The Feast of Purim Inaugurated

Esther 9

20 And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, 21 to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar, 22 as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of v sending presents to one another and gifts to the w poor.

23 So the Jews accepted the custom which they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them, 24 because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, x had plotted against the Jews to annihilate them, and had cast Pur (that is, the lot), to consume them and destroy them; 25 but y when 1 Esther came before the king, he commanded by letter that 2 this wicked plot which Haman had devised against the Jews should z return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 26 So they called these days Purim, after the name 3 Pur. Therefore, because of all the words of a this letter, what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had happened to them, 27 the Jews established and imposed it upon themselves and their descendants and all who would b join them, that without fail they should celebrate these two days every year, according to the written instructions and according to the prescribed time, 28 that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, that these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, and that the memory of them should not perish among their descendants.

29 Then Queen Esther, c the daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this d second letter about Purim. 30 And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews, to e the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth, 31 to confirm these days of Purim at their appointed time, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had prescribed for them, and as they had decreed for themselves and their descendants concerning matters of their f fasting and lamenting. 32 So the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim, and it was written in the book.

  1. Cross References
    Nehemiah 8:10
    Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
    Esther 9:19
    Therefore the Jews of the villages who dwelt in the unwalled towns celebrated the fourteenth day of the month of Adar with gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and for sending presents to one another.
  2. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 15:7 - 11
    If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother.
    Job 29:16
    I was a father to the poor, And I searched out the case that I did not know.
  3. Cross References
    Esther 3:6
    But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus - the people of Mordecai.
    Esther 3:7
    In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, the lot), before Haman to determine the day and the month, until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.
    Esther 9:26
    So they called these days Purim, after the name Pur. Therefore, because of all the words of this letter, what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had happened to them.
  4. Cross References
    Esther 7:4 - 10
    "For we have been sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. Had we been sold as male and female slaves, I would have held my tongue, although the enemy could never compensate for the king's loss."
    Esther 8:3
    Now Esther spoke again to the king, fell down at his feet, and implored him with tears to counteract the evil of Haman the Agagite, and the scheme which he had devised against the Jews.
    Esther 9:13
    Then Esther said, "If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do again tomorrow according to today's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged on the gallows.
    Esther 9:14
    So the king commanded this to be done; the decree was issued in Shushan, and they hanged Haman's ten sons.
  5. Cross References
    Esther 7:10
    So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's wrath subsided.
  6. Cross References
    Esther 9:20
    And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
  7. Cross References
    Esther 8:17
    And in every province and city, wherever the king's command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell upon them.
    Isaiah 56:3
    Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the LORD Speak, saying, "The LORD has utterly separated me from His people"; Nor let the eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree.
    Isaiah 56:6
    Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants - Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant -
    Zechariah 2:11
    Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.
  8. Cross References
    Esther 2:15
    Now when the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go in to the king, she requested nothing but what Hegai the king's eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her.
  9. Cross References
    Esther 8:10
    And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, sealed it with the king's signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, riding on royal horses bred from swift steeds.
    Esther 9:20
    And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
    Esther 9:21
    To establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar.
  10. Cross References
    Esther 1:1
    Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this was the Ahasuerus who reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India to Ethiopia).
  11. Cross References
    Esther 4:3
    And in every province where the king's command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
    Esther 4:16
    "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!"
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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