Study Desk

Zanoah, Adullam and their villages, in Lachish and its fields, and in Azekah and its settlements. So they were living all the way from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.

The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials,

So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the musicians and the gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.

So I rebuked the officials and asked them, "Why is the house of God neglected?" Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.

Remember me for this, my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services.

Didn't your ancestors do the same things, so that our God brought all this calamity on us and on this city? Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath."

When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut and not opened until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day.

So I purified the priests and the Levites of everything foreign, and assigned them duties, each to his own task.

For the queen's conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.'

The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memukan proposed.

Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so.

Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.

A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day.

So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate.

So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther's instructions.

When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

"Bring Haman at once," the king said, "so that we may do what Esther asks." So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.

That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him.

So he answered the king, "For the man the king delights to honor,