.kha.ne.YahH3204kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Judahיְהוּדָ֑הye.hu.DahH3063,whomאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834Nebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֖רne.vu.khad.ne.TzarH5019the kingמֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Babylonבָּבֶֽל׃ba.VelH894had exiledהֶגְלָ֔הheg.LahH1540.

7He was bringingאֹמֵ֜ן'o.MenH539up Hadassahהֲדַסָּ֗הha.da.SahH1919, that isEstherאֶסְתֵּר֙'es.TerH635,his uncle’sדֹּד֔וֹdo.DoH1730daughterבַּת־bat-H1323,for she hadH369noH369fatherאָ֣ב'avH1orH369motherוָאֵ֑םva.'EmH517.Now the youngוְהַנַּעֲרָ֤הve.ha.na.'a.RahH5291ladyH5291was beautifulיְפַת־ye.fat-H3303of formתֹּ֙אַר֙to.'arH8389andfaceמַרְאֶ֔הmar.'EhH4758,and when her fatherאָבִ֙יהָ֙'a.Vi.haH1and her motherוְאִמָּ֔הּve.'i.MahH517diedוּבְמ֤וֹתu.ve.MotH4194,Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֛יma.re.do.KhaiH4782tookלְקָחָ֧הּle.ka.ChahH3947her as his own daughterלְבַֽת׃le.VatH1323.

Esther Finds Favor

8So it cameוַיְהִ֗יvay.HiH1961about when the commandדְּבַר־de.var-H1697and decreeוְדָת֔וֹve.da.ToH1881of the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428were heardבְּהִשָּׁמַ֤עbe.hi.sha.Ma'H8085andmanyרַבּ֛וֹתra.BotH7227youngנְעָר֥וֹתne.'a.RotH5291ladiesH5291were gatheredוּֽבְהִקָּבֵ֞ץu.ve.hi.ka.VetzH6908to the citadelהַבִּירָ֖הha.bi.RahH1002of Susaשׁוּשַׁ֥ןshu.ShanH7800into the custodyיַ֣דyadH3027ofHegaiהֵגָ֑יhe.GaiH1896,that Estherאֶסְתֵּר֙'es.TerH635was takenוַתִּלָּקַ֤חva.ti.la.KachH3947to the king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428palaceבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004into the custodyיַ֥דyadH3027of Hegaiהֵגַ֖יhe.GaiH1896,who was in chargeשֹׁמֵ֥רsho.MerH8104of the womenהַנָּשִֽׁים׃ha.na.ShimH802.

9Now the youngH5291ladyH5291pleasedוַתִּיטַ֨ב בְעֵינָיו֮va.ti.Tav ve.'ei.NavH3190 H5869him and foundוַתִּשָּׂ֣אva.ti.Sa'H5375favorחֶ֣סֶדChe.sedH2617with him. So he quicklyוַ֠יְבַהֵלVay.va.helH926providedלָתֵ֣תla.TetH5414her with hercosmeticsתַּמְרוּקֶ֤יהָtam.ru.Kei.haH8562andfoodמָנוֹתֶ֙הָ֙ma.no.Te.haH4490,gaveלָֽתֶת־la.tet-H5414her sevenשֶׁ֣בַעShe.va'H7651choiceהָרְאֻי֥וֹתha.re.'u.YotH7200maidsH5291from the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428palaceמִבֵּ֣יתmi.BeitH1004and transferredH8132her and her maidsH5291to the bestלְט֖וֹבle.TovH2896place in the haremבֵּ֥ית הַנָּשִֽׁים׃beit ha.na.ShimH1004 H802.

10Estherאֶסְתֵּ֔ר'es.TerH635did not makeH5046knownH5046her peopleעַמָּ֖הּ'a.MahH5971or her kindredמֽוֹלַדְתָּ֑הּmo.lad.TahH4138,for Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֛יma.re.do.KhaiH4782had instructedצִוָּ֥הtzi.VahH6680her that she should not makeH5046themknownH5046.

11Everyוּבְכָל־u.ve.Khol-H3605dayH3117Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַי֙ma.re.do.KhaiH4782walkedמִתְהַלֵּ֔ךְmit.ha.LekhH1980backH1980and forth in frontלִפְנֵ֖יlif.NeiH6440of the courtחֲצַ֣רcha.TzarH2691of the haremבֵּית־ הַנָּשִׁ֑יםbeit- ha.na.ShimH1004 H802to learnלָדַ֙עַת֙la.Da.'atH3045howשְׁל֣וֹםshe.LomH7965Estherאֶסְתֵּ֔ר'es.TerH635was and howוּמַה־u.mah-H4100she faredיֵּעָשֶׂ֖הye.'a.SehH6213.

12Now when the turnתֹּר֩torH8447of eachH5291youngH5291ladyH5291cameוּבְהַגִּ֡יעַu.ve.ha.Gi.a'H5060to goלָב֣וֹא׀la.Vo'H935in to Kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325,afterH4480the endמִקֵּץ֩mi.KetzH7093of her twelveשְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֣רshe.Neim 'a.SarH8147 H6240monthsחֹ֔דֶשׁCho.deshH2320under the regulationsכְּדָ֤תke.DatH1881for the womenהַנָּשִׁים֙ha.na.ShimH802--for the daysיְמֵ֣יye.MeiH3117of their beautificationמְרוּקֵיהֶ֑ןme.ru.kei.HenH4795were completedיִמְלְא֖וּyim.le.'UH4390as followsכֵּ֥ןkenH3651:sixשִׁשָּׁ֤הshi.ShahH8337monthsחֳדָשִׁים֙cho.da.ShimH2320with oilבְּשֶׁ֣מֶןbe.She.menH8081of myrrhהַמֹּ֔רha.MorH4753and sixוְשִׁשָּׁ֤הve.shi.ShahH8337monthsחֳדָשִׁים֙cho.da.ShimH2320with spicesבַּבְּשָׂמִ֔יםba.be.sa.MimH1314and the cosmeticsוּבְתַמְרוּקֵ֖יu.ve.tam.ru.KeiH8562for womenהַנָּשִֽׁים׃ha.na.ShimH802--

13the youngהַֽנַּעֲרָ֖הha.na.'a.RahH5291ladyH5291would goבָּאָ֣הba.'AhH935in to the kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428in thisH2088wayH2088:anythingכָּל־kol-H3605that shedesiredתֹּאמַ֜רto.MarH559was givenיִנָּ֤תֵֽןyi.Na.tenH5414her to takeלָב֣וֹאla.Vo'H935with her from the haremמִבֵּ֥ית הַנָּשִׁ֖יםmi.Beit ha.na.ShimH1004 H802to the king’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428palaceבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004.

14In the eveningבָּעֶ֣רֶב׀ba.'E.revH6153she would goבָאָ֗הva.'AhH935in and in the morningוּ֠בַבֹּקֶרU.va.bo.kerH1242she would returnשָׁבָ֞הsha.VahH7725to the secondשֵׁנִ֔יshe.NiH8145haremבֵּ֤ית הַנָּשִׁים֙beit ha.na.ShimH1004 H802, to thecustodyיַ֧דyadH3027of Shaashgazשַֽׁעֲשְׁגַ֛זsha.'ash.GazH8190,the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428eunuchסְרִ֥יסse.RisH5631who was in chargeשֹׁמֵ֣רsho.MerH8104of the concubinesהַפִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑יםha.pi.lag.ShimH6370.She would not againעוֹד֙'OdH5750goתָב֥וֹאta.Vo'H935in to the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428unlessכִּ֣י אִם־ki 'im-H3588 H518the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428delightedחָפֵ֥ץcha.FetzH2654in her and she was summonedוְנִקְרְאָ֥הve.nik.re.'AhH7121by nameבְשֵֽׁם׃ve.ShemH8034.

15Now when the turnתֹּר־tor-H8447of Estherאֶסְתֵּ֣ר'es.TerH635,the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Abihailאֲבִיחַ֣יִל'a.vi.Cha.yilH32the uncleדֹּ֣דdodH1730of Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֡יma.re.do.KhaiH4782whoאֲשֶׁר֩'a.SherH834had takenלָקַֽח־la.kach-H3947her as his daughterלְבַ֜תle.VatH1323,cameוּבְהַגִּ֣יעַu.ve.ha.Gi.a'H5060to goלָב֣וֹאla.Vo'H935in to the kingהַמֶּ֗לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,she did not requestבִקְשָׁה֙vik.ShahH1245anythingדָּבָ֔רda.VarH1697exceptכִּ֠י אִ֣םki 'imH3588 H518whatאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834Hegaiהֵגַ֥יhe.GaiH1896,the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428eunuchסְרִיס־se.ris-H5631who was in chargeשֹׁמֵ֣רsho.MerH8104of the womenהַנָּשִׁ֑יםha.na.ShimH802,advisedיֹאמַ֛רyo.MarH559.And Estherאֶסְתֵּר֙'es.TerH635foundנֹשֵׂ֣אתno.SetH5375favorחֵ֔ןChenH2580in the eyesבְּעֵינֵ֖יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of allכָּל־kol-H3605who sawרֹאֶֽיהָ׃ro.'Ei.haH7200her.

16So Estherאֶסְתֵּ֜ר'es.TerH635was takenוַתִּלָּקַ֨חva.ti.la.KachH3947to Kingהַמֶּ֤לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ֙'a.chash.ve.ro.VoshH325to his royalמַלְכוּת֔וֹmal.khu.ToH4438palaceבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004in the tenthהָעֲשִׂירִ֖יha.'a.si.RiH6224monthבַּחֹ֥דֶשׁba.Cho.deshH2320whichהוּא־hu'-H1931is the monthחֹ֣דֶשׁCho.deshH2320Tebethטֵבֵ֑תte.VetH2887,in the seventhשֶׁ֖בַעShe.va'H7651yearבִּשְׁנַת־bish.nat-H8141of his reignלְמַלְכוּתֽוֹ׃le.mal.khu.ToH4438.

Esther Becomes Queen

17The kingהַמֶּ֤לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428lovedוַיֶּאֱהַ֨בvai.ye.'e.HavH157Estherאֶסְתֵּר֙'es.TerH635moreH4480thanH4480allמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605the womenהַנָּשִׁ֔יםha.na.ShimH802,and she foundוַתִּשָּׂא־va.ti.sa'-H5375favorחֵ֥ןchenH2580and kindnessוָחֶ֛סֶדva.Che.sedH2617with him moreH4480thanH4480allמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605the virginsהַבְּתוּלֹ֑תha.be.tu.LotH1330, so thathe setוַיָּ֤שֶׂםvai.Ya.semH7760the royalמַלְכוּת֙mal.KhutH4438crownכֶּֽתֶר־ke.ter-H3804on her headבְּרֹאשָׁ֔הּbe.ro.ShahH7218and madeH4427her queenH4427insteadתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478of Vashtiוַשְׁתִּֽי׃vash.TiH2060.

18Thenthe kingהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428gaveוַיַּ֨עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213a greatגָד֗וֹלga.DolH1419banquetמִשְׁתֶּ֣הmish.TehH4960,Esther’sאֶסְתֵּ֑ר'es.TerH635banquetמִשְׁתֵּ֣הmish.TehH4960,for allלְכָל־le.kholH3605his princesשָׂרָיו֙sa.RavH8269and his servantsוַעֲבָדָ֔יוva.'a.va.DavH5650;he also madeעָשָׂ֔ה'a.SahH6213a holidayוַהֲנָחָ֤הva.ha.na.ChahH2010for the provincesלַמְּדִינוֹת֙la.me.di.nOtH4082and gaveוַיִּתֵּ֥ןvai.yi.TenH5414giftsמַשְׂאֵ֖תmas.'EtH4864according to the king’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428bountyכְּיַ֥דke.YadH3027.

19When the virginsבְּתוּל֖וֹתbe.tu.LotH1330were gatheredוּבְהִקָּבֵ֥ץu.ve.hi.ka.VetzH6908together the secondשֵׁנִ֑יתshe.NitH8145timeH8145,then Mordecaiוּמָרְדֳּכַ֖יu.ma.re.do.KhaiH4782was sittingיֹשֵׁ֥בyo.ShevH3427at the king’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428gateבְּשַֽׁעַר־be.sha.'ar-H8179.

20Estherאֶסְתֵּ֗ר'es.TerH635had not yet made knownH5046her kindredמֽוֹלַדְתָּהּ֙mo.lad.TahH4138or her peopleעַמָּ֔הּ'a.MahH5971,evenH3512as Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכָ֑יma.re.do.KhaiH4782had commandedצִוָּ֥הtzi.VahH6680her; for Estherאֶסְתֵּ֣ר'es.TerH635didעֹשָׂ֔ה'o.SahH6213whatמַאֲמַ֤רma.'a.MarH3982Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַי֙ma.re.do.KhaiH4782toldמַגֶּ֤דֶתma.Ge.detH5046her as she had doneהָיְתָ֥הha.ye.TahH1961whenH3512under his careבְאָמְנָ֖הve.'a.me.NahH545.

Mordecai Saves the King

21In thoseהָהֵ֔םha.HemH1992daysבַּיָּמִ֣יםbai.ya.MimH3117,while Mordecaiוּמָרְדֳּכַ֖יu.ma.re.do.KhaiH4782was sittingיֹשֵׁ֣בyo.ShevH3427at the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428gateבְּשַֽׁעַר־be.sha.'ar-H8179,Bigthanבִּגְתָ֨ןbig.TanH904and Tereshוָתֶ֜רֶשׁva.Te.reshH8657,twoשְׁנֵֽי־she.nei-H8147of the king’sהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428officialsסָרִיסֵ֤יsa.ri.SeiH5631from those who guardedמִשֹּׁמְרֵ֣יmi.sho.me.ReiH8104the doorהַסַּ֔ףha.SafH5592,becameH7107angryקָצַף֩ka.TzafH7107and soughtוַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙vay.vak.ShuH1245tolayלִשְׁלֹ֣חַlish.Lo.achH7971handsיָ֔דYadH3027on Kingבַּמֶּ֖לֶךְba.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵֽרֹשׁ׃'a.chash.Ve.roshH325.

22But theplotהַדָּבָר֙ha.da.VarH1697became knownוַיִּוָּדַ֤עvai.yi.va.Da'H3045to Mordecaiלְמָרְדֳּכַ֔יle.ma.re.do.KhaiH4782andhe toldוַיַּגֵּ֖דvai.ya.GedH5046Queenהַמַּלְכָּ֑הha.mal.KahH4436Estherלְאֶסְתֵּ֣רle.'es.TerH635,and Estherאֶסְתֵּ֛ר'es.TerH635informedוַתֹּ֧אמֶרva.To.merH559the kingלַמֶּ֖לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428in Mordecai’sמָרְדֳּכָֽי׃ma.re.do.KhaiH4782nameבְּשֵׁ֥םbe.ShemH8034.

23Now when the plotהַדָּבָר֙ha.da.VarH1697was investigatedוַיְבֻקַּ֤שׁvay.vu.KashH1245and foundוַיִּמָּצֵ֔אvai.yi.ma.Tze'H4672to be so,they were bothשְׁנֵיהֶ֖םshe.nei.HemH8147hangedוַיִּתָּל֥וּvai.yi.ta.LuH8518on agallowsעֵ֑ץ'EtzH6086;and it was writtenוַיִּכָּתֵ֗בvai.yi.ka.TevH3789inthe Bookבְּסֵ֛פֶרbe.Se.ferH5612of the Chroniclesדִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖יםdiv.Rei hai.ya.MimH1697 H3117in the king’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ פha.Me.lekhH4428presenceלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440.

Vashti’s Successor Sought

Esther Finds Favor

Esther Becomes Queen

Mordecai Saves the King

Commentaries on Esther 2