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The NET Bible®

Esther 9:23

So the Jews committed themselves to continue what they had begun to do and to what Mordecai had written to them.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Month;   Purim;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Purim;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Feasts;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Day;   Feasts and Festivals of Israel;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Esther;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Festivals;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Calitas;   Colius;   Eliezer;   Jonas;   Jozabad;   Jozabdus;   Judah;   Judas;   Kelaiah;   Patheus;   Pethahiah;   Purim;   Semeis;   Shimei, Shimeites;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Lots;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for June 23;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
So the Jews agreed to continue the practice they had begun, as Mordecai had written them to do.
Hebrew Names Version
The Yehudim undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordekhai had written to them;
King James Version
And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;
English Standard Version
So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them.
New Century Version
So the Jewish people agreed to do what Mordecai had written to them, and they agreed to hold the celebration every year.
Amplified Bible
So the Jews undertook what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them.
New American Standard Bible
So the Jews undertook what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them.
World English Bible
The Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written to them;
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the Iewes promised to do as they had begun, & as Mordecai had written vnto them,
Legacy Standard Bible
Thus the Jews fully accepted what they had started to do and what Mordecai had written to them.
Berean Standard Bible
So the Jews agreed to continue the custom they had started, as Mordecai had written to them.
Contemporary English Version
They followed Mordecai's instructions and set aside these two days every year as a time of celebration.
Complete Jewish Bible
So the Jews took it upon themselves to continue what they had already begun to do, and as Mordekhai had written to them;
Darby Translation
And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written to them.
Easy-to-Read Version
So the Jews agreed to do what Mordecai had written to them. And they agreed to continue the celebration they had begun.
George Lamsa Translation
And the Jews took upon them selves to do as they had begun and as Mordecai had written them;
Good News Translation
So the Jews followed Mordecai's instructions, and the celebration became an annual custom.
Lexham English Bible
And the Jews adopted what they had begun to do and what Mordecai had written to them.
Literal Translation
And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written to them,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And the Iewes receaued it that they had begonne to do, and that Mardocheus wrote vnto them:
American Standard Version
And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;
Bible in Basic English
And the Jews gave their word to go on as they had been doing and as Mordecai had given them orders in writing;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the Iewes promised to do as they had begunne, and as Mardocheus had written vnto them:
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the Jews took upon them to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;
King James Version (1611)
And the Iewes vndertooke to doe, as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written vnto them:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the Jews consented to this accordingly as Mardochaeus wrote to them,
English Revised Version
And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe the Jewis resseyueden in to solempne custom alle thingis, whiche thei bigunnen to do in that tyme, and whiche thingis Mardochee hadde comaundid bi lettris to be doon.
Update Bible Version
And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written to them;
Webster's Bible Translation
And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written to them;
New King James Version
So the Jews accepted the custom which they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them,
New Living Translation
So the Jews accepted Mordecai's proposal and adopted this annual custom.
New Life Bible
So the Jews agreed to do what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them.
New Revised Standard
So the Jews adopted as a custom what they had begun to do, as Mordecai had written to them.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And the Jews took upon them that which they had begun to do, - and that which Mordecai had written unto them;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And 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.
Revised Standard Version
So the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mor'decai had written to them.
Young's Literal Translation
And the Jews have received that which they had begun to do, and that which Mordecai hath written unto them,
THE MESSAGE
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New American Standard Bible (1995)
Thus the Jews undertook what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them.

Contextual Overview

20 Mordecai wrote these matters down and sent letters to all the Jews who were throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 to have them observe the fourteenth and the fifteenth day of the month of Adar each year 22 as the time when the Jews gave themselves rest from their enemies—the month when their trouble was turned to happiness and their mourning to a holiday. These were to be days of banqueting, happiness, sending gifts to one another, and providing for the poor. 23 So the Jews committed themselves to continue what they had begun to do and to what Mordecai had written to them. 24 For Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised plans against the Jews to destroy them. He had cast pur (that is, the lot) in order to afflict and destroy them. 25 But when the matter came to the king's attention, the king gave written orders that Haman's evil intentions that he had devised against the Jews should fall on his own head. He and his sons were hanged on the gallows. 26 For this reason these days are known as Purim, after the name of pur. 27 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. 28 These days were to be remembered and to be celebrated in every generation and in every family, every province, and every city. The Jews were not to fail to observe these days of Purim; the remembrance of them was not to cease among their descendants. 29 So Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter about Purim.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Cross-References

Exodus 20:12
"Honor your father and your mother, that you may live a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving to you.
Leviticus 19:32
You must stand up in the presence of the aged, honor the presence of an elder, and fear your God. I am the Lord .
Romans 13:7
Pay everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
Galatians 6:1
Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too.
1 Timothy 5:1
Do not address an older man harshly but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers,
1 Timothy 5:17
Elders who provide effective leadership must be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching.
1 Timothy 5:19
Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed by two or three witnesses.
1 Peter 2:17
Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.
1 Peter 4:8
Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins .

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them. They engaged to keep these two days as festivals annually, as they had at this time done; not in a religious but in a civil way, not as parts of religious worship, and as additions to and innovations of the law, but by way of commemoration of a civil benefit which they had received; and yet we find in later times that this was scrupled by some as an innovation; for we are told r that there were eighty five elders, and more than thirty of them prophets, who were distressed about this matter, fearing it was an innovation.

r T. Hieros. Megillah. fol. 70. 4.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Esther 9:23. The Jews undertook to do as they had begun — They had already kept the fifteenth day, and some of them in the country the fourteenth also, as a day of rejoicing: Mordecai wrote to them to bind themselves and their successors, and all their proselytes, to celebrate this as an annual feast throughout all their generations; and this they undertook to do. And it has been observed among them, in all places of their dispersion, from that day to the present time, without any interruption.


 
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