THE
PURIM STORY
In the Dead of the Night
That night the king was unable to sleep He gave orders
to bring him the books that told of great deeds; and they
were read before the king. And in them was written how
Mordecai had told about the two servants of the king who
had tried to kill King Ahasuerus. Then the king said:
"How has Mordecai been honored and rewarded for this?"
The king's courtiers replied:
"Nothing has been done for him."
The king demanded:
"Who is in the court?
Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the
king's house to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai
on the gallows he had prepared for him. So the king's
courtiers said to him:
"Haman is standing there in the court."
The king commanded:
"Let him enter."
Haman entered, and the king asked him:
"What shall be done to the man whom the king delights
to honor?"
A Little Mix-Up
Haman thought to himself, "Whom besides me does the
king delight to honor?"
So Haman said to the king:
"Whomever the king wishes to honor should be dressed
in the king's royal robes and be led through the streets
upon the king's horse.
"Let a royal garment be brought, which the king has
worn, and the horse on which the king has ridden and
on whose head a royal crown has been placed. Then let
the garment and the horse be placed in charge of one
of the king's noble princes and let him clothe the man
whom the king delights to honor and make him ride on
the horse through the city square and proclaim before
him: This is what is done to the man whom the king delights
to honor." So Haman said to the king.
Then the king said to Haman:
"Make haste and take the garment and the horse, as you
have said, and do thus to Mordecai, the Jew, who sits
in the king's gate.."
Haman obeyed the king.
Mordecai returned to the king's gate' but Haman hurried
to his house, mourning, with his head covered.
Then the king's servants came and escorted Haman to
the feast that Esther had prepared. The king and Haman
went to drink with Queen Esther. And the king said to
Esther:
"Whatever you ask, Queen Esther, it shall be granted
you, even to the half of my kingdom."
Esther Speaks Out
Queen Esther answered:
"If I have won favor, 0 king, and if it seems best to
the king, let my life and my people be given me at my
request; for I and my people have been sold to be destroyed,
to be killed, and to perish!"
King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther:
"Who is he and where is he who dares to do this;"
Esther answered:
"A foe, an enemy, this wicked Haman."
Haman shrank in terror before the king,and the queen;
and Harbonah, one of those who waited-on the king, said:
"There, standing in the courtyard of Haman's house,
is the gallows, seventy-five feet high, which Haman
built for Mordecai."
The king said:
"Hang him on the gallows."
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