Nehemiah’s Prayer

1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:

In the month of Kislev^(A) in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,^(B)

² At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa,^(A)

⁵ When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days,^(A) in the enclosed garden^(B) of the king’s palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest who were in the citadel of Susa.

⁵ Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish,^(A)

⁸ When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa^(A) and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem.

⁸ He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.

¹⁶ “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast^(A) for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”^(B)

¹⁴ The couriers, riding the royal horses, went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa.^(A)

The Triumph of the Jews

¹⁵ When Mordecai^(A) left the king’s presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold^(B) and a purple robe of fine linen.^(C) And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration.^(D)

¹¹ The number of those killed in the citadel of Susa was reported to the king that same day.