Revised Literal Translation

Esther 8

1On that dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117did the kingהַמֶּ֤לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ֙'a.chash.ve.ro.VoshH325giveנָתַ֞ןna.TanH5414the houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of Hamanהָמָ֖ןha.ManH2001the Jews’הַיְּהוּדִ֑יםhai.ye.hu.di.yimH3064enemyצֹרֵ֣רtzo.RerH6887unto Estherלְאֶסְתֵּ֣רle.'es.TerH635the queenהַמַּלְכָּ֔הha.mal.KahH4436.And Mordecaiוּמָרְדֳּכַ֗יu.ma.re.do.KhaiH4782cameבָּ֚אba'H935beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428;for Estherאֶסְתֵּ֖ר'es.TerH635had toldהִגִּ֥ידָהhi.Gi.dahH5046what he was unto her.

2And the kingהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428took offוַיָּ֨סַרvai.Ya.sarH5493his ringטַבַּעְתּ֗וֹta.ba'.ToH2885,which he had takenהֶֽעֱבִיר֙he.'e.VirH5674from Hamanמֵֽהָמָ֔ןme.ha.ManH2001,and gaveוַֽיִּתְּנָ֖הּvai.yi.te.NahH5414it unto Mordecaiלְמָרְדֳּכָ֑יle.ma.re.do.KhaiH4782.And Estherאֶסְתֵּ֛ר'es.TerH635setוַתָּ֧שֶׂםva.Ta.semH7760Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֖יma.re.do.KhaiH4782over the houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of Hamanהָמָֽן׃ פha.ManH2001.

3And Estherאֶסְתֵּ֗ר'es.TerH635spakeוַתְּדַבֵּר֙va.te.da.BerH1696yet againוַתּ֣וֹסֶףva.To.sefH3254beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,and fell downוַתִּפֹּ֖לva.ti.PolH5307atלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440his feetרַגְלָ֑יוrag.LavH7272,and besoughtוַתִּתְחַנֶּן־va.tit.cha.nen-H2603him with tearsוַתֵּ֣בְךְּva.Te.vekH1058to put awayלְהַֽעֲבִיר֙le.ha.'a.VirH5674the mischiefרָעַת֙ra.'AtH7451of Hamanהָמָ֣ןha.ManH2001the Agagiteהָֽאֲגָגִ֔יha.'a.ga.GiH91,and his deviceמַֽחֲשַׁבְתּ֔וֹma.cha.shav.ToH4284that he had devisedחָשַׁ֖בcha.ShavH2803against the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִֽים׃hai.ye.hu.DimH3064.

4Then the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428held outוַיּ֤וֹשֶׁטvai.Yo.o.shetH3447the goldenהַזָּהָ֑בha.za.HavH2091sceptreשַׁרְבִ֣טshar.VitH8275toward Estherלְאֶסְתֵּ֔רle.'es.TerH635.So Estherאֶסְתֵּ֔ר'es.TerH635aroseוַתָּ֣קָםva.Ta.komH6965,and stoodוַֽתַּעֲמֹ֖דva.ta.'a.ModH5975beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440the kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428,

5And saidוַ֠תֹּאמֶרVa.to.merH559,If it pleaseט֜וֹבTovH2896the kingהַמֶּ֨לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,and if I have foundמָצָ֧אתִיma.Tza.tiH4672favourחֵ֣ןchenH2580in his sightלְפָנָ֗יוle.fa.NavH6440,and the thingהַדָּבָר֙ha.da.VarH1697seemrightוְכָשֵׁ֤רve.kha.SherH3787beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428, and I bepleasingוְטוֹבָ֥הve.to.VahH2896in his eyesבְּעֵינָ֑יוbe.'ei.NavH5869,let it be writtenיִכָּתֵ֞בyi.ka.TevH3789to reverseלְהָשִׁ֣יבle.ha.ShivH7725the lettersהַסְּפָרִ֗יםha.se.fa.RimH5612devisedמַחֲשֶׁ֜בֶתma.cha.She.vetH4284by Hamanהָמָ֤ןha.ManH2001the sonבֶּֽן־ben-H1121of Hammedathaהַמְּדָ֙תָא֙ha.me.Da.ta'H4099the Agagiteהָאֲגָגִ֔יha.'a.ga.GiH91,which he wroteכָּתַ֗בka.TavH3789to destroyלְאַבֵּד֙le.'a.BedH6the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִ֔יםhai.ye.hu.DimH3064which arein all the king’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428provincesמְדִינ֥וֹתme.di.NotH4082:

6For howאֵיכָכָ֤ה'ei.kha.KhahH349can I endureאוּכַל֙'u.KhalH3201to seeוְֽרָאִ֔יתִיve.ra.'I.tiH7200the evilבָּרָעָ֖הba.ra.'AhH7451that shall comeיִמְצָ֣אyim.Tza'H4672unto my peopleעַמִּ֑י'a.MiH5971?or howוְאֵֽיכָכָ֤הve.'ei.kha.KhahH349can I endureאוּכַל֙'u.KhalH3201to seeוְֽרָאִ֔יתִיve.ra.'I.tiH7200the destructionבְּאָבְדַ֖ןbe.'a.ve.DanH13of my kindredמוֹלַדְתִּֽי׃ סmo.lad.TiH4138?

7Then the kingהַמֶּ֤לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרֹשׁ֙'a.chash.ve.RoshH325saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Estherלְאֶסְתֵּ֣רle.'es.TerH635the queenהַמַּלְכָּ֔הha.mal.KahH4436and to Mordecaiוּֽלְמָרְדֳּכַ֖יu.le.ma.re.do.KhaiH4782the Jewהַיְּהוּדִ֑יhai.ye.hu.DiH3064,Behold, I have givenנָתַ֣תִּיna.Ta.tiH5414Estherלְאֶסְתֵּ֗רle.'es.TerH635the houseבֵית־veit-H1004of Hamanהָמָ֜ןha.ManH2001,and him they have hangedתָּל֣וּta.LuH8518upon the gallowsהָעֵ֔ץha.'EtzH6086,because he laidשָׁלַ֥חsha.LachH7971his handיָד֖וֹya.DoH3027upon the Jewsבַּיְּהוּדִֽים׃bai.ye.hu.di.yimH3064.

8Writeכִּתְב֨וּkit.VuH3789ye also for the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִ֜יםhai.ye.hu.DimH3064,as it likethכַּטּ֤וֹבka.TovH2896youבְּעֵֽינֵיכֶם֙be.'ei.nei.KhemH5869,in the king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428nameבְּשֵׁ֣םbe.ShemH8034,and sealוְחִתְמ֖וּve.chit.MuH2856itwith the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428ringבְּטַבַּ֣עַתbe.ta.Ba.'atH2885:for the writingכְתָ֞בkhe.TavH3791which is writtenנִכְתָּ֣בnikh.TavH3789in the king’sהַמֶּ֗לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428nameבְּשֵׁם־be.shem-H8034,and sealedוְנַחְתּ֛וֹםve.nach.TomH2856with the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428ringבְּטַבַּ֥עַתbe.ta.Ba.'atH2885,may no man reverseלְהָשִֽׁיב׃le.ha.ShivH7725.

9Then were the king’sהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428scribesH5608calledוַיִּקָּרְא֣וּvai.yi.ka.re.'UH7121at that timeבָּֽעֵת־ba.'et-H6256in the thirdהַשְּׁלִישִׁ֜יha.she.li.ShiH7992monthבַּחֹ֨דֶשׁba.Cho.deshH2320, that is,the monthחֹ֣דֶשׁCho.deshH2320Sivanסִיוָ֗ןsi.VanH5510,on the threeבִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֣הbish.lo.ShahH7969and twentiethוְעֶשְׂרִים֮ve.'es.RimH6242daythereof; and it was writtenוַיִּכָּתֵ֣בvai.yi.ka.TevH3789according to all that Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֣יma.re.do.KhaiH4782commandedצִוָּ֣הtzi.VahH6680unto the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִ֡יםhai.ye.hu.DimH3064,and to the lieutenantsהָאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנִֽים־ha.'a.chash.dar.pe.nim-H323,and the deputiesוְהַפַּחוֹת֩ve.ha.pa.chOtH6346and rulersוְשָׂרֵ֨יve.sa.ReiH8269of the provincesH4082which arefrom Indiaמֵהֹ֣דּוּme.Ho.duH1912unto Ethiopiaכּ֗וּשׁKushH3568,an hundredוּמֵאָה֙u.me.'AhH3967twentyוְעֶשְׂרִ֤יםve.'es.RimH6242and sevenשֶׁ֣בַעShe.va'H7651provincesH4082,unto every provinceH4082according to the writingכִּכְתָבָ֔הּkikh.ta.VahH3791thereof, and unto every peopleH5971after their languageכִּלְשֹׁנ֑וֹkil.sho.NoH3956,and to the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִ֔יםhai.ye.hu.DimH3064according to their writingכִּכְתָבָ֖םkikh.ta.VamH3791,and according to their languageוְכִלְשׁוֹנָֽם׃ve.khil.sho.NamH3956.

10And he wroteוַיִּכְתֹּ֗בvai.yikh.ToH3789in the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerus’אֲחַשְׁוֵרֹ֔שׁ'a.chash.ve.RoshH325nameבְּשֵׁם֙be.ShemH8034,and sealedוַיַּחְתֹּ֖םvai.yach.TomH2856itwith the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428ringבְּטַבַּ֣עַתbe.ta.Ba.'atH2885,and sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֣חvai.yish.LachH7971lettersסְפָרִ֡יםse.fa.RimH5612byבְּיַד֩be.YadH3027postsהָרָצִ֨יםha.ra.TzimH7323on horsebackבַּסּוּסִ֜יםba.su.SimH5483, andridersרֹכְבֵ֤יro.khe.VeiH7392on mulesהָרֶ֙כֶשׁ֙ha.Re.kheshH7409,camelsהָֽאֲחַשְׁתְּרָנִ֔יםha.'a.chash.te.ra.NimH327, andyoungבְּנֵ֖יbe.NeiH1121dromedariesהָֽרַמָּכִֽים׃Ha.ra.ma.KhimH7424:

11Wherein the kingהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428grantedנָתַ֨ןna.TanH5414the Jewsלַיְּהוּדִ֣ים׀lai.ye.hu.DimH3064which werein every cityH5892to gather themselves togetherלְהִקָּהֵל֮le.hi.ka.HelH6950,and to standוְלַעֲמֹ֣דve.la.'a.ModH5975for their lifeנַפְשָׁם֒naf.ShamH5315,to destroyלְהַשְׁמִיד֩le.hash.MidH8045,to slayוְלַהֲרֹ֨גve.la.ha.RogH2026,and to cause to perishוּלְאַבֵּ֜דu.le.'a.BedH6,all the powerחֵ֨ילcheilH2428of the peopleעַ֧ם'amH5971and provinceוּמְדִינָ֛הu.me.di.NahH4082that would assaultהַצָּרִ֥יםha.tza.RimH6696them, bothlittle onesטַ֣ףtafH2945and womenוְנָשִׁ֑יםve.na.ShimH802, and to takethe spoilוּשְׁלָלָ֖םu.she.la.LamH7998of them for a preyלָבֽוֹז׃la.VozH962,

12Upon oneאֶחָ֔ד'e.ChadH259dayבְּי֣וֹםbe.YomH3117in all the provincesמְדִינ֖וֹתme.di.NotH4082of kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325, namely,upon the thirteenthבִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֛רbish.lo.Shah 'a.SarH6240 H7969dayof the twelfthשְׁנֵים־ עָשָׂ֖רshe.neim- 'a.SarH6240 H8147monthלְחֹ֥דֶשׁle.Cho.deshH2320, which isthe monthחֹ֥דֶשׁCho.deshH2320Adarאֲדָֽר׃'a.DarH143.

13The copyפַּתְשֶׁ֣גֶןpat.She.genH6572of the writingהַכְּתָ֗בha.ke.TavH3791for a commandmentדָּת֙datH1881to be givenלְהִנָּ֤תֵֽןle.hi.Na.tenH5414in every provinceH4082waspublishedגָּל֖וּיga.LuiH1540unto all peopleהָעַמִּ֑יםha.'a.MimH5971,and that the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִ֤יםhai.ye.hu.di.yimH3064should be readyעֲתִידִים֙a.tu.dimH6259 H6264against that dayלַיּ֣וֹםlai.YomH3117to avengeלְהִנָּקֵ֖םle.hi.na.KemH5358themselves on their enemiesמֵאֹיְבֵיהֶֽם׃me.'o.ye.vei.HemH341.

14Sothe postsהָרָצִ֞יםha.ra.TzimH7323that rodeרֹכְבֵ֤יro.khe.VeiH7392upon mulesהָרֶ֙כֶשׁ֙ha.Re.kheshH7409andcamelsהָֽאֲחַשְׁתְּרָנִ֔יםha.'a.chash.te.ra.NimH327went outיָֽצְא֛וּya.tze.'UH3318,being hastenedמְבֹהָלִ֥יםme.vo.ha.LimH926and pressed onוּדְחוּפִ֖יםu.de.chu.FimH1765by the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428commandmentבִּדְבַ֣רbid.VarH1697.And the decreeוְהַדָּ֥תve.ha.DatH1881was givenנִתְּנָ֖הni.te.NahH5414at Shushanבְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ןbe.shu.ShanH7800the palaceהַבִּירָֽה׃ פha.bi.RahH1002.

15And Mordecaiוּמָרְדֳּכַ֞יu.ma.re.do.KhaiH4782went outיָצָ֣א׀ya.Tza'H3318from the presenceמִלִּפְנֵ֣יmi.lif.NeiH6440of the kingהַמֶּ֗לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428in royalמַלְכוּת֙mal.KhutH4438apparelבִּלְב֤וּשׁbil.VushH3830of blueתְּכֵ֣לֶתte.Khe.letH8504and whiteוָח֔וּרva.ChurH2353,and with a greatגְּדוֹלָ֔הge.do.LahH1419crownוַעֲטֶ֤רֶתva.'a.Te.retH5850of goldזָהָב֙za.HavH2091,and with a garmentוְתַכְרִ֥יךְve.takh.RikhH8509of fine linenבּ֖וּץbutzH948and purpleוְאַרְגָּמָ֑ןve.'ar.ga.ManH713:and the cityוְהָעִ֣ירve.ha.'IrH5892of Shushanשׁוּשָׁ֔ןshu.ShanH7800rejoicedצָהֲלָ֖הtza.ha.LahH6670and was gladH8056.

16The Jewsלַיְּהוּדִ֕יםlai.ye.hu.DimH3064had lightאוֹרָ֖ה'o.RahH219,and gladnessוְשִׂמְחָ֑הve.sim.ChahH8057,and joyוְשָׂשֹׂ֖ןve.sa.SonH8342,and honourוִיקָֽר׃vi.KarH3366.

17And in every provinceH4082,and in every cityH5892,whithersoeverמְקוֹם֙me.kOmH4725the king’sהַמֶּ֤לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428commandmentדְּבַר־de.var-H1697and his decreeוְדָתוֹ֙ve.da.ToH1881cameמַגִּ֔יעַma.Gi.a'H5060,the Jewsלַיְּהוּדִ֔יםlai.ye.hu.DimH3064had joyשִׂמְחָ֤הsim.ChahH8057and gladnessוְשָׂשׂוֹן֙ve.sa.sOnH8342,a feastמִשְׁתֶּ֖הmish.TehH4960and a goodט֑וֹבTovH2896dayוְי֣וֹםve.YomH3117.And manyוְרַבִּ֞יםve.ra.BimH7227of the peopleמֵֽעַמֵּ֤יme.'a.MeiH5971of the landהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ha.'A.retzH776became Jewsמִֽתְיַהֲדִ֔יםmit.ya.ha.DimH3054;for the fearפַּֽחַד־pa.chad-H6343of the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִ֖יםhai.ye.hu.DimH3064fellנָפַ֥לna.FalH5307upon them.

Commentaries on Esther 8