Study Desk

For many in Judah had sworn allegiance to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah. His son Jonathan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah.

"Because of all of this we are entering into a binding covenant in written form; our leaders, our Levites, and our priests have affixed their names on the sealed document."

"Now the rest of the people—the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple attendants, and all those who have separated themselves from the neighboring peoples because of the law of God, along with their wives, their sons, and their daughters, all of whom are able to understand—

Was it not because of things like these that King Solomon of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. But the foreign wives made even him sin!

Please remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, the covenant of the priesthood, and the Levites.

he said to take back this answer to Esther: "Don't imagine that because you are part of the king's household you will be the one Jew who will escape.

The king asked, "What great honor was bestowed on Mordecai because of this?" The king's attendants who served him responded, "Not a thing was done for him."

King Ahasuerus replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, "Look, I have already given Haman's estate to Esther, and he has been hanged on the gallows because he took hostile action against the Jews.

Throughout every province and throughout every city where the king's edict and his law arrived, the Jews experienced happiness and joy, banquets and holidays. Many of the resident peoples pretended to be Jews, because the fear of the Jews had overcome them.

Therefore, because of the account found in this letter and what they had faced in this regard and what had happened to them, the Jews established as binding on themselves, their descendants, and all who joined their company that they should observe these two days without fail, just as written and at the appropriate time on an annual basis.

because it did not shut the doors of my mother's womb on me, nor did it hide trouble from my eyes!

But because it is heavier than the sand of the sea, that is why my words have been wild.

They are dark because of ice; snow is piled up over them.

They were distressed, because each one had been so confident; they arrived there, but were disappointed.

And you will be secure, because there is hope; you will be protected and will take your rest in safety.

Because he covered his face with fat, and made his hips bulge with fat,

my face is reddened because of weeping, and on my eyelids there is a deep darkness,

Because you have closed their minds to understanding, therefore you will not exalt them.

"This is why my troubled thoughts bring me back— because of my feelings within me.

Is it because of your piety that he rebukes you and goes to judgment with you?