WEBVTT 00:00:00.919 --> 00:00:03.700 Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're 00:00:03.700 --> 00:00:05.740 taking this journey together to read the Bible 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:09.000 in a year. Today's reading is from the book of 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:13.919 Esther, chapters 4 through 8. Chapter 4 When 00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:16.600 Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore 00:00:16.600 --> 00:00:19.579 his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and 00:00:19.579 --> 00:00:22.079 went out into the midst of the city. He cried 00:00:22.079 --> 00:00:24.859 out with a loud and bitter cry. He went as far 00:00:24.859 --> 00:00:27.600 as the front of the king's gate, for no one might 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:29.859 enter the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. 00:00:30.519 --> 00:00:32.179 And in every province where the king's command 00:00:32.179 --> 00:00:34.520 and decree arrived, there was great mourning 00:00:34.520 --> 00:00:37.539 among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing, 00:00:37.700 --> 00:00:40.979 and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. So Esther's 00:00:40.979 --> 00:00:43.659 maids and eunuchs came and told her, and the 00:00:43.659 --> 00:00:46.439 queen was deeply distressed. Then she sent garments 00:00:46.439 --> 00:00:49.100 to Claude Mordecai, and take his sackcloth away 00:00:49.100 --> 00:00:51.579 from him, but he would not accept them. Then 00:00:51.579 --> 00:00:54.530 Esther called, Hatak one of the king's eunuchs 00:00:54.530 --> 00:00:57.130 whom he had appointed to attend her and she gave 00:00:57.130 --> 00:00:59.609 him a command concerning Mordecai to learn what 00:00:59.609 --> 00:01:03.429 and why this was. So Hatak went out to Mordecai 00:01:03.429 --> 00:01:06.069 in a city square that was in front of the king's 00:01:06.069 --> 00:01:08.909 gate and Mordecai told him all that had happened 00:01:08.909 --> 00:01:11.500 to him and the sum of money that Haman had promised 00:01:11.500 --> 00:01:13.819 to pay into the king's treasuries to destroy 00:01:13.819 --> 00:01:16.680 the Jews. He also gave him a copy of the written 00:01:16.680 --> 00:01:19.219 decree for their destruction, which was given 00:01:19.219 --> 00:01:22.040 at Shushan, that he might show it to Esther and 00:01:22.040 --> 00:01:24.659 explain it to her, and that she might command 00:01:24.659 --> 00:01:27.560 her to go into the king to make supplication 00:01:27.560 --> 00:01:30.280 to him, and plead before him for her people. 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:33.340 So Hatak returned and told Esther the words of 00:01:33.340 --> 00:01:35.900 Mordecai. Then Esther spoke to Hatak and gave 00:01:35.900 --> 00:01:38.659 him a command for Mordecai. All the king's servants 00:01:38.659 --> 00:01:41.579 and the people of the king's provinces know that 00:01:41.579 --> 00:01:44.480 any man or woman who goes into the inner court 00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:47.519 to the king, who has not been called, he has 00:01:47.519 --> 00:01:50.920 but one law, put all to death, except the one 00:01:50.920 --> 00:01:53.299 to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, 00:01:53.340 --> 00:01:56.599 that he may live. Yet I myself have not been 00:01:56.599 --> 00:01:59.400 called to go into the king these thirty days. 00:01:59.700 --> 00:02:03.819 So they told Mordecai Esther's words. And Mordecai 00:02:03.819 --> 00:02:08.150 told them to answer Esther, that you will escape 00:02:08.150 --> 00:02:10.569 in the king's palace any more than all the other 00:02:10.569 --> 00:02:13.189 Jews. For if you remain completely silent at 00:02:13.189 --> 00:02:16.110 this time, relief and deliverance will arise 00:02:16.110 --> 00:02:18.870 for the Jews from another place, but you and 00:02:18.870 --> 00:02:21.389 your father's house will perish. Yet who knows 00:02:21.389 --> 00:02:23.689 whether you have come to the kingdom for such 00:02:23.689 --> 00:02:26.729 a time as this? Then Esther told them to reply 00:02:26.729 --> 00:02:29.909 to Mordecai, Go gather all the Jews who are present 00:02:29.909 --> 00:02:33.490 in Shushan and fast for me. Neither eat nor drink 00:02:33.490 --> 00:02:36.560 for three days, night or day. my maids and i 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:39.900 will fast likewise and so i will go to the king 00:02:39.900 --> 00:02:43.340 which is against the law and if i perish i perish 00:02:43.340 --> 00:02:46.620 so mordechai went his way and did according to 00:02:46.620 --> 00:02:52.310 all that esther commanded him chapter five Now 00:02:52.310 --> 00:02:54.210 it happened on the third day that Esther put 00:02:54.210 --> 00:02:57.030 on her royal robes and stood in the inner court 00:02:57.030 --> 00:02:59.250 of the king's palace, across from the king's 00:02:59.250 --> 00:03:01.710 house, while the king sat on his royal throne 00:03:01.710 --> 00:03:04.189 in the royal house, facing the entrance of the 00:03:04.189 --> 00:03:06.610 house. So it was when the king saw Queen Esther 00:03:06.610 --> 00:03:09.349 standing in the court that she found favor in 00:03:09.349 --> 00:03:11.789 his sight, and the king held out to Esther the 00:03:11.789 --> 00:03:14.430 golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther 00:03:14.430 --> 00:03:17.090 went near and touched the top of the scepter. 00:03:17.310 --> 00:03:19.590 And the king said to her, What do you wish, Queen 00:03:19.590 --> 00:03:22.090 Esther? What is your request? It shall be given 00:03:22.090 --> 00:03:24.990 to you up to half the kingdom. So Esther answered, 00:03:25.250 --> 00:03:28.009 If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman 00:03:28.009 --> 00:03:30.370 come today to the banquet that I have prepared 00:03:30.370 --> 00:03:33.150 for him. Then the king said, Bring Haman quickly, 00:03:33.389 --> 00:03:36.389 that he may do as Esther has said. So the king 00:03:36.389 --> 00:03:38.449 and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had 00:03:38.449 --> 00:03:41.409 prepared. At the banquet of wine, the king said 00:03:41.409 --> 00:03:43.569 to Esther, What is your petition? It shall be 00:03:43.569 --> 00:03:46.090 granted you. What is your request? Up to half 00:03:46.090 --> 00:03:48.939 the kingdom. It shall be done. Then Esther answered 00:03:48.939 --> 00:03:51.800 and said, My petition and request is this. If 00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:53.599 I have found favor in the sight of the king, 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:56.259 and if it pleases the king to grant my petition 00:03:56.259 --> 00:03:58.900 and fulfill my request, then let the king and 00:03:58.900 --> 00:04:01.099 Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare 00:04:01.099 --> 00:04:03.699 for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king 00:04:03.699 --> 00:04:06.860 has said. So Haman went out that day joyful and 00:04:06.860 --> 00:04:09.580 with a glad heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai 00:04:09.580 --> 00:04:12.099 in the king's gate, and that he did not stand 00:04:12.099 --> 00:04:15.180 or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation 00:04:15.180 --> 00:04:18.500 against Mordecai. Nevertheless, Haman restrained 00:04:18.500 --> 00:04:21.060 himself and went home, and he sent and called 00:04:21.060 --> 00:04:24.100 for his friends and his wife Zeresh. Then Haman 00:04:24.100 --> 00:04:26.360 told them of his great riches, the multitude 00:04:26.360 --> 00:04:28.759 of his children, everything in which the king 00:04:28.759 --> 00:04:31.379 had promoted him, and how he had advanced him 00:04:31.379 --> 00:04:33.500 above the officials and servants of the king. 00:04:33.819 --> 00:04:37.079 Moreover, Haman said, Besides, Queen Esther invited 00:04:37.079 --> 00:04:39.920 no one but me to come in with the king to the 00:04:39.920 --> 00:04:42.540 banquet that she prepared, and tomorrow I am 00:04:42.540 --> 00:05:09.339 again invited by her, along with the king. CHAPTER 00:05:09.339 --> 00:05:16.470 VI. to bring the book of the records of the chronicles, 00:05:16.589 --> 00:05:18.990 and they were read before the king. And it was 00:05:18.990 --> 00:05:21.730 found written that Mordecai had told of Biktana 00:05:21.730 --> 00:05:24.769 and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, the doorkeepers, 00:05:24.910 --> 00:05:27.550 who had sought to lay hands on king Ahasuerus. 00:05:27.870 --> 00:05:30.709 Then the king said, What honor and dignity has 00:05:30.709 --> 00:05:33.589 been bestowed on Mordecai for this? And the king's 00:05:33.589 --> 00:05:36.470 servants who attended him said, Nothing has been 00:05:36.470 --> 00:05:39.170 done for him. So the king said, Who is in the 00:05:39.170 --> 00:05:42.050 court? Now Haman had just entered the outer court 00:05:42.050 --> 00:05:44.730 of the king's palace to suggest that the king 00:05:44.730 --> 00:05:47.529 hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared 00:05:47.529 --> 00:05:50.509 for him. The king's servants said to him, Haman 00:05:50.509 --> 00:05:52.970 is here standing in the court. And the king said, 00:05:53.170 --> 00:05:55.910 Let him come in. So Haman came in and the king 00:05:55.910 --> 00:05:58.410 asked him, What shall be done for the man whom 00:05:58.410 --> 00:06:01.329 the king delights to honor? Now Haman thought 00:06:01.329 --> 00:06:03.910 in his heart, Whom would the king delight to 00:06:03.910 --> 00:06:06.610 honor more than me? And Haman answered the king, 00:06:06.829 --> 00:06:09.050 For the man whom the king delights to honor, 00:06:09.310 --> 00:06:12.110 Let a royal robe be brought which the king has 00:06:12.110 --> 00:06:14.870 worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, 00:06:14.910 --> 00:06:18.350 which has a royal crest placed on its head. Then 00:06:18.350 --> 00:06:21.209 let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand 00:06:21.209 --> 00:06:24.269 of one of the king's most noble princes, that 00:06:24.269 --> 00:06:26.970 he may array the man whom the king delights to 00:06:26.970 --> 00:06:30.149 honor. Then parade him on horseback through the 00:06:30.149 --> 00:06:32.990 city square, and proclaim before him, Thus shall 00:06:32.990 --> 00:06:35.569 it be done to the man whom the king delights 00:06:35.569 --> 00:06:38.649 to honor. Then the king said to Haman, Hurry. 00:06:39.069 --> 00:06:41.310 Take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, 00:06:41.509 --> 00:06:45.009 and do so for Mordecai the Jew, who sits within 00:06:45.009 --> 00:06:47.709 the king's gate. Leave nothing undone of all 00:06:47.709 --> 00:06:50.029 that you have spoken. So Haman took the robe 00:06:50.029 --> 00:06:52.730 and the horse, arrayed Mordecai, and led him 00:06:52.730 --> 00:06:55.569 on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed 00:06:55.569 --> 00:06:58.329 before him, Thus shall it be done to the man 00:06:58.329 --> 00:07:02.029 whom the king delights to honor. Afterward, Mordecai 00:07:02.029 --> 00:07:05.009 went back to the king's gate, but Haman hurried 00:07:05.009 --> 00:07:07.649 to his house, mourning and with his head covered. 00:07:19.600 --> 00:07:37.480 Chapter 7 So the king and Haman went to dine 00:07:37.480 --> 00:07:39.860 with Queen Esther, and on the second day, at 00:07:39.860 --> 00:07:42.560 the banquet of wine, the king again said to Esther, 00:07:42.699 --> 00:07:44.740 What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall 00:07:44.740 --> 00:07:47.279 be granted you. And what is your request? Up 00:07:47.279 --> 00:07:50.019 to half the kingdom it shall be done. Then Queen 00:07:50.019 --> 00:07:52.639 Esther answered and said, If I have found favor 00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:54.660 in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the 00:07:54.660 --> 00:07:57.920 king, let my life be given me at my petition, 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:00.860 and my people at my request. For we have been 00:08:00.860 --> 00:08:04.120 sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be 00:08:04.120 --> 00:08:07.360 killed, and to be annihilated. Had we been sold 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:09.819 as male and female slaves, I would have held 00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:12.759 my tongue, although the enemy could never compensate 00:08:12.759 --> 00:08:16.459 for the king's loss. So king Ahasuerus answered 00:08:16.459 --> 00:08:19.220 and said to queen Esther, Who is he and where 00:08:19.220 --> 00:08:22.379 is he who would dare presume in his heart to 00:08:22.379 --> 00:08:25.259 do such a thing? And Esther said, The adversary 00:08:25.259 --> 00:08:28.670 and enemy is this wicked Haman. So Haman was 00:08:28.670 --> 00:08:31.129 terrified before the king and queen. Then the 00:08:31.129 --> 00:08:33.509 king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine 00:08:33.509 --> 00:08:36.250 and went into the palace garden. But Haman stood 00:08:36.250 --> 00:08:38.870 before Queen Esther pleading for his life, for 00:08:38.870 --> 00:08:41.830 he saw that evil was determined against him by 00:08:41.830 --> 00:08:44.149 the king. When the king returned from the palace 00:08:44.149 --> 00:08:47.110 garden to the place of the banquet of wine, Haman 00:08:47.110 --> 00:08:49.210 had fallen across the couch where Esther was. 00:08:49.509 --> 00:08:55.389 Then the king said, As the word left the king's 00:08:55.389 --> 00:08:58.450 mouth, they covered Haman's face, Now Harbona, 00:08:58.610 --> 00:09:01.370 one of the eunuchs, said to the king, Look, the 00:09:01.370 --> 00:09:04.169 gallows, fifty cubits high, which Haman made 00:09:04.169 --> 00:09:06.870 for Mordecai, who spoke good on the king's behalf, 00:09:07.129 --> 00:09:10.129 is standing at the house of Haman. Then the king 00:09:10.129 --> 00:09:13.370 said, Hang him on it. So they hanged Haman on 00:09:13.370 --> 00:09:15.509 the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. 00:09:15.629 --> 00:09:22.230 Then the king's wrath subsided. On that day, 00:09:22.250 --> 00:09:24.970 King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the house of 00:09:24.970 --> 00:09:27.659 Haman. the enemy of the Jews, and Mordecai came 00:09:27.659 --> 00:09:30.100 before the king, for Esther had told how he was 00:09:30.100 --> 00:09:32.759 related to her. So the king took off his signet 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:35.399 ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave 00:09:35.399 --> 00:09:38.039 it to Mordecai, and Esther appointed Mordecai 00:09:38.039 --> 00:09:41.120 over the house of Haman. Now Esther spoke again 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:44.139 to the king, fell down at his feet, and implored 00:09:44.139 --> 00:09:46.980 him with tears to counteract the evil of Haman 00:09:46.980 --> 00:09:49.779 the Agagite, and the scheme which he had devised 00:09:49.779 --> 00:09:52.389 against the Jews. And the king held out the golden 00:09:52.389 --> 00:09:55.450 scepter toward Esther. So Esther arose and stood 00:09:55.450 --> 00:09:58.049 before the king and said, If it pleases the king, 00:09:58.169 --> 00:10:00.649 and if I have found favor in his sight, and the 00:10:00.649 --> 00:10:02.929 thing seems right to the king, and I am pleasing 00:10:02.929 --> 00:10:05.570 in his eyes, let it be written to revoke the 00:10:05.570 --> 00:10:08.889 letters devised by Haman, the son of Hamidata 00:10:08.889 --> 00:10:11.490 the Agagite, which he wrote to annihilate the 00:10:11.490 --> 00:10:14.399 Jews who are in all the king's provinces. For 00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:17.279 how can I endure to see the evil that will come 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:19.899 to my people? Or how can I endure to see the 00:10:19.899 --> 00:10:22.960 destruction of my countrymen? Then King Ahasuerus 00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:25.639 said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, Indeed, 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:28.159 I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they 00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:30.840 have hanged him on the gallows, because he tried 00:10:30.840 --> 00:10:33.600 to lay his hand on the Jews. You yourselves write 00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:36.019 a decree concerning the Jews, as you please. 00:10:36.490 --> 00:10:38.830 in the king's name, and seal it with the king's 00:10:38.830 --> 00:10:41.789 signet ring. For whatever is written in the king's 00:10:41.789 --> 00:10:43.789 name and sealed with the king's signet ring, 00:10:43.970 --> 00:10:47.649 no one can revoke. So the king's scribes were 00:10:47.649 --> 00:10:50.049 called at that time in the third month, which 00:10:50.049 --> 00:10:53.210 is the month of Sivan on the 23rd day, and it 00:10:53.210 --> 00:10:55.570 was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded, 00:10:55.929 --> 00:10:58.990 to the Jews, the satraps, the governors, and 00:10:58.990 --> 00:11:01.990 the princes of the provinces, from India to Ethiopia. 00:11:02.980 --> 00:11:06.440 127 provinces in all, to every province in its 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:09.139 own script, to every people in their own language, 00:11:09.299 --> 00:11:11.980 and to the Jews in their own script and language. 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:15.120 And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, sealed 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:17.320 it with the king's signet ring, and sent letters 00:11:17.320 --> 00:11:20.259 by couriers on horseback, riding on royal horses, 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:23.820 bred from swift steeds. By these letters, the 00:11:23.820 --> 00:11:26.259 king permitted the Jews who were in every city 00:11:26.259 --> 00:11:28.820 to gather together and protect their lives, to 00:11:28.820 --> 00:11:32.169 destroy, kill and annihilate all the forces of 00:11:32.169 --> 00:11:34.710 any people or province that would assault them, 00:11:34.809 --> 00:11:37.450 both little children and women, and to plunder 00:11:37.450 --> 00:11:40.649 their possessions. On one day in all the provinces 00:11:40.649 --> 00:11:43.389 of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the 00:11:43.389 --> 00:11:46.169 twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, a 00:11:46.169 --> 00:11:48.909 copy of the document was to be issued as a decree 00:11:48.909 --> 00:11:51.190 in every province and published for all people. 00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:54.299 so that the Jews would be ready on that day to 00:11:54.299 --> 00:11:57.320 avenge themselves on their enemies. The couriers 00:11:57.320 --> 00:12:00.659 who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and 00:12:00.659 --> 00:12:03.299 pressed on by the king's command, and the decree 00:12:03.299 --> 00:12:06.419 was issued in Shushan, the citadel. So Mordecai 00:12:06.419 --> 00:12:08.700 went out from the presence of the king in royal 00:12:08.700 --> 00:12:11.519 apparel of blue and white, with a great crown 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:14.259 of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple, 00:12:14.379 --> 00:12:16.840 and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. 00:12:17.080 --> 00:12:20.039 The Jews had light and gladness, joy and honor. 00:12:20.379 --> 00:12:22.720 And in every province and city, wherever the 00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:25.139 king's command and decree came, the Jews had 00:12:25.139 --> 00:12:28.299 joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. Then 00:12:28.299 --> 00:12:31.440 many of the people of the land became Jews because 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:39.820 fear of the Jews fell upon them. I hope you enjoyed 00:12:39.820 --> 00:12:42.399 today's reading as much as I did and I look forward 00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:44.460 to seeing you again tomorrow to continue on our 00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:46.559 journey. God bless you and have a great day.