unfoldingWord® Translation Questions

v91

Esther

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions

Date: 2026-09-26

Version: v91

Published by: unfoldingWord®

unfoldingWord® Literal Text

Date: 2026-09-26

Version: v91

Published by: unfoldingWord®

unfoldingWord® Simplified Text

Date: 2026-09-26

Version: v91

Published by: unfoldingWord®

Generated with: Door43 Preview

Version: 1.4.10

Date: 2026-09-26

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions - Esther

Esther 1
Esther 2
Esther 3
Esther 4
Esther 5
Esther 6
Esther 7
Esther 8
Esther 9
Esther 10

Esther

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:1

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Now it happened in the days of Ahasuerus (he was Ahasuerus, the one who ruled from India even as far as Ethiopia, 127 provinces);	This {is the story of something that} happened during the time that {a king named} Ahasuerus ruled {the land of Persia}. The empire of this King Ahasuerus had 127 provinces and included all of the territory between India {in the east} and Ethiopia {in the west}.

Over how much territory did Ahasuerus reign?

Ahasuerus ruled from India even as far as Ethiopia, 127 provinces.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:2

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in those days, as the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his royalty, which was in Susa the citadel:	At that time King Ahasuerus was ruling his empire from Susa, the capital city {of Persia}.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:3

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in year three of his reign, he made a feast for all his officials and his administrators, the army of Persia and Media, the noblemen, and the officials of the provinces before his face,	During the third year that Ahasuerus ruled his empire, he hosted a feast for all of his officials and for every important person who worked for him. He also invited the officers who served in the {combined} army of {the kingdoms of} Persia and Media, the wealthy landowners, and the officials of the provinces. The king was present in person {to host the feast}.

Who was in the king’s presence?

The officials of the provinces were “before his face,” meaning that they were in the king’s presence.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:4

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when he displayed the wealth of the glory of his kingdom and the splendor of the beauty of his greatness for many days, 180 days.	Ahasuerus entertained his guests fabulously because he wanted to demonstrate that his empire was extremely wealthy and that he was a very rich and powerful king. {The feast lasted} for six months.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:5

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And when those days were fulfilled, the king made a feast for all the people who were found in Susa the citadel, from the greatest even to the least, for seven days, in the courtyard of the garden of the palace of the king.	At the end of those six months, {after that feast was over,} the king hosted a {second} feast. This feast was for all of the people in the royal stronghold in Susa, including both rich and poor. He held this feast in the courtyard of his palace garden. It lasted for a whole week.

For whom did the king give the feast that lasted seven days?

The king made a feast for all the people who were found in Susa the citadel, from the greatest even to the least.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:6

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Linens cotton and blue were hanging by cords of byssus and purple on rings of silver and pillars of marble. Couches of gold and silver were on the pavement of porphyry and alabaster and pearl and precious stone.	{In the courtyard,} white and blue curtains were hanging from white and purple cords attached to silver rings on marble pillars. The guests reclined on couches made of gold and silver. These were set on a mosaic floor that was made of red marble, white marble, and pearl bordered with black marble.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:7

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And the serving was in vessels of gold, with vessels differing from other vessels, and the wine of royalty was abundant according to the hand of the king.	The attendants served wine in golden cups. {The king was so rich that he had a great many of these cups,} and no two of them were alike. The king had the attendants serve great amounts of his own royal wine to the guests.

Why was there much royal wine?

The wine of royalty was abundant according to the hand of the king. And the drinking was according to the law, “There is no compulsion.”

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:8

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And the drinking was according to the law “There is no compulsion,” for thus the king had established for every overseer of his house to do according to the desire of man by man.	Ahasuerus gave his guests a special privilege. He made the attendants who served the wine follow this rule: “No one has to drink if they do not want to.” All the guests could drink as little or as much as they wanted.

What were the king’s orders to all the overseers of his palace?

And the drinking was according to the law, “There is no compulsion,” for thus the king had established for every overseer of his house, to do according to the desire of man by man.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:9

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Also Vashti the queen made a feast of women in the palace of royalty that belonged to the king Ahasuerus.	{While the king was entertaining the men in the courtyard,} Queen Vashti, {his wife,} was hosting a feast for the women. She hosted it inside the royal palace where King Ahasuerus lived.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:10

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On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was pleased by the wine, he said to Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas (the seven eunuchs who served before the face of the king Ahasuerus),	On the seventh day, when King Ahasuerus was feeling good from drinking wine, he called the seven {castrated} guardians who served him personally. (Their names were Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Karkas.)

What did the king tell the seven officials who served before him?

To bring Vashti the queen before the king in a crown of royalty in order to show the people and the officials her beauty.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:11

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to bring Vashti the queen to the face of the king in a crown of royalty in order to show the people and the officials her beauty, for she was pleasing of appearance.	Queen Vashti was a very beautiful woman. Ahasuerus wanted the people and officials who served in the royal court to see how beautiful she was. So the king told his seven personal servants to bring Queen Vashti to him. He told them to have her wear her royal crown.

What did the king tell the seven officials who served before him?

The king said to bring Vashti the queen to the face of the king in a crown of royalty in order to show the people and the officials her beauty.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:12

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But the queen Vashti refused to come at the word of the king that was by the hand of the eunuchs. Then the king became very angry, and his rage burned within him.	But when the guardians came and told Queen Vashti what the king had commanded, she refused to come. {The guardians reported this to the king, and} the king became very enraged.

Why did the king become very angry?

The king became very angry because the queen Vashti refused to come at the word of the king that was by the hand of the eunuchs.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:13

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Then the king said to the wise men, who were knowers of the times (for thus was the manner of the king before the face of all those who were knowers of law and judgment,	It was the habit of the king to consult with certain advisors who knew the law and could make good decisions. So he spoke to those advisors, who knew the right way to do things.

With whom did the king confer?

The king consulted with the wise men, who were knowers of the times.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:14

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and the ones near to him were Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Mersena, Memukan, seven officials of Persia and Media who were seers of the face of the king, the ones who sat first in the kingdom):	The advisors whom the king relied on most were Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memukan. These seven officials were from various places in {the kingdoms of} Persia and Media. They advised the king personally. They were the most powerful officials in the empire.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:15

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“According to law, what is to be done with the queen Vashti on account of this, that she did not perform the command of the king Ahasuerus by the hand of the eunuchs?”	The king said to them, “I sent those guardians to Queen Vashti with a command, but she did not obey me. According to the law, what should we do with her?”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:16

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And Memukan replied before the face of the king and the officials, “Not toward the king alone has Vashti the queen done wrong, but toward all the officials and toward all the peoples who are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.	Then Memukan answered the king, {speaking loud enough that} both he and his officials could hear. He said, “Queen Vashti has done wrong, and not only against the king. She has also done wrong against all the officials and people groups in all the provinces that King Ahasuerus rules!

According to Memucan, against whom did Vashti do wrong?

Vashti the queen did wrong not only toward the king alone, but toward all the officials and toward all the people who were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:17

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For the matter of the queen will go out to all the women in order to make their husbands despised in their eyes when they say, ‘The king Ahasuerus said to bring Vashti the queen before his face, but she did not come.’	This is what will happen. Women all over the empire will hear about what the queen did. They will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded his servants to bring Queen Vashti to him, but she did not come! {So if even the queen can disobey the king, why should I have to obey my husband?}’ Then women will stop respecting their husbands.

What did Memukan say the women of Persia and Media would do?

Memukan said that what the queen did would become known to all the women in the kingdom of king Ahasuerus and that when the women of the kingdom found out what the queen had done they would despise their own husbands and say, “King Ahasuerus commanded his servants to bring Queen Vashti to him, but she did not come!”

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:18

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Now this day, the noblewomen of Persia and Media who have heard the matter of the queen will speak to all the officials of the king. And there will be contempt and wrath enough!	Even today, the leading women of Persia and Media will hear what the queen did. They will start to disobey {their husbands, even though they are} officials of the king. They will treat them with disrespect, and this will make their husbands angry with them. That will be bad enough by itself, {even if the news does not spread any farther}.

What did Memucan say the noble women of Persia and Media would do before the end of that very day?

For the matter of the queen will go out to all the women, in order to make their husbands despised in their eyes when they say, “The king Ahasuerus said to bring Vashti the queen before him, but she did not come.” Now this day, the noblewomen of Persia and Media who have heard the matter of the queen will speak to all the officials of the king; and there will be contempt and wrath enough!

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:19

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If it is good to the king, let a decree of royalty go out from before his face, and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media (which do not pass away) that Vashti shall never come before the face of the king Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royalty to her female neighbor, the woman who is better than she.	If it pleases you {to do so}, O king, you should personally issue a royal decree and have scribes add it to the laws of Persia and Media, which no one can change. {This decree should say} that Vashti can never come into your presence again. Then you should choose a different woman to be your queen, one who will obey you.

To whom would the king give Vashti’s position as queen?

The king would give his position to her female neighbor, the woman who is better than she.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:20

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And the decree of the king will be heard that he will make for all his kingdom, though it is great. Then all the women will give honor to their husbands, from the greatest to the least.”	That way, even though your empire is very large, everyone in it will hear about your decree {to punish Vashti for disobeying you}. Then all the women will respect and obey their husbands. This will be true of every husband in the empire.”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:21

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And the word seemed good in the eyes of the king and the officials. And the king acted according to the word of Memukan.	This seemed like a good idea to the king and his officials. So King Ahasuerus followed the advice of Memukan.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 1:22

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And he sent letters to all the provinces of the king, to province by province according to its own writing, and to people by people according to its own tongue: that every man should be ruling in his house and speaking according to the tongue of his people.	The king sent letters to every province in his empire. He wrote to every province using its own alphabet and to each people group in its own language. The letters said that men should be the masters over their wives and children. They also said that a husband should be able to give orders to his wife in his own native language {and that she should understand and obey}.

What did the king order?

The king sent letters that every man should be ruling in his house and speaking according to the tongue of his people.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:1

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After these things, when the rage of the king Ahasuerus subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done, and what had been decided concerning her.	Some time later, when King Ahasuerus no longer felt so angry, he started to miss Vashti. But when she disobeyed his command, he had made a decree that she could never come into his presence again.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:2

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And the young men of the king who served him said, “Let them seek for the king young women who are virgins and pleasing of appearance.	So some of the young men who attended the king said to him, “{Your majesty, you should get a new wife} for yourself. You could tell your servants to look for young virgins who are very beautiful.

What did the king’s young men recommend?

The king’s young men recommended that they seek for the king young women who were virgins and pleasing of appearance.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:3

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And let the king appoint administrators in all the provinces of his kingdom. Then let them gather every young woman who is a virgin and pleasing of appearance to Susa the citadel, to the house of women into the hand of Hegai (the eunuch of the king who is overseer of the women). Then give their ointments.	Also, you could assign officers in each province of your empire to bring every virgin who is very beautiful here to your capital city of Susa. They could stay in the harem for virgins under the custody of Hegai, the {castrated} royal guardian who takes care of the young women who live there. He could arrange for them to receive beauty treatments.

Under whose care would the virgins be put?

The virgins would be put into the hand of Hegai, the eunuch of the king who is overseer of the women. This means Hegai was the one who was responsible to take care of the virgins.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:4

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And let the young woman who is pleasing in the eyes of the king become queen instead of Vashti.” And the word was pleasing in the eyes of the king, so he did thus.	Then you could decide which young woman you liked the best, and you could make her queen instead of Vashti.” The king liked what they suggested, so he did it.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:5

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A man, a Jew, was in Susa the citadel, and his name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish (a man, a Benjamite,	At that time, there was a Jewish man named Mordecai living in the capital city of Susa. He was from the tribe of Benjamin. His father was named Jair, his grandfather was named Shimei, and his great-grandfather was named Kish.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:6

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who had been exiled from Jerusalem with the exiles who had been exiled along with Jeconiah, the king of Judah, who Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had exiled).	Many years earlier, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had taken Kish away from Jerusalem and brought him to Babylon along with many other captives. Nebuchadnezzar took them away from Jerusalem at the same time that he took King Jeconiah of Judah away from Jerusalem and brought him to Babylon.

Who had taken Kish from Jerusalem?

Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had taken Kish from Jerusalem.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:7

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And he was fostering Hadassah (she is Esther), the daughter of his uncle, because there was not for her a father or a mother. Now the young woman was beautiful of form and pleasing of appearance. And at the death of her father and her mother, Mordecai had taken her for him as a daughter.	Now Mordecai was taking care of his cousin, who was an orphan. Her {Hebrew} name was Hadassah, and her {Persian} name was Esther. When her father and mother died, Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter. Esther was now a young woman, and she was exceptionally attractive.

What was Esther’s other name?

Esther’s other name was Hadassah.

How was Esther related to Mordecai?

Esther was the daughter of Mordecai’s uncle.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:8

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And it happened that, when the decree of the king and his law were heard, and when many young women were gathered to Susa the citadel into the hand of Hegai, Esther was taken to the palace of the king, into the hand of Hegai (who was overseer of the women).	And so this is what happened: Messengers went {throughout the empire} and proclaimed the new law that the king had spoken. At the same time, the officers {whom the king had appointed in each province} brought many {beautiful} young women to the capital city of Susa and put them under the custody of Hegai. He was the man who took care of the young women {who lived in the harem for virgins}. {Because Esther was exceptionally attractive,} the officers also brought her to the king’s palace and put her under the custody of Hegai.

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And it happened that, when the decree of the king and his law were heard, and when many young women were gathered to Susa the citadel into the hand of Hegai, Esther was taken to the palace of the king, into the hand of Hegai (who was overseer of the women).

And so this is what happened: Messengers went {throughout the empire} and proclaimed the new law that the king had spoken. At the same time, the officers {whom the king had appointed in each province} brought many {beautiful} young women to the capital city of Susa and put them under the custody of Hegai. He was the man who took care of the young women {who lived in the harem for virgins}. {Because Esther was exceptionally attractive,} the officers also brought her to the king’s palace and put her under the custody of Hegai.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:9

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And the young woman was pleasing in his eyes, and she lifted kindness before his face. And he quickly gave her ointments, gave her portions of food, and gave her seven young women chosen from the house of the king. And he transferred her and her young women to the best of the house of women.	Hegai was very impressed with Esther, and he treated her favorably. He quickly arranged for Esther to receive her beauty treatments and her allotment of food. He also chose seven female servants from the king’s palace and assigned them to be her personal attendants. He also moved Esther and her attendants to the best rooms in the harem for virgins.

With what did Hegai provide Esther?

Hegai quickly gave her ointments, portions of food, and seven young women chosen from the house of the king.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:10

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Esther had not declared her people or her ancestry, for Mordecai had laid a charge upon her that she should not tell it.	Mordecai had warned Esther that she should not tell anyone what people group she was from. So she did not tell anyone that she was a Jew or who her relatives were.

Why had Esther not told anyone who her people or relatives were?

Esther had not declared her people or her ancestry, for Mordecai had laid a charge upon her that she should not tell it.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:11

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And always, day by day, Mordecai was walking about before the face of the courtyard of the house of women in order to know the peace of Esther and what was being done with her.	Mordecai wanted to know how Esther was doing and what was happening to her. So each and every day, he would walk around in front of the courtyard of the harem for virgins. That way he could ask people who were going in and out of the harem how she was doing.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:12

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Now when the turn came for young woman by young woman to go to the king Ahasuerus, it was after her 12 months, according to the law of women. For thus the days of their beautification would be fulfilled: six months by oil of myrrh, then six months by perfumes and by the ointments of women.	Each young woman in the harem, one at a time, was going to {have sexual relations with} King Ahasuerus {and become one of his concubines}. But before her turn came, each woman received a full year of beauty treatments, using techniques that had been developed for women {in Persia}. This is how the beauty treatments were completed: For the first six months, {a woman’s attendants would rub her body every day} with olive oil mixed with myrrh. For the next six months, {her attendants would rub her body every day} with perfumes and lotions designed for women.

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Now when the turn came for young woman by young woman to go to the king Ahasuerus, it was after her 12 months, according to the law of women. For thus the days of their beautification would be fulfilled: six months by oil of myrrh, then six months by perfumes and by the ointments of women.

Each young woman in the harem, one at a time, was going to {have sexual relations with} King Ahasuerus {and become one of his concubines}. But before her turn came, each woman received a full year of beauty treatments, using techniques that had been developed for women {in Persia}. This is how the beauty treatments were completed: For the first six months, {a woman’s attendants would rub her body every day} with olive oil mixed with myrrh. For the next six months, {her attendants would rub her body every day} with perfumes and lotions designed for women.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:13

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Then at this, the young woman would go to the king. Anything that she said would be given to her, to go with her from the house of women to the house of the king.	This is the way that they would prepare a young woman to go {and have sexual relations} with the king {and become one of his concubines}. She could take whatever clothing and jewelry she wanted from the harem for virgins and wear them when she went to the king’s palace.

When a young woman went to the king, what was given to her?

Anything that she said would be given to her.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:14

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In the evening she would go, and in the morning she would return to the second house of women, into the hand of Shaashgaz (the eunuch of the king who was overseer of the concubines). She would not go to the king again unless the king had delighted in her and she was called by name.	The king’s servants would bring her {to the king’s private rooms} in the evening. The next morning, they would bring her to the other harem, the one for concubines. There a man named Shaashgaz would take charge of her, because he was the {castrated} royal guardian who took care of the concubines. {The young woman would live there for the rest of her life.} She would not go and see the king again unless he asked for her by name because he had enjoyed being with her.

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In the evening she would go, and in the morning she would return to the second house of women, into the hand of Shaashgaz (the eunuch of the king who was overseer of the concubines). She would not go to the king again unless the king had delighted in her and she was called by name.

The king’s servants would bring her {to the king’s private rooms} in the evening. The next morning, they would bring her to the other harem, the one for concubines. There a man named Shaashgaz would take charge of her, because he was the {castrated} royal guardian who took care of the concubines. {The young woman would live there for the rest of her life.} She would not go and see the king again unless he asked for her by name because he had enjoyed being with her.

When would a girl return to the king?

She would not go to the king again unless the king had delighted in her and she was called by name.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:15

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Now when the turn of Esther (the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for him as a daughter) came to go to the king, she did not seek anything except what Hegai (the eunuch of the king who was overseer of the women) said. And Esther was a lifter of favor in the eyes of everyone who saw her.	Eventually, {the evening came when} it was the turn for Esther, whom Mordecai had adopted as his daughter, to go to the king. She was the daughter of Abihail, Mordecai’s uncle. When Esther went to the king, she only asked for what Hegai, the royal guardian in charge of the harem for virgins, recommended that she should wear. Everyone who saw Esther was very impressed with her.

For what did Esther ask?

She did not ask for anything except what Hegai, the eunuch of the king who was overseer of the women, said.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:16

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And Esther was taken to the king Ahasuerus, to the palace of his royalty, in the tenth month (which is the month of Tebeth), in year seven of his reign.	The king’s servants brought Esther to King Ahasuerus in his royal palace during the tenth month of the year (the month of Tebeth), in the seventh year of his reign {as king of Persia}.

When was Esther taken to King Ahasuerus?

So Esther was taken to the king Ahasuerus, to the house of his royalty, in the tenth month (which is the month of Tebeth), in the seventh year of his reign.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:17

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And the king loved Esther more than all the women and she lifted favor and kindness before his face more than all the virgins. And he set a crown of royalty on her head, and he made her queen instead of Vashti.	The king loved Esther more than any of the other women. He treated her more kindly and more favorably than any of the other young women {who had become his concubines}. So King Ahasuerus put a royal crown on her head, and he made her the queen instead of Vashti.

Why did the king set the royal crown on Esther’s head and make her queen?

And the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she lifted favor and kindness before his face more than all the virgins. So he set a crown of royalty on her head, and he made her queen instead of Vashti.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:18

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And the king made a great feast for all his officials and his servants, the feast of Esther. And he made a holiday for the provinces, and he gave gifts according to the hand of the king.	Then the king hosted a great feast and invited all of his officials and servants. It was a feast to celebrate Esther {becoming the queen}. He proclaimed that this would be a time to celebrate for people in all of the provinces of his empire {when they would not have to pay taxes}, and he generously gave gifts {to people}.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:19

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Now when virgins were being gathered a second time, Mordecai was then sitting at the gate of the king.	{Later,} Ahasuerus had his officers bring more virgins {to Susa}. During this time, Mordecai {was working for the king, and he} sat at the king’s gate.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:20

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Esther had not yet declared her ancestry (that is, her people), according to the charge that Mordecai had laid upon her. And Esther continued to do the command of Mordecai according to how she was with him in her fostering.	Esther had still not told anyone what people group she was from, because Mordecai had warned her not to tell anyone. In fact, she continued to follow all of Mordecai’s instructions, just as she had done when she was growing up in his house.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:21

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In those days, when Mordecai was sitting at the gate of the king, Bigthan and Teresh (two eunuchs of the king who were guardians of the doorway) became angry; and they sought to stretch out a hand against the king Ahasuerus.	During that time, when Mordecai was {doing his work} at the king’s gate, two of the king’s guards who protected the doorway {to the king’s private rooms} became angry {with the king}. They planned to assassinate King Ahasuerus. Their names were Bigthan and Teresh.

What did Bigthan and Teresh seek to do to King Ahasuerus?

Bigthan and Teresh, two eunuchs of the king who were guardians of the doorway, became angry. And they sought to stretch out a hand to the king Ahasuerus.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:22

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And the matter was made known to Mordecai, and he declared it to Esther the queen. And Esther spoke to the king in the name of Mordecai.	But Mordecai found out about what they were planning. He told Queen Esther about it, and she told the king. She explained that Mordecai had given her the information.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 2:23

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And the matter was sought out and was found out, and the two of them were hanged on a pole. And it was written in the book of the events of days before the face of the king.	So the king’s officials investigated Mordecai’s report and discovered that it was true. So the king ordered his servants to hang those two men from wooden poles {until they died}. In the king’s presence, the king’s scribes recorded an account of this in the royal chronicles.

What happened to Bigthan and Teresh?

The two of them were hung on a tree.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:1

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After these things, the king Ahasuerus made Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, great. And he lifted him up and placed his seat of authority from over all the officials who were with him.	Some time later, King Ahasuerus promoted {one of his officials,} Haman, the son of Hammedatha, who was a descendant of Agag. The king gave Haman a very important position, more important than any of his other officials.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:2

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And all the servants of the king who were at the gate of the king were bowing down and prostrating themselves to Haman, for thus the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would neither bow down nor would he prostrate himself.	The king {wanted to show that he had given Haman an important position. So he} commanded all of his other servants who were at the king’s gate to bow down all the way to the ground to honor Haman {whenever he walked by}. But Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman, {because as a Jew he would not worship anyone except Yahweh}.

Who were kneeling and prostrating themselves to Haman?

All the servants of the king were at the gate of the king and were bowing down and prostrating themselves to Haman.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:3

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And the servants of the king who were at the gate of the king said to Mordecai, “Why are you trespassing the command of the king?”	The other servants at the king’s gate {saw that Mordecai refused to bow down, and they} asked him, “Why are you disobeying the king’s command?”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:4

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And it happened that, when they spoke to him day after day, he did not listen to them. So they told Haman to see if the words of Mordecai would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew.	Mordecai told them that he was a Jew, {and that Jews only worship Yahweh}. The other servants warned Mordecai every day {that he would be punished severely if he kept disobeying the king and not honoring his most important official}. But Mordecai still refused to bow down. So they told Haman about it to see if he would allow Mordecai to keep refusing to bow down {because he was a Jew}.

What did Mordecai refuse to do?

Mordecai would neither bow down nor would he prostrate himself.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:5

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And Haman saw that Mordecai would neither bow down nor prostrate himself to him. And Haman was filled with rage.	When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down to him, he became furious.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:6

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And it was despised in his eyes to stretch out a hand against Mordecai alone, for they had told him the people of Mordecai. And Haman sought to annihilate all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were in all the kingdom of Ahasuerus.	The other servants told Haman that {Mordecai was not bowing down to him because} Mordecai was a Jew. So Haman decided it would not be enough just to kill Mordecai alone. Haman decided that he would try to kill all the Jews in the entire empire of Ahasuerus.

Who did Haman want to kill?

Haman sought to annihilate all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were in all the kingdom of Ahasuerus.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:7

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In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in year 12 of the king Ahasuerus, a Pur (which is “the lot”) was cast before the face of Haman from day to day and from month to month: the twelfth, which is the month of Adar.	So Haman had his servants cast a Pur (that is, a lot) while he watched {to determine the best month and the best day of the month to kill the Jews}. They did that in the first month, the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year that Ahasuerus reigned {as king of Persia}. The lot selected the twelfth month of that year, the month of Adar, {as the time for Haman to carry out his plan}.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:8

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And Haman said to the king Ahasuerus, “He has one people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. And their laws are different from every people, and the laws of the king they do not obey. And there is no profit to the king to leave them untouched.	Then Haman went to King Ahasuerus and said, “Your Majesty, there is a certain group of people who live among the other peoples in your empire. They are in every province. They have their own set of laws, and so they do not obey your laws. It is not good for you to allow them to live in your empire.

When they threw lots, what month did they chose?

In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of the king Ahasuerus, a Pur (which is “the lot”) was cast before the face of Haman from day to day and from month to month: the twelfth, which is the month of Adar.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:9

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If it is good to the king, let it be written to destroy them, and I will weigh out 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of the doers of the work, to bring into the treasuries of the king.”	If you approve of this plan, O king, then write a decree saying that all of the Jews must die. {When they are dead, we can take all of their goods, and from that} I will give 300 tons of silver to your administrators for them to put into your royal treasuries.”

How much money was Haman willing to put into the king’s treasury if the king would give a command to kill the Jews?

Haman said he would pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of the doers of the work, to bring into the treasuries of the king.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:10

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And the king removed his signet ring from on his hand, and he gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the adversary of the Jews.	The king {liked what Haman said. So he} gave Haman the ring that he wore that had his official seal on it. {With that, Haman could make laws as if he were the king himself.} Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, had become the enemy of the Jews.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:11

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And the king said to Haman, “The silver is given to you, and the people, to do with them as is good in your eyes.”	The king told Haman, “You can keep the money for yourself, and you can do whatever you want to do with those people.”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:12

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And the scribes of the king were called in the first month, on day 13 of it, and it was written according to all that Haman commanded: to the satraps of the king, and to the governors who were over province by province, and to the officials of people by people, province by province according to its writing, and people by people according to its tongue. In the name of the king Ahasuerus it was written, and it was sealed with the signet ring of the king.

On the thirteenth day of the first month of that same year, Haman called in the royal scribes, and he dictated a letter to them. He told them to send copies to the royal officials, the governors of each province, and the leaders of each people group. The scribes translated the letter so it could be sent to each province using its own alphabet and to each people group in its own language. To show that he was sending the letter under the king’s own authority, Haman sealed each copy of the letter with the ring that had the king’s official seal on it.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:13

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And letters were sent by the hand of runners to all of the provinces of the king, to annihilate, to slaughter, and to destroy all the Jews from young even to old, children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth of month 12 (which is the month of Adar), and to plunder their spoils.	Couriers delivered the letters to the officials in every province in the empire. The letters said to completely destroy all the Jews, including the children and women, on a single day. That was to be the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, {in that same year}. The letters also said that those who killed the Jews could take everything that belonged to them.

How were documents delivered to all the king’s provinces?

And letters were sent by the hand of runners to all of the provinces of the king.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:14

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A copy of the writing, to be given as a law in every province by province, was uncovered for all the peoples to be ready for this day.	The letter told the officials to post copies where everyone could see them. That way all the people in every single province would know that the king had commanded this, and they would get ready {to do what the letter said to do} when the day came.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:15

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The runners went out, hurrying by decree of the king, and the law was given in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was in confusion.	As the king had commanded, couriers rushed {with the letters to every province in the empire}. A herald also proclaimed what the letter said in the capital city of Susa. The king and Haman relaxed and drank together. But everyone who lived in Susa was very upset {about what was going to happen}.

How did Susa respond to the decree?

The city of Susa was in confusion.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:1

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Now when Mordecai knew about all that had been done, Mordecai tore his garments and put on sackcloth and ashes. And he went out into the midst of the city and cried out a great and bitter outcry.	When Mordecai found out about Haman’s plan {to kill all the Jews, as signs of grief} he tore his clothes and put on rough sackcloth and threw ashes over himself. Then he started walking towards the city center, {towards the king’s palace}, crying out in anguish.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:2

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And he came only as far as before the face of the gate of the king because no one was to come into the gate of the king while wearing sackcloth.	But no one who was wearing sackcloth was allowed inside the king’s gate. So when Mordecai reached the gate, he had to stay just outside of it.

How far did Mordecai go? Why?

And he came only as far as before the face of the gate of the king, because no one was to come into the gate of the king while wearing sackcloth.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:3

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And in every province by province, any place where the decree of the king and his law reached, there was great mourning by the Jews, and fasting and weeping and lamenting; sackcloth and ashes were laid out by the multitudes.	In every province of the empire, the letter that said to destroy the Jews {was announced in public. When} the Jews {heard about it, they} mourned greatly. They went without food and wailed loudly. Many of them also put on sackcloth and threw ashes on themselves and lay on the ground.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:4

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When the young female attendants of Esther came with her eunuchs and they told her, even the queen was seized with extreme fear. And she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and to take off his sackcloth from upon him, but he did not accept.	Esther’s female attendants came with her guardians and told her {that Mordecai was sitting outside the gate wearing sackcloth. When she heard about this,} Queen Esther herself became very afraid. She sent Mordecai some good clothes to wear instead of the sackcloth, but he refused to put them on.

When Esther sent garments to clothe Mordecai, how did he respond?

And she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and to take off his sackcloth from upon him, but he did not accept.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:5

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And Esther called for Hathak, from the eunuchs of the king whom he had caused to stand before her face. She commanded him concerning Mordecai to know what this was and on account of what this was.	The king had assigned some of the royal guardians to Esther personally. So Esther called for one of them, a man named Hathak. She told him to go out and speak with Mordecai and find out why he was so distressed {that he was sitting at the king’s gate wearing sackcloth}.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:6

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And Hathak went out to Mordecai, to the open place of the city that was before the face of the gate of the king.	So Hathak went out to {speak with} Mordecai, who was in the plaza in front of the king’s gate.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:7

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And Mordecai reported to him all that had happened to him, and the exact amount of silver that Haman had said to weigh out into the treasuries of the king against the Jews to destroy them.	Mordecai told Hathak everything that Haman was planning to do {to the Jews}. He even told him how much money Haman said the king would get for his treasuries {if the king commanded people} to kill all of the Jews.

What did Mordecai report to Hathak?

And Mordecai reported to him all that had happened to him, and the exact amount of silver that Haman had said to weigh out into the treasuries of the king, against the Jews, to destroy them.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:8

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Also he gave to him a copy of the writing of the law that had been given in Susa to annihilate them, in order to show Esther and to inform her and to lay a charge upon her to go to the king to implore his favor and to seek from before his face concerning her people.	Mordecai also gave Hathak a copy of the letter that the heralds had read out loud in Susa and that said that people must kill all of the Jews. He told Hathak to show the letter to Esther so that she would know exactly what it said. He also told him to urge her to go to the king personally and to beg him desperately to save her people from destruction.

Why did Mordecai give Hathak a copy of the decree that was issued in Susa for the Jews’ destruction?

Also he gave to him a copy of the writing of the law that had been given in Susa to annihilate them, in order to show Esther, and to inform her, and to lay a charge upon her to go to the king to implore his favor and to plead from before his face concerning her people.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:9

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And Hathak went and told Esther the words of Mordecai.	So Hathak returned to Esther and told her what Mordecai had said.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:10

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And Esther spoke to Hathak and commanded him to say to Mordecai:	Then Esther told Hathak to go back to Mordecai with this message:

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:11

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“All the servants of the king and the people of the provinces of the king are knowing that for any man or woman who goes to the king, to the inner court, who has not been called, his law is one: to cause to die, apart from when the king holds out to him the scepter of gold; then he will live. But as for me, I have not been called to come to the king these 30 days.”

“There is a law {about going to the king} that applies to {everyone in the kingdom}, both men and women. If anyone goes into the inner courtyard of the palace, {where the king can see them}, and the king has not summoned them, that person will die. Only if the king holds out his golden scepter to them, then they will live. Everyone in the whole empire knows this law. {So I cannot go and speak to the king as you have requested.} The king has not called for me in over a month, {and if I go without being summoned, I could be put to death}.”

What happened if any man or woman went to the king inside the inner courtyard without being summoned?

The law was that any man or woman would die who went to the king inside the inner court without first being called unless the king held out to him or her the scepter of gold, in which case the person was allowed to live.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:12

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And they told to Mordecai the words of Esther.	So {Hathak} went back to Mordecai and told him what Esther had said.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:13

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And Mordecai said to return to Esther: “Do not think to yourself to escape in the palace of the king, different from all the Jews.	Mordecai told {Hathak} to tell this to Esther: “Do not imagine that just because you live there in the king’s palace that you will be safe when they kill all the other Jews.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:14

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For if you indeed remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and the house of your father will perish. And who knows if you have arrived at royalty for such a time as this?”	If you say nothing at all now, someone from some other place will rescue the Jews, but you and your relatives will not survive. Who knows, perhaps it was for just such a time as this that you became queen.”

What did Mordecai say would happen if Esther remained silent at that time?

For if you, indeed, remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and the house of your father will perish.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:15

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And Esther said to return to Mordecai:	{After Hathak told this to} Esther, she told him to go back to Mordecai and say this to him:

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:16

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“Go, gather all the Jews who are found in Susa. And fast on account of me, neither eating nor drinking for three days, both night and day. Also, I myself and my young female attendants will fast likewise. Then, in such circumstances, I will go to the king, which is not according to the law. And if I perish, I perish.”	“Gather together all the Jews who live here in Susa and tell them to fast for my sake. Tell them to not eat or drink anything for three days and three nights. My female attendants and I will also fast in the same way. At the end of the three days, I will go to {talk to} the king, even though doing that is against the law. I will do that even if it costs me my life.”

What did Esther tell Mordecai to do?

Go, gather all the Jews who are found in Susa. And fast on account of me, neither eating nor drinking for three days, both night and day. Also, I myself and my young female attendants will fast likewise. Then, in such circumstances, I will go to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:17

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And Mordecai went and did according to the whole charge that Esther had laid upon him.	So {after Hathach told this to} Mordecai, he went and did everything that Esther had told him to do.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:1

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And it happened on the third day that Esther put on royalty and stood in the inner court of the palace of the king, opposite to the house of the king. Now the king was sitting on the throne of his royalty in the palace of royalty opposite to the entrance of the palace.	After {fasting for} three days, Esther put on her royal robes, and she {went and} stood in the inner courtyard of the palace, across from the king’s house. He was in the royal palace, sitting on the royal throne and facing the entrance of the room.

Where was the inner courtyard of the king’s palace?

The inner courtyard of the king’s palace was opposite to the house of the king.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:2

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And it happened that, as soon as the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she lifted favor in his eyes. And the king held out to Esther the scepter of gold that was in his hand, so Esther approached and touched the head of the scepter.	As soon as the king noticed Queen Esther standing there in the courtyard, he was very pleased to see her. So he held out his golden scepter to her, {to show that she could safely approach him}. So Esther came up {to the throne} and touched the top of the scepter.

When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, why did he hold out to her the golden scepter?

As soon as the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she lifted favor in his eyes.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:3

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And the king said to her, “What is to you, Esther the queen? And what is your request? As much as half of the kingdom, and let it be given to you.”	Then the king asked her, “Why have you come here, Queen Esther? What do you want? {Tell me, and} I will give you anything you ask for, no matter how great it is.”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:4

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And Esther said, “If it is good to the king, let the king come with Haman today to the banquet that I have made for him.”	Esther replied, “If it pleases you, O king, please come with Haman today to the banquet that I have prepared for you.”

What did Esther request from the king?

If it is good to the king, let the king come with Haman today to the banquet that I have made for him.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:5

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And the king said, “Bring Haman quickly in order to do the word of Esther.” And the king came with Haman to the banquet that Esther had made.	The king said to his servants, “{Go and} get Haman and bring him quickly so that we can do what Esther has asked us to do!” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther {and her servants} had prepared {for them}.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:6

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And the king said to Esther during the banquet of wine, “What is your petition? And let it be given to you. And what is your request? As much as half of the kingdom, and let it be done.”	While they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, “Now please tell me what you {really} want. I will give you anything {you ask for}, no matter how great it is. I truly mean what I am saying.”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:7

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And Esther answered and said, “My petition and my request:	Esther answered, “This is what I {really} want:

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:8

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if I have found favor in the eyes of the king, and if it is good to the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king come with Haman to the banquet that I will make for them, and tomorrow I will do according to the word of the king.”	if you are pleased with me, and if you are pleased, O king, to give me what I want, please come with Haman to {another} banquet that I will prepare for you tomorrow. I will answer your question then.”

What did Esther request from the king the second time?

If I have found favor in the eyes of the king, and if it is good to the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king come with Haman to the banquet which I will make for them, and tomorrow I will do according to the word of the king.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:9

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And Haman went out that day joyful and pleased of heart. But as soon as Haman saw Mordecai at the gate of the king, that he neither rose up nor trembled from him, then Haman was filled with rage on account of Mordecai.	Haman was feeling very happy as he left {the banquet that day}. But then he saw Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate. Mordecai did not stand up to show respect for Haman or tremble fearfully in front of him. This made Haman furious with Mordecai.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:10

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But Haman restrained himself and went to his house. Then he sent and brought his friends and Zeresh his wife.	But {even though} Haman {was so angry, he} kept himself from showing that he was angry. {Instead,} he went home and gathered together his friends with his wife Zeresh,

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:11

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And Haman recounted to them the glory of his wealth and the multitude of his sons and all about how the king had made him great and how he had lifted him over the officials and administrators of the king.	and he boasted to them about how rich he was and about how many sons he had. {He} also {boasted} about how the king had promoted him many times and given him a position above all of his important officials and other administrators.

What did Haman recount to his family?

Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his wealth and the multitude of his sons and all about how the king had made him great and how he had lifted him over the officials and administrators of the king.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:12

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And Haman said, “In addition, Esther the queen did not bring anyone with the king to the banquet that she had made except me. And also for tomorrow, I am called by her with the king.	Then Haman added, “And that is not all! I was the only one Queen Esther invited to come with the king to a banquet that she prepared {for us today}. And she has also invited only me {to attend another banquet} with the king tomorrow.”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:13

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But all of this is not equal for me to every time that I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the gate of the king.”	Then Haman said, “But I still cannot be happy as long as I keep seeing that Jew, Mordecai, sitting there at the king’s gate {and refusing to honor me}.”

What did Haman feel was more important to him than being invited to the banquets?

But all of this is not equal for me to every time that I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the gate of the king.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:14

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And Zeresh his wife, with all of his friends, said to him, “Let them make a pole 50 cubits high. And in the morning speak to the king, and let them hang Mordecai on it. Then go with the king to the banquet joyful.” And the word was good before the face of Haman, and he made the pole.	So Haman’s wife Zeresh and his friends who were there suggested, “Have your servants set up a pole 25 meters high. Then tomorrow morning speak to the king and tell him that you want to hang Mordecai on it. Then {once you have executed Mordecai,} you can go to the banquet with the king in a good mood.” Haman thought that this was a good plan, so he {told his servants to} set up the pole.

What did Zeresh tell Haman to make? Why?

Let them make a tree fifty cubits high. And in the morning speak to the king, and let them hang Mordecai on it.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:1

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That night the sleep of the king fled away. And he said to bring the book of records of the events of days, and they were being called out before the face of the king.	That night the king was unable to sleep. So he told {the young men who attended him} to bring in the royal chronicles. One {of the young men got the chronicles and} began to read them out loud to the king.

Why did the king command servants to bring the records of the events of his reign?

That night the sleep of the king fled away. And he said to bring the book of records of the events of days.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:2

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And it was found written that Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs of the king who were from the guardians of the doorway, that they had sought to stretch out a hand against the king Ahasuerus.	The chronicles said that Bigthan and Teresh, two of the royal guardians who protected the doorway {to the king’s private quarters}, had planned to assassinate King Ahasuerus. The chronicles also said that Mordecai {had discovered their plot and} had let the king know about it. {By doing that, Mordecai saved the king’s life.}

What was found written in the book of records that was read to the king?

It was found written that Mordecai had reported that Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the door, had conspired to kill the King.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:3

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And the king said, “What honor or greatness was done for Mordecai on account of this?” And the young men of the king who served him said, “Not a thing has been done with him.”	Then the king asked, “In what great way did I honor Mordecai for saving my life?” The young men who attended him replied, “No one did anything for him.”

What had been done to give honor or recognition to Mordecai for telling the king about Bigthana and Teresh?

Nothing had been done to give honor or recognition to Mordecai for telling the king about Bigthana and Teresh.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:4

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And the king asked, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had come into the outer court of the house of the king to say to the king to hang Mordecai on the pole that he had prepared for him.	At that moment, Haman entered the outer courtyard of the king’s house. He had come to tell the king that he wanted to hang Mordecai on the pole that he had set up for Mordecai. The king {wanted to consult someone about the best way to honor Mordecai, so he} asked, “Who is out in the courtyard?”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:5

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And the young men of the king said to him, “Behold, Haman is standing in the courtyard.” And the king said, “Let him come.”	The young men replied, “Our king, Haman is standing in the courtyard.” The king said, “Bring him in.”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:6

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And Haman came, and the king said to him, “What is one to do for the man in whose honor the king is delighted?” Then Haman said in his heart, “For whom would the king delight to do honor more than me?”	When Haman came in, the king asked him, “What should I do for the man whom I would really like to honor?” Haman thought to himself, “Certainly I am the person whom the king would like to honor more than anyone else!”

When the king asked Haman what should be done for the man whom the king takes pleasure in honoring, about whom did Haman think the king was talking?

Then Haman said in his heart, “For whom would the king delight to do honor more than me?”

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:7

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And Haman said to the king, “For a man whom the king delights to honor:	Haman replied to the king, “If you really want to honor someone,

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:8

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let them bring a garment of royalty with which the king has clothed himself, and a horse on which the king has ridden and which has been given a crown of royalty for its head.	tell your servants to bring one of your own royal robes that you have already worn yourself. Have them also bring a horse that you have already ridden yourself and put a royal crown on its head {to show that it belongs to you}.

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:9

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And give this garment and this horse into the hand of a man from the most noble officials of the king. And let them clothe the man whom the king delights to honor, and cause him to ride on the horse in the open square of the city, and proclaim before his face, ‘Thus shall it be done for the man whom the king delights to honor!’”

Then, {on your behalf,} have one of your most noble officials present the man with the robe and the horse. Have your servants clothe the man whom you really want to honor {with the robe}. Have them seat that man on the horse and then lead the horse through the public square of the city. Have them shout out {to everyone} in front of them, ‘The king is doing this because he really wants to honor this man!’”

Who would dress the man whom the king takes pleasure in honoring, and lead him on the horse through the city streets?

A man from the most noble officials of the king would do these things.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:10

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And the king said to Haman, “Hurry, take the garment and the horse, according to how you have spoken, and do thus for Mordecai the Jew, the man who sits at the gate of the king. Do not allow a word to fall of all that you have spoken.”	The king {liked this plan, so he} replied to Haman, “Go quickly! Take the robe and the horse and do what you have just described for Mordecai the Jew. He {is one of my servants who} sits by the gate to the palace. Make sure that you do absolutely everything that you have said.”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:11

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And Haman took the garment and the horse, and he clothed Mordecai and caused him to ride in the open place of the city and called out before his face, “Thus shall it be done for the man whom the king delights to honor!”	So Haman {did what the king commanded. He} got the robe and the horse. He put the robe on Mordecai, seated him on the horse, and then led the horse through the public square of the city. As he did, he shouted out to everyone in front of him, “The king is doing this because he really wants to honor this man!”

Who dressed Mordecai and led him on the horse through the city streets?

So Haman took the garment and the horse, and he clothed Mordecai and paraded him in the open square of the city, and called out before his face, “Thus shall it be done for the man in whose honor the king is delighted!”

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:12

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And Mordecai returned to the gate of the king, but Haman hurried to his house, mourning with a covering of head.	Then Mordecai went back to {his place at} the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his house, covering {his} head {because he felt so} humiliated.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:13

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And Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and to all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, “If Mordecai, before whose face you have begun to fall, is from the seed of the Jews, then you will not prevail against him, but you will surely fall before his face.”	Haman {gathered} all his friends {together once again. He} told them and his wife Zeresh everything that had happened to him {that day. Some of his friends were also} his advisors{, and they} and his wife Zeresh told him, “Mordecai has begun to defeat you. Since he is one of the Jewish people, you will not win against him. Instead, he will certainly defeat you.”

About what did Haman’s wise men and his wife warn him?

If Mordecai, before whose face you have begun to fall, is from the seed of the Jews, then you will not prevail against him, but you will surely fall before his face.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:14

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They were still speaking with him when the eunuchs of the king arrived. And they hurried to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had made.	While they were still talking together, {some of} the royal guardians arrived to bring Haman quickly to the banquet that Esther {and her servants} had prepared.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 7:1

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And the king came with Haman to drink with Esther the queen.	So the king and Haman went to the {second} banquet that Queen Esther {had arranged for them}.

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 7:2

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And the king said to Esther again on the second day during the banquet of wine, “What is your petition, Esther the queen? And let it be given to you. And what is your request? As much as half of the kingdom, and let it be done.”	At that second banquet, while they were drinking wine, the king asked Esther again, “Now please tell me what you really want, Queen Esther. {Tell me,} and I will do it for you. {I will give you} anything you ask for, no matter how great it is.”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 7:3

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And Esther the queen answered and said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, O king, and if it is good to the king, let my life be given to me at my petition and my people at my request.	Then Queen Esther replied, “If you are pleased with me, O king, I hope you will be willing to do what I ask. Please allow me to live, and please save my people. That is what I am asking for.

What did Esther ask from King Ahasuerus?

Let my life be given to me at my petition, and my people at my request.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 7:4

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For we have been sold, I and my people, for annihilation, for slaughter, and for destruction. Now if we had been sold as slaves and female servants, I would have kept silent, because the distress would not have been equal to a burden of the king.”	{I am appealing to you} because someone has turned my people and me over {to our enemies}, and they are going to destroy us completely. If someone had sold the men and {even} the women to be slaves, I would not have said anything about that to you, because that would not have been important enough to bother you, the king, with that.”

What did Esther say she would have done if her people had only been sold into slavery?

Now if we had been sold as slaves and female servants, I would have kept silent.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 7:5

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And the king Ahasuerus spoke and said to Esther the queen, “Who is he, this man? Where is this man, he whose heart is full to do thus?”	Then King Ahasuerus responded to Queen Esther, “Who has done this? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 7:6

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Esther answered, “A man, an adversary, and an enemy—this evil Haman!” Then Haman was terrified from before the face of the king and the queen.	Esther responded, “The man who is our bitter enemy is this evil man Haman!” This made Haman terrified to be in the presence of the king and the queen.

Who did Esther describe as an “adversary” and “enemy”?

A man, an adversary, and an enemy is this evil Haman!

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 7:7

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And the king rose up in his rage from the banquet of wine to the garden of the palace. But Haman remained in order to seek for his life from Esther the queen, for he saw that evil was determined against him by the king.	The king became so angry that he got up and left the banquet of wine. He went {outside} into the palace garden {to decide what to do}. But Haman stayed {inside} to beg Queen Esther to save his life because he recognized that the king wanted to execute him.

What did Haman do when the king got up in a rage from the banquet of wine?

Haman remained in order to beg for his life from Esther the queen.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 7:8

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Now when the king returned from the garden of the palace to the house of the banquet of wine, Haman was fallen on the couch on which Esther was. And the king said, “Is it also to subdue the queen with me in the house?” The word was going out from the mouth of the king when they covered the face of Haman.

{As he was pleading for his life,} Haman knelt down very close to Esther as she was {reclining} on a {banqueting} couch. When the king returned from the palace garden to the room where they had been drinking wine, {he saw this}. The king exclaimed, “He is even trying to rape the queen in my presence and in my own house!” As soon as the king said this, {some of his servants} covered Haman’s face {as a sign that he would be executed}.

After Haman fell on the couch where Esther was, what did the king think Haman was doing?

The king thought Haman was trying to subdue the queen with me. This means that he thought Haman was trying to rape her.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 7:9

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And Harbona, one from the eunuchs before the face of the king, said, “Also, behold, the pole that Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good for the king, is standing at the house of Haman 50 cubits high.” And the king said, “Hang him on it.”	Then Harbona, who was one of the guardians who served the king personally, said, “O king! Haman has also set up a pole twenty-five meters high at his house because he wants to hang Mordecai on it. But Mordecai saved your life.” The king said, “Hang Haman on it!”

Where did the king say to hang Haman?

The king said to hang Haman on the tree that Haman made for Mordecai, which was standing at the house of Haman 50 cubits high.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 7:10

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And they hanged Haman on the pole that he had prepared for Mordecai, and the rage of the king subsided.	So they hung Haman on the pole that he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king stopped being so angry.

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:1

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On that day, the king Ahasuerus gave to Esther the queen the house of Haman, the adversary of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the face of the king because Esther told what he was to her.	That same day, King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther all the property that had belonged to Haman. He had been the enemy of the Jews. Esther told the king that Mordecai was {her cousin and that he had been like a father} to her. When he learned that, {the king summoned} Mordecai to come to him.

Why did Mordecai begin to serve before the king?

And Mordecai came before the face of the king, because Esther told what he was to her.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:2

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And the king removed his signet ring, which he had caused to pass from Haman, and he gave it to Mordecai. And Esther placed Mordecai over the house of Haman.	{When the king sentenced Haman to death,} the king took back from Haman the ring that had the king’s official seal on it {and the king was wearing it again.} The king now took the ring off and gave it to Mordecai, {to show that Mordecai would have the power to act with the king’s authority.} Esther also put Mordecai in charge of all the property that had belonged to Haman.

Why was Mordecai in charge of Haman’s estate?

And Esther placed Mordecai over the house of Haman.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:3

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And Esther repeated her action, and she spoke before the face of the king. She fell before the face of his feet and wept and implored favor from him to take away the evil of Haman the Agagite and his plot that he had plotted against the Jews.	Then Esther came to speak to the king again. {To show him how desperately she was pleading,} Esther knelt down and put her face right on top of his feet. She cried as she begged him to stop the terrible plan of Haman the Agagite to destroy the Jews.

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:4

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And the king held out to Esther the scepter of gold, so Esther rose up and stood before the face of the king.	The king held out his golden scepter toward Esther, so she got up {off the floor} and stood facing the king.

What did the king do so that Esther could arise and stand before him?

And the king held out to Esther the scepter of gold, so Esther rose up and stood before the face of the king.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:5

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And she said, “If it is good to the king, and if I have found favor before his face, and the word is proper before the face of the king, and I am good in his eyes, let it be written to bring back the letters, the plot of Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king.	Then Esther said, “Your majesty, if you think that it is the right thing to do, and if you are pleased with me, please write a new letter revoking the letters that Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, sent out. His letters said to destroy all the Jews everywhere in your empire.

What letters had Haman written?

Haman had written letters to destroy the Jews who were in all of the provinces of the king.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:6

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For how could I bear to see the evil that my people would find? And how could I bear seeing the destruction of my kindred?”	{I am asking this} because I cannot bear to see the terrible thing that is about to happen to my people. They are my kindred. I cannot bear to see people destroy them.”

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:7

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And the king Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given the house of Haman to Esther, and they have hanged him on the pole on account of this, that he stretched out his hand against the Jews.	King Ahasuerus replied to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, “As you know, I have given to Esther all the property that belonged to Haman, and I had my servants hang Haman on a wooden pole because he wanted to kill all the Jews.

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:8

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So, in the name of the king, you write for the Jews as is good in your eyes, and seal it with the signet ring of the king. For there is none to take back a writing that has been written in the name of the king and has been sealed with the signet ring of the king.”	{You also know that} no one can revoke a letter that has my name and my official seal on it, {such as the letter that Haman wrote}. So this is what you should do. Write {a new letter} to help the Jews, as you think best. {I give you permission to} put my name on it and to seal {the letter} with the ring that has my official seal on it.”

Why did Esther need to write another decree for the Jews in the name of the king?

Esther needed to write another decree because there was none to take back a writing that had been written in the name of the king and had been sealed with the signet ring of the king.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:9

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And the scribes of the king were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third of it. And according to all that Mordecai commanded, it was written to the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and officials of the provinces that were from India even as far as Ethiopia: 127 provinces, province by province according to its writing, and people by people according to its tongue, and to the Jews according to their writing and according to their tongue.

So the king sent for his scribes. {They came and} they wrote a letter saying everything that Mordecai told them {to write}. {They wrote this letter} on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan, {in the twelfth year that Ahasuerus reigned as king of Persia}. The letter addressed the Jews {in the empire}, but they also sent {copies of the letter} to the royal officials, and to the governors and leaders in each province. The empire {of Ahasuerus} had 127 provinces, extending all the way from India {in the east} to Ethiopia {in the west}. The scribes wrote to {people in} every province using its own alphabet and to each people group in its own language. They wrote {especially} to the Jews, in their alphabet and in their own language.

When were the king’s scribes called?

So the scribes of the king were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third of it.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:10

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And he wrote in the name of the king Ahasuerus, and he sealed with the signet ring of the king. And he sent letters (by the hand of runners on horses, riders of the royal pack horses, sons of the mares)	Mordecai signed {each copy of the letter} with the name of King Ahasuerus, and he sealed {each one} with the ring that had the king’s official seal on it. Couriers on horseback delivered the letters. They rode fast horses that were only for the king’s service. These horses were born in the king’s own stables.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:11

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that the king gave to the Jews who were in every city, city by city: to gather and to stand for their life, to annihilate, and to slaughter, and to destroy any strength of a people or province that would attack them, children and women, and plunder their spoil;

{Each copy of the letter said} that the king permits the Jews throughout the empire to join together and to fight to protect themselves. {The king’s letter} also {permits them} to completely destroy any group of armed men from any people or province who would attack them. {The letter} also {permits them} to kill the women and children {of those who would attack them}, and to take the possessions of the people {whom they kill}.

What did the king give the Jews permission to do?

The king gave the Jews in every city the legal right to gather together and defend their lives, to annihilate and to slaughter and to destroy any group of a people or province that would attack them including their women and children and women, and to plunder their spoil.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:12

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on one day in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth of month 12, which is the month of Adar.	{The letter permitted all the Jews} in every province throughout the empire {to do this} on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, {in that same year}.

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:13

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A copy of the writing was to be given as a law in every province by province, being uncovered for all the peoples, and for the Jews to be prepared for that day to take revenge from their enemies.	{The letter told the officials} in every single province to display copies of the letter where everyone could see them so that people would know that the king had commanded this, and so that the Jews would be ready to fight back against their enemies when the day came.

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:14

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The runners, the riders of the royal pack horses, went out hastened and hurried by the word of the king. And the law was given in Susa the citadel.	The king commanded the couriers to deliver the letters as quickly as possible. {He sent them out} on his own fast horses. The king’s officials also proclaimed the new law {and displayed copies of the letter} in the capital city of Susa.

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:15

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And Mordecai went out from before the face of the king in a garment of royalty of blue and white, with a great crown of gold and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa cheered and rejoiced.	The king gave Mordecai {special things to wear to show that he was now his most important official. He gave him} a blue and white royal garment, a large golden crown, and a purple robe made of fine linen. Mordecai put these on and left the palace. {When} the people of Susa {saw him, they} shouted joyfully.

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:16

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For the Jews there was light and joy and rejoicing and honor.	The Jews in Susa were very happy, and other people honored them.

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:17

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In every province by province and in every city by city, any place where the word of the king and his law came, there was joy and rejoicing for the Jews, a feast and a good day. And many from the peoples of the land became Jews because dread of the Jews had fallen upon them.	In every single province and in every single city, wherever {the couriers} brought the letter announcing the king’s decree, the Jews rejoiced greatly and had big celebrations. Many people from other groups in the empire became very afraid of the Jews, so they became Jews themselves.

Why did many from among the variety of peoples of the land become Jews?

Many from the peoples of the land became Jews because dread of the Jews had fallen upon them.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:1

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Now in month 12, which is the month of Adar, on day 13 of it, when the word of the king and his law had reached the time to be done, on the day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to dominate them: but being overturned, it happened that the Jews themselves dominated those who hated them.	On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month {of that year}, the month of Adar, it was time for everyone to do what the letters from the king said that he had decreed for them to do. The enemies of the Jews had expected to destroy the Jews on that day. But just the opposite happened. Instead, it was the Jews who destroyed their enemies.

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:2

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The Jews assembled themselves in their cities in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus to stretch out a hand against those seeking their evil. But a man did not stand to their face, for sudden fear of them had fallen on all the peoples.	Throughout the empire, the Jews joined together in their cities to defend themselves against those who wanted to harm them. No one was able to fight back against them because everyone in the empire had become very afraid of them, {so no one helped anyone who attacked the Jews}.

Why could no one stand against the Jews?

But a man did not stand to their face, for sudden fear of them had fallen on all the peoples.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:3

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And all the officials of the provinces, and the satraps and the governors and those doing the work that was for the king were lifting up the Jews, for dread of Mordecai had fallen on them.	All the leaders in each province, the royal officials, the governors, and everyone who worked for the king helped the Jews because they had become very afraid of Mordecai.

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:4

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For Mordecai was great in the palace of the king, and the report of him was going out into all the provinces, for the man Mordecai was progressing and becoming great.	They were afraid of Mordecai because he was a very important royal official. Throughout the empire, everyone was hearing about how great he was because Mordecai kept becoming more and more powerful.

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:5

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And the Jews struck to all their enemies a strike of sword and slaughter and destruction. And they did to those who hated them according to their pleasure.	{On the day when they were allowed to defend themselves}, the Jews took their weapons and fought against all of their enemies. The Jews destroyed them completely. They were able to do everything that they wanted to do against their enemies.

What did the Jews do to their enemies?

And the Jews struck to all their enemies a strike of sword and slaughter and destruction, and they did to those who hated them according to their pleasure.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:6

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And in Susa the citadel the Jews slaughtered and destroyed 500 men.	In the capital city of Susa the Jews killed 500 men.

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:7

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And Parshandatha and Dalphon and Aspatha	{The Jews} also {killed the ten sons of Haman. The names of his sons were} Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:8

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and Poratha and Adalia and Aridatha	Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha,

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:9

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and Parmashta and Arisai and Aridai and Vaizatha,	Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha.

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:10

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the ten sons of Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the adversary of the Jews, they slaughtered. But they did not stretch out their hand to the plunder.	These were the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. The Jews killed them, but they did not take the things that belonged to them.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:11

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On that day, the report of the number of those who were killed in Susa the citadel came to the face of the king.	At the end of the day, someone came in and reported to the king how many people the Jews had killed in the capital city of Susa.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:12

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And the king said to Esther the queen, “In Susa the citadel the Jews have slaughtered and destroyed 500 men, with the ten sons of Haman. In the rest of the provinces of the king, what have they done? Now what is your petition? And it will be given to you. And what is your request? Again, and it will be done.”	So the king said to Queen Esther, “Here in the capital city of Susa the Jews have killed 500 men, including the ten sons of Haman. In the rest of my empire, they must have killed many more than that! So, what else do you want? Tell me, and I will do it for you. I will do whatever you ask, so please tell me what you want.”

Who did the Jews kill?

In Susa the citadel the Jews have slaughtered and destroyed five hundred men, with the ten sons of Haman.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:13

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And Esther said, “If it is good to the king, let it be given also tomorrow to the Jews who are in Susa to do according to the law of today, and let the ten sons of Haman hang on the pole.”	Esther replied, “If it seems like a good plan to you, O king, then please allow the Jews who {live here} in Susa to do again tomorrow what you allowed them to do today. Also, command {your servants} to hang {the bodies of} Haman’s ten sons on wooden poles.”

What happened to the bodies of Haman’s ten sons?

“Let the ten sons of Haman hang on the tree.” And the king said for this to be done. And a law was given in Susa, and they hanged the ten sons of Haman.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:14

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And the king said for this to be done. And a law was given in Susa, and they hanged the ten sons of Haman.	The king did as {Esther} asked. He issued a decree {allowing the Jews} in Susa {to fight against their enemies again the next day}, and {he ordered his servants} to hang {the bodies of} Haman’s ten sons.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:15

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And the Jews who were in Susa assembled themselves also on day 14 of the month of Adar, and they killed 300 men in Susa. But they did not stretch out their hand to the plunder.	And so on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, the Jews who {lived} in Susa joined together again and killed 300 {more} men in Susa. But {once again} they did not take the things that belonged to those men.

How many men did the Jews kill on the fourteenth day of the month Adar?

So the Jews who were in Susa assembled themselves also on day 14 of the month of Adar, and they killed 300 men in Susa.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:16

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And the rest of the Jews who were in the provinces of the king assembled themselves and stood for their lives, and they rested from their enemies, and they slaughtered 75, 000 of those who hated them. But they did not stretch out their hand to the plunder.	The Jews who {lived} in the other parts of the empire, who had joined together to fight for their lives {on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar}, had defeated their enemies and killed 75, 000 of them {on that day}. But they did not take the things that had belonged to their enemies.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:17

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On day 13 of the month of Adar, then they rested. On the fourteenth of it, then they made it a day of feasting and rejoicing.	{After defeating their enemies} on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, they rested on the fourteenth day. They devoted the fourteenth day as a day to celebrate joyfully.

What did the rest of the Jews who were in the provinces of the king do on the fourteenth day of the month Adar?

On the fourteenth day of the month of Adar they made it a day of feasting and rejoicing.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:18

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But the Jews who were in Susa assembled themselves on the thirteenth of it and on the fourteenth of it. And they rested on the fifteenth of it, and they made it a day of feasting and rejoicing.	But the Jews who {lived} in Susa joined together {to fight against their enemies} on both the thirteenth and fourteenth days of the month {of Adar}. They rested on the fifteenth day. They devoted that day to celebrating joyfully.

Why do the Jews in Susa observe the fifteenth day of the month Adar as a day of gladness and feasting?

But the Jews who were in Susa assembled themselves on the thirteenth of it and on the fourteenth of it. And they rested on the fifteenth of it, and they made it a day of feasting and rejoicing.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:19

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Therefore, the Jews, the ones of the open country, the ones who dwell in the cities of the open areas, make day 14 of the month of Adar for rejoicing and for feasting and a good day and for the sending of gifts, a man to his friend.	That is why the Jews who live in rural villages observe this holiday on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar {rather than on the fifteenth day}. They do this by celebrating joyfully and by giving gifts to one another.

What do the Jews of the open country, the ones who dwell in the cities of the open areas, do on day 14 of the month of Adar?

They make day 14 of the month of Adar a day for rejoicing and for feasting and a good day, and for the sending of gifts, a man to his friend.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:20

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And Mordecai wrote these things. And he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, the near ones and the far ones,	Mordecai wrote down everything that had happened. Then he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the empire, everywhere that they lived.

How often did Mordecai obligate the Jews to keep the fourteenth and the fifteenth day of Adar? (9:20-21)

Mordecai obligated the Jews to keep the fourteenth and fifteenth days of Adar “every year by year,” meaning every single year.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:21

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to set up for them to be making day 14 of the month of Adar and day 15 of it, every year by year,	He established {a holiday on} the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar. He told the Jews to observe it every single year

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:22

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as the days when the Jews rested on them from their enemies and as the month when it had turned for them from sorrow into joy and from mourning into a good day, in order to make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending of gifts, a man to his friend and gifts to the needy.

because those were the days when the Jews rested and no longer had to fight their enemies. That was the month when everything had changed for them. They had been deeply distressed {because their enemies were going to destroy them}. But then they became very happy {after they were safe from all their enemies}. {So Mordecai told them} to observe those days with joyful celebration and by giving gifts to one another. {Mordecai} also {told them that} they should help the poor on those days.

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:23

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And the Jews accepted what they had begun to do and what Mordecai had written to them.	The Jews were already celebrating those days that way. So they {readily} agreed to do what Mordecai had instructed them to do.

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:24

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For Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the adversary of all the Jews, had plotted concerning the Jews to annihilate them. And he had cast a Pur (which is “the lot”) to vex them and to destroy them.	{They would celebrate those days to remember} how Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had tried to destroy them. He had thrown a Pur (that is, a lot) {to find out what would be the best day} to attack the Jews and destroy them completely.

What does Pur mean?

The name Pur means “the lot.”

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:25

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But when she came to the face of the king, he said with the letter, “Let his evil plot that he plotted concerning the Jews return on his head, and let them hang him and his sons on the pole.”

{They would also remember how Esther dared to} come before the king {even though he did not summon her}. Then the king {allowed Mordecai to} send a letter {throughout the empire} saying that the king would make Haman’s evil plan to destroy the Jews happen to Haman instead. The king also ordered his servants to hang Haman on a wooden pole. When the Jews in Susa killed his ten sons, the king had his servants hang their bodies, as well.

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:26

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Therefore, they called these days “Purim,” on account of the name of Pur. Therefore, on account of all the words of this letter and what they had seen concerning this and what had come upon them,	The {Persian} word {for “lot”} is “Pur.” That is why {the Jews} gave the name Purim to this celebration. Because of all of the amazing things that they had just experienced and because {Mordecai then} wrote {to them to tell them to observe this holiday},

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:27

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the Jews set up and accepted for themselves and for their seed and for all those who unite themselves to them (and it will not pass away) to be making these two days according to their writing and according to their appointed time every year by year.	the Jews agreed to establish those two days as holidays and to observe them in the way that {Mordecai} had told them, on those specific days. They agreed that they and their descendants and everyone who became part of the Jewish people {would celebrate this festival of Purim} every year, forever.

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:28

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And these days are remembered and are made in every generation by generation, family by family, province by province, and city by city. And these days of Purim will not pass away from the midst of the Jews, and their remembrance will not come to an end from their seed.	So that is why every Jewish family in every generation {since} has celebrated these days as holidays, everywhere they have lived. The Jewish community and its descendants will always faithfully observe this festival of Purim.

Why would the Jews and their descendants never cease to faithfully observe these days of Purim?

So these days are remembered and are made in every generation by generation, family by family, province by province, and city by city. And these days of Purim will not pass away from the midst of the Jews, and their remembrance will not come to an end from their seed.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:29

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And Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew wrote with all power to set up this second letter of Purim.	Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, with {help from} Mordecai the Jew, wrote a second letter about Purim. Because Esther was the queen, she was able to command the Jews to obey {what Mordecai had written} about Purim {in his letter}.

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:30

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And he sent letters to all the Jews, to 127 provinces, the kingdom of Ahasuerus, words of peace and truth	They sent {copies of this second} letter to all the Jews throughout the entire empire of Ahasuerus. It encouraged them that {their situation was now} peaceful and secure.

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:31

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to set up these days of Purim at their appointed times according to what Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had set up for them and according to what they had set up concerning their lives and concerning their seed, the matters of the fasts and their outcry.	{In this second letter,} Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther confirmed that Purim should be celebrated on the {fourteenth and fifteenth} days {of the month of Adar}. {They also confirmed} that the Jews should continue the times of fasting and mourning that the Jews had established for themselves and their descendants.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 9:32

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And the decree of Esther set up these matters of Purim, and it was written in the book.	Esther issued a decree establishing Purim {as a holiday for the Jews}, and the {royal scribes} wrote it down in the book {of laws}.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 10:1

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And the king Ahasuerus set a tribute on the land and the islands of the sea.	Then King Ahasuerus imposed a tax {on everyone} throughout his empire, even {on those living} on the islands of the sea.

Where did King Ahasuerus impose a tax?

Then the king Ahasuerus set a tribute on the land and the islands of the sea.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 10:2

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And all the deeds of his power and his might, with the full account of the greatness of Mordecai to which the king had made him great, are they not written in the book of the events of days for the kings of Media and Persia?	{The king’s scribes} made a record in the royal chronicles of Media and Persia of all the great things that King Ahasuerus accomplished because he was so powerful. {They} also {wrote} there in a complete way the great {things that} Mordecai {did} because the king had promoted him to a very important position.

Where were all the achievements of King Ahasuerus’ power and might written?

All the deeds of his power and his might, with the full account of the greatness of Mordecai to which the king had made him great, are written in the book of the events of days for the kings of Media and Persia.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 10:3

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For Mordecai the Jew was second to the king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and favored by the multitude of his brothers, seeking good for his people and speaking peace to all its seed.	Mordecai the Jew was able to do so much because he was the most powerful person in the empire after King Ahasuerus. He was also a leader among his own people. All of his fellow Jews respected him. He worked {hard} to make sure that the Jews would always prosper.

What was the rank of Mordecai the Jew?

Mordecai the Jew was second to the King Ahasuerus.

Why was Mordecai great among the Jews and popular with his many Jewish brothers?

For Mordecai the Jew was second to the King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and favored by the multitude of his brothers, seeking good for his people and speaking peace to all its seed.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions

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Esther

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