Revised Literal Translation

Esther 1

1Now it came to pass in the daysבִּימֵ֣יbi.MeiH3117of Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325, (this isAhasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325which reignedהַמֹּלֵךְ֙ha.mo.leKhH4427,from Indiaמֵהֹ֣דּוּme.Ho.duH1912even unto Ethiopiaכּ֔וּשׁKushH3568, overan hundredוּמֵאָ֖הu.me.'AhH3967and sevenשֶׁ֛בַעShe.va'H7651and twentyוְעֶשְׂרִ֥יםve.'es.RimH6242provincesמְדִינָֽה׃me.di.NahH4082:)

2Thatin those daysבַּיָּמִ֖יםbai.ya.MimH3117,when the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325satכְּשֶׁ֣בֶת׀ke.She.vetH3427on the throneכִּסֵּ֣אki.Se'H3678of his kingdomמַלְכוּת֔וֹmal.khu.ToH4438, which wasin Shushanבְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ןbe.shu.ShanH7800the palaceהַבִּירָֽה׃ha.bi.RahH1002,

3In the thirdשָׁלוֹשׁ֙sha.lo.VoshH7969yearבִּשְׁנַ֤תbish.NatH8141of his reignלְמָלְכ֔וֹle.ma.le.KhoH4427,he madeעָשָׂ֣ה'a.SahH6213a feastמִשְׁתֶּ֔הmish.TehH4960unto all his princesשָׂרָ֖יוsa.RavH8269and his servantsוַעֲבָדָ֑יוva.'a.va.DavH5650;the powerחֵ֣יל׀cheilH2428of Persiaפָּרַ֣סpa.RasH6539and Mediaוּמָדַ֗יu.ma.DaiH4074,the noblesהַֽפַּרְתְּמִ֛יםha.par.te.MimH6579and princesוְשָׂרֵ֥יve.sa.ReiH8269of the provincesהַמְּדִינ֖וֹתha.me.di.NotH4082, beingbeforeלְפָנָֽיו׃le.fa.NavH6440him:

4When he shewedבְּהַרְאֹת֗וֹbe.har.'o.ToH7200the richesעֹ֙שֶׁר֙'o.sherH6239of his gloriousכְּב֣וֹדke.VodH3519kingdomמַלְכוּת֔וֹmal.khu.ToH4438and the honourיְקָ֔רye.KarH3366of his excellentתִּפְאֶ֖רֶתtif.'E.retH8597majestyגְּדוּלָּת֑וֹge.du.la.ToH1420manyרַבִּ֔יםra.BimH7227daysיָמִ֣יםya.MimH3117, evenan hundredוּמְאַ֖תu.me.'AtH3967and fourscoreשְׁמוֹנִ֥יםshe.mo.NimH8084daysיֽוֹם׃YomH3117.

5And when these daysהַיָּמִ֣יםhai.ya.MimH3117were expiredוּבִמְל֣וֹאת׀u.vim.LotH4390,the kingהַמֶּ֡לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428madeעָשָׂ֣ה'a.SahH6213a feastמִשְׁתֶּ֖הmish.TehH4960unto all the peopleהָעָ֣םha.'AmH5971that were presentהַנִּמְצְאִים֩ha.nim.tze.'ImH4672in Shushanבְּשׁוּשַׁ֨ןbe.shu.ShanH7800the palaceהַבִּירָ֜הha.bi.RahH1002,both unto greatלְמִגָּ֧דוֹלle.mi.Ga.dolH1419and smallקָטָ֛ןka.TanH6996,sevenשִׁבְעַ֣תshiv.'AtH7651daysיָמִ֑יםya.MimH3117,in the courtבַּחֲצַ֕רba.cha.TzarH2691of the gardenגִּנַּ֥תgi.NatH1594of the king’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428palaceבִּיתַ֖ןbi.TanH1055;

6Where werewhiteח֣וּר׀churH2353,greenכַּרְפַּ֣סkar.PasH3768,and blueH8504, hangings,fastenedאָחוּז֙'a.ChuzH270with cordsבְּחַבְלֵי־be.chav.lei-H2256of fine linenב֣וּץvutzH948and purpleוְאַרְגָּמָ֔ןve.'ar.ga.ManH713to silverכֶ֖סֶףKhe.sefH3701ringsגְּלִ֥ילֵיge.Li.leiH1550and pillarsוְעַמּ֣וּדֵיve.'a.Mu.deiH5982of marbleשֵׁ֑שׁSheshH8336:the bedsמִטּ֣וֹת׀mi.TotH4296were ofgoldזָהָ֣בza.HavH2091and silverוָכֶ֗סֶףva.Khe.sefH3701,upon a pavementרִֽצְפַ֥תritz.FatH7531of redבַּהַט־ba.hat-H923,and blueH8504,and whiteוְדַ֥רve.DarH1858,and blackוְסֹחָֽרֶת׃ve.so.Cha.retH5508,marbleוָשֵׁ֖שׁva.SheshH8336.

7And they gave themdrinkוְהַשְׁקוֹת֙ve.hash.kOtH8248in vesselsבִּכְלֵ֣יbikh.LeiH3627of goldזָהָ֔בza.HavH2091, (the vesselsוְכֵלִ֖יםve.khe.LimH3627being diverseשׁוֹנִ֑יםsho.NimH8138one from anotherמִכֵּלִ֣יםmi.ke.LimH3627,)and royalמַלְכ֛וּתmal.KhutH4438wineוְיֵ֥יןve.YeinH3196in abundanceרָ֖בravH7227,according to the stateכְּיַ֥דke.YadH3027of the kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428.

8And the drinkingוְהַשְּׁתִיָּ֥הve.ha.she.ti.YahH8360wasaccording to the lawכַדָּ֖תkha.DatH1881;none did compelאֹנֵ֑ס'o.NesH597:for so the kingהַמֶּ֗לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428had appointedיִסַּ֣דyi.SadH3245to all the officersרַ֣בravH7227of his houseבֵּית֔וֹbei.ToH1004,that they should doלַעֲשׂ֖וֹתla.'a.SotH6213according to every man’sH376pleasureכִּרְצ֥וֹןkir.TzonH7522.

9Also Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֣יvash.TiH2060the queenהַמַּלְכָּ֔הha.mal.KahH4436madeעָשְׂתָ֖ה'a.se.TahH6213a feastמִשְׁתֵּ֣הmish.TehH4960for the womenנָשִׁ֑יםna.ShimH802inthe royalהַמַּלְכ֔וּתha.mal.KhutH4438houseבֵּ֚יתbeitH1004which belongedto kingלַמֶּ֥לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃ ס'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325.

10On the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִ֔יha.she.vi.'IH7637dayבַּיּוֹם֙bai.yOmH3117,when the heartלֵב־lev-H3820of the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428was merryH2896with wineבַּיָּ֑יִןbai.Ya.yinH3196,he commandedאָמַ֡ר'a.MarH559Mehumanלִ֠מְהוּמָןLim.hu.monH4104,Bizthaבִּזְּתָ֨אbi.ze.Ta'H968,Harbonaחַרְבוֹנָ֜אchar.vo.Na'H2726,Bigthaבִּגְתָ֤אbig.Ta'H903,and Abagthaוַאֲבַגְתָא֙va.'a.vag.Ta'H5,Zetharזֵתַ֣רze.TarH2242,and Carcasוְכַרְכַּ֔סve.khar.KasH3752,the sevenשִׁבְעַת֙shiv.'AtH7651chamberlainsהַסָּ֣רִיסִ֔יםha.Sa.ri.SimH5631that servedהַמְשָׁ֣רְתִ֔יםham.Sha.re.TimH8334in the presenceפְּנֵ֖יpe.NeiH6440of Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325the kingהַמֶּ֥לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,

11To bringלְ֠הָבִיאLe.ha.vi'H935Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֧יvash.TiH2060the queenהַמַּלְכָּ֛הha.mal.KahH4436beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428with the crownבְּכֶ֣תֶרbe.Khe.terH3804royalמַלְכ֑וּתmal.KhutH4438,to shewלְהַרְא֨וֹתle.har.'otH7200the peopleהָֽעַמִּ֤יםha.'a.MimH5971and the princesוְהַשָּׂרִים֙ve.ha.sa.RimH8269her beautyיָפְיָ֔הּya.fe.YahH3308: for she wasfairטוֹבַ֥תto.VatH2896to look onמַרְאֶ֖הmar.'EhH4758.

12But the queenהַמַּלְכָּ֣הha.mal.KahH4436Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֗יvash.TiH2060refusedוַתְּמָאֵ֞ןva.te.ma.'EnH3985to comeלָבוֹא֙la.Vo'H935at the king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428commandmentבִּדְבַ֣רbid.VarH1697byבְּיַ֣דbe.YadH3027hischamberlainsהַסָּרִיסִ֑יםha.sa.ri.SimH5631:therefore was the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428veryמְאֹ֔דme.'OdH3966wrothוַיִּקְצֹ֤ףvai.yik.TzofH7107,and his angerוַחֲמָת֖וֹva.cha.ma.ToH2534burnedבָּעֲרָ֥הba.'a.RahH1197in him.

13Then the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to the wise menלַחֲכָמִ֖יםla.cha.kha.MimH2450,which knewיֹדְעֵ֣יyo.de.'EiH3045the timesהָֽעִתִּ֑יםha.'i.TimH6256, (for so wasthe king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428mannerדְּבַ֣רde.VarH1697towardלִפְנֵ֕יlif.NeiH6440all that knewיֹדְעֵ֖יyo.de.'EiH3045lawדָּ֥תdatH1881and judgmentוָדִֽין׃va.DinH1779:

14And the nextוְהַקָּרֹ֣בve.ha.ka.RoH7138unto him wasCarshenaכַּרְשְׁנָ֤אkar.she.Na'H3771,Shetharשֵׁתָר֙she.TarH8369,Admathaאַדְמָ֣תָא'ad.Ma.ta'H133,Tarshishתַרְשִׁ֔ישׁtar.ShishH8659,Meresמֶ֥רֶסMe.resH4825,Marsenaמַרְסְנָ֖אmar.se.Na'H4826, andMemucanמְמוּכָ֑ןme.mu.KhanH4462,the sevenשִׁבְעַ֞תshiv.'AtH7651princesשָׂרֵ֣י׀sa.ReiH8269of Persiaפָּרַ֣סpa.RasH6539and Mediaוּמָדַ֗יu.ma.DaiH4074,which sawרֹאֵי֙ro.'EiH7200the king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428faceפְּנֵ֣יpe.NeiH6440, andwhich satהַיֹּשְׁבִ֥יםhai.yo.she.VimH3427the firstרִאשֹׁנָ֖הri.sho.NahH7223in the kingdomבַּמַּלְכֽוּת׃ba.mal.KhutH4438;)

15What shall we doלַּעֲשׂ֔וֹתla.'a.SotH6213unto the queenבַּמַּלְכָּ֖הba.mal.KahH4436Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֑יvash.TiH2060according to lawכְּדָת֙ke.DatH1881,because she hath not performedעָשְׂתָ֗ה'a.se.TahH6213the commandmentמַאֲמַר֙ma.'a.MarH3982of the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325byבְּיַ֖דbe.YadH3027the chamberlainsהַסָּרִיסִֽים׃ סha.sa.ri.SimH5631?

16And Memucanמְמוּכָ֗ןmu.me.khanH4462answeredוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559beforeלִפְנֵ֤יlif.NeiH6440the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428and the princesוְהַשָּׂרִ֔יםve.ha.sa.RimH8269,Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֣יvash.TiH2060the queenהַמַּלְכָּ֑הha.mal.KahH4436hath not done wrongעָוְתָ֖ה'a.ve.TahH5753to the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428only, but also to all the princesהַשָּׂרִים֙ha.sa.RimH8269,and to all the peopleהָ֣עַמִּ֔יםha.'a.MimH5971that arein all the provincesמְדִינ֖וֹתme.di.NotH4082of the kingהַמֶּ֥לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325.

17For thisdeedדְבַר־de.var-H1697of the queenהַמַּלְכָּה֙ha.mal.KahH4436shall come abroadיֵצֵ֤אye.Tze'H3318unto all womenהַנָּשִׁ֔יםha.na.ShimH802,so that they shall despiseלְהַבְז֥וֹתle.hav.ZotH959their husbandsבַּעְלֵיהֶ֖ןba'.lei.HenH1167in their eyesבְּעֵינֵיהֶ֑ןbe.'ei.nei.HenH5869,when it shall be reportedבְּאָמְרָ֗םbe.'a.me.RamH559,The kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֡וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325commandedאָמַ֞ר'a.MarH559Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֧יvash.TiH2060the queenהַמַּלְכָּ֛הha.mal.KahH4436to be brought inלְהָבִ֨יאle.ha.Vi'H935beforeלְפָנָ֖יוle.fa.NavH6440him, but she cameבָֽאָה׃Va.'ahH935not.

18Likewiseshall the ladiesשָׂר֣וֹתsa.RotH8282of Persiaפָּֽרַס־pa.ras-H6539and Mediaוּמָדַ֗יu.ma.DaiH4074sayתֹּאמַ֣רְנָה׀to.Mar.nahH559this dayוְֽהַיּ֨וֹםve.hai.YomH3117unto all the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428princesשָׂרֵ֣יsa.ReiH8269,which have heardשָֽׁמְעוּ֙sha.me.'UH8085of the deedדְּבַ֣רde.VarH1697of the queenהַמַּלְכָּ֔הha.mal.KahH4436. Thus shall there arisetoo muchוּכְדַ֖יu.khe.DaiH1767contemptבִּזָּי֥וֹןbi.za.YonH963and wrathוָקָֽצֶף׃va.Ka.tzefH7110.

19If it pleaseH2895the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,let there goיֵצֵ֤אye.Tze'H3318a royalמַלְכוּת֙mal.KhutH4438commandmentדְבַר־de.var-H1697from himמִלְּפָנָ֔יוmi.le.fa.NavH6440,and let it be writtenוְיִכָּתֵ֛בve.yi.ka.TevH3789among the lawsבְּדָתֵ֥יbe.da.TeiH1881of the Persiansפָֽרַס־fa.ras-H6539and the Medesוּמָדַ֖יu.ma.DaiH4074,that it be not alteredיַעֲב֑וֹרya.'a.VorH5674,That Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֗יvash.TiH2060comeתָב֜וֹאta.Vo'H935no more beforeלִפְנֵי֙lif.NeiH6440kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325;and let the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428giveיִתֵּ֣ןyi.TenH5414her royal estateוּמַלְכוּתָהּ֙u.mal.khu.TahH4438unto anotherלִרְעוּתָ֖הּlir.'u.TahH7468that is betterH2896than she.

20And when the king’sהַמֶּ֤לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428decreeפִּתְגָ֨םpit.GamH6599which he shall makeיַעֲשֶׂה֙ya.'a.SehH6213shall be publishedוְנִשְׁמַע֩ve.nish.Ma'H8085throughout all his empireמַלְכוּת֔וֹmal.khu.ToH4438, (for it is greatרַבָּ֖הra.BahH7227,)all the wivesהַנָּשִׁ֗יםha.na.ShimH802shall giveיִתְּנ֤וּyi.te.NuH5414to their husbandsלְבַעְלֵיהֶ֔ןle.va'.lei.HenH1167honourיְקָר֙ye.KarH3366,both to greatלְמִגָּד֖וֹלle.mi.ga.DolH1419and smallקָטָֽן׃ka.TanH6996.

21And the sayingהַדָּבָ֔רha.da.VarH1697pleasedוַיִּיטַב֙ בְּעֵינֵ֥יvai.yi.Tav be.'ei.NeiH5869 H3190the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428and the princesוְהַשָּׂרִ֑יםve.ha.sa.RimH8269;and the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428didוַיַּ֥עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213according to the wordכִּדְבַ֥רkid.VarH1697of Memucanמְמוּכָֽן׃me.mu.KhanH4462:

22For he sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חvai.yish.LachH7971lettersסְפָרִים֙se.fa.RimH5612into all the king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428provincesH4082,into every provinceH4082according to the writingכִּכְתָבָ֔הּkikh.ta.VahH3791thereof, and to every peopleH5971after their languageכִּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹkil.sho.NoH3956,that every manאִישׁ֙'ishH376should bear ruleשֹׂרֵ֣רso.RerH8323in his own houseבְּבֵית֔וֹbe.vei.ToH1004, and that itshould be publishedוּמְדַבֵּ֖רu.me.da.BerH1696according to the languageכִּלְשׁ֥וֹןkil.ShonH3956of every peopleH5971.

Commentaries on Esther 1