Revised Literal Translation

Esther 2

1Afterאַחַר֙'a.CharH310these thingsהַדְּבָרִ֣יםha.de.va.RimH1697,when the wrathחֲמַ֖תcha.MatH2534of kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325was appeasedכְּשֹׁ֕ךְke.ShokhH7918,he rememberedזָכַ֤רza.KharH2142Vashtiוַשְׁתִּי֙vash.TiH2060,and what she had doneעָשָׂ֔תָה'a.Sa.tahH6213,and what was decreedנִגְזַ֖רnig.ZarH1504against her.

2Then saidוַיֹּאמְר֥וּvai.yo.me.RuH559the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428servantsנַעֲרֵֽי־na.'a.rei-H5288that ministeredמְשָׁרְתָ֑יוme.sha.re.TavH8334unto him, Let there be fairטוֹב֥וֹת מַרְאֶֽה׃to.Vot mar.'EhH4758 H2896youngנְעָר֥וֹתne.'a.RotH5291virginsבְּתוּל֖וֹתbe.tu.LotH1330soughtיְבַקְשׁ֥וּye.vak.ShuH1245for the kingלַמֶּ֛לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428:

3And let the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428appointוְיַפְקֵ֨דve.yaf.KedH6485officersפְּקִידִים֮pe.ki.DimH6496in all the provincesמְדִינ֣וֹתme.di.NotH4082of his kingdomמַלְכוּתוֹ֒mal.khu.ToH4438,that they may gather togetherוְיִקְבְּצ֣וּve.yik.be.TzuH6908all the fairטוֹבַ֨ת מַרְאֶ֜הto.Vat mar.'EhH4758 H2896youngנַעֲרָֽה־na.'a.rah-H5291virginsבְ֠תוּלָהVe.tu.lahH1330unto Shushanשׁוּשַׁ֤ןshu.ShanH7800the palaceהַבִּירָה֙ha.bi.RahH1002,to the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of the womenהַנָּשִׁ֔יםha.na.ShimH802,unto the custodyיַ֥דyadH3027of Hegeהֵגֶ֛אhe.Ge'H1896the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428chamberlainסְרִ֥יסse.RisH5631,keeperשֹׁמֵ֣רsho.MerH8104of the womenהַנָּשִׁ֑יםha.na.ShimH802;and let their things for purificationתַּמְרוּקֵיהֶֽן׃tam.ru.kei.HenH8562be givenוְנָת֖וֹןve.na.TonH5414them:

4And let the maidenוְהַֽנַּעֲרָ֗הve.ha.na.'a.RahH5291which pleasethתִּיטַב֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣יti.Tav be.'ei.NeiH5869 H3190the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428be queenתִּמְלֹ֖ךְtim.LokhH4427instead of Vashtiוַשְׁתִּ֑יvash.TiH2060.And the thingהַדָּבָ֛רha.da.VarH1697pleasedוַיִּיטַ֧ב בְּעֵינֵ֥יvai.yi.Tav be.'ei.NeiH5869 H3190the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428;and he did soוַיַּ֥עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213.

5Nowin Shushanבְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ןbe.shu.ShanH7800the palaceהַבִּירָ֑הha.bi.RahH1002there was a certainH376Jewיְהוּדִ֔יye.hu.DiH3064,whose nameוּשְׁמ֣וֹu.she.MoH8034wasMordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֗יma.re.do.KhaiH4782,the sonבֶּ֣ןbenH1121of Jairיָאִ֧ירya.'IrH2971,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Shimeiשִׁמְעִ֛יshim.'IH8096,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Kishקִ֖ישׁkishH7027,a Benjamiteיְמִינִֽי׃ye.mi.NiH1145;

6Who had been carried awayהָגְלָה֙ha.ge.LahH1540from Jerusalemמִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔יִםmi.Ru.sha.La.yimH3389with the captivityהַגֹּלָה֙ha.go.LahH1473which had been carried awayהָגְלְתָ֔הha.ge.le.TahH1540with Jeconiahיְכָנְיָ֣הye.kha.ne.YahH3204kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Judahיְהוּדָ֑הye.hu.DahH3063,whom Nebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֖רne.vu.khad.ne.TzarH5019the kingמֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Babylonבָּבֶֽל׃ba.VelH894had carried awayהֶגְלָ֔הheg.LahH1540.

7And he brought upאֹמֵ֜ן'o.MenH539Hadassahהֲדַסָּ֗הha.da.SahH1919, that is,Estherאֶסְתֵּר֙'es.TerH635,his uncle’sדֹּד֔וֹdo.DoH1730daughterבַּת־bat-H1323:for she had neither fatherאָ֣ב'avH1nor motherוָאֵ֑םva.'EmH517,and the maidוְהַנַּעֲרָ֤הve.ha.na.'a.RahH5291wasfairיְפַת־ תֹּ֙אַר֙ye.fat- to.'arH8389 H3303and beautifulוְטוֹבַ֣ת מַרְאֶ֔הve.to.Vat mar.'EhH4758 H2896;whom Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֛יma.re.do.KhaiH4782,when her fatherאָבִ֙יהָ֙'a.Vi.haH1and motherוְאִמָּ֔הּve.'i.MahH517were deadוּבְמ֤וֹתu.ve.MotH4194,tookלְקָחָ֧הּle.ka.ChahH3947for his own daughterלְבַֽת׃le.VatH1323.

8So it came to pass, when the king’sהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428commandmentדְּבַר־de.var-H1697and his decreeוְדָת֔וֹve.da.ToH1881was heardבְּהִשָּׁמַ֤עbe.hi.sha.Ma'H8085,and when manyרַבּ֛וֹתra.BotH7227maidensנְעָר֥וֹתne.'a.RotH5291were gathered togetherוּֽבְהִקָּבֵ֞ץu.ve.hi.ka.VetzH6908unto Shushanשׁוּשַׁ֥ןshu.ShanH7800the palaceהַבִּירָ֖הha.bi.RahH1002,to the custodyיַ֣דyadH3027of Hegaiהֵגָ֑יhe.GaiH1896,that Estherאֶסְתֵּר֙'es.TerH635was broughtוַתִּלָּקַ֤חva.ti.la.KachH3947also unto the king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004,to the custodyיַ֥דyadH3027of Hegaiהֵגַ֖יhe.GaiH1896,keeperשֹׁמֵ֥רsho.MerH8104of the womenהַנָּשִֽׁים׃ha.na.ShimH802.

9And the maidenהַנַּעֲרָ֣הha.na.'a.RahH5291pleasedוַתִּיטַ֨ב בְעֵינָיו֮va.ti.Tav ve.'ei.NavH5869 H3190him, and she obtainedוַתִּשָּׂ֣אva.ti.Sa'H5375kindnessחֶ֣סֶדChe.sedH2617of himלְפָנָיו֒le.fa.NavH6440;and he speedilyוַ֠יְבַהֵלVay.va.helH926gaveלָתֵ֣תla.TetH5414her her things for purificationתַּמְרוּקֶ֤יהָtam.ru.Kei.haH8562,with such things as belongedמָנוֹתֶ֙הָ֙ma.no.Te.haH4490to her, and sevenשֶׁ֣בַעShe.va'H7651maidensהַנְּעָר֔וֹתha.ne.'a.RotH5291, which weremeetהָרְאֻי֥וֹתha.re.'u.YotH7200to be givenלָֽתֶת־la.tet-H5414her, out of the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428houseמִבֵּ֣יתmi.BeitH1004:and he preferredוַיְשַׁנֶּ֧הָvay.sha.Ne.haH8138her and her maidsנַעֲרוֹתֶ֛יהָna.'a.ro.Tei.haH5291unto the bestלְט֖וֹבle.TovH2896placeof the houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of the womenהַנָּשִֽׁים׃ha.na.ShimH802.

10Estherאֶסְתֵּ֔ר'es.TerH635had not shewedהִגִּ֣ידָהhi.Gi.dahH5046her peopleעַמָּ֖הּ'a.MahH5971nor her kindredמֽוֹלַדְתָּ֑הּmo.lad.TahH4138:for Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֛יma.re.do.KhaiH4782had chargedצִוָּ֥הtzi.VahH6680her that she should not shewתַגִּֽיד׃ta.GidH5046it.

11And Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַי֙ma.re.do.KhaiH4782walkedמִתְהַלֵּ֔ךְmit.ha.LekhH1980every dayH3117beforeלִפְנֵ֖יlif.NeiH6440the courtחֲצַ֣רcha.TzarH2691of the women’sהַנָּשִׁ֑יםha.na.ShimH802houseבֵּית־beit-H1004,to knowלָדַ֙עַת֙la.Da.'atH3045how Estherאֶסְתֵּ֔ר'es.TerH635didשְׁל֣וֹםshe.LomH7965,and what should becomeיֵּעָשֶׂ֖הye.'a.SehH6213of her.

12Now when every maid’sH5291turnתֹּר֩torH8447was comeוּבְהַגִּ֡יעַu.ve.ha.Gi.a'H5060to go inלָב֣וֹא׀la.Vo'H935to kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325,afterמִקֵּץ֩mi.KetzH7093that she had been twelveשְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֣רshe.Neim 'a.SarH6240 H8147monthsחֹ֔דֶשׁCho.deshH2320,according to the mannerכְּדָ֤תke.DatH1881of the womenהַנָּשִׁים֙ha.na.ShimH802, (for so were the daysיְמֵ֣יye.MeiH3117of their purificationsמְרוּקֵיהֶ֑ןme.ru.kei.HenH4795accomplishedיִמְלְא֖וּyim.le.'UH4390, to wit,sixשִׁשָּׁ֤הshi.ShahH8337monthsחֳדָשִׁים֙cho.da.ShimH2320with oilבְּשֶׁ֣מֶןbe.She.menH8081of myrrhהַמֹּ֔רha.MorH4753,and sixוְשִׁשָּׁ֤הve.shi.ShahH8337monthsחֳדָשִׁים֙cho.da.ShimH2320with sweet odoursבַּבְּשָׂמִ֔יםba.be.sa.MimH1314, and with otherthings for the purifyingוּבְתַמְרוּקֵ֖יu.ve.tam.ru.KeiH8562of the womenהַנָּשִֽׁים׃ha.na.ShimH802;)

13Then thus cameבָּאָ֣הba.'AhH935everymaidenהַֽנַּעֲרָ֖הha.na.'a.RahH5291unto the kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428;whatsoever she desiredתֹּאמַ֜רto.MarH559was givenיִנָּ֤תֵֽןyi.Na.tenH5414her to goלָב֣וֹאla.Vo'H935with her out of the houseמִבֵּ֥יתmi.BeitH1004of the womenהַנָּשִׁ֖יםha.na.ShimH802unto the king’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004.

14In the eveningבָּעֶ֣רֶב׀ba.'E.revH6153she wentבָאָ֗הva.'AhH935,and on the morrowוּ֠בַבֹּקֶרU.va.bo.kerH1242she returnedשָׁבָ֞הsha.VahH7725into the secondשֵׁנִ֔יshe.NiH8145houseבֵּ֤יתbeitH1004of the womenהַנָּשִׁים֙ha.na.ShimH802,to the custodyיַ֧דyadH3027of Shaashgazשַֽׁעֲשְׁגַ֛זsha.'ash.GazH8190,the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428chamberlainסְרִ֥יסse.RisH5631,which keptשֹׁמֵ֣רsho.MerH8104the concubinesהַפִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑יםha.pi.lag.ShimH6370:she came inתָב֥וֹאta.Vo'H935unto the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428no more, except the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428delightedחָפֵ֥ץcha.FetzH2654in her, and that she were calledוְנִקְרְאָ֥הve.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.KhaiH4782,who had takenלָקַֽח־la.kach-H3947her for his daughterלְבַ֜תle.VatH1323,was comeוּבְהַגִּ֣יעַu.ve.ha.Gi.a'H5060to go inלָב֣וֹאla.Vo'H935unto the kingהַמֶּ֗לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,she requiredבִקְשָׁה֙vik.ShahH1245nothingדָּבָ֔רda.VarH1697but what Hegaiהֵגַ֥יhe.GaiH1896the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428chamberlainסְרִיס־se.ris-H5631,the keeperשֹׁמֵ֣רsho.MerH8104of the womenהַנָּשִׁ֑יםha.na.ShimH802,appointedיֹאמַ֛רyo.MarH559.And Estherאֶסְתֵּר֙'es.TerH635obtainedנֹשֵׂ֣אתno.SetH5375favourחֵ֔ןChenH2580in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֖יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of all them that lookedרֹאֶֽיהָ׃ro.'Ei.haH7200upon her.

16So Estherאֶסְתֵּ֜ר'es.TerH635was takenוַתִּלָּקַ֨חva.ti.la.KachH3947unto kingהַמֶּ֤לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ֙'a.chash.ve.ro.VoshH325into his houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004royalמַלְכוּת֔וֹmal.khu.ToH4438in the tenthהָעֲשִׂירִ֖יha.'a.si.RiH6224monthבַּחֹ֥דֶשׁba.Cho.deshH2320, which isthe monthחֹ֣דֶשׁCho.deshH2320Tebethטֵבֵ֑תte.VetH2887,in the seventhשֶׁ֖בַעShe.va'H7651yearבִּשְׁנַת־bish.nat-H8141of his reignלְמַלְכוּתֽוֹ׃le.mal.khu.ToH4438.

17And the kingהַמֶּ֤לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428lovedוַיֶּאֱהַ֨בvai.ye.'e.HavH157Estherאֶסְתֵּר֙'es.TerH635above all the womenהַנָּשִׁ֔יםha.na.ShimH802,and she obtainedוַתִּשָּׂא־va.ti.sa'-H5375graceחֵ֥ןchenH2580and favourוָחֶ֛סֶדva.Che.sedH2617in his sightלְפָנָ֖יוle.fa.NavH6440more than all the virginsהַבְּתוּלֹ֑תha.be.tu.LotH1330;so that he setוַיָּ֤שֶׂםvai.Ya.semH7760the royalמַלְכוּת֙mal.KhutH4438crownכֶּֽתֶר־ke.ter-H3804upon her headבְּרֹאשָׁ֔הּbe.ro.ShahH7218,and made her queenוַיַּמְלִיכֶ֖הָvai.yam.li.Khe.haH4427instead of Vashtiוַשְׁתִּֽי׃vash.TiH2060.

18Then the kingהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428madeוַיַּ֨עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213a greatגָד֗וֹלga.DolH1419feastמִשְׁתֶּ֣הmish.TehH4960unto all his princesשָׂרָיו֙sa.RavH8269and his servantsוַעֲבָדָ֔יוva.'a.va.DavH5650, evenEsther’sאֶסְתֵּ֑ר'es.TerH635feastמִשְׁתֵּ֣הmish.TehH4960;and he madeעָשָׂ֔ה'a.SahH6213a releaseוַהֲנָחָ֤הva.ha.na.ChahH2010to the provincesלַמְּדִינוֹת֙la.me.di.nOtH4082,and gaveוַיִּתֵּ֥ןvai.yi.TenH5414giftsמַשְׂאֵ֖תmas.'EtH4864,according to the stateכְּיַ֥דke.YadH3027of the kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428.

19And when the virginsבְּתוּל֖וֹתbe.tu.LotH1330were gathered togetherוּבְהִקָּבֵ֥ץu.ve.hi.ka.VetzH6908the second timeשֵׁנִ֑יתshe.NitH8145,then Mordecaiוּמָרְדֳּכַ֖יu.ma.re.do.KhaiH4782satיֹשֵׁ֥בyo.ShevH3427in the king’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428gateבְּשַֽׁעַר־be.sha.'ar-H8179.

20Estherאֶסְתֵּ֗ר'es.TerH635had not yetshewedמַגֶּ֤דֶתma.Ge.detH5046her kindredמֽוֹלַדְתָּהּ֙mo.lad.TahH4138nor her peopleעַמָּ֔הּ'a.MahH5971;as Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכָ֑יma.re.do.KhaiH4782had chargedצִוָּ֥הtzi.VahH6680her: for Estherאֶסְתֵּ֣ר'es.TerH635didעֹשָׂ֔ה'o.SahH6213the commandmentמַאֲמַ֤רma.'a.MarH3982of Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַי֙ma.re.do.KhaiH4782,like as when she was brought upבְאָמְנָ֖הve.'a.me.NahH545with him.

21In those daysבַּיָּמִ֣יםbai.ya.MimH3117,while Mordecaiוּמָרְדֳּכַ֖יu.ma.re.do.KhaiH4782satיֹשֵׁ֣בyo.ShevH3427in the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428gateבְּשַֽׁעַר־be.sha.'ar-H8179,twoשְׁנֵֽי־she.nei-H8147of the king’sהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428chamberlainsסָרִיסֵ֤יsa.ri.SeiH5631,Bigthanבִּגְתָ֨ןbig.TanH904and Tereshוָתֶ֜רֶשׁva.Te.reshH8657,of those which keptמִשֹּׁמְרֵ֣יmi.sho.me.ReiH8104the doorהַסַּ֔ףha.SafH5592,were wrothקָצַף֩ka.TzafH7107,and soughtוַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙vay.vak.ShuH1245to layלִשְׁלֹ֣חַlish.Lo.achH7971handיָ֔דYadH3027on the kingבַּמֶּ֖לֶךְba.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵֽרֹשׁ׃'a.chash.Ve.roshH325.

22And the thingהַדָּבָר֙ha.da.VarH1697was knownוַיִּוָּדַ֤עvai.yi.va.Da'H3045to Mordecaiלְמָרְדֳּכַ֔יle.ma.re.do.KhaiH4782,who toldוַיַּגֵּ֖דvai.ya.GedH5046itunto Estherלְאֶסְתֵּ֣רle.'es.TerH635the queenהַמַּלְכָּ֑הha.mal.KahH4436;and Estherאֶסְתֵּ֛ר'es.TerH635certifiedוַתֹּ֧אמֶרva.To.merH559the kingלַמֶּ֖לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428thereofin Mordecai’sמָרְדֳּכָֽי׃ma.re.do.KhaiH4782nameבְּשֵׁ֥םbe.ShemH8034.

23And when inquisitionוַיְבֻקַּ֤שׁvay.vu.KashH1245was made of the matterהַדָּבָר֙ha.da.VarH1697,it was found outוַיִּמָּצֵ֔אvai.yi.ma.Tze'H4672;therefore they were bothשְׁנֵיהֶ֖םshe.nei.HemH8147hangedוַיִּתָּל֥וּvai.yi.ta.LuH8518on a treeעֵ֑ץ'EtzH6086:and it was writtenוַיִּכָּתֵ֗בvai.yi.ka.TevH3789in the bookבְּסֵ֛פֶרbe.Se.ferH5612of the chroniclesדִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖יםdiv.Rei hai.ya.MimH3117 H1697beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440the kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ פha.Me.lekhH4428.

Commentaries on Esther 2