Chapter 2
Seeking Vashti’s Successor
1
Some time later…,… when the anger of King Xerxes had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done, and what had been decreed against her.
𐤀𐤇𐤓 𐤄𐤃𐤁𐤓𐤉𐤌 𐤄𐤀𐤋𐤄 𐤇𐤌𐤕 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤇𐤔𐤅𐤓𐤅𐤔 𐤊𐤔𐤊 𐤆𐤊𐤓 𐤀𐤕 𐤅𐤔𐤕𐤉 𐤅𐤀𐤕 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤏𐤔𐤕𐤄 𐤅𐤀𐤕 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤍𐤂𐤆𐤓 𐤏𐤋𐤉𐤄
אַחַר֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה חֲמַ֖ת הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ כְּשֹׁ֕ךְ זָכַ֤ר אֶת־ וַשְׁתִּי֙ וְאֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־ עָשָׂ֔תָה וְאֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־ נִגְזַ֖ר עָלֶֽיהָ׃ ’a·ḥar had·də·ḇā·rîm hā·’êl·leh ḥă·maṯ ham·me·leḵ ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš kə·šōḵ zā·ḵar ’eṯ- waš·tî wə·’êṯ ’ă·šer- ‘ā·śā·ṯāh wə·’êṯ ’ă·šer- niḡ·zar ‘ā·le·hā — WLC · 1
2
Then the king’s attendants… proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful… young virgins for the king,
𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤍𐤏𐤓𐤉 𐤌𐤔𐤓𐤕𐤉𐤅 𐤅𐤉𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤅 𐤉𐤁𐤒𐤔𐤅 𐤈𐤅𐤁𐤅𐤕 𐤌𐤓𐤀𐤄 𐤍𐤏𐤓𐤅𐤕 𐤁𐤕𐤅𐤋𐤅𐤕 𐤋𐤌𐤋𐤊
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ נַעֲרֵֽי־ מְשָׁרְתָ֑יו וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ יְבַקְשׁ֥וּ טוֹב֥וֹת מַרְאֶֽה׃ נְעָר֥וֹת בְּתוּל֖וֹת לַמֶּ֛לֶךְ ham·me·leḵ na·‘ă·rê- mə·šā·rə·ṯāw way·yō·mə·rū yə·ḇaq·šū ṭō·w·ḇō·wṯ mar·’eh nə·‘ā·rō·wṯ bə·ṯū·lō·wṯ lam·me·leḵ — WLC · 2
3
and let the king appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom to assemble all the beautiful… young women into the harem… at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the women, and let [them] be given beauty treatments.
𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤅𐤉𐤐𐤒𐤃 𐤐𐤒𐤉𐤃𐤉𐤌 𐤁𐤊𐤋 𐤌𐤃𐤉𐤍𐤅𐤕 𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤅𐤕𐤅 𐤅𐤉𐤒𐤁𐤑𐤅 𐤀𐤕 𐤊𐤋 𐤈𐤅𐤁𐤕 𐤌𐤓𐤀𐤄 𐤍𐤏𐤓𐤄 𐤁𐤕𐤅𐤋𐤄 𐤀𐤋 𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤄𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤋 𐤄𐤁𐤉𐤓𐤄 𐤔𐤅𐤔𐤍 𐤀𐤋 𐤉𐤃 𐤄𐤂𐤀 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤎𐤓𐤉𐤎 𐤔𐤌𐤓 𐤄𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤍𐤕𐤅𐤍 𐤕𐤌𐤓𐤅𐤒𐤉𐤄𐤍
הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ וְיַפְקֵ֨ד פְּקִידִים֮ בְּכָל־ מְדִינ֣וֹת מַלְכוּתוֹ֒ וְיִקְבְּצ֣וּ אֶת־ כָּל־ טוֹבַ֨ת מַרְאֶ֜ה נַעֲרָֽה־ בְ֠תוּלָה אֶל־ בֵּ֣ית הַנָּשִׁ֔ים אֶל־ הַבִּירָה֙ שׁוּשַׁ֤ן אֶל־ יַ֥ד הֵגֶ֛א הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ סְרִ֥יס שֹׁמֵ֣ר הַנָּשִׁ֑ים וְנָת֖וֹן תַּמְרוּקֵיהֶֽן׃ ham·me·leḵ wə·yap̄·qêḏ pə·qî·ḏîm bə·ḵāl mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ mal·ḵū·ṯōw wə·yiq·bə·ṣū ’eṯ- kāl- ṭō·w·ḇaṯ mar·’eh na·‘ă·rāh- ḇə·ṯū·lāh ’el- bêṯ han·nā·šîm ’el- hab·bî·rāh šū·šan ’el- yaḏ hê·ḡe ham·me·leḵ sə·rîs šō·mêr han·nā·šîm wə·nā·ṯō·wn tam·rū·qê·hen — WLC · 3
4
Then let the young woman who pleases… the king become queen in place of Vashti.” This suggestion pleased… the king, and he acted accordingly.
𐤅𐤄𐤍𐤏𐤓𐤄 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤕𐤉𐤈𐤁 𐤁𐤏𐤉𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤕𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤕𐤇𐤕 𐤅𐤔𐤕𐤉 𐤄𐤃𐤁𐤓 𐤅𐤉𐤉𐤈𐤁 𐤁𐤏𐤉𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤅𐤉𐤏𐤔 𐤊𐤍𐤎
וְהַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּיטַב֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ תִּמְלֹ֖ךְ תַּ֣חַת וַשְׁתִּ֑י הַדָּבָ֛ר וַיִּיטַ֧ב בְּעֵינֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וַיַּ֥עַשׂ כֵּֽן׃ס wə·han·na·‘ă·rāh ’ă·šer tî·ṭaḇ bə·‘ê·nê ham·me·leḵ tim·lōḵ ta·ḥaṯ waš·tî had·dā·ḇār way·yî·ṭaḇ bə·‘ê·nê ham·me·leḵ way·ya·‘aś kên — WLC · 4
Esther Finds Favor
5
[Now] there was at the citadel of Susa a Jewish man from the tribe of Benjamin named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish.
𐤄𐤉𐤄 𐤄𐤁𐤉𐤓𐤄 𐤁𐤔𐤅𐤔𐤍 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤃𐤉 𐤀𐤉𐤔 𐤀𐤉𐤔 𐤉𐤌𐤉𐤍𐤉 𐤅𐤔𐤌𐤅 𐤌𐤓𐤃𐤊𐤉 𐤁𐤍 𐤉𐤀𐤉𐤓 𐤁𐤍 𐤔𐤌𐤏𐤉 𐤁𐤍 𐤒𐤉𐤔
הָיָ֖ה הַבִּירָ֑ה בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן יְהוּדִ֔י אִ֣ישׁ אִ֥ישׁ יְמִינִֽי׃ וּשְׁמ֣וֹ מָרְדֳּכַ֗י בֶּ֣ן יָאִ֧יר בֶּן־ שִׁמְעִ֛י בֶּן־ קִ֖ישׁ hā·yāh hab·bî·rāh bə·šū·šan yə·hū·ḏî ’îš ’îš yə·mî·nî ū·šə·mōw mā·rə·do·ḵay ben yā·’îr ben- šim·‘î ben- qîš — WLC · 5
6
He had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon among those taken captive - with Jeconiah king of Judah -.
𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤄𐤂𐤋𐤄 𐤌𐤉𐤓𐤅𐤔𐤋𐤉𐤌 𐤍𐤁𐤅𐤊𐤃𐤍𐤀𐤑𐤓 𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤁𐤁𐤋 𐤏𐤌 𐤄𐤂𐤋𐤄 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤄𐤂𐤋𐤕𐤄 𐤏𐤌 𐤉𐤊𐤍𐤉𐤄 𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤃𐤄 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤄𐤂𐤋𐤄
אֲשֶׁ֤ר הָגְלָה֙ מִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔יִם נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֖ר מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶֽל׃ עִם־ הַגֹּלָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָגְלְתָ֔ה עִ֖ם יְכָנְיָ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־ יְהוּדָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶגְלָ֔ה ’ă·šer hā·ḡə·lāh mî·rū·šā·la·yim nə·ḇū·ḵaḏ·neṣ·ṣar me·leḵ bā·ḇel ‘im- hag·gō·lāh ’ă·šer hā·ḡə·lə·ṯāh ‘im yə·ḵā·nə·yāh me·leḵ- yə·hū·ḏāh ’ă·šer heḡ·lāh — WLC · 6
7
And [Mordecai] had brought up Hadassah (that is, Esther), the daughter of his uncle, because she did not have a father or mother. The young woman was lovely in form and appearance, and when her father and mother had died, Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter.
𐤅𐤉𐤄𐤉 𐤀𐤌𐤍 𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤃𐤎𐤄 𐤄𐤉𐤀 𐤀𐤎𐤕𐤓 𐤁𐤕 𐤃𐤃𐤅 𐤊𐤉 𐤀𐤉𐤍 𐤋𐤄 𐤀𐤁 𐤅𐤀𐤌 𐤅𐤄𐤍𐤏𐤓𐤄 𐤉𐤐𐤕 𐤕𐤀𐤓 𐤅𐤈𐤅𐤁𐤕 𐤌𐤓𐤀𐤄 𐤀𐤁𐤉𐤄 𐤅𐤀𐤌𐤄 𐤅𐤁𐤌𐤅𐤕 𐤌𐤓𐤃𐤊𐤉 𐤋𐤒𐤇𐤄 𐤋𐤅 𐤋𐤁𐤕
וַיְהִ֨י אֹמֵ֜ן אֶת־ הֲדַסָּ֗ה הִ֤יא אֶסְתֵּר֙ בַּת־ דֹּד֔וֹ כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין לָ֖הּ אָ֣ב וָאֵ֑ם וְהַנַּעֲרָ֤ה יְפַת־ תֹּ֙אַר֙ וְטוֹבַ֣ת מַרְאֶ֔ה אָבִ֙יהָ֙ וְאִמָּ֔הּ וּבְמ֤וֹת מָרְדֳּכַ֛י לְקָחָ֧הּ ל֖וֹ לְבַֽת׃ way·hî ’ō·mên ’eṯ- hă·ḏas·sāh hî ’es·têr baṯ- dō·ḏōw kî ’ên lāh ’āḇ wā·’êm wə·han·na·‘ă·rāh yə·p̄aṯ- tō·’ar wə·ṭō·w·ḇaṯ mar·’eh ’ā·ḇî·hā wə·’im·māh ū·ḇə·mō·wṯ mā·rə·do·ḵay lə·qā·ḥāh lōw lə·ḇaṯ — WLC · 7
8
When the king’s command and edict had been proclaimed, many young women gathered at the citadel of Susa under the care of Hegai. Esther was also taken to the palace… and placed under the care of Hegai, the custodian of the women.
𐤅𐤉𐤄𐤉 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤃𐤁𐤓 𐤅𐤃𐤕𐤅 𐤁𐤄𐤔𐤌𐤏 𐤓𐤁𐤅𐤕 𐤍𐤏𐤓𐤅𐤕 𐤅𐤁𐤄𐤒𐤁𐤑 𐤀𐤋 𐤄𐤁𐤉𐤓𐤄 𐤔𐤅𐤔𐤍 𐤀𐤋 𐤉𐤃 𐤄𐤂𐤉 𐤀𐤎𐤕𐤓 𐤅𐤕𐤋𐤒𐤇 𐤀𐤋 𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤋 𐤉𐤃 𐤄𐤂𐤉 𐤔𐤌𐤓 𐤄𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤌
וַיְהִ֗י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ דְּבַר־ וְדָת֔וֹ בְּהִשָּׁמַ֤ע רַבּ֛וֹת נְעָר֥וֹת וּֽבְהִקָּבֵ֞ץ אֶל־ הַבִּירָ֖ה שׁוּשַׁ֥ן אֶל־ יַ֣ד הֵגָ֑י אֶסְתֵּר֙ וַתִּלָּקַ֤ח אֶל־ בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֶל־ יַ֥ד הֵגַ֖י שֹׁמֵ֥ר הַנָּשִֽׁים׃ way·hî ham·me·leḵ də·ḇar- wə·ḏā·ṯōw bə·hiš·šā·ma‘ rab·bō·wṯ nə·‘ā·rō·wṯ ū·ḇə·hiq·qā·ḇêṣ ’el- hab·bî·rāh šū·šan ’el- yaḏ hê·ḡāy ’es·têr wat·til·lā·qaḥ ’el- bêṯ ham·me·leḵ ’el- yaḏ hê·ḡay šō·mêr han·nā·šîm — WLC · 8
9
And the young woman pleased him… and obtained his favor, so he quickly provided her with beauty treatments and the special diet -. He assigned to her seven select maidservants from the palace… and transferred her with them to the best place in the harem.
𐤄𐤍𐤏𐤓𐤄 𐤅𐤕𐤉𐤈𐤁 𐤁𐤏𐤉𐤍𐤉𐤅 𐤅𐤕𐤔𐤀 𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉𐤅 𐤇𐤎𐤃 𐤅𐤉𐤁𐤄𐤋 𐤀𐤕 𐤋𐤕𐤕 𐤋𐤄 𐤕𐤌𐤓𐤅𐤒𐤉𐤄 𐤅𐤀𐤕 𐤌𐤍𐤅𐤕𐤄 𐤅𐤀𐤕 𐤋𐤕𐤕 𐤋𐤄 𐤔𐤁𐤏 𐤄𐤓𐤀𐤉𐤅𐤕 𐤄𐤍𐤏𐤓𐤅𐤕 𐤌𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤅𐤉𐤔𐤍𐤄 𐤅𐤀𐤕 𐤍𐤏𐤓𐤅𐤕𐤉𐤄 𐤋𐤈𐤅𐤁 𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤄𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤌
הַנַּעֲרָ֣ה וַתִּיטַ֨ב בְעֵינָיו֮ וַתִּשָּׂ֣א לְפָנָיו֒ חֶ֣סֶד וַ֠יְבַהֵל אֶת־ לָתֵ֣ת לָ֔הּ תַּמְרוּקֶ֤יהָ וְאֶת־ מָנוֹתֶ֙הָ֙ וְאֵת֙ לָֽתֶת־ לָ֖הּ שֶׁ֣בַע הָרְאֻי֥וֹת הַנְּעָר֔וֹת מִבֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיְשַׁנֶּ֧הָ וְאֶת־ נַעֲרוֹתֶ֛יהָ לְט֖וֹב בֵּ֥ית הַנָּשִֽׁים׃ han·na·‘ă·rāh wat·tî·ṭaḇ ḇə·‘ê·nāw wat·tiś·śā lə·p̄ā·nāw ḥe·seḏ way·ḇa·hêl ’eṯ- lā·ṯêṯ lāh tam·rū·qe·hā wə·’eṯ- mā·nō·w·ṯe·hā wə·’êṯ lā·ṯeṯ- lāh še·ḇa‘ hā·rə·’u·yō·wṯ han·nə·‘ā·rō·wṯ mib·bêṯ ham·me·leḵ way·šan·ne·hā wə·’eṯ- na·‘ă·rō·w·ṯe·hā lə·ṭō·wḇ bêṯ han·nā·šîm — WLC · 9
10
Esther did not reveal her people or her lineage, because Mordecai had instructed her not to do so.
𐤀𐤎𐤕𐤓 𐤀𐤕 𐤋𐤀 𐤄𐤂𐤉𐤃𐤄 𐤏𐤌𐤄 𐤅𐤀𐤕 𐤌𐤅𐤋𐤃𐤕𐤄 𐤊𐤉 𐤌𐤓𐤃𐤊𐤉 𐤑𐤅𐤄 𐤏𐤋𐤉𐤄 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤋𐤀 𐤕𐤂𐤉𐤃
אֶסְתֵּ֔ר אֶת־ לֹא־ הִגִּ֣ידָה עַמָּ֖הּ וְאֶת־ מֽוֹלַדְתָּ֑הּ כִּ֧י מָרְדֳּכַ֛י צִוָּ֥ה עָלֶ֖יהָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־ תַגִּֽיד׃ ’es·têr ’eṯ- lō- hig·gî·ḏāh ‘am·māh wə·’eṯ- mō·w·laḏ·tāh kî mā·rə·do·ḵay ṣiw·wāh ‘ā·le·hā ’ă·šer lō- ṯag·gîḏ — WLC · 10
11
And every day… Mordecai would walk back and forth in front of the court of the harem… to learn about Esther’s welfare and what was happening to her.
𐤅𐤁𐤊𐤋 𐤉𐤅𐤌 𐤅𐤉𐤅𐤌 𐤌𐤓𐤃𐤊𐤉 𐤌𐤕𐤄𐤋𐤊 𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉 𐤇𐤑𐤓 𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤄𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤋𐤃𐤏𐤕 𐤀𐤕 𐤀𐤎𐤕𐤓 𐤔𐤋𐤅𐤌 𐤅𐤌𐤄 𐤉𐤏𐤔𐤄 𐤁𐤄
וּבְכָל־ י֣וֹם וָי֔וֹם מָרְדֳּכַי֙ מִתְהַלֵּ֔ךְ לִפְנֵ֖י חֲצַ֣ר בֵּית־ הַנָּשִׁ֑ים לָדַ֙עַת֙ אֶת־ אֶסְתֵּ֔ר שְׁל֣וֹם וּמַה־ יֵּעָשֶׂ֖ה בָּֽהּ׃ ū·ḇə·ḵāl yō·wm wā·yō·wm mā·rə·do·ḵay miṯ·hal·lêḵ lip̄·nê ḥă·ṣar bêṯ- han·nā·šîm lā·ḏa·‘aṯ ’eṯ- ’es·têr šə·lō·wm ū·mah- yê·‘ā·śeh bāh — WLC · 11
12
In the twelve… months… before [her]… turn… to go to King Xerxes,… the harem regulation required each young woman to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months, and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months.
𐤔𐤍𐤉𐤌 𐤏𐤔𐤓 𐤇𐤃𐤔 𐤊𐤉 𐤊𐤍 𐤉𐤌𐤋𐤀𐤅 𐤉𐤌𐤉 𐤍𐤏𐤓𐤄 𐤅𐤍𐤏𐤓𐤄 𐤕𐤓 𐤅𐤁𐤄𐤂𐤉𐤏 𐤋𐤁𐤅𐤀 𐤀𐤋 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤇𐤔𐤅𐤓𐤅𐤔 𐤌𐤒𐤑 𐤄𐤉𐤅𐤕 𐤋𐤄 𐤄𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤊𐤃𐤕 𐤄𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤌𐤓𐤅𐤒𐤉𐤄𐤍 𐤁𐤔𐤌𐤍 𐤄𐤌𐤓 𐤔𐤔𐤄 𐤇𐤃𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤁𐤁𐤔𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤁𐤕𐤌𐤓𐤅𐤒𐤉 𐤅𐤔𐤔𐤄 𐤇𐤃𐤔𐤉𐤌
שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֣ר חֹ֔דֶשׁ כִּ֛י כֵּ֥ן יִמְלְא֖וּ יְמֵ֣י נַעֲרָ֨ה וְנַעֲרָ֜ה תֹּר֩ וּבְהַגִּ֡יעַ לָב֣וֹא׀ אֶל־ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ מִקֵּץ֩ הֱי֨וֹת לָ֜הּ הַנָּשִׁים֙ כְּדָ֤ת הַנָּשִֽׁים׃ מְרוּקֵיהֶ֑ן בְּשֶׁ֣מֶן הַמֹּ֔ר שִׁשָּׁ֤ה חֳדָשִׁים֙ בַּבְּשָׂמִ֔ים וּבְתַמְרוּקֵ֖י וְשִׁשָּׁ֤ה חֳדָשִׁים֙ šə·nêm ‘ā·śār ḥō·ḏeš kî kên yim·lə·’ū yə·mê na·‘ă·rāh wə·na·‘ă·rāh tōr ū·ḇə·hag·gî·a‘ lā·ḇō·w ’el- ham·me·leḵ ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš miq·qêṣ hĕ·yō·wṯ lāh han·nā·šîm kə·ḏāṯ han·nā·šîm mə·rū·qê·hen bə·še·men ham·mōr šiš·šāh ḥo·ḏā·šîm bab·bə·śā·mîm ū·ḇə·ṯam·rū·qê wə·šiš·šāh ḥo·ḏā·šîm — WLC · 12
13
When the young woman would go to the king, she was given whatever she requested to take with her from the harem… to the king’s palace.
𐤅𐤁𐤆𐤄 𐤄𐤍𐤏𐤓𐤄 𐤁𐤀𐤄 𐤀𐤋 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤕 𐤉𐤍𐤕𐤍 𐤋𐤄 𐤊𐤋 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤕𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤋𐤁𐤅𐤀 𐤏𐤌𐤄 𐤌𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤄𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤏𐤃 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤁𐤉𐤕
וּבָזֶ֕ה הַֽנַּעֲרָ֖ה בָּאָ֣ה אֶל־ הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ אֵת֩ יִנָּ֤תֵֽן לָהּ֙ כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֨ר תֹּאמַ֜ר לָב֣וֹא עִמָּ֔הּ מִבֵּ֥ית הַנָּשִׁ֖ים עַד־ הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ בֵּ֥ית ū·ḇā·zeh han·na·‘ă·rāh bā·’āh ’el- ham·me·leḵ ’êṯ yin·nā·ṯên lāh kāl- ’ă·šer tō·mar lā·ḇō·w ‘im·māh mib·bêṯ han·nā·šîm ‘aḏ- ham·me·leḵ bêṯ — WLC · 13
14
She would go [there] in the evening, and in the morning she would return to a second harem… under the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch in charge of the concubines. She would not return… to the king unless… he delighted in her and summoned her by name.
𐤄𐤉𐤀 𐤁𐤀𐤄 𐤁𐤏𐤓𐤁 𐤅𐤁𐤁𐤒𐤓 𐤄𐤉𐤀 𐤔𐤁𐤄 𐤀𐤋 𐤔𐤍𐤉 𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤄𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤋 𐤉𐤃 𐤔𐤏𐤔𐤂𐤆 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤎𐤓𐤉𐤎 𐤔𐤌𐤓 𐤄𐤐𐤉𐤋𐤂𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤋𐤀 𐤕𐤁𐤅𐤀 𐤏𐤅𐤃 𐤀𐤋 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤊𐤉 𐤀𐤌 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤇𐤐𐤑 𐤁𐤄 𐤅𐤍𐤒𐤓𐤀𐤄 𐤁𐤔𐤌
הִ֣יא בָאָ֗ה בָּעֶ֣רֶב׀ וּ֠בַבֹּקֶר הִ֣יא שָׁבָ֞ה אֶל־ שֵׁנִ֔י בֵּ֤ית הַנָּשִׁים֙ אֶל־ יַ֧ד שַֽׁעֲשְׁגַ֛ז הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ סְרִ֥יס שֹׁמֵ֣ר הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑ים לֹא־ תָב֥וֹא עוֹד֙ אֶל־ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּ֣י אִם־ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ חָפֵ֥ץ בָּ֛הּ וְנִקְרְאָ֥ה בְשֵֽׁם׃ hî ḇā·’āh bā·‘e·reḇ ū·ḇab·bō·qer hî šā·ḇāh ’el- šê·nî bêṯ han·nā·šîm ’el- yaḏ ša·‘ăš·ḡaz ham·me·leḵ sə·rîs šō·mêr hap·pî·laḡ·šîm lō- ṯā·ḇō·w ‘ō·wḏ ’el- ham·me·leḵ kî ’im- ham·me·leḵ ḥā·p̄êṣ bāh wə·niq·rə·’āh ḇə·šêm — WLC · 14
15
Now Esther [was] the daughter of Abihail, the uncle from whom Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter. And when it was her turn… to go to the king, she did not ask for anything except… what Hegai, the king’s trusted official in charge of the harem,… had advised. And Esther found favor in the eyes of everyone who saw her.
𐤀𐤎𐤕𐤓 𐤁𐤕 𐤀𐤁𐤉𐤇𐤉𐤋 𐤃𐤃 𐤌𐤓𐤃𐤊𐤉 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤋𐤒𐤇 𐤋𐤅 𐤋𐤁𐤕 𐤕𐤓 𐤅𐤁𐤄𐤂𐤉𐤏 𐤋𐤁𐤅𐤀 𐤀𐤋 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤋𐤀 𐤁𐤒𐤔𐤄 𐤃𐤁𐤓 𐤊𐤉 𐤀𐤌 𐤀𐤕 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤄𐤂𐤉 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤎𐤓𐤉𐤎 𐤔𐤌𐤓 𐤄𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤕𐤄𐤉 𐤉𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤀𐤎𐤕𐤓 𐤍𐤔𐤀𐤕 𐤇𐤍 𐤁𐤏𐤉𐤍𐤉 𐤊𐤋 𐤓𐤀𐤉𐤄
אֶסְתֵּ֣ר בַּת־ אֲבִיחַ֣יִל דֹּ֣ד מָרְדֳּכַ֡י אֲשֶׁר֩ לָקַֽח־ ל֨וֹ לְבַ֜ת תֹּר־ וּבְהַגִּ֣יעַ לָב֣וֹא אֶל־ הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ לֹ֤א בִקְשָׁה֙ דָּבָ֔ר כִּ֠י אִ֣ם אֶת־ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֵגַ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ סְרִיס־ שֹׁמֵ֣ר הַנָּשִׁ֑ים וַתְּהִ֤י יֹאמַ֛ר אֶסְתֵּר֙ נֹשֵׂ֣את חֵ֔ן בְּעֵינֵ֖י כָּל־ רֹאֶֽיהָ׃ ’es·têr baṯ- ’ă·ḇî·ḥa·yil dōḏ mā·rə·do·ḵay ’ă·šer lā·qaḥ- lōw lə·ḇaṯ tōr- ū·ḇə·hag·gî·a‘ lā·ḇō·w ’el- ham·me·leḵ lō ḇiq·šāh dā·ḇār kî ’im ’eṯ- ’ă·šer hê·ḡay ham·me·leḵ sə·rîs- šō·mêr han·nā·šîm wat·tə·hî yō·mar ’es·têr nō·śêṯ ḥên bə·‘ê·nê kāl- rō·’e·hā — WLC · 15
16
She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal palace in the tenth… month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
𐤀𐤎𐤕𐤓 𐤅𐤕𐤋𐤒𐤇 𐤀𐤋 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤇𐤔𐤅𐤓𐤅𐤔 𐤀𐤋 𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤅𐤕𐤅 𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤄𐤏𐤔𐤉𐤓𐤉 𐤄𐤅𐤀 𐤁𐤇𐤃𐤔 𐤇𐤃𐤔 𐤈𐤁𐤕 𐤔𐤁𐤏 𐤁𐤔𐤍𐤕 𐤋𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤅𐤕𐤅
אֶסְתֵּ֜ר וַתִּלָּקַ֨ח אֶל־ הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ֙ אֶל־ מַלְכוּת֔וֹ בֵּ֣ית הָעֲשִׂירִ֖י הוּא־ בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ חֹ֣דֶשׁ טֵבֵ֑ת שֶׁ֖בַע בִּשְׁנַת־ לְמַלְכוּתֽוֹ׃ ’es·têr wat·til·lā·qaḥ ’el- ham·me·leḵ ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš ’el- mal·ḵū·ṯōw bêṯ hā·‘ă·śî·rî hū- ba·ḥō·ḏeš ḥō·ḏeš ṭê·ḇêṯ še·ḇa‘ biš·naṯ- lə·mal·ḵū·ṯōw — WLC · 16
Esther Becomes Queen
17
And the king loved Esther more than all the [other] women, and she found grace and favor in his sight more than all of the other virgins. So he placed the royal crown upon her head and made her queen in place of Vashti.
𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤕 𐤅𐤉𐤀𐤄𐤁 𐤀𐤎𐤕𐤓 𐤌𐤊𐤋 𐤄𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤕𐤔𐤀 𐤇𐤍 𐤅𐤇𐤎𐤃 𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉𐤅 𐤌𐤊𐤋 𐤄𐤁𐤕𐤅𐤋𐤕 𐤅𐤉𐤔𐤌 𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤅𐤕 𐤊𐤕𐤓 𐤁𐤓𐤀𐤔𐤄 𐤅𐤉𐤌𐤋𐤉𐤊𐤄 𐤕𐤇𐤕 𐤅𐤔𐤕𐤉
הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ אֶת־ וַיֶּאֱהַ֨ב אֶסְתֵּר֙ מִכָּל־ הַנָּשִׁ֔ים וַתִּשָּׂא־ חֵ֥ן וָחֶ֛סֶד לְפָנָ֖יו מִכָּל־ הַבְּתוּלֹ֑ת וַיָּ֤שֶׂם מַלְכוּת֙ כֶּֽתֶר־ בְּרֹאשָׁ֔הּ וַיַּמְלִיכֶ֖הָ תַּ֥חַת וַשְׁתִּֽי׃ ham·me·leḵ ’eṯ- way·ye·’ĕ·haḇ ’es·têr mik·kāl han·nā·šîm wat·tiś·śā- ḥên wā·ḥe·seḏ lə·p̄ā·nāw mik·kāl hab·bə·ṯū·lōṯ way·yā·śem mal·ḵūṯ ke·ṯer- bə·rō·šāh way·yam·lî·ḵe·hā ta·ḥaṯ waš·tî — WLC · 17
18
Then the king held a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his officials and servants. He proclaimed a tax holiday in the provinces and gave gifts worthy of the king’s bounty.
𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤅𐤉𐤏𐤔 𐤂𐤃𐤅𐤋 𐤌𐤔𐤕𐤄 𐤀𐤎𐤕𐤓 𐤌𐤔𐤕𐤄 𐤋𐤊𐤋 𐤔𐤓𐤉𐤅 𐤅𐤏𐤁𐤃𐤉𐤅 𐤀𐤕 𐤏𐤔𐤄 𐤅𐤄𐤍𐤇𐤄 𐤋𐤌𐤃𐤉𐤍𐤅𐤕 𐤅𐤉𐤕𐤍 𐤌𐤔𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤊𐤉𐤃
הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ וַיַּ֨עַשׂ גָד֗וֹל מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה אֶסְתֵּ֑ר מִשְׁתֵּ֣ה לְכָל־ שָׂרָיו֙ וַעֲבָדָ֔יו אֵ֖ת עָשָׂ֔ה וַהֲנָחָ֤ה לַמְּדִינוֹת֙ וַיִּתֵּ֥ן מַשְׂאֵ֖ת הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ כְּיַ֥ד ham·me·leḵ way·ya·‘aś ḡā·ḏō·wl miš·teh ’es·têr miš·têh lə·ḵāl śā·rāw wa·‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw ’êṯ ‘ā·śāh wa·hă·nā·ḥāh lam·mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ way·yit·tên maś·’êṯ ham·me·leḵ kə·yaḏ — WLC · 18
19
When the virgins were assembled a second [time], Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.
𐤁𐤕𐤅𐤋𐤅𐤕 𐤅𐤁𐤄𐤒𐤁𐤑 𐤔𐤍𐤉𐤕 𐤅𐤌𐤓𐤃𐤊𐤉 𐤉𐤔𐤁 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤁𐤔𐤏𐤓
בְּתוּל֖וֹת וּבְהִקָּבֵ֥ץ שֵׁנִ֑ית וּמָרְדֳּכַ֖י יֹשֵׁ֥ב הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ בְּשַֽׁעַר־ bə·ṯū·lō·wṯ ū·ḇə·hiq·qā·ḇêṣ šê·nîṯ ū·mā·rə·do·ḵay yō·šêḇ ham·me·leḵ bə·ša·‘ar- — WLC · 19
20
Esther still had not revealed her lineage or her people, just as Mordecai had instructed… She obeyed Mordecai’s command, as she had done under his care…
𐤀𐤎𐤕𐤓 𐤀𐤉𐤍 𐤌𐤂𐤃𐤕 𐤌𐤅𐤋𐤃𐤕𐤄 𐤅𐤀𐤕 𐤏𐤌𐤄 𐤊𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤌𐤓𐤃𐤊𐤉 𐤅𐤀𐤕 𐤑𐤅𐤄 𐤏𐤋𐤉𐤄 𐤀𐤎𐤕𐤓 𐤏𐤔𐤄 𐤌𐤓𐤃𐤊𐤉 𐤌𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤊𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤄𐤉𐤕𐤄 𐤁𐤀𐤌𐤍𐤄 𐤀𐤕𐤅𐤎
אֶסְתֵּ֗ר אֵ֣ין מַגֶּ֤דֶת מֽוֹלַדְתָּהּ֙ וְאֶת־ עַמָּ֔הּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר מָרְדֳּכָ֑י וְאֶת־ צִוָּ֥ה עָלֶ֖יהָ אֶסְתֵּ֣ר עֹשָׂ֔ה מָרְדֳּכַי֙ מַאֲמַ֤ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר הָיְתָ֥ה בְאָמְנָ֖ה אִתּֽוֹ׃ס ’es·têr ’ên mag·ge·ḏeṯ mō·w·laḏ·tāh wə·’eṯ- ‘am·māh ka·’ă·šer mā·rə·do·ḵāy wə·’eṯ- ṣiw·wāh ‘ā·le·hā ’es·têr ‘ō·śāh mā·rə·do·ḵay ma·’ă·mar ka·’ă·šer hā·yə·ṯāh ḇə·’ā·mə·nāh ’it·tōw — WLC · 20
Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy
21
In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, grew angry and conspired to assassinate… King Xerxes.
𐤄𐤄𐤌 𐤁𐤉𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤌𐤓𐤃𐤊𐤉 𐤉𐤔𐤁 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤁𐤔𐤏𐤓 𐤁𐤂𐤕𐤍 𐤅𐤕𐤓𐤔 𐤔𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤎𐤓𐤉𐤎𐤉 𐤌𐤔𐤌𐤓𐤉 𐤄𐤎𐤐 𐤒𐤑𐤐 𐤅𐤉𐤁𐤒𐤔𐤅 𐤋𐤔𐤋𐤇 𐤉𐤃 𐤁𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤇𐤔𐤅𐤓𐤔
הָהֵ֔ם בַּיָּמִ֣ים וּמָרְדֳּכַ֖י יֹשֵׁ֣ב הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ בְּשַֽׁעַר־ בִּגְתָ֨ן וָתֶ֜רֶשׁ שְׁנֵֽי־ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ סָרִיסֵ֤י מִשֹּׁמְרֵ֣י הַסַּ֔ף קָצַף֩ וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙ לִשְׁלֹ֣חַ יָ֔ד בַּמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵֽרֹשׁ׃ hā·hêm bay·yā·mîm ū·mā·rə·do·ḵay yō·šêḇ ham·me·leḵ bə·ša·‘ar- biḡ·ṯān wā·ṯe·reš šə·nê- ham·me·leḵ sā·rî·sê miš·šō·mə·rê has·sap̄ qā·ṣap̄ way·ḇaq·šū liš·lō·aḥ yāḏ bam·me·leḵ ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rōš — WLC · 21
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When Mordecai learned of the plot, he reported it to Queen Esther, and she informed the king on Mordecai’s behalf…
𐤋𐤌𐤓𐤃𐤊𐤉 𐤅𐤉𐤅𐤃𐤏 𐤄𐤃𐤁𐤓 𐤅𐤉𐤂𐤃 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤄 𐤋𐤀𐤎𐤕𐤓 𐤀𐤎𐤕𐤓 𐤅𐤕𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤋𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤌𐤓𐤃𐤊𐤉 𐤁𐤔𐤌
לְמָרְדֳּכַ֔י וַיִּוָּדַ֤ע הַדָּבָר֙ וַיַּגֵּ֖ד הַמַּלְכָּ֑ה לְאֶסְתֵּ֣ר אֶסְתֵּ֛ר וַתֹּ֧אמֶר לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מָרְדֳּכָֽי׃ בְּשֵׁ֥ם lə·mā·rə·do·ḵay way·yiw·wā·ḏa‘ had·dā·ḇār way·yag·gêḏ ham·mal·kāh lə·’es·têr ’es·têr wat·tō·mer lam·me·leḵ mā·rə·do·ḵāy bə·šêm — WLC · 22
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After the report had been investigated and verified, both [officials] were hanged on the gallows. And all this was recorded in the Book of the Chronicles… in the presence of the king.
𐤄𐤃𐤁𐤓 𐤅𐤉𐤁𐤒𐤔 𐤅𐤉𐤌𐤑𐤀 𐤔𐤍𐤉𐤄𐤌 𐤅𐤉𐤕𐤋𐤅 𐤏𐤋 𐤏𐤑 𐤅𐤉𐤊𐤕𐤁 𐤁𐤎𐤐𐤓 𐤃𐤁𐤓𐤉 𐤄𐤉𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤐
הַדָּבָר֙ וַיְבֻקַּ֤שׁ וַיִּמָּצֵ֔א שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם וַיִּתָּל֥וּ עַל־ עֵ֑ץ וַיִּכָּתֵ֗ב בְּסֵ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃פ had·dā·ḇār way·ḇuq·qaš way·yim·mā·ṣê šə·nê·hem way·yit·tā·lū ‘al- ‘êṣ way·yik·kā·ṯêḇ bə·sê·p̄er diḇ·rê hay·yā·mîm lip̄·nê ham·me·leḵ — WLC · 23