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the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
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Read the Bible

New American Standard Bible

Esther 9:23

So the Jews undertook what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Month;   Purim;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Purim;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Feasts;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Day;   Feasts and Festivals of Israel;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Esther;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Festivals;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Calitas;   Colius;   Eliezer;   Jonas;   Jozabad;   Jozabdus;   Judah;   Judas;   Kelaiah;   Patheus;   Pethahiah;   Purim;   Semeis;   Shimei, Shimeites;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Lots;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for June 23;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
So the Jews agreed to continue the practice they had begun, as Mordecai had written them to do.
Hebrew Names Version
The Yehudim undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordekhai had written to them;
King James Version
And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;
English Standard Version
So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them.
New Century Version
So the Jewish people agreed to do what Mordecai had written to them, and they agreed to hold the celebration every year.
New English Translation
So the Jews committed themselves to continue what they had begun to do and to what Mordecai had written to them.
Amplified Bible
So the Jews undertook what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them.
World English Bible
The Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written to them;
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the Iewes promised to do as they had begun, & as Mordecai had written vnto them,
Legacy Standard Bible
Thus the Jews fully accepted what they had started to do and what Mordecai had written to them.
Berean Standard Bible
So the Jews agreed to continue the custom they had started, as Mordecai had written to them.
Contemporary English Version
They followed Mordecai's instructions and set aside these two days every year as a time of celebration.
Complete Jewish Bible
So the Jews took it upon themselves to continue what they had already begun to do, and as Mordekhai had written to them;
Darby Translation
And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written to them.
Easy-to-Read Version
So the Jews agreed to do what Mordecai had written to them. And they agreed to continue the celebration they had begun.
George Lamsa Translation
And the Jews took upon them selves to do as they had begun and as Mordecai had written them;
Good News Translation
So the Jews followed Mordecai's instructions, and the celebration became an annual custom.
Lexham English Bible
And the Jews adopted what they had begun to do and what Mordecai had written to them.
Literal Translation
And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written to them,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And the Iewes receaued it that they had begonne to do, and that Mardocheus wrote vnto them:
American Standard Version
And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;
Bible in Basic English
And the Jews gave their word to go on as they had been doing and as Mordecai had given them orders in writing;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the Iewes promised to do as they had begunne, and as Mardocheus had written vnto them:
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the Jews took upon them to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;
King James Version (1611)
And the Iewes vndertooke to doe, as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written vnto them:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the Jews consented to this accordingly as Mardochaeus wrote to them,
English Revised Version
And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe the Jewis resseyueden in to solempne custom alle thingis, whiche thei bigunnen to do in that tyme, and whiche thingis Mardochee hadde comaundid bi lettris to be doon.
Update Bible Version
And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written to them;
Webster's Bible Translation
And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written to them;
New King James Version
So the Jews accepted the custom which they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them,
New Living Translation
So the Jews accepted Mordecai's proposal and adopted this annual custom.
New Life Bible
So the Jews agreed to do what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them.
New Revised Standard
So the Jews adopted as a custom what they had begun to do, as Mordecai had written to them.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And the Jews took upon them that which they had begun to do, - and that which Mordecai had written unto them;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Jews undertook to observe with solemnity all they had begun to do at that time, which Mardochai by letters had commanded to be done.
Revised Standard Version
So the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mor'decai had written to them.
Young's Literal Translation
And the Jews have received that which they had begun to do, and that which Mordecai hath written unto them,
THE MESSAGE
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New American Standard Bible (1995)
Thus the Jews undertook what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them.

Contextual Overview

20 Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually, 22 because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from grief into joy, and from mourning into a holiday; that they were to make them days of feasting and rejoicing, and sending portions of food to one another, and gifts to the poor. 23 So the Jews undertook what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them.24 For Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the adversary of all the Jews, had schemed against the Jews to eliminate them, and had cast Pur, that is the lot, to disturb them and eliminate them. 25 But when it came to the king's attention, he commanded by letter that his wicked scheme which he had devised against the Jews was to return on his own head, and that he and his sons were to be hanged on the wooden gallows. 26 Therefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. And because of the instructions in this letter, both what they had seen in this regard and what had happened to them, 27 the Jews established and made a custom for themselves, their descendants, and for all those who allied themselves with them, so that they would not fail to celebrate these two days according to their regulation and according to their appointed time annually. 28 So these days were to be remembered and celebrated throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and these days of Purim were not to be neglected by the Jews, or their memory fade from their descendants. 29 Then Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter about Purim.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Cross-References

Exodus 20:12
"Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged on the land which the LORD your God gives you.
Leviticus 19:32
'You shall stand up in the presence of the grayheaded and honor elders, and you shall fear your God; I am the LORD.
Romans 13:7
Pay to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.
Galatians 6:1
Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.
1 Timothy 5:1
Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, and to the younger men as brothers,
1 Timothy 5:17
The elders who lead well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
1 Timothy 5:19
Do not accept an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.
1 Peter 2:17
Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
1 Peter 4:8
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them. They engaged to keep these two days as festivals annually, as they had at this time done; not in a religious but in a civil way, not as parts of religious worship, and as additions to and innovations of the law, but by way of commemoration of a civil benefit which they had received; and yet we find in later times that this was scrupled by some as an innovation; for we are told r that there were eighty five elders, and more than thirty of them prophets, who were distressed about this matter, fearing it was an innovation.

r T. Hieros. Megillah. fol. 70. 4.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Esther 9:23. The Jews undertook to do as they had begun — They had already kept the fifteenth day, and some of them in the country the fourteenth also, as a day of rejoicing: Mordecai wrote to them to bind themselves and their successors, and all their proselytes, to celebrate this as an annual feast throughout all their generations; and this they undertook to do. And it has been observed among them, in all places of their dispersion, from that day to the present time, without any interruption.


 
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