Study Desk

These were those who went up from Tel-Melakh, Tel-Harsha, Keruv, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers' houses, nor their seed, whether they were of Yisra'el:

These sought their register [among] those who were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood.

But they and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their neck, and didn't listen to your mitzvot,

and refused to obey, neither were mindful of your wonders that you did among them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and didn't forsake them.

But after they had rest, they did evil again before you; therefore left you them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried to you, you heard from heaven; and many times did you deliver them according to your mercies,

and testified against them, that you might bring them again to your law. Yet they dealt proudly, and didn't listen to your mitzvot, but sinned against your ordinances, (which if a man do, he shall live in them,) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.

However you are just in all that is come on us; for you have dealt truly, but we have done wickedly;

Now these are the chiefs of the province who lived in Yerushalayim: but in the cities of Yehudah lived everyone in his possession in their cities, [to wit], Yisra'el, the Kohanim, and the Levites, and the temple servants, and the children of Shlomo's servants.

But the temple servants lived in `Ofel: and Tzicha and Gishpa were over the temple servants.

because they didn't meet the children of Yisra'el with bread and with water, but hired Bil`am against them, to curse them: however our God turned the curse into a blessing.

But in all this [time] I was not at Yerushalayim; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artachshasta king of Bavel I went to the king: and after certain days asked I leave of the king,

and their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Yehudim' language, but according to the language of each people.

But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's mitzvah by the chamberlains: therefore was the king very angry, and his anger burned in him.

Memukhan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen has not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples who are in all the provinces of the king Achashverosh.

For this deed of the queen will come abroad to all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Achashverosh commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she didn't come.

Now when the turn of Ester, the daughter of Avichayil the uncle of Mordekhai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. Ester obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked at her.

All the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, bowed down, and did reverence to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordekhai didn't bow down, nor did him reverence.

But he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordekhai alone; for they had made known to him the people of Mordekhai: therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Yehudim who were throughout the whole kingdom of Achashverosh, even the people of Mordekhai.

The posts went forth in haste by the king's mitzvah, and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

Ester's maidens and her chamberlains came and told it her; and the queen was exceedingly grieved: and she sent clothing to clothe Mordekhai, and to take his sackcloth from off him; but he didn't receive it.