Esther chapter 3
(1) After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. (2) All the royal officials at the king's gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.
(3) Then the royal officials at the king's gate asked Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king's command?" (4) Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai's behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.
(5) When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. (6) Yet having learned who Mordecai's people were, he scorned the idea of only killing Mordecai. Instead Haman thought of a way to destroy all of Mordecai's people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.
(7) In the 12th year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, they cast the pur (that is, the lot) in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. and the lot fell the 12th month, the month of Adar.
(8) Then Haman said to King Xerxes, "There is a certain people dispersed and scattered among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom, whose customs are different from those of all other people and they do not obey the king's laws; it is not the best king's interest to tolerate them. (9) If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to DESTROY them, and I will put ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury for the men who carry out this business."
(10) So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman, son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. (11) "Keep the money," said the king to Haman, "And do with the people as you please."
(12) Then on the 13th day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman's orders to the king's satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring. (13) Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews-young and old, women and little children- on a single day, the 13th day of the 12th month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. (14) A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day.
(15) Spurred on by the king's command, the couriers went out, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Esther, chapter 2
(1) Later when the anger of King Xerxes had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her. (2) Then, the king's personal attendants proposed, "Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. (3) Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful girls into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king's eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. (4) Then let the girl who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti." This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.
(5) Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, (6) who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive Jehoiachin king of Judah. (7) Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, who he had brought up because she had no father nor mother. This girl, who was also known as Esther, was lovely in form and features, and Mordecai had taken her in as his own daughter when the girl's mother and father died.
(8) When the king's order and edict had been proclaimed, many girls were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king's palace and was entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. (9) The girl pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven maids seleceted from the king's palace and moved her and her maids into the best place in the harem.
(10) Esther did not reveal her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so. (11) Every day Mordecai walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was doing and what was happening to her.
(12) Before a girl's turn came in to go see King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for women, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with perfume and cosmetics. (13) And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take from the harem to take to the king's palace. (14) In the evening she would go there and and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name.
(15) When the turn came for Esther to go to the king, she asked for nothing more than what Hegai, the king's eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. (16) She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
(17) Now the king was attracted to Esther more than any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval over more than any of the other virgins. So he set a crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. (18) And the king through a great banquet, Esther's banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed
gifts with royal liberality.
(19) When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate. (20) But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to, for she continued to follow Mordecai's instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.
(21) During the time Mordecai was sitting at the gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinated King Xerxes. (22) But Mordecai found out about the plot, he told Queen Esther, and she told King Xerxes, giving credit to Mordecai. (23) And when the plot was investigated and found out true, the two evil officials were hanged on gallows. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.
Now it's getting exciting!
(1) Later when the anger of King Xerxes had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her. (2) Then, the king's personal attendants proposed, "Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. (3) Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful girls into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king's eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. (4) Then let the girl who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti." This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.
(5) Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, (6) who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive Jehoiachin king of Judah. (7) Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, who he had brought up because she had no father nor mother. This girl, who was also known as Esther, was lovely in form and features, and Mordecai had taken her in as his own daughter when the girl's mother and father died.
(8) When the king's order and edict had been proclaimed, many girls were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king's palace and was entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. (9) The girl pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven maids seleceted from the king's palace and moved her and her maids into the best place in the harem.
(10) Esther did not reveal her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so. (11) Every day Mordecai walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was doing and what was happening to her.
(12) Before a girl's turn came in to go see King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for women, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with perfume and cosmetics. (13) And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take from the harem to take to the king's palace. (14) In the evening she would go there and and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name.
(15) When the turn came for Esther to go to the king, she asked for nothing more than what Hegai, the king's eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. (16) She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
(17) Now the king was attracted to Esther more than any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval over more than any of the other virgins. So he set a crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. (18) And the king through a great banquet, Esther's banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed
gifts with royal liberality.
(19) When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate. (20) But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to, for she continued to follow Mordecai's instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.
(21) During the time Mordecai was sitting at the gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinated King Xerxes. (22) But Mordecai found out about the plot, he told Queen Esther, and she told King Xerxes, giving credit to Mordecai. (23) And when the plot was investigated and found out true, the two evil officials were hanged on gallows. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.
Now it's getting exciting!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
I'm slowly reading through the book of Esther, so you're going to read it with me, I'm going to post a new chapter each day till i get through all TEN chapters.
Chapter 1
Queen Vashti Deposed
(1) This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush (2) At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, (3) and in the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officals. The leaders of Persia and Media, the princess, and the nobles of the provinces were present.
(4) For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty. (5) When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king's palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest, who were in the citadel of Susa. (6) The gardens had hanging of white and blue linen, fastened with cords, of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.
(7) Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king's liberty. (8) By the king's command, each guest was allowed to drink in his own way, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished.
(9) Queen Vashti also gave a banquet in the royal palace of Xerxes. (10) On the seventh day, when King Xeres was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him-Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcus-(11) to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty before all the people and nobles, for Queen Vashti was lovely to look at. (12) But, when the attendants delivered the king's command Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.
(13) Since it was customery for the king to consult experts in matters of laws and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times (14) and were closet to the king-Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven nobles of Perisa and Media, who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom.
(15) "According to the law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?" King Xerxes asked,"She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her." (16) Then Memucan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, "Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provines of King Xerxes. (17) For the queen's conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, 'King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.' (18) This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobilty who have heard of the queen's conduct will respond to all the king's nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord.
(19) "Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him send out a decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed that Vashti is to NEVER again enter in the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the queen give her position to someone else, who is better than she. (20) Then, when the king's edict is proclaimed throughout all this vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest."
(21) The kings and nobles were pleased with this advice, and so they did as Memucan proposed, (22) He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script to each people in its own language, proclaiming in each people's tonuge that every man shall be ruler over his own household.
Make sure you come back tomorrow!
Chapter 1
Queen Vashti Deposed
(1) This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush (2) At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, (3) and in the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officals. The leaders of Persia and Media, the princess, and the nobles of the provinces were present.
(4) For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty. (5) When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king's palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest, who were in the citadel of Susa. (6) The gardens had hanging of white and blue linen, fastened with cords, of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.
(7) Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king's liberty. (8) By the king's command, each guest was allowed to drink in his own way, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished.
(9) Queen Vashti also gave a banquet in the royal palace of Xerxes. (10) On the seventh day, when King Xeres was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him-Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcus-(11) to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty before all the people and nobles, for Queen Vashti was lovely to look at. (12) But, when the attendants delivered the king's command Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.
(13) Since it was customery for the king to consult experts in matters of laws and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times (14) and were closet to the king-Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven nobles of Perisa and Media, who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom.
(15) "According to the law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?" King Xerxes asked,"She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her." (16) Then Memucan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, "Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provines of King Xerxes. (17) For the queen's conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, 'King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.' (18) This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobilty who have heard of the queen's conduct will respond to all the king's nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord.
(19) "Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him send out a decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed that Vashti is to NEVER again enter in the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the queen give her position to someone else, who is better than she. (20) Then, when the king's edict is proclaimed throughout all this vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest."
(21) The kings and nobles were pleased with this advice, and so they did as Memucan proposed, (22) He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script to each people in its own language, proclaiming in each people's tonuge that every man shall be ruler over his own household.
Make sure you come back tomorrow!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Ok only I would do this..... I was letting June (my awesome jack Russell terrier mix) out and i could see my old soccer ball buried in the snow across the yard..... so with NO shoes on, WET hair, No coat, i went out there dug it up and brought it back inside. And after all that the stupid ball was FLAT oh well i still played with it, i cant believe i didn't catch a cold lol
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