The Additions to Esther
The Greek text (Swete), cut into units of one clause or one motif. Each unit's page gives the Greek, a draft English, and every rabbinic parallel found, with its verdict and conduit.
ancient verbatim Targum Sheni's wording ·motif candidate parallels in rabbinic texts ·retranslation only only in the medieval Hebrew retranslations ·no witness nothing on this bench
Addition A: Mordecai's dream and the eunuchs' plot (Greek before 1:1)
- A 1The date, and Mordecai's genealogy and tribe.no witness
- A 2Mordecai introduced: a Jew in Susa, serving at court.no witness
- A 3Mordecai among Nebuchadnezzar's Jerusalem captives.no witness
- A 4The dream begins: cosmic tumult.retranslation only
- A 5Two great dragons come forward, ready to fight.motif
- A 6At their voice, every nation musters for war against a righteous nation.retranslation only
- A 7A day of darkness and affliction.retranslation only
- A 8The righteous nation, in fear, prepares to perish.no witness
- A 9They cry to God; a small spring becomes a great river.motif
- A 10Light and sunrise; the lowly are exalted, and devour the honored.motif
- A 11Mordecai wakes and ponders the dream's meaning all day.motif
- A 12Mordecai rests at court with the two eunuchs, Gabatha and Tharra.retranslation only
- A 13He overhears their plot against the king and reports it.motif
- A 14The eunuchs are examined, confess, and are led away.retranslation only
- A 15Both the king and Mordecai record the incident.motif
- A 16The king appoints Mordecai to court service and rewards him.motif
- A 17Haman, honored by the king, seeks revenge on Mordecai for the eunuchs' downfall.retranslation only
Addition B: The king's first letter (Haman's edict) (Greek after 3:13)
- B 1The edict's address: the great king writes to all his governors.motif
- B 2The king's stated policy: peaceable, gentle rule for the good of all.ancient verbatim
- B 3Haman, second in honor, is introduced as the king's trusted advisor.motif
- B 4Haman's charge: a hostile people mixed among the nations, defying royal law.motif
- B 5The king's judgment: this nation stands alone in opposition to all mankind.motif
- B 6The decree: destroy them all, with wives and children, on 14 Adar.retranslation only
- B 7The declared purpose: to make the kingdom secure once for all.motif
Addition C: The prayers of Mordecai and Esther (Greek after 4:17)
- C 1Mordecai invokes the Lord as king over all, sole and unopposed.motif
- C 2God as maker of heaven and earth, Lord of all.motif
- C 3Mordecai denies pride or ambition drove his refusal to bow to Haman.motif
- C 4He would have kissed Haman's feet for Israel's sake, but will not exalt a man above God.motif
- C 5He asks God to spare his people, threatened with destruction from the beginning.motif
- C 6He asks God not to forget Israel, redeemed from Egypt; turn mourning to feasting.motif
- C 7Esther takes off her royal robes and puts on mourning, ashes on her head.motif
- C 8She humbles her body and disorders her hair.motif
- C 9She calls on God alone, having no other helper, in mortal danger.motif
- C 10She recalls Israel's election from birth and God's ancient promise kept.motif
- C 11She confesses Israel's sin and God's justice in their punishment.motif
- C 12She names the enemies' plan: to erase God's decree, silence his praise, quench his altar.motif
- C 13Their aim: to make a mortal king worshipped forever instead of God.motif
- C 14She begs: do not hand the scepter to nothing; turn their plot back on them.motif
- C 15She asks for courage before the king, in this time of affliction.motif
- C 16She asks for a well-tuned word to sway the king ('the lion') against the enemy.motif
- C 17She states she hates the glory of the lawless and abhors intermarriage.motif
- C 18She hates the royal ornament she must wear in public, like an unclean thing.motif
- C 19She has not eaten at Haman's table nor honored the king's feast.motif
- C 20She has had no joy since becoming queen, except in God.motif
- C 21Final plea: hear the despairing, deliver us from the wicked.motif
Addition D: Esther before the king (Greek replacing 5:1–2)
- D 1On the third day, Esther exchanges her mourning clothes for royal splendor.motif
- D 2Radiant, calling on God, she takes her two maids to lean on.retranslation only
- D 3She blushes with beauty, her face joyful though her heart is gripped by fear.motif
- D 4She passes through every door and stands before the enthroned, splendidly clothed king.motif
- D 5The king's face burns with anger at the sight of her; she collapses in a faint.motif
- D 6God turns the king's anger to gentleness; he catches her and reassures her, 'you shall not die.'motif
- D 7The king touches the golden scepter to her neck, embraces her, asks her to speak.motif
- D 8Esther tells him she saw him as an angel of God and was overcome by his glory.motif
- D 9While speaking she faints again; the king and his household comfort her.no witness
Addition E: The king's second letter (Greek after 8:12)
- E 1The edict's address: king to all satraps and loyal officials.motif
- E 2Reflection: those honored too much grow arrogant and turn on their benefactors.motif
- E 3They forget gratitude and think to escape God's justice.motif
- E 4Trusted officials' persuasion has made many share in innocent bloodshed.ancient verbatim
- E 5Malice deceives the sincere good faith of rulers.ancient verbatim
- E 6One sees this not from old histories but from recent impious deeds.retranslation only
- E 7The king resolves to judge circumstances more equitably going forward.motif
- E 8Haman, a Macedonian foreigner, was raised to second place in the kingdom.ancient verbatim
- E 9Unable to bear this, he plotted to destroy Mordecai, Esther, and their nation.ancient verbatim
- E 10His hidden aim: to shift the empire from the Persians to the Macedonians.motif
- E 11The king finds the Jews innocent, living by just laws, sons of the living God.ancient verbatim
- E 12The king voids Haman's letters; Haman has already been crucified with his household.ancient verbatim
- E 13New order: let the Jews defend themselves on 13 Adar.motif
- E 14God turns this day from destruction into joy for the chosen people.motif
- E 15The Persians are to keep this day as a festival of salvation.motif
- E 16Any city that disobeys will be destroyed by spear and fire.motif
Addition F: The dream interpreted (Greek after 10:3)
- F 1Mordecai declares that the events came from God.motif
- F 2He recalls his dream; not one word of it failed.motif
- F 3Interpretation: the spring that became a river is Esther.motif
- F 4The two dragons are Mordecai and Haman.motif
- F 5The nations are those gathered to destroy the Jews.motif
- F 6My nation is Israel, who cried out to God and were saved.motif
- F 7The Lord saved his people with signs and wonders unmatched among the nations.motif
- F 8God made two lots, one for his people, one for the nations.motif
- F 9The two lots came to their appointed day of judgment; God remembered and vindicated his people.motif
- F 10Adar 14-15 established forever as days of joyful assembly for Israel.motif