Chapter 9

1And in the twelfth month-which is the month of Adar-on the thirteenth day thereof, when the king's order and his edict drew near to be put into execution, on the day that the Jews' enemies looked forward to ruling over them, it was reversed, the Jews should rule over their enemies.   אוּבִשְׁנֵים֩ עָשָׂ֨ר חֹ֜דֶשׁ הוּא־חֹ֣דֶשׁ אֲדָ֗ר בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֨ה עָשָׂ֥ר יוֹם֙ בּ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִגִּ֧יעַ דְּבַר־הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וְדָת֖וֹ לְהֵֽעָשׂ֑וֹת בַּיּ֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר שִׂבְּר֜וּ אֹֽיְבֵ֤י הַיְּהוּדִים֙ לִשְׁל֣וֹט בָּהֶ֔ם וְנַֽהֲפ֣וֹךְ ה֔וּא אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁלְט֧וּ הַיְּהוּדִ֛ים הֵ֖מָּה בְּשֹֽׂנְאֵיהֶֽם:
2The Jews assembled in their cities, in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, to lay hand on those who sought to harm them, and no one stood up before them, for their fear had fallen upon all the peoples.   בנִקְהֲל֨וּ הַיְּהוּדִ֜ים בְּעָֽרֵיהֶ֗ם בְּכָל־מְדִינוֹת֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ לִשְׁלֹ֣חַ יָ֔ד בִּמְבַקְשֵׁ֖י רָֽעָתָ֑ם וְאִישׁ֙ לֹֽא־עָמַ֣ד לִפְנֵיהֶ֔ם כִּֽי־נָפַ֥ל פַּחְדָּ֖ם עַל־כָּל־הָֽעַמִּֽים:
3And all the princes of the provinces and the satraps and the governors and those that conduct the king's affairs elevated the Jews, for the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.   גוְכָל־שָׂרֵ֨י הַמְּדִינ֜וֹת וְהָֽאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנִ֣ים וְהַפַּח֗וֹת וְעֹשֵׂ֤י הַמְּלָאכָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ מְנַשְׂאִ֖ים אֶת־הַיְּהוּדִ֑ים כִּֽי־נָפַ֥ל פַּֽחַד־מָרְדֳּכַ֖י עֲלֵיהֶֽם:
and those that conduct the king’s affairs. those who were appointed to conduct the king’s affairs.   וְעֹשֵׂי הַמְּלָאכָה.  אוֹתָם שֶׁהָיוּ מְמֻנִּים לַעֲשׂוֹת צָרְכֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ:
4For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went forth throughout all the provinces, for the man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.   דכִּֽי־גָ֤דוֹל מָרְדֳּכַי֙ בְּבֵ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְשָׁמְע֖וֹ הוֹלֵ֣ךְ בְּכָל־הַמְּדִינ֑וֹת כִּֽי־הָאִ֥ישׁ מָרְדֳּכַ֖י הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וְגָדֽוֹל:
5And the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword and with slaying and destruction, and they did to their enemies as they wished.   הוַיַּכּ֤וּ הַיְּהוּדִים֙ בְּכָל־אֹ֣יְבֵיהֶ֔ם מַכַּת־חֶ֥רֶב וְהֶ֖רֶג וְאַבְדָ֑ן וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֥וּ בְשֹֽׂנְאֵיהֶ֖ם כִּרְצוֹנָֽם:
6And in Shushan the capital, the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.   ווּבְשׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָ֗ה הָֽרְג֤וּ הַיְּהוּדִים֙ וְאַבֵּ֔ד חֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת אִֽישׁ:
7And Parshandatha and Dalphon and Aspatha,   זוְאֵ֧ת | פַּרְשַׁנְדָּ֛תָא וְאֵ֥ת | דַּלְפ֖וֹן וְאֵ֥ת | אַסְפָּֽתָא:
8and Poratha and Adalia and Aridatha,   חוְאֵ֧ת | פּוֹרָ֛תָא וְאֵ֥ת | אֲדַלְיָ֖א וְאֵ֥ת | אֲרִידָֽתָא:
9and Parmashta and Arisai and Aridai and Vaizatha:   טוְאֵ֤ת | פַּרְמַ֙שְׁתָּא֙ וְאֵ֣ת | אֲרִיסַ֔י וְאֵ֥ת | אֲרִידַ֖י וְאֵ֥ת | וַיְזָתָא:
10The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the adversary of the Jews, they slew, but on the spoil they did not lay their hands.   יעֲ֠שֶׂ֠רֶת בְּנֵ֨י הָמָ֧ן בֶּֽן־הַמְּדָ֛תָא צֹרֵ֥ר הַיְּהוּדִ֖ים הָרָ֑גוּ וּבַ֨בִּזָּ֔ה לֹ֥א שָֽׁלְח֖וּ אֶת־יָדָֽם:
The ten sons of Haman. I saw in Seder Olam (ch. 29): These are the ten who wrote a [false] accusation against Judea and Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Ezra (4:6): “And in the reign of Ahasuerus, at the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the dwellers of Judea and Jerusalem.” Now what was the accusation? To stop those who ascended from the exile during the days of Cyrus, who had commenced to build the Temple, and the Cutheans slandered them and stopped them, and when Cyrus died, and Ahasuerus reigned, and Haman was promoted, he feared that those in Jerusalem would engage in the construction, and they sent in the name of Ahasuerus to the princes of the other side of the river to stop them.   עֲשֶׂרֶת בְּנֵי הָמָן.  רָאִיתִי בְסֵדֶר עוֹלָם אֵלּוּ י' שֶׁכָּתְבוּ שִׂטְנָה עַל יְהוּדָה וִירוּשָׁלָיִם כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בְּסֵפֶר עֶזְרָא "וּבְמַלְכוּת אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ בִּתְחִלַּת מַלְכוּתוֹ כָּתְבוּ שִׂטְנָה עַל ישְׁבֵי יְהוּדָה וִירוּשָׁלָיִם". וּמָה הִיא הַשִׂטְנָה? לְבַטֵּל הָעוֹלִים מִן הַגּוֹלָה בִּימֵי כוֹרֶשׁ, שֶׁהִתְחִילוּ לִבְנוֹת אֶת הַבַּיִת וְהִלְשִׁינוּ עֲלֵיהֶם הַכּוּתִים וְהֶחֱדִילוּם וּכְשֶׁמֵּת כּוֹרֶשׁ וּמָלַךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ וְהִתְנַשֵׂא הָמָן, דָּאַג שֶׁלֹּא יַעַסְקוּ אוֹתָן שֶׁבִּירוּשָׁלַיִם בַּבִּנְיָן וְשָׁלְחוּ בְשֵׁם אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ לְשָׂרֵי עֵבֶר הַנָּהָר לְבַטְּלָן:
but on the spoil they did not lay their hands. so that the king should not cast an envious eye on their money.   וּבַבִּזָּה לֹא שָׁלְחוּ אֶת יָדָם.  שֶׁלֹּא יִתֵּן הַמֶּלֶךְ עַיִן צָרָה בַּמָּמוֹן:
11On that day, the number of those slain in Shushan the capital came before the king.   יאבַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא בָּ֣א מִסְפַּ֧ר הַֽהֲרוּגִ֛ים בְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ן הַבִּירָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ:
12And the king said to Queen Esther, "In Shushan the capital the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men, and the ten sons of Haman; in the rest of the king's provinces what have they done! Now what is your petition, and it shall be granted you, and what is your request, and it shall be done."   יבוַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לְאֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַמַּלְכָּ֗ה בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָ֡ה הָֽרְגוּ֩ הַיְּהוּדִ֨ים וְאַבֵּ֜ד חֲמֵ֧שׁ מֵא֣וֹת אִ֗ישׁ וְאֵת֙ עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת בְּנֵֽי־הָמָ֔ן בִּשְׁאָ֛ר מְדִינ֥וֹת הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מֶ֣ה עָשׂ֑וּ וּמַה־שְּׁאֵֽלָתֵךְ֙ וְיִנָּ֣תֵֽן לָ֔ךְ וּמַה־בַּקָּֽשָׁתֵ֥ךְ ע֖וֹד וְתֵעָֽשׂ:
13And Esther said, "If it please the king, let tomorrow too be granted to the Jews to do as today's decree, and let them hang Haman's ten sons on the gallows."   יגוַתֹּ֤אמֶר אֶסְתֵּר֙ אִם־עַל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ ט֔וֹב יִנָּתֵ֣ן גַּם־מָחָ֗ר לַיְּהוּדִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּשׁוּשָׁ֔ן לַֽעֲשׂ֖וֹת כְּדָ֣ת הַיּ֑וֹם וְאֵ֛ת עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת בְּנֵֽי־הָמָ֖ן יִתְל֥וּ עַל־הָעֵֽץ:
and let them hang Haman’s ten sons on the gallows. those who were slain.   וְאֵת עֲשֶׂרֶת בְּנֵי הָמָן יִתְלוּ עַל הָעֵץ.  אוֹתָן שֶׁנֶּהֶרְגוּ:
14Now the king ordered that it be done so, and a decree was given in Shushan, and they hanged Haman's ten sons.   ידוַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ לְהֵֽעָשׂ֣וֹת כֵּ֔ן וַתִּנָּתֵ֥ן דָּ֖ת בְּשׁוּשָׁ֑ן וְאֵ֛ת עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת בְּנֵֽי־הָמָ֖ן תָּלֽוּ:
and a decree was given. a statute was decreed.   וַתִּנָּתֵן דָּת.  נִגְזַר חֹק מֵאֵת הַמֶּלֶךְ:
15Now the Jews who were in Shushan assembled on the fourteenth day of Adar as well, and they slew in Shushan three hundred men, but upon the spoils they did not lay their hands.   טווַיִּֽקָּֽהֲל֞וּ הַיְּהוּדִ֣ים (כתיב היהודיים) אֲשֶׁר־בְּשׁוּשָׁ֗ן גַּ֠ם בְּי֣וֹם אַרְבָּעָ֤ה עָשָׂר֙ לְחֹ֣דֶשׁ אֲדָ֔ר וַיַּֽהַרְג֣וּ בְשׁוּשָׁ֔ן שְׁל֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת אִ֑ישׁ וּבַ֨בִּזָּ֔ה לֹ֥א שָֽׁלְח֖וּ אֶת־יָדָֽם:
16And the rest of the Jews who were in the king's provinces assembled and protected themselves and had rest from their enemies and slew their foes, seventy-five thousand, but upon the spoil they did not lay their hands   טזוּשְׁאָ֣ר הַיְּהוּדִ֡ים אֲשֶׁר֩ בִּמְדִינ֨וֹת הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ נִקְהֲל֣וּ | וְעָמֹ֣ד עַל־נַפְשָׁ֗ם וְנ֨וֹחַ֙ מֵאֹ֣יְבֵיהֶ֔ם וְהָרוֹג֙ בְּשֹׂ֣נְאֵיהֶ֔ם חֲמִשָּׁ֥ה וְשִׁבְעִ֖ים אָ֑לֶף וּבַ֨בִּזָּ֔ה לֹ֥א שָֽׁלְח֖וּ אֶת־יָדָֽם:
17on the thirteenth of the month of Adar, and they rested on the fourteenth thereof, and made it a day of feasting and joy.   יזבְּיֽוֹם־שְׁלוֹשָׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר לְחֹ֣דֶשׁ אֲדָ֑ר וְנ֗וֹחַ בְּאַרְבָּעָ֤ה עָשָׂר֙ בּ֔וֹ וְעָשֹׂ֣ה אֹת֔וֹ י֖וֹם מִשְׁתֶּ֥ה וְשִׂמְחָֽה:
18And the Jews who were in Shushan assembled on the thirteenth thereof and on the fourteenth thereof, and rested on the fifteenth thereof, and made it a day of feasting and joy.   יחוְהַיְּהוּדִ֣ים (כתיב והיהודיים) אֲשֶׁר־בְּשׁוּשָׁ֗ן נִקְהֲלוּ֙ בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֤ה עָשָׂר֙ בּ֔וֹ וּבְאַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר בּ֑וֹ וְנ֗וֹחַ בַּֽחֲמִשָּׁ֤ה עָשָׂר֙ בּ֔וֹ וְעָשׂ֣ה אֹת֔וֹ י֖וֹם מִשְׁתֶּ֥ה וְשִׂמְחָֽה:
19Therefore, the Jewish villagers, who live in open towns, make the fourteenth day of the month of Adar [a day of] joy and feasting and a festive day, and of sending portions to one another.   יטעַל־כֵּ֞ן הַיְּהוּדִ֣ים הַפְּרָזִ֗ים (הפרוז֗ים כתיב) הַֽיּשְׁבִים֘ בְּעָרֵ֣י הַפְּרָזוֹת֒ עֹשִׂ֗ים אֵ֠ת י֣וֹם אַרְבָּעָ֤ה עָשָׂר֙ לְחֹ֣דֶשׁ אֲדָ֔ר שִׂמְחָ֥ה וּמִשְׁתֶּ֖ה וְי֣וֹם ט֑וֹב וּמִשְׁלֹ֥חַ מָנ֖וֹת אִ֥ישׁ לְרֵעֵֽהוּ:
the… villagers. who do not dwell in walled cities, [celebrate] on the fourteenth, and those who dwell in walled cities [celebrate] on the fifteenth, like Shushan, and [these cities] must be surrounded [by walls] since the days of Joshua the son of Nun. So did our Sages expound and learn.   הַפְּרָזִים.  שֶׁאֵינָם יוֹשְׁבִים בְּעָרֵי חוֹמָה בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר, וּמֻקָּפִין חוֹמָה בְּט"ו כְּשׁוּשַׁן. וְהֶקֵּף זֶה צָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מִימוֹת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן נוּן. כַּךְ דָּרְשׁוּ וְלָמְדוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ:
and… sending. Heb. וּמִשְּׁלֹחַ. This is a noun, like מִשְּׁמָר, watch, מִשְּׁמָע hearing. Therefore, the “shin” is vowelized soft (without a “dagesh”).   וּמִשְׁלֹחַ.  שֵׁם דָּבָר, וּמִשְׁלֹחַ, כְּמוֹ מִשְׁמָר מִשְׁמָע לְפִיכָךְ הַשִׁי"ן נְקוּדָה רָפִי:
20And Mordecai inscribed these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,   כוַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב מָרְדֳּכַ֔י אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח סְפָרִ֜ים אֶל־כָּל־הַיְּהוּדִ֗ים אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּכָל־מְדִינוֹת֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ הַקְּרוֹבִ֖ים וְהָֽרְחוֹקִֽים:
And Mordecai inscribed. this scroll, as it is. [i.e., in its present state.]   וַיִּכְתּב מָרְדְּכַי.  הִיא הַמְּגִלָּה הַזֹּאת כְּמוֹת שֶׁהִיא:
21to enjoin them to make the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and the fifteenth day thereof, every year,   כאלְקַיֵּם֘ עֲלֵיהֶם֒ לִֽהְי֣וֹת עֹשִׂ֗ים אֵ֠ת י֣וֹם אַרְבָּעָ֤ה עָשָׂר֙ לְחֹ֣דֶשׁ אֲדָ֔ר וְאֵ֛ת יֽוֹם־חֲמִשָּׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר בּ֑וֹ בְּכָל־שָׁנָ֖ה וְשָׁנָֽה:
22as the days when the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month that was reversed for them from grief to joy and from mourning to a festive day-to make them days of feasting and joy, and sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.   כבכַּיָּמִ֗ים אֲשֶׁר־נָ֨חוּ בָהֶ֤ם הַיְּהוּדִים֙ מֵאֹ֣יְבֵיהֶ֔ם וְהַחֹ֗דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר֩ נֶהְפַּ֨ךְ לָהֶ֤ם מִיָּגוֹן֙ לְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וּמֵאֵ֖בֶל לְי֣וֹם ט֑וֹב לַֽעֲשׂ֣וֹת אוֹתָ֗ם יְמֵי֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה וְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וּמִשְׁלֹ֤חַ מָנוֹת֙ אִ֣ישׁ לְרֵעֵ֔הוּ וּמַתָּנ֖וֹת לָֽאֶבְיֹנִֽים:
23And the Jews took upon themselves what they had commenced to do and what Mordecai had written to them.   כגוְקִבֵּל֙ הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־הֵחֵ֖לּוּ לַֽעֲשׂ֑וֹת וְאֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־כָּתַ֥ב מָרְדֳּכַ֖י אֲלֵיהֶֽם:
24For Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the adversary of all the Jews, had devised to destroy the Jews, and he cast the pur-that is the lot-to terrify them and destroy them.   כדכִּי֩ הָמָ֨ן בֶּֽן־הַמְּדָ֜תָא הָֽאֲגָגִ֗י צֹרֵר֙ כָּל־הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים חָשַׁ֥ב עַל־הַיְּהוּדִ֖ים לְאַבְּדָ֑ם וְהִפִּ֥יל פּוּר֙ ה֣וּא הַגּוֹרָ֔ל לְהֻמָּ֖ם וּֽלְאַבְּדָֽם:
For Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite. devised to terrify them and destroy them.   כִּי הָמָן בֶּן הַמְּדָתָא.  חָשַׁב לְהֻמָּם וּלְאַבְּדָם:
25And when she came before the king, he commanded through letters that his evil device that he had devised against the Jews return upon his own head, and to destroy him and his sons on the gallows.   כהוּבְבֹאָהּ֘ לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֒לֶךְ֒ אָמַ֣ר עִם־הַסֵּ֔פֶר יָשׁ֞וּב מַֽחֲשַׁבְתּ֧וֹ הָֽרָעָ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־חָשַׁ֥ב עַל־הַיְּהוּדִ֖ים עַל־רֹאשׁ֑וֹ וְתָל֥וּ אֹת֛וֹ וְאֶת־בָּנָ֖יו עַל־הָעֵֽץ:
And when she came. [when] Esther [came] to the king to beseech him.   וּבְבֹאָהּ.  אֶסְתֵּר אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ לְהִתְחַנֶּן לוֹ:
he commanded through letters. The king stated orally and commanded to write letters that his evil device return upon his own head.   אָמַר עִם הַסֵּפֶר.  אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּפִיו וְצִוָּה לִכְתּב סְפָרִים שֶׁתָּשׁוּב מַחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ הָרָעָה בְרֹאשׁוֹ:
26Therefore, they called these days Purim after the name pur; therefore, because of all the words of this letter, and what they saw concerning this matter, and what happened to them.   כועַל־כֵּ֡ן קָֽרְאוּ֩ לַיָּמִ֨ים הָאֵ֤לֶּה פוּרִים֙ עַל־שֵׁ֣ם הַפּ֔וּר עַל־כֵּ֕ן עַל־כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֖י הָֽאִגֶּ֣רֶת הַזֹּ֑את וּמָֽה־רָא֣וּ עַל־כָּ֔כָה וּמָ֥ה הִגִּ֖יעַ אֲלֵיהֶֽם:
therefore, because of all the words of this letter. these days were established, and therefore it was written for future generations to know.   עַל כֵּן עַל כָּל דִּבְרֵי הָאִגֶּרֶת הַזֹּאת.  נִקְבְּעוּ הַיָּמִים הָאֵלֶּה וּלְכַךְ נִכְתְּבָה לָדַעַת דּוֹרוֹת הַבָּאִים:
and what they saw. those who did these deeds, that they did them.   וּמָה רָאוּ.  עוֹשֵׂי הַמַּעֲשִׂים הָאֵלֶּה שֶׁעֲשָׂאוּם:
and what happened to them. What did Ahasuerus see that he used the sacred vessels, and what happened to them? That Satan came and danced among them and slew Vashti. And what did Haman see that he became envious of Mordecai, and what happened to him? They hanged him and his sons. And what did Mordecai see that he did not kneel or prostrate himself, and what did Esther see that she invited Haman?   וּמָה הִגִּיעַ אֲלֵיהֶם.  מָה רָאָה אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בִּכְלֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ, "וּמָה הִגִּיעַ אֲלֵיהֶם": שֶׁבָּא שָׂטָן וְרָקַד בֵּינֵיהֶם וְהָרַג אֶת וַשְׁתִּי. מָה רָאָה הָמָן שֶׁנִּתְקַנֵּא בְמָרְדְּכַי, וּמָה הִגִּיעַ אֵלָיו: שֶׁתָּלוּ אוֹתוֹ וְאֶת בָּנָיו. מָה רָאָה מָרְדְּכַי שֶׁלֹּא יִכְרַע וְלֹא יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה, וּמָה רָאֲתָה אֶסְתֵּר שֶׁזִּמְּנָה לְהָמָן:
27The Jews ordained and took upon themselves and upon their seed and upon all those who join them, that it is not to be revoked to make these two days according to their script and according to their appointed time, every year.   כזקִיְּמ֣וּ וְקִבְּלֻ֣ הַיְּהוּדִים֩ | עֲלֵיהֶ֨ם | וְעַל־זַרְעָ֜ם וְעַ֨ל כָּל־הַנִּלְוִ֤ים עֲלֵיהֶם֙ וְלֹ֣א יַֽעֲב֔וֹר לִֽהְי֣וֹת עֹשִׂ֗ים אֶת־שְׁנֵ֤י הַיָּמִים֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה כִּכְתָבָ֖ם וְכִזְמַנָּ֑ם בְּכָל־שָׁנָ֖ה וְשָׁנָֽה:
who join them. proselytes who were destined to convert.   הַנִּלְוִים עֲלֵיהֶם.  גֵּרִים הָעֲתִידִים לְהִתְגַּיֵּר:
according to their script. that the Scroll [of Esther] should be written in the Ashuri script.   כִּכְתָבָם.  שֶׁתְּהֵא הַמְּגִלָּה כְתוּבָה כְּתָב אַשׁוּרִית:
28And these days shall be remembered and celebrated throughout every generation, in every family, every province, and every city, and these days of Purim shall not be revoked from amidst the Jews, and their memory shall not cease from their seed.   כחוְהַיָּמִ֣ים הָ֠אֵ֠לֶּה נִזְכָּרִ֨ים וְנַֽעֲשִׂ֜ים בְּכָל־דּ֣וֹר וָד֗וֹר מִשְׁפָּחָה֙ וּמִשְׁפָּחָ֔ה מְדִינָ֥ה וּמְדִינָ֖ה וְעִ֣יר וָעִ֑יר וִימֵ֞י הַפּוּרִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה לֹ֤א יַֽעַבְרוּ֙ מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים וְזִכְרָ֖ם לֹא־יָס֥וּף מִזַּרְעָֽם:
remembered. with the reading of the Scroll [of Esther].   נִזְכָּרִים.  בִּקְרִיאַת הַמְּגִלָּה:
and celebrated. feasting and rejoicing and a festive day, to give portions [of food to friends] and gifts [to the poor].   וְנַעֲשִׂים.  מִשְׁתֶּה וְשִׂמְחָה וְיוֹם טוֹב לָתֵת מָנוֹת וּמַתָּנוֹת:
every family. gather together and feast and drink together, and so they took upon themselves that the Purim days would not be revoked.   מִשְׁפָּחָה וּמִשְׁפָּחָה.  מִתְאַסְּפִין יַחַד וְאוֹכְלִים וְשׁוֹתִים יָחַד. וְכַךְ קִבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁיְּמֵי הַפּוּרִים לֹא יַעַבְרוּ:
.    וְזִכְרָם.  קְרִיאַת מְגִלָּה:
shall not cease. Heb. לֹא יָסוּף. This is the Aramaic translation of יִתֹּם, will end, for the Targum of (Deut. 2:14) “ עַד תֹּם” is עַד דְסַף, until it finished, and it is impossible to say that it is derived from the same root as (Gen. 19:15): “lest you perish (תִּסָפֶה),” or from the same root as (I Sam. 27:1): “Now I shall perish (אֶסָפֶה) one day,” for if that were so, Scripture should have written: לֹא יִסָפֶה מִזַרְעָם.   לֹא יָסוּף.  תַּרְגּוּם שֶׁל יִתּם, דִמְתַרְגֵּם עַד תּם, עַד דְּסָף. וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לוֹמַר לִהְיוֹת מִגִּזְרַת "פֶּן תִּסָּפֶה" וּמִגִּזְרַת "עַתָּה אֶסָּפֶה יוֹם אֶחָד", שֶׁאִם כֵּן, הָיָה לוֹ לִכְתּב: "לֹּא יִסָּפֶה מִזַּרְעָם":
29Now, Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew wrote down all [the acts of] power, to confirm the second Purim letter.   כטוַ֠תִּכְתֹּ֠ב (ת רבתי) אֶסְתֵּ֨ר הַמַּלְכָּ֧ה בַת־אֲבִיחַ֛יִל וּמָרְדֳּכַ֥י הַיְּהוּדִ֖י אֶת־כָּל־תֹּ֑קֶף לְקַיֵּ֗ם אֵ֣ת אִגֶּ֧רֶת הַפּוּרִ֛ים הַזֹּ֖את הַשֵּׁנִֽית:
all [acts of] power. the power of the miracle of Ahasuerus, of Haman, of Mordecai, and of Esther.   אֶת כָּל תּקֶף.  תָּקְפּוֹ שֶׁל נֵס, שֶׁל אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ וְשֶׁל הָמָן וְשֶׁל מָרְדְּכַי וְשֶׁל אֶסְתֵּר:
the second. In the second year they again sent letters that they should celebrate Purim.   הַשֵׁנִית.  לַשָׁנָה הַשְׁנִיָּה חָזְרוּ וְשָׁלְחוּ סְפָרִים שֶׁיַּעֲשׂוּ פּוּרִים:
30And he sent letters to all the Jews, to one hundred twenty-seven provinces, the realm of Ahasuerus, words of peace and truth,   לוַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח סְפָרִ֜ים אֶל־כָּל־הַיְּהוּדִ֗ים אֶל־שֶׁ֨בַע וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים וּמֵאָה֙ מְדִינָ֔ה מַלְכ֖וּת אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ דִּבְרֵ֥י שָׁל֖וֹם וֶֽאֱמֶֽת:
31to confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times, as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had ordained for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fasts and their cry.   לאלְקַיֵּ֡ם אֵת־יְמֵי֩ הַפֻּרִ֨ים הָאֵ֜לֶּה בִּזְמַנֵּיהֶ֗ם כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֩ קִיַּ֨ם עֲלֵיהֶ֜ם מָרְדֳּכַ֤י הַיְּהוּדִי֙ וְאֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַמַּלְכָּ֔ה וְכַֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר קִיְּמ֥וּ עַל־נַפְשָׁ֖ם וְעַל־זַרְעָ֑ם דִּבְרֵ֥י הַצּוֹמ֖וֹת וְזַֽעֲקָתָֽם:
32Now Esther's order confirmed these matters of Purim, and it was inscribed in the book.   לבוּמַֽאֲמַ֣ר אֶסְתֵּ֔ר קִיַּ֕ם דִּבְרֵ֥י הַפֻּרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וְנִכְתָּ֖ב בַּסֵּֽפֶר:
Now Esther’s order confirmed, etc.. Esther requested of the sages of the generation to commemorate her and to write this book with the rest of the Holy Writings, and that is the meaning of “and it was inscribed in the book.”   וּמַאֲמַר אֶסְתֵּר קִיַּם וגו'.  אֶסְתֵּר בִּקְשָׁה מֵאֵת חַכְמֵי הַדּוֹר לְקָבְעָהּ וְלִכְתּב סֵפֶר זֶה עִם שְׁאָר הַכְּתוּבִים. וְזֶהוּ "וְנִכְתָּב בַּסֵּפֶר":