Revised Literal Translation

Esther 3

1Afterאַחַ֣ר׀'a.CharH310these thingsהַדְּבָרִ֣יםha.de.va.RimH1697did kingהַמֶּ֨לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֜וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325promoteגִּדַּל֩gi.DalH1431Hamanהָמָ֧ןha.ManH2001the sonבֶּֽן־ben-H1121of Hammedathaהַמְּדָ֛תָאha.me.Da.ta'H4099the Agagiteהָאֲגָגִ֖יha.'a.ga.GiH91,and advancedוַֽיְנַשְּׂאֵ֑הוּvay.na.se.'E.huH5375him, and setוַיָּ֙שֶׂם֙vai.Ya.semH7760his seatכִּסְא֔וֹkis.'OH3678above all the princesהַשָּׂרִ֖יםha.sa.RimH8269that were with him.

2And all the king’sהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428servantsעַבְדֵ֨י'av.DeiH5650, that werein the king’sהַמֶּ֗לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428gateבְּשַׁ֣עַרbe.Sha.'arH8179,bowedכֹּרְעִ֤יםko.re.'ImH3766,and reverencedוּמִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִים֙u.mish.ta.cha.VimH7812Hamanלְהָמָ֔ןle.ha.ManH2001:for the kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428had so commandedצִוָּה־tzi.vah-H6680concerning him. But Mordecaiוּמָ֨רְדֳּכַ֔יu.Ma.re.do.KhaiH4782bowedיִכְרַ֖עyikh.Ra'H3766not, nor did himreverenceיִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶֽה׃Yish.ta.cha.VehH7812.

3Then the king’sהַמֶּ֛לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428servantsעַבְדֵ֥י'av.DeiH5650, which werein the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428gateבְּשַׁ֥עַרbe.Sha.'arH8179,saidוַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559unto Mordecaiלְמָרְדֳּכָ֑יle.ma.re.do.KhaiH4782,Why transgressestעוֹבֵ֔רo.VerH5674thou the king’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428commandmentמִצְוַ֥תmitz.VatH4687?

4Now it came to pass, when they spakeכְּאָמְרָ֤םke.'a.me.ramH559dailyH3117unto him, and he hearkenedשָׁמַ֖עsha.Ma'H8085not unto them, that they toldוַיַּגִּ֣ידוּvai.ya.Gi.duH5046Hamanלְהָמָ֗ןle.ha.ManH2001,to seeלִרְאוֹת֙lir.'OtH7200whether Mordecai’sמָרְדֳּכַ֔יma.re.do.KhaiH4782mattersדִּבְרֵ֣יdiv.ReiH1697would standהֲיַֽעַמְדוּ֙ha.ya.'am.DuH5975:for he had toldהִגִּ֥ידhi.GidH5046them that he wasa Jewיְהוּדִֽי׃ye.hu.DiH3064.

5And when Hamanהָמָ֔ןha.ManH2001sawוַיַּ֣רְאvai.Yar'H7200that Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֔יma.re.do.KhaiH4782bowedכֹּרֵ֥עַko.Re.a'H3766not, nor did him reverenceוּמִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖הu.mish.ta.cha.VehH7812,then was Hamanהָמָ֖ןha.ManH2001fullוַיִּמָּלֵ֥אvai.yi.ma.Le'H4390of wrathחֵמָֽה׃che.MahH2534.

6And he thoughtבְּעֵינָ֗יוbe.'ei.NavH5869scornוַיִּ֣בֶזvai.Yi.vezH959to layלִשְׁלֹ֤חlish.LochH7971handsיָד֙yadH3027on Mordecaiבְּמָרְדֳּכַ֣יbe.ma.re.do.KhaiH4782alone; for they had shewedהִגִּ֥ידוּhi.Gi.duH5046him the peopleעַ֣ם'amH5971of Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכָ֑יma.re.do.KhaiH4782:wherefore Hamanהָמָ֗ןha.ManH2001soughtוַיְבַקֵּ֣שׁvay.va.KeshH1245to destroyלְהַשְׁמִ֧ידle.hash.MidH8045all the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִ֛יםhai.ye.hu.DimH3064that werethroughout the whole kingdomמַלְכ֥וּתmal.KhutH4438of Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֖וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325, eventhe peopleעַ֥ם'amH5971of Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכָֽי׃ma.re.do.KhaiH4782.

7In the firstהָרִאשׁוֹן֙ha.ri.shOnH7223monthH2320, that is,the monthH2320Nisanנִיסָ֔ןni.SanH5212,in the twelfthשְׁתֵּ֣יםshe.TeimH6240 H8147yearבִּשְׁנַת֙bish.NatH8141of kingלַמֶּ֖לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325,they castH5307Purפּוּר֩purH6332, that is,the lotH1486,beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440Hamanהָמָ֗ןha.ManH2001from dayH3117to dayH3117,and from monthH2320to monthH2320, tothe twelfthשְׁנֵים־she.neim-H6240 H8147month, that is,the monthH2320Adarאֲדָֽר׃ ס'a.DarH143.

8And Hamanהָמָן֙ha.ManH2001saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto kingלַמֶּ֣לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325,There isיֶשְׁנ֣וֹyesh.NoH3426a certainאֶחָ֗ד'e.ChadH259peopleעַם־'am-H5971scattered abroadמְפֻזָּ֤רme.fu.ZarH6340and dispersedוּמְפֹרָד֙u.me.fo.RadH6504among the peopleהָֽעַמִּ֔יםha.'a.MimH5971in all the provincesמְדִינ֣וֹתme.di.NotH4082of thy kingdomמַלְכוּתֶ֑ךָmal.khu.Te.khaH4438;and their lawsוְדָתֵיהֶ֞םve.da.tei.HemH1881arediverseשֹׁנ֣וֹתsho.NotH8138from all peopleעָ֗ם'AmH5971;neither keepעֹשִׂ֔ים'o.SimH6213they the king’sהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428lawsדָּתֵ֤יda.TeiH1881: therefore it isnot for the king’sוְלַמֶּ֥לֶךְve.la.Me.lekhH4428profitשֹׁוֶ֖הsho.VehH7737to sufferH3240them.

9If it pleaseH2895the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,let it be writtenיִכָּתֵ֖בyi.ka.TevH3789that they may be destroyedלְאַבְּדָ֑םle.'a.be.DamH6:and I will payאֶשְׁקוֹל֙'esh.kOlH8254tenוַעֲשֶׂ֨רֶתva.'a.Se.retH6235thousandאֲלָפִ֜ים'a.la.FimH505talentsכִּכַּר־ki.kar-H3603of silverכֶּ֗סֶףKe.sefH3701to the handsיְדֵי֙ye.DeiH3027of those that have the chargeעֹשֵׂ֣י'o.SeiH6213of the businessהַמְּלָאכָ֔הha.me.la.KhahH4399,to bringלְהָבִ֖יאle.ha.Vi'H935itinto the king’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428treasuriesגִּנְזֵ֥יgin.ZeiH1595.

10And the kingהַמֶּ֛לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428tookוַיָּ֧סַרvai.Ya.sarH5493his ringטַבַּעְתּ֖וֹta.ba'.ToH2885from his handיָד֑וֹya.DoH3027,and gaveוַֽיִּתְּנָ֗הּvai.yi.te.NahH5414it unto Hamanלְהָמָ֧ןle.ha.ManH2001the sonבֶּֽן־ben-H1121of Hammedathaהַמְּדָ֛תָאha.me.Da.ta'H4099the Agagiteהָאֲגָגִ֖יha.'a.ga.GiH91,the Jews’הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃hai.ye.hu.DimH3064enemyצֹרֵ֥רtzo.RerH6887.

11And the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Hamanלְהָמָ֔ןle.ha.ManH2001,The silverהַכֶּ֖סֶףha.Ke.sefH3701isgivenנָת֣וּןna.TunH5414to thee, the peopleוְהָעָ֕םve.ha.'AmH5971also, to doלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213with them as it seemethבְּעֵינֶֽיךָ׃be.'ei.Nei.khaH5869goodכַּטּ֥וֹבka.TovH2896to thee.

12Then were the king’sהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428scribesH5608calledוַיִּקָּרְאוּ֩vai.yi.ka.re.'UH7121on the thirteenthבִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֨ה עָשָׂ֣רbish.lo.Shah 'a.SarH6240 H7969dayיוֹם֮yOmH3117of the firstהָרִאשׁ֗וֹןha.ri.ShonH7223monthבַּחֹ֣דֶשׁba.Cho.deshH2320,and there was writtenוַיִּכָּתֵ֣בvai.yi.ka.TevH3789according to all that Hamanהָמָ֡ןha.ManH2001had commandedצִוָּ֣הtzi.VahH6680unto the king’sהַ֠מֶּלֶךְHa.Me.lekhH4428lieutenantsאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנֵֽי־'a.chash.dar.pe.nei-H323,and to the governorsהַפַּח֞וֹתha.pa.ChotH6346that wereover every provinceH4082,and to the rulersשָׂ֤רֵיSa.reiH8269of every peopleH5971of every provinceH4082according to the writingכִּכְתָבָ֔הּkikh.ta.VahH3791thereof, and toevery peopleH5971after their languageכִּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹkil.sho.NoH3956;in the nameבְּשֵׁ֨םbe.ShemH8034of kingהַמֶּ֤לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרֹשׁ֙'a.chash.ve.RoshH325was it writtenנִכְתָּ֔בnikh.TavH3789,and sealedוְנֶחְתָּ֖םve.nech.TamH2856with the king’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428ringבְּטַבַּ֥עַתbe.ta.Ba.'atH2885.

13And the lettersסְפָרִ֜יםse.fa.RimH5612were sentוְנִשְׁל֨וֹחַve.nish.Lo.achH7971byבְּיַ֣דbe.YadH3027postsהָרָצִים֮ha.ra.TzimH7323into all the king’sהַמֶּלֶךְ֒ha.me.leKhH4428provincesמְדִינ֣וֹתme.di.NotH4082,to destroyלְהַשְׁמִ֡ידle.hash.MidH8045,to killלַהֲרֹ֣גla.ha.RogH2026,and to cause to perishוּלְאַבֵּ֣דu.le.'a.BedH6,all Jewsהַ֠יְּהוּדִיםHai.ye.hu.dimH3064,both youngמִנַּ֨עַרmi.Na.'arH5288and oldזָקֵ֜ןza.KenH2205,little childrenטַ֤ףtafH2945and womenוְנָשִׁים֙ve.na.ShimH802,in oneאֶחָ֔ד'e.ChadH259dayבְּי֣וֹםbe.YomH3117, evenupon the thirteenthבִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֛רbish.lo.Shah 'a.SarH6240 H7969dayof the twelfthשְׁנֵים־ עָשָׂ֖רshe.neim- 'a.SarH6240 H8147monthלְחֹ֥דֶשׁle.Cho.deshH2320,which is the monthחֹ֣דֶשׁCho.deshH2320Adarאֲדָ֑ר'a.DarH143, and to takethe spoilוּשְׁלָלָ֖םu.she.la.LamH7998of them for a preyלָבֽוֹז׃la.VozH962.

14The copyפַּתְשֶׁ֣גֶןpat.She.genH6572of the writingהַכְּתָ֗בha.ke.TavH3791for a commandmentדָּת֙datH1881to be givenלְהִנָּ֤תֵֽןle.hi.Na.tenH5414in every provinceH4082was publishedגָּל֖וּיga.LuiH1540unto all peopleהָֽעַמִּ֑יםha.'a.MimH5971,that they should be readyעֲתִדִ֖ים'a.ti.DimH6264against that dayלַיּ֥וֹםlai.YomH3117.

15The postsהָֽרָצִ֞יםha.ra.TzimH7323went outיָצְא֤וּya.tze.'UH3318,being hastenedדְחוּפִים֙de.chu.FimH1765by the king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428commandmentבִּדְבַ֣רbid.VarH1697,and the decreeוְהַדָּ֥תve.ha.DatH1881was givenנִתְּנָ֖הni.te.NahH5414in Shushanבְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ןbe.shu.ShanH7800the palaceהַבִּירָ֑הha.bi.RahH1002.And the kingוְהַמֶּ֤לֶךְve.ha.Me.lekhH4428and Hamanוְהָמָן֙ve.ha.ManH2001sat downיָשְׁב֣וּya.she.VuH3427to drinkלִשְׁתּ֔וֹתlish.TotH8354;but the cityוְהָעִ֥ירve.ha.'IrH5892Shushanשׁוּשָׁ֖ןshu.ShanH7800was perplexedנָבֽוֹכָה׃ פna.Vo.khahH943.

Commentaries on Esther 3