Chapter 2

1Some time afterward, when the anger of King Ahasuerus subsided, he thought of Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her.

a-KHAR ha-d'-va-REEM ha-E-leh k'-SHOKH kha-MAT ha-ME-lekh a-kha-sh'-VE-rosh za-KHAR et va-SHE-tee v'-et a-SHER a-SA-ta v'-et a-SHER n'-G'-zar a-LE-ha

אאַחַר֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה כְּשֹׁ֕ךְ חֲמַ֖ת הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ זָכַ֤ר אֶת־וַשְׁתִּי֙ וְאֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֔תָה וְאֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־נִגְזַ֖ר עָלֶֽיהָ׃

2The king's servants who attended him said, “Let beautiful young virgins be sought out for Your Majesty.

va-YO-meru na-a-RAY ha-ME-lekh m'-sha-r'-TAV ye-vak-SHU la-ME-lekh ne-a-ROT b'-tu-LOT to-VOT mar-EH

בוַיֹּאמְר֥וּ נַעֲרֵֽי־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מְשָׁרְתָ֑יו יְבַקְשׁ֥וּ לַמֶּ֛לֶךְ נְעָר֥וֹת בְּתוּל֖וֹת טוֹב֥וֹת מַרְאֶֽה׃

3Let Your Majesty appoint officers in every province of your realm to assemble all the beautiful young virgins at the fortress Shushan, in the harem under the supervision of Hege, the king's eunuch, guardian of the women. Let them be provided with their cosmetics.

v'-ya-f'-KED ha-ME-lekh p'-ki-DEEM b'-KOL m'-di-NOT mal-KHU-to, v'-yik-B'-tzu et-KOL na-a-RAH b'-tu-LAH to-VAT mar-EH el SHU-shan ha-bi-RAH, el-BAYT ha-NA-shim, el-YAD he-GE s'-REES ha-ME-lekh, sho-MAYR ha-NA-shim, v'-na-TOHN tam-ru-KE-hen.

גוְיַפְקֵ֨ד הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ פְּקִידִים֮ בְּכׇל־מְדִינ֣וֹת מַלְכוּתוֹ֒ וְיִקְבְּצ֣וּ אֶת־כׇּל־נַעֲרָֽה־בְ֠תוּלָ֠ה טוֹבַ֨ת מַרְאֶ֜ה אֶל־שׁוּשַׁ֤ן הַבִּירָה֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית הַנָּשִׁ֔ים אֶל־יַ֥ד הֵגֶ֛א סְרִ֥יס הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ שֹׁמֵ֣ר הַנָּשִׁ֑ים וְנָת֖וֹן תַּמְרֻקֵיהֶֽן׃

4And let the maiden who pleases Your Majesty be queen instead of Vashti.” The proposal pleased the king, and he acted upon it.

v'-ha-na-a-RAH a-SHER ti-TAV b'-ay-NAY ha-ME-lekh, tim-LOKH ta-KHAT va-shti, va-yi-TAV ha-DA-var b'-ay-NAY ha-ME-lekh, va-YA-as KEN.

דוְהַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּיטַב֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ תִּמְלֹ֖ךְ תַּ֣חַת וַשְׁתִּ֑י וַיִּיטַ֧ב הַדָּבָ֛ר בְּעֵינֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וַיַּ֥עַשׂ כֵּֽן׃

5In the fortress Shushan lived a Yehudi by the name of Mordechai, son of Yair son of Shim'i son of Keesh, a Benjaminite.

eeSH y'-hu-DEE ha-YAH b'-shu-SHAN ha-bi-RAH u-sh'-MO mor-do-KHAI ben ya-EER ben shi-MEE ben-kiSH eeSH ye-mi-NEE

האִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדִ֔י הָיָ֖ה בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָ֑ה וּשְׁמ֣וֹ מׇרְדֳּכַ֗י בֶּ֣ן יָאִ֧יר בֶּן־שִׁמְעִ֛י בֶּן־קִ֖ישׁ אִ֥ישׁ יְמִינִֽי׃

6[Keesh] had been exiled from Yerushalayim in the group that was carried into exile along with King Yechonya of Yehuda, which had been driven into exile by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.—

a-SHER hog-LAH mee-ru-sha-LA-im im ha-go-LAH a-SHER hog-l'-TAH IM y'-khon-YAH ME-lekh y'-hu-DAH a-SHER heg-LAH n'-vu-khad-ne-TZAR ME-lekh ba-VEL

ואֲשֶׁ֤ר הׇגְלָה֙ מִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔יִם עִם־הַגֹּלָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הׇגְלְתָ֔ה עִ֖ם יְכׇנְיָ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶגְלָ֔ה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֖ר מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶֽל׃

7He was foster father to Hadassa—that is, Esther—his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was shapely and beautiful; and when her father and mother died, Mordechai adopted her as his own daughter.

vai-HI o-MEN et ha-da-SA, hee ES-ter bat DO-do, KEE AYN LAH AV va-EM, v'-ha-na-a-RAH ye-FAT TO-ar v'-to-VAT mar-EH, u-ve-MOT a-VE-ha v'-i-MAH, l'-ka-KHAH mor-D'-KHAI LO l'-VAT

זוַיְהִ֨י אֹמֵ֜ן אֶת־הֲדַסָּ֗ה הִ֤יא אֶסְתֵּר֙ בַּת־דֹּד֔וֹ כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין לָ֖הּ אָ֣ב וָאֵ֑ם וְהַנַּעֲרָ֤ה יְפַת־תֹּ֙אַר֙ וְטוֹבַ֣ת מַרְאֶ֔ה וּבְמ֤וֹת אָבִ֙יהָ֙ וְאִמָּ֔הּ לְקָחָ֧הּ מׇרְדֳּכַ֛י ל֖וֹ לְבַֽת׃

8When the king's order and edict was proclaimed, and when many girls were assembled in the fortress Shushan under the supervision of Hegai, Esther too was taken into the king's palace under the supervision of Hegai, guardian of the women.

vai-HI b'-hi-SHA-ma d'-var ha-ME-lekh v'-da-TO u-v'-hi-ka-VAYTS n'-a-ROT ra-VOT el shu-SHAN ha-bi-RA el-YAD he-GAI va-ti-la-KAKH es-TAYR el-BAYT ha-ME-lekh el-YAD he-GAI sho-MAYR ha-NA-sheem

חוַיְהִ֗י בְּהִשָּׁמַ֤ע דְּבַר־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְדָת֔וֹ וּֽבְהִקָּבֵ֞ץ נְעָר֥וֹת רַבּ֛וֹת אֶל־שׁוּשַׁ֥ן הַבִּירָ֖ה אֶל־יַ֣ד הֵגָ֑י וַתִּלָּקַ֤ח אֶסְתֵּר֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֶל־יַ֥ד הֵגַ֖י שֹׁמֵ֥ר הַנָּשִֽׁים׃

9The girl pleased him and won his favor, and he hastened to furnish her with her cosmetics and her rations, as well as with the seven maids who were her due from the king's palace; and he treated her and her maids with special kindness in the harem.

va-TI-tav ha-na-a-RAH b'-ay-NAV va-TI-sa KHE-sed l'-fa-NAV, va-y'-va-HAYL et-tam-ru-KE-ha v'-et-ma-NO-te-ha la-TEt LAH, v'-AYT SHE-va ha-ne-a-ROT ha-re-u-YOT la-TEt-LAH mi-BAYT ha-ME-lekh, va-ye-sha-NE-ha v'-et-na-a-ro-te-ha l'-TOV bayt ha-NA-shim

טוַתִּיטַ֨ב הַנַּעֲרָ֣ה בְעֵינָיו֮ וַתִּשָּׂ֣א חֶ֣סֶד לְפָנָיו֒ וַ֠יְבַהֵ֠ל אֶת־תַּמְרוּקֶ֤יהָ וְאֶת־מָנוֹתֶ֙הָ֙ לָתֵ֣ת לָ֔הּ וְאֵת֙ שֶׁ֣בַע הַנְּעָר֔וֹת הָרְאֻי֥וֹת לָֽתֶת־לָ֖הּ מִבֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיְשַׁנֶּ֧הָ וְאֶת־נַעֲרוֹתֶ֛יהָ לְט֖וֹב בֵּ֥ית הַנָּשִֽׁים׃

10Esther did not reveal her people or her kindred, for Mordechai had told her not to reveal it.

lo hi-GI-da es-TEIR et a-MAH v'-et mo-la-D'TAH, KI mor-do-KHAI tzi-VAH a-LE-ha a-SHER lo-ta-GID.

ילֹא־הִגִּ֣ידָה אֶסְתֵּ֔ר אֶת־עַמָּ֖הּ וְאֶת־מֽוֹלַדְתָּ֑הּ כִּ֧י מׇרְדֳּכַ֛י צִוָּ֥ה עָלֶ֖יהָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־תַגִּֽיד׃

11Every single day Mordechai would walk about in front of the court of the harem, to learn how Esther was faring and what was happening to her.

u-v'-KOL yom va-YOM mor-da-KHAI mit-ha-LEKH li-f'-NAY kha-TZAR bayt-ha-NA-sheem la-DA-at et sh'-LOM es-TER u-MAH y'-a-SEH bah

יאוּבְכׇל־י֣וֹם וָי֔וֹם מׇרְדֳּכַי֙ מִתְהַלֵּ֔ךְ לִפְנֵ֖י חֲצַ֣ר בֵּית־הַנָּשִׁ֑ים לָדַ֙עַת֙ אֶת־שְׁל֣וֹם אֶסְתֵּ֔ר וּמַה־יֵּעָשֶׂ֖ה בָּֽהּ׃

12When each girl's turn came to go to King Ahasuerus at the end of the twelve months' treatment prescribed for women (for that was the period spent on beautifying them: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes and women's cosmetics,

u-ve-ha-GI-a TOR na-a-RAH v'-na-a-RAH la-VO el ha-ME-lekh a-khash-VE-rosh mi-KETZ he-YOT LAH k'-DAT ha-NA-sheem sh'-NEEM a-SAR kho-DESH ki KEN yim-l'-U y'-MEI m'-ru-KE-hen shi-SHA kho-DA-shim b'-SHE-men ha-MOR u-shi-SHA kho-DA-shim ba-b'-SA-meem u-v'-tam-ru-KEI ha-NA-sheem

יבוּבְהַגִּ֡יעַ תֹּר֩ נַעֲרָ֨ה וְנַעֲרָ֜ה לָב֣וֹא ׀ אֶל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ מִקֵּץ֩ הֱי֨וֹת לָ֜הּ כְּדָ֤ת הַנָּשִׁים֙ שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֣ר חֹ֔דֶשׁ כִּ֛י כֵּ֥ן יִמְלְא֖וּ יְמֵ֣י מְרוּקֵיהֶ֑ן שִׁשָּׁ֤ה חֳדָשִׁים֙ בְּשֶׁ֣מֶן הַמֹּ֔ר וְשִׁשָּׁ֤ה חֳדָשִׁים֙ בַּבְּשָׂמִ֔ים וּבְתַמְרוּקֵ֖י הַנָּשִֽׁים׃

13and it was after that that the girl would go to the king), whatever she asked for would be given her to take with her from the harem to the king's palace.

u-va-ZEH ha-na-a-RAH ba-AH el ha-ME-lekh, AYT kol a-SHER to-MAR, yi-NA-ten LAH la-VO im-MAH mi-BAYT ha-NA-sheem ad-BAYT ha-ME-lekh

יגוּבָזֶ֕ה הַֽנַּעֲרָ֖ה בָּאָ֣ה אֶל־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ אֵת֩ כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר תֹּאמַ֜ר יִנָּ֤תֵֽן לָהּ֙ לָב֣וֹא עִמָּ֔הּ מִבֵּ֥ית הַנָּשִׁ֖ים עַד־בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

14She would go in the evening and leave in the morning for a second harem in charge of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch, guardian of the concubines. She would not go again to the king unless the king wanted her, when she would be summoned by name.

ba-E-rev hi-BAH u-va-BO-ker hi-SHA-vah el beit ha-NA-shim sh'-NI, el-YAD sha-a-SHA-gaz se-REES ha-ME-lekh sho-MAYR ha-pee-LAG-shiym, lo-ta-VO od el ha-ME-lekh, ki im-kha-FAYTS bah ha-ME-lekh v'-nik'-RA-ah b'-SHEM.

ידבָּעֶ֣רֶב ׀ הִ֣יא בָאָ֗ה וּ֠בַבֹּ֠קֶר הִ֣יא שָׁבָ֞ה אֶל־בֵּ֤ית הַנָּשִׁים֙ שֵׁנִ֔י אֶל־יַ֧ד שַֽׁעַשְׁגַ֛ז סְרִ֥יס הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ שֹׁמֵ֣ר הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑ים לֹא־תָב֥וֹא עוֹד֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּ֣י אִם־חָפֵ֥ץ בָּ֛הּ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְנִקְרְאָ֥ה בְשֵֽׁם׃

15When the turn came for Esther daughter of Avichayil—the uncle of Mordechai, who had adopted her as his own daughter—to go to the king, she did not ask for anything but what Hegai, the king's eunuch, guardian of the women, advised. Yet Esther won the admiration of all who saw her.

u-ve-ha-GI-a tor-Es-ter bat a-vee-KHAYL dod mor-do-KHAI a-SHER la-KAKH-lo le-VAT la-VO el ha-ME-lekh lo vik-SHA da-VAR KI im et a-SHER yo-MAR he-GAI se-REES ha-ME-lekh sho-MER ha-NA-sheem va-TE-hi tor-Es-ter no-SE-et KHEIN be-EI-nei kol-ro-E-ha

טווּבְהַגִּ֣יעַ תֹּר־אֶסְתֵּ֣ר בַּת־אֲבִיחַ֣יִל דֹּ֣ד מׇרְדֳּכַ֡י אֲשֶׁר֩ לָקַֽח־ל֨וֹ לְבַ֜ת לָב֣וֹא אֶל־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ לֹ֤א בִקְשָׁה֙ דָּבָ֔ר כִּ֠י אִ֣ם אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֹאמַ֛ר הֵגַ֥י סְרִיס־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ שֹׁמֵ֣ר הַנָּשִׁ֑ים וַתְּהִ֤י אֶסְתֵּר֙ נֹשֵׂ֣את חֵ֔ן בְּעֵינֵ֖י כׇּל־רֹאֶֽיהָ׃

16Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, in his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tevet, in the seventh year of his reign.

va-ti-la-KAKH es-TER el ha-ME-lekh a-khash-VE-rosh el BEIT mal-KHU-to ba-KHO-desh ha-a-see-REE, HU-KHO-desh TE-vet, bish-NAT she-VA le-mal-KHU-to.

טזוַתִּלָּקַ֨ח אֶסְתֵּ֜ר אֶל־הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית מַלְכוּת֔וֹ בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הָעֲשִׂירִ֖י הוּא־חֹ֣דֶשׁ טֵבֵ֑ת בִּשְׁנַת־שֶׁ֖בַע לְמַלְכוּתֽוֹ׃

17The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she won his grace and favor more than all the virgins. So he set a royal diadem on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

vai-ye-a-HAV ha-ME-lekh et es-TER mi-KOL ha-NA-shim, va-ti-SA-khen va-KHESED l'-fa-NAV mi-KOL ha-b'-tu-LOT, vai-YA-sem KE-ter mal-KHUT b'-ro-SHAH, vai-yam-li-KHE-ha ta-KHAT va-SH'-ti

יזוַיֶּאֱהַ֨ב הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ אֶת־אֶסְתֵּר֙ מִכׇּל־הַנָּשִׁ֔ים וַתִּשָּׂא־חֵ֥ן וָחֶ֛סֶד לְפָנָ֖יו מִכׇּל־הַבְּתוּל֑וֹת וַיָּ֤שֶׂם כֶּֽתֶר־מַלְכוּת֙ בְּרֹאשָׁ֔הּ וַיַּמְלִיכֶ֖הָ תַּ֥חַת וַשְׁתִּֽי׃

18The king gave a great banquet for all his officials and courtiers, “the banquet of Esther.” He proclaimed a remission of taxes for the provinces and distributed gifts as befits a king.

vai-YA-as ha-ME-lekh mish-TEH ga-DOL l'-KOL sa-RAV va-a-va-DAV, AYT mish-TEH es-TEHR va-ha-NA-khah la-m'-di-NOT a-SA va-yi-TAYN mas-AYT k'-YAD ha-ME-lekh

יחוַיַּ֨עַשׂ הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה גָד֗וֹל לְכׇל־שָׂרָיו֙ וַעֲבָדָ֔יו אֵ֖ת מִשְׁתֵּ֣ה אֶסְתֵּ֑ר וַהֲנָחָ֤ה לַמְּדִינוֹת֙ עָשָׂ֔ה וַיִּתֵּ֥ן מַשְׂאֵ֖ת כְּיַ֥ד הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

19When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordechai sat in the palace gate.

u-v'-hi-ka-VAYTZ b'-tu-LOT she-NEET u-mor-do-KHAI yo-SHEV b'-sha-ar ha-ME-lekh

יטוּבְהִקָּבֵ֥ץ בְּתוּל֖וֹת שֵׁנִ֑ית וּמׇרְדֳּכַ֖י יֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּשַֽׁעַר־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

20But Esther still did not reveal her kindred or her people, as Mordechai had instructed her; for Esther obeyed Mordechai's bidding, as she had done when she was under his tutelage.

AYN es-TER ma-GE-det mo-la-d'-TAH v'-ET a-MAH ka-a-SHER tzi-VAH a-LE-ha mor-DO-khai v'-ET ma-a-MAR mor-DO-khai es-TER o-SA ka-a-SHER ha-Y'-TAH v'-a-m'-NAH i-TO.

כאֵ֣ין אֶסְתֵּ֗ר מַגֶּ֤דֶת מֽוֹלַדְתָּהּ֙ וְאֶת־עַמָּ֔הּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה עָלֶ֖יהָ מׇרְדֳּכָ֑י וְאֶת־מַאֲמַ֤ר מׇרְדֳּכַי֙ אֶסְתֵּ֣ר עֹשָׂ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר הָיְתָ֥ה בְאׇמְנָ֖ה אִתּֽוֹ׃

21At that time, when Mordechai was sitting in the palace gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs who guarded the threshold, became angry, and plotted to do away with King Ahasuerus.

ba-ya-MEEM ha-HEM u-mor-DO-khai yo-SHEV b'-sha-ar ha-ME-lekh, ka-TZAF bi-GA-tan va-TE-resh sh'-nay-sa-REE-say ha-ME-lekh, mi-sho-m'-RAY ha-SAF, va-y'-VAK-shu lish-LO-akh yad ba-ME-lekh a-kha-sh'-VE-rosh

כאבַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם וּמׇרְדֳּכַ֖י יוֹשֵׁ֣ב בְּשַֽׁעַר־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ קָצַף֩ בִּגְתָ֨ן וָתֶ֜רֶשׁ שְׁנֵֽי־סָרִיסֵ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ מִשֹּׁמְרֵ֣י הַסַּ֔ף וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙ לִשְׁלֹ֣חַ יָ֔ד בַּמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֹֽשׁ׃

22Mordechai learned of it and told it to Queen Esther, and Esther reported it to the king in Mordechai's name.

vai-yi-va-DA ha-DA-var l'-mor-da-KHAI, vai-ya-GED l'-es-TAYR ha-mal-KAH, va-TO-mer es-TAYR la-ME-lekh b'-SHEM mor-da-KHAI

כבוַיִּוָּדַ֤ע הַדָּבָר֙ לְמׇרְדֳּכַ֔י וַיַּגֵּ֖ד לְאֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַמַּלְכָּ֑ה וַתֹּ֧אמֶר אֶסְתֵּ֛ר לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בְּשֵׁ֥ם מׇרְדֳּכָֽי׃

23The matter was investigated and found to be so, and the two were impaled on stakes. This was recorded in the book of annals at the instance of the king.

vai-vu-KASH ha-DA-var va-yi-ma-TZE va-yi-TA-lu sh'-NE-hem al-ETZ va-yi-ka-TEV b'-SE-fer div-REI ha-ya-MEEM lif-NEI ha-ME-lekh.

כגוַיְבֻקַּ֤שׁ הַדָּבָר֙ וַיִּמָּצֵ֔א וַיִּתָּל֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם עַל־עֵ֑ץ וַיִּכָּתֵ֗ב בְּסֵ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃