Ester 9

1En el duodécimo mes, que es el mes de Adar, el día trece del mismo, cuando había de ejecutarse la orden del rey y su edicto, y cuando los enemigos de los judíos creían obtener el dominio sobre ellos, sucedió todo lo contrario; pues los judíos prevalecieron contra quienes los odiaban.

2Los judíos se reunieron en sus ciudades, por todas las provincias del rey Asuero, para echar mano de todos aquellos que buscaban perderlos; y ninguno pudo resistirles; pues el temor de ellos había caído sobre todos los pueblos.

3Y todos los jefes de las provincias, los sátrapas y los gobernadores, y todos los dignatarios del rey, favorecían a los judíos; porque los había invadido el temor de Mardoqueo.

4Pues Mardoqueo era poderoso en la casa del rey, y su fama iba por todas las provincias, de suerte que este hombre, Mardoqueo, crecía cada día más en poder.

5Los judíos hirieron a golpe de espada a todos sus enemigos, los mataron y los exterminaron y trataron a su gusto a los que los odiaban.

6En Susa, la capital, los judíos mataron y exterminaron a quinientos hombres.

7Mataron también a Parsandata, Dalfón, Aspata,

8Porata, Adalia, Aridata,

9Parmasta, Arisai, Aridai, y Yezata,

10los diez hijos de Amán, hijo de Hamedata, adversario de los judíos; pero no alargaron su mano para despojarlos.

11Aquel mismo día llegó al conocimiento del rey el número de los muertos en Susa, la capital.

12Y dijo el rey a la reina Ester: “En Susa, la capital, los judíos han matado y exterminado a quinientos hombres y a los diez hijos de Amán. ¿Qué habrán hecho en las demás provincias? ¿Cuál es ahora tu petición?, pues te será concedida. ¿Y qué más deseas?, pues será otorgado.”

13Dijo Ester: “Si al rey le parece bien concédase a los judíos que están en Susa, hacer también mañana, según el decreto de hoy; y que los diez hijos de Amán sean colgados en la horca.”

14Mandó entonces el rey que se hiciera así; se dio un decreto en Susa y los diez hijos de Amán fueron colgados.

15Se reunieron, pues, los judíos de Susa el catorce del mes de Adar y mataron en Susa a trescientos hombres; pero no se dieron al saqueo.

16Los otros judíos que estaban en las provincias del rey, se reunieron del mismo modo para defender su vida, y obtuvieron que sus enemigos los dejasen en paz. Mataron de sus enemigos a setenta y cinco mil: pero no se dieron al saqueo.

17Esto sucedió el día trece del mes de Adar. El día catorce del mismo mes descansaron, haciendo de él un día de banquete y de alegría.

18Solo los judíos de Susa se habían reunido el trece y el catorce del mes, y descansaron el quince del mismo, haciendo de él un día de banquete y de alegría.

19Por eso los judíos de la campaña, los que habitan en ciudades sin murallas, hacen del día catorce del mes de Adar día de regocijo y de banquete, día de fiesta en que se mandan regalos los unos a los otros.

20Mardoqueo escribió estas cosas, y envió cartas a todos los judíos que había en todas las provincias del rey Asuero, cercanas y remotas,

21obligándolos a celebrar todos los años el día catorce del mes de Adar, y el día quince del mismo

22—como días en que los judíos se deshicieron de sus enemigos, y como mes en que la tristeza se les trocó en regocijo, y el luto en día bueno— y hacer de ellos días de banquete y de regocijo, con el fin de mandarse regalos los unos a los otros y repartir dádivas a los pobres.

23Los judíos adoptaron (como costumbre) lo que habían va comenzado a hacer, y lo que Mardoqueo les había escrito.

24Porque Amán, hijo de Hamedata agagita, enemigo de todos los judíos, había tramado el proyecto de exterminar a los judíos, echando el “pur”, es decir, la suerte, para destruirlos y exterminarlos.

25Mas cuando (Ester) se presentó al rey, mandó este por escrito, que recayese sobre su misma cabeza el proyecto maligno que había tramado contra los judíos, y así le colgaron a él y a sus hijos en la horca.

26Por esto llamaron a aquellos días Purim, del nombre de pur. Y por lo mismo, a raíz de todas las palabras de aquella carta, y por lo que ellos mismos habían visto y que les había acaecido,

27los judíos establecieron como obligación para sí, para sus descendientes y para los que se les agregasen, celebrar irrevocablemente estos dos días, conforme a lo prescrito y en el tiempo señalado, año tras año

28y que estos días fuesen recordados y celebrados de generación en generación, en cada familia, en cada provincia y en cada ciudad; y que estos días de Purim no cayesen en desuso entre los judíos, ni se borrase su recuerdo entre sus descendientes.

29Por esto la reina Ester, hija de Abihael, y Mardoqueo el judío escribieron con toda instancia, por segunda vez, para confirmar la carta sobre Purim.

30Mandaron cartas a todos los judíos de las ciento veinte y siete provincias del rey Asuero, con palabras de paz y verdad,

31y recomendaron celebrar estos días de Purim en su tiempo determinado, como Mardoqueo judío y la reina Ester lo habían ordenado y como ellos mismos se habían obligado para sí y para sus descendientes en lo tocante a los ayunos y sus lamentaciones.

32La orden de Ester confirmó estas observancias de Purim; y se escribió esto en el libro.

1Igitur duodecimi mensis, quem Adar vocari ante jam diximus, tertiadecima die, quando cunctis Judæis interfectio parabatur, et hostes eorum inhiabant sanguini, versa vice Judæi superiores esse cœperunt, et se de adversariis vindicare.

2Congregatique sunt per singulas civitates, oppida, et loca, ut extenderent manum contra inimicos, et persecutores suos. Nullusque ausus est resistere, eo quod omnes populos magnitudinis eorum formido penetrarat.

3Nam et provinciarum judices, et duces, et procuratores, omnisque dignitas quæ singulis locis ac operibus præerat, extollebant Judæos timore Mardochæi,

4quem principem esse palatii, et plurimum posse cognoverant: fama quoque nominis ejus crescebat quotidie, et per cunctorum ora volitabat.

5Itaque percusserunt Judæi inimicos suos plaga magna, et occiderunt eos, reddentes eis quod sibi paraverant facere:

6in tantum ut etiam in Susan quingentos viros interficerent, extra decem filios Aman Agagitæ hostis Judæorum: quorum ista sunt nomina:

7Pharsandatha, et Delphon, et Esphatha,

8et Phoratha, et Adalia, et Aridatha,

9et Phermesta, et Arisai, et Aridai, et Jezatha.

10Quos cum occidissent, prædas de substantiis eorum tangere noluerunt.

11Statimque numerus eorum, qui occisi erant in Susan, ad regem relatus est.

12Qui dixit reginæ: In urbe Susan interfecerunt Judæi quingentos viros, et alios decem filios Aman: quantam putas eos exercere cædem in universis provinciis? quid ultra postulas, et quid vis ut fieri jubeam?

13Cui illa respondit: Si regi placet, detur potestas Judæis, ut sicut fecerunt hodie in Susan, sic et cras faciant, et decem filii Aman in patibulis suspendantur.

14Præcepitque rex ut ita fieret. Statimque in Susan pependit edictum, et decem filii Aman suspensi sunt.

15Congregatis Judæis quartadecima die mensis Adar, interfecti sunt in Susan trecenti viri: nec eorum ab illis direpta substantia est.

16Sed et per omnes provincias quæ ditioni regis subjacebant, pro animabus suis steterunt Judæi, interfectis hostibus ac persecutoribus suis: in tantum ut septuaginta quinque millia occisorum implerentur, et nullus de substantiis eorum quidquam contingeret.

17Dies autem tertiusdecimus mensis Adar primus apud omnes interfectionis fuit, et quartadecima die cædere desierunt. Quem constituerunt esse solemnem, ut in eo omni tempore deinceps vacarent epulis, gaudio, atque conviviis.

18At hi, qui in urbe Susan cædem exercuerant, tertiodecimo et quartodecimo die ejusdem mensis in cæde versati sunt: quintodecimo autem die percutere desierunt. Et idcirco eumdem diem constituerunt solemnem epularum atque lætitiæ.

19Hi vero Judæi, qui in oppidis non muratis ac villis morabantur, quartumdecimum diem mensis Adar conviviorum et gaudii decreverunt, ita ut exultent in eo, et mittant sibi mutuo partes epularum et ciborum.

20Scripsit itaque Mardochæus omnia hæc, et litteris comprehensa misit ad Judæos qui in omnibus regis provinciis morabantur, tam in vicino positis, quam procul,

21ut quartamdecimam et quintamdecimam diem mensis Adar pro festis susciperent, et revertente semper anno solemni celebrarent honore:

22quia in ipsis diebus se ulti sunt Judæi de inimicis suis, et luctus atque tristitia in hilaritatem gaudiumque conversa sunt, essentque dies isti epularum atque lætitiæ, et mitterent sibi invicem ciborum partes, et pauperibus munuscula largirentur.

23Susceperuntque Judæi in solemnem ritum cuncta quæ eo tempore facere cœperant, et quæ Mardochæus litteris facienda mandaverat.

24Aman enim, filius Amadathi stirpis Agag, hostis et adversarius Judæorum, cogitavit contra eos malum, ut occideret illos atque deleret: et misit phur, quod nostra lingua vertitur in sortem.

25Et postea ingressa est Esther ad regem, obsecrans ut conatus ejus litteris regis irriti fierent, et malum quod contra Judæos cogitaverat, reverteretur in caput ejus. Denique et ipsum et filios ejus affixerunt cruci,

26atque ex illo tempore dies isti appellati sunt phurim, id est sortium: eo quod phur, id est sors, in urnam missa fuerit. Et cuncta quæ gesta sunt, epistolæ, id est, libri hujus volumine, continentur:

27quæque sustinuerunt, et quæ deinceps immutata sunt, susceperunt Judæi super se et semen suum, et super cunctos qui religioni eorum voluerunt copulari, ut nulli liceat duos hos dies absque solemnitate transigere, quos scriptura testatur, et certa expetunt tempora, annis sibi jugiter succedentibus.

28Isti sunt dies, quos nulla umquam delebit oblivio, et per singulas generationes cunctæ in toto orbe provinciæ celebrabunt: nec est ulla civitas, in qua dies phurim, id est sortium, non observentur a Judæis, et ab eorum progenie, quæ his cæremoniis obligata est.

29Scripseruntque Esther regina filia Abihail, et Mardochæus Judæus, etiam secundam epistolam, ut omni studio dies ista solemnis sanciretur in posterum:

30et miserunt ad omnes Judæos qui in centum viginti septem provinciis regis Assueri versabantur, ut haberent pacem, et susciperent veritatem,

31observantes dies sortium, et suo tempore cum gaudio celebrarent: sicut constituerant Mardochæus et Esther, et illi observanda susceperunt a se, et a semine suo, jejunia, et clamores, et sortium dies,

32et omnia quæ libri hujus, qui vocatur Esther, historia continentur.

1So on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which as we have said above is called Adar, when all the Jews were designed to be massacred, and their enemies were greedy after their blood, the case being altered, the Jews began to have the upper hand, and to revenge themselves of their adversaries.

2And they gathered themselves together in every city, and town, and place, to lay their hands on their enemies, and their persecutors. And no one durst withstand them, for the fear of their power had gone through every people.

3And the judges of the provinces, and the governors, and lieutenants, and every one in dignity, that presided over every place and work, extolled the Jews for fear of Mardochai:

4For they knew him to be prince of the palace, and to have great power: and the fame of his name increased daily, and was spread abroad through all men’s mouths.

5So the Jews made a great slaughter of their enemies, and killed them, repaying according to what they had prepared to do to them:

6Insomuch that even in Susan they killed five hundred men, besides the ten sons of Aman the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews: whose names are these:

7Pharsandatha, and Delphon, and Esphatha,

8And Phoratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,

9And Phermesta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Jezatha.

10And when they had slain them, they would not touch the spoils of their goods.

11And presently the number of them that were killed in Susan was brought to the king.

12And he said to the queen: The Jews have killed five hundred men in the city of Susan, besides the ten sons of Aman: how many dost thou think they have slain in all the provinces? What askest thou more, and what wilt thou have me to command to be done?

13And she answered: If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews, to do tomorrow in Susan as they have done today, and that the ten sons of Aman may be hanged upon gibbets.

14And the king commanded that it should be so done. And forthwith the edict was hung up in Susan, and the ten sons of Aman were hanged.

15And on the fourteenth day of the month Adar the Jews gathered themselves together, and they killed in Susan three hundred men: but they took not their substance.

16Moreover through all the provinces which were subject to the king’s dominion the Jews stood for their lives, and slew their enemies and persecutors: insomuch that the number of them that were Billed amounted to seventy-five thousand, and no man took any of their goods.

17Now the thirteenth day of the month Adar was the first day with them all of the slaughter, and on the fourteenth day they left off. Which they ordained to be kept holy day, so that all times hereafter they should celebrate it with feasting, joy, and banquets.

18But they that were killing in the city of Susan, were employed in the slaughter on the thirteenth and fourteenth day of the same month: and on the fifteenth day they rested. And therefore they appointed that day to be a holy day of feasting and gladness.

19But those Jews that dwelt in towns not walled and in villages, appointed the fourteenth day of the month Adar for banquets and gladness, so as to rejoice on that day, and send one another portions of their banquets and meats.

20And Mardochai wrote all these things, and sent them comprised in letters to the Jews that abode in all the king’s provinces, both those that lay near and those afar off,

21That they should receive the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the month Adar for holy days, and always at the return of the year should celebrate them with solemn honour:

22Because on those days the Jews revenged themselves of their enemies, and their mourning and sorrow were turned into mirth and joy, and that these should be days of feasting and gladness, in which they should send one to another portions of meats; and should give gifts to the poor.

23And 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.

24For Aman, the son of Amadathi of the race of Agag, the enemy and adversary of the Jews, had devised evil against them, to kill them and destroy them: and had cast Phur, that is, the lot.

25And afterwards Esther went in to the king, beseeching him that his endeavours might be made void by the king’s letters: and the evil that he had intended against the Jews, might return upon his own head. And so both he and his sons were hanged upon gibbets.

26And since that time these days are called Phurim, that is, of lots: because Phur, that is, the lot, was cast into the urn. And all things that were done, are contained in the volume of this epistle, that is, of this book:

27And the things that they suffered, and that were afterwards changed, the Jews took upon themselves and their seed, and upon all that had a mind to be joined to their religion, so that it should be lawful for none to pass these days without solemnity: which the writing testifieth, and certain times require, as the years continually succeed one another.

28These are the days which shall never be forgot: and which all provinces in the whole world shall celebrate throughout all generations: neither is there any city wherein the days of Phurim, that is, of lots, must not be observed by the Jews, and by their posterity, which is bound to these ceremonies.

29And Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mardochai the Jew, wrote also a second epistle, that with all diligence this day should be established a festival for the time to come.

30And they sent to all the Jews that were in the hundred and twenty-seven provinces of king Assuerus, that they should have peace, and receive truth,

31And observe the days of lots, and celebrate them with joy in their proper time: as Mardochai and Esther had appointed, and they undertook them to be observed by themselves and by their seed, fasts, and cries, and the days of lots,

32And all things which are contained in the history of this book, which is called Esther.