Font Size
Esther 9:18-20
New Catholic Bible
Esther 9:18-20
New Catholic Bible
18 The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth of the month of Adar. On the fifteenth of the month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and joy.
19 That is why rural Jews, who live in villages, observe the fourteenth of the month of Adar as a day of feasting and rejoicing, a holiday on which they give presents to one another. Instead, those who live in large cities celebrate the fifteenth of Adar as a day of feasting and joy and give presents to each other.[a]
20 The Feast of Purim.[b] Mordecai recorded these events, and dispatched letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus, to both those who were near and those who were far off.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Esther 9:19 Instead . . . other: found only in the Greek.
- Esther 9:20 Haman had cast the lot (pur) to decide to exterminate the Jews. The latter, providentially vindicated, must celebrate annually the anniversary day of this memorable fact. In reality, the true origin of this feast, which was to take place in February–March, is unknown. Probably these celebrations of the beginning of the year were not very religious at their origin and common to other people. But thanks to the Book of Esther, they have become for the Jewish communities a feast of their freedom. This feast began with a fast, and the Book of Esther was read in the synagogue stressing the maledictions against the enemies of Israel. Hence, popular feasts took place with well sprinkled meals and masked manifestations similar to a carnival.
