Add parallel Print Page Options

20 Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to all the Jews, both near and far, in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 21 [a]He ordered them to celebrate every year both the fourteenth and the fifteenth of the month of Adar 22 as the days on which the Jews obtained rest from their enemies and as the month which was turned for them from sorrow into joy, from mourning into celebration. They were to observe these days with joyful banqueting, sending food to one another and gifts to the poor. 23 [b]The Jews adopted as a custom what they had begun doing and what Mordecai had written to them.(A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 9:21 Mordecai creates a compromise among the Jews by making Purim a two-day festival.
  2. 9:23 According to the story, the two-day celebration has its roots in popular observance, which Mordecai’s leadership reinforces and regularizes.

Purim Established

20 Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, 21 to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar 22 as the time when the Jews got relief(A) from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration.(B) He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food(C) to one another and gifts to the poor.(D)

23 So the Jews agreed to continue the celebration they had begun, doing what Mordecai had written to them.

Read full chapter