Esther 1; Esther 2; Esther 3; Esther 4; Esther 5; Esther 6; Esther 7; Esther 8; Esther 9; Esther 10

1 Now it happened in the days of Achashverosh (this is Achashverosh who reigned from Hoddu even to Kush, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces),

2 that in those days, when the king Achashverosh sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,

3 in the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his princes and his servants; the power of Paras and Madai, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him;

4 when he shown the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even one hundred eighty days.

5 When these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast to all the people who were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.

6 [There were hangings of] white [cloth], [of] green, and [of] blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the couches were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red, and white, and yellow, and black marble.

7 They gave them drink in vessels of gold (the vessels being diverse one from another), and royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.

8 The drinking was according to the law; none could compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.

9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Achashverosh.

10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Bizeta, Harvona, Bigta, and Avagta, Zetar, and Karkas, the seven chamberlains who ministered in the presence of Achashverosh the king,

11 to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was beautiful to look on.

12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's mitzvah by the chamberlains: therefore was the king very angry, and his anger burned in him.

13 Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all who knew law and judgment;

14 and the next to him were Karshena, ShetarShibah|Shiv`ah, Admata, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memukhan, the seven princes of Paras and Madai, who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom),

15 What shall we do to the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the king Achashverosh by the chamberlains?

16 Memukhan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen has not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples who are in all the provinces of the king Achashverosh.

17 For this deed of the queen will come abroad to all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Achashverosh commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she didn't come.

18 This day will the princesses of Paras and Madai who have heard of the deed of the queen say [the like] to all the king's princes. So [will there arise] much contempt and wrath.

19 If it please the king, let there go forth a royal mitzvah from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Paras and the Madai, that it not be altered, that Vashti come no more before king Achashverosh; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.

20 When the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give to their husbands honor, both to great and small.

21 The saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memukhan:

22 for he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and should speak according to the language of his people.

1 After these things, when the wrath of king Achashverosh was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

2 Then said the king's servants who ministered to him, Let there be beautiful young virgins sought for the king:

3 and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the beautiful young virgins to Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, to the custody of Hegai the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them;

4 and let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti. The thing pleased the king; and he did so.

5 There was a certain Yehudi in Shushan the palace, whose name was Mordekhai, the son of Ya'ir, the son of Shim`i, the son of Kish, a Binyamini,

6 who had been carried away from Yerushalayim with the captives who had been carried away with Yekhonyah king of Yehudah, whom Nevukhadnetztzar the king of Bavel had carried away.

7 He brought up Hadassah, who is, Ester, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordekhai took her for his own daughter.

8 So it happened, when the king's mitzvah and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Ester was taken into the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

9 The maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her things for her purification, with her portions, and the seven maidens who were meet to be given her out of the king's house: and he removed her and her maidens to the best place of the house of the women.

10 Ester had not made known her people nor her relatives; for Mordekhai had charged her that she should not make it known.

11 Mordekhai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Ester did, and what would become of her.

12 Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king Achashverosh, after it had been done to her as prescribed for the women twelve months (for so were the days of their purification accomplished, [to wit], six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors and with the things for the purifying of the women),

13 then in this wise came the maiden to the king: whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women to the king's house.

14 In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Sha`ashgaz, the king's chamberlain, who kept the concubines: she came in to the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and she were called by name.

15 Now when the turn of Ester, the daughter of Avichayil the uncle of Mordekhai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. Ester obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked at her.

16 So Ester was taken to king Achashverosh into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tevet, in the seventh year of his reign.

17 The king loved Ester above all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

18 Then the king made a great feast to all his princes and his servants, even Ester's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the bounty of the king.

19 When the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordekhai was sitting in the king's gate.

20 Ester had not yet made known her relatives nor her people; as Mordekhai had charged her: for Ester did the mitzvah of Mordekhai, like as when she was brought up with him.

21 In those days, while Mordekhai was sitting in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those who kept the threshold, were angry, and sought to lay hands on the king Achashverosh.

22 The thing became known to Mordekhai, who shown it to Ester the queen; and Ester told the king [of it] in Mordekhai's name.

23 When inquisition was made of the matter, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.

1 After these things did king Achashverosh promote Haman the son of Hammedata the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.

2 All the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, bowed down, and did reverence to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordekhai didn't bow down, nor did him reverence.

3 Then the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, said to Mordekhai, Why disobey you the king's mitzvah?

4 Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he didn't listen to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordekhai's matters would stand: for he had told those who he was a Yehudi.

5 When Haman saw that Mordekhai didn't bow down, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

6 But he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordekhai alone; for they had made known to him the people of Mordekhai: therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Yehudim who were throughout the whole kingdom of Achashverosh, even the people of Mordekhai.

7 In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Achashverosh, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, [to] the twelfth [month], which is the month Adar.

8 Haman said to king Achashverosh, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; and their laws are diverse from [those of] every people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to allow them.

9 If it please the king, let it be written that they be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who have the charge of the [king's] business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.

10 The king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedata the Agagite, the Yehudim' enemy.

11 The king said to Haman, The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.

12 Then were the king's Sofrim called in the first month, on the thirteenth day of it; and there was written according to all that Haman commanded to the king's satraps, and to the governors who were over every province, and to the princes of every people, to every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Achashverosh was it written, and it was sealed with the king's ring.

13 Letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Yehudim, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even on the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

14 A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that they should be ready against that day.

15 The posts went forth in haste by the king's mitzvah, and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

1 Now when Mordekhai knew all that was done, Mordekhai tore his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;

2 and he came even before the king's gate: for none might enter within the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

3 In every province, wherever the king's mitzvah and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Yehudim, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

4 Ester's maidens and her chamberlains came and told it her; and the queen was exceedingly grieved: and she sent clothing to clothe Mordekhai, and to take his sackcloth from off him; but he didn't receive it.

5 Then called Ester for Hatakh, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend on her, and charged him to go to Mordekhai, to know what this was, and why it was.

6 So Hatakh went forth to Mordekhai to the broad place of the city, which was before the king's gate.

7 Mordekhai told him of all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Yehudim, to destroy them.

8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Shushan to destroy them, to show it to Ester, and to declare it to her, and to charge her that she should go in to the king, to make supplication to him, and to make request before him, for her people.

9 Hatakh came and told Ester the words of Mordekhai.

10 Then Ester spoke to Hatakh, and gave him a message to Mordekhai [saying]:

11 All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whoever, whether man or woman, shall come to the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.

12 They told to Mordekhai Ester's words.

13 Then Mordekhai bade them return answer to Ester, Don't think to yourself that you shall escape in the king's house, more than all the Yehudim.

14 For if you altogether hold your shalom at this time, then will relief and deliverance arise to the Yehudim from another place, but you and your father's house will perish: and who knows whether you haven't come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

15 Then Ester bade them return answer to Mordekhai,

16 Go, gather together all the Yehudim who are present in Shushan, and fast you for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast in like manner; and so will I go in to the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

17 So Mordekhai went his way, and did according to all that Ester had commanded him.

1 Now it happened on the third day, that Ester put on her royal clothing, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, over against the entrance of the house.

2 It was so, when the king saw Ester the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Ester the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Ester drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.

3 Then said the king to her, What will you, queen Ester? and what is your request? it shall be given you even to the half of the kingdom.

4 Ester said, If it seem good to the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.

5 Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that it may be done as Ester has said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Ester had prepared.

6 The king said to Ester at the banquet of wine, What is your petition? and it shall be granted you: and what is your request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.

7 Then answered Ester, and said, My petition and my request is:

8 if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.

9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and glad of heart: but when Haman saw Mordekhai in the king's gate, that he didn't stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordekhai.

10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself, and went home; and he sent and fetched his friends and Zeresh his wife.

11 Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

12 Haman said moreover, Yes, Ester the queen did let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow also am I invited by her together with the king.

13 Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordekhai the Yehudi sitting at the king's gate.

14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends to him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak you to the king that Mordekhai may be hanged thereon: then go you in merrily with the king to the banquet. The thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

1 On that night the king couldn't sleep; and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles, and they were read before the king.

2 It was found written that Mordekhai had told of Bigtana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, of those who kept the threshold, who had sought to lay hands on the king Achashverosh.

3 The king said, What honor and dignity has been bestowed on Mordekhai for this? Then the king's servants who ministered to him said, "Nothing has been done for him."

4 The king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak to the king to hang Mordekhai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

5 The king's servants said to him, Behold, Haman stands in the court. The king said, Let him come in.

6 So Haman came in. The king said to him, What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor? Now Haman said in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?

7 Haman said to the king, For the man whom the king delights to honor,

8 let royal clothing be brought which the king uses to wear, and the horse that the king rides on, and on the head of which a crown royal is set:

9 and let the clothing and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man therewith whom the king delights to honor, and cause him to ride on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.

10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the clothing and the horse, as you have said, and do even so to Mordekhai the Yehudi, who sits at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that you have spoken.

11 Then took Haman the clothing and the horse, and arrayed Mordekhai, and caused him to ride through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.

12 Mordekhai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and having his head covered.

13 Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife to him, If Mordekhai, before whom you have begun to fall, be of the seed of the Yehudim, you shall not prevail against him, but shall surely fall before him.

14 While they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hurried to bring Haman to the banquet that Ester had prepared.

1 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Ester the queen.

2 The king said again to Ester on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is your petition, queen Ester? and it shall be granted you: and what is your request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.

3 Then Ester the queen answered, If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:

4 for we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondservants and bondmaids, I had held my shalom, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king's damage.

5 Then spoke the king Achashverosh and said to Ester the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that dared presume in his heart to do so?

6 Ester said, An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

7 The king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine [and went] into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Ester the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.

8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen on the couch whereon Ester was. Then said the king, Will he even force the queen before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.

9 Then said Harvonah, one of the chamberlains who were before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman has made for Mordekhai, who spoke good for the king, stands in the house of Haman. The king said, Hang him thereon.

10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordekhai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.

1 On that day did the king Achashverosh give the house of Haman the Yehudim' enemy to Ester the queen. Mordekhai came before the king; for Ester had told what he was to her.

2 The king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordekhai. Ester set Mordekhai over the house of Haman.

3 Ester spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and begged him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Yehudim.

4 Then the king held out to Ester the golden scepter. So Ester arose, and stood before the king.

5 She said, If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedata the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Yehudim who are in all the king's provinces:

6 for how can I endure to see the evil that shall come to my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my relatives?

7 Then the king Achashverosh said to Ester the queen and to Mordekhai the Yehudi, See, I have given Ester the house of Haman, and him they have hanged on the gallows, because he laid his hand on the Yehudim.

8 Write you also to the Yehudim, as it pleases you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring; for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.

9 Then were the king's Sofrim called at that time, in the third month Sivan, on the three and twentieth [day] of it; and it was written according to all that Mordekhai commanded to the Yehudim, and to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from Hoddu to Kush, one hundred twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language, and to the Yehudim according to their writing, and according to their language.

10 He wrote the name of king Achashverosh, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by post on horseback, riding on swift steeds that were used in the king's service, bred of the stud:

11 in which the king granted the Yehudim who were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, [their] little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,

12 on one day in all the provinces of king Achashverosh, [namely], on the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

13 A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, and that the Yehudim should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

14 So the posts who rode on swift steeds that were used in the king's service went out, being hurried and pressed on by the king's mitzvah; and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace.

15 Mordekhai went forth from the presence of the king in royal clothing of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan shouted and was glad.

16 The Yehudim had light and gladness, and joy and honor.

17 In every province, and in every city, wherever the king's mitzvah and his decree came, the Yehudim had gladness and joy, a feast and a good day. Many from among the peoples of the land became Yehudim; for the fear of the Yehudim was fallen on them.

1 Now in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's mitzvah and his decree drew near to be put in execution, on the day that the enemies of the Yehudim hoped to have rule over them, (whereas it was turned to the contrary, that the Yehudim had rule over those who hated them,)

2 the Yehudim gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Achashverosh, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them was fallen on all the peoples.

3 All the princes of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors, and those who did the king's business, helped the Yehudim; because the fear of Mordekhai was fallen on them.

4 For Mordekhai was great in the king's house, and his fame went forth throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordekhai grew greater and greater.

5 The Yehudim struck all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with slaughter and destruction, and did what they would to those who hated them.

6 In Shushan the palace the Yehudim killed and destroyed five hundred men.

7 Parshandata, and Dalfon, and Aspata,

8 and Porata, and Adalyah, and Aridata,

9 and Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vaizata,

10 the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedata, the Yehudi's enemy, killed they; but they didn't lay their hand on the spoil.

11 On that day the number of those who were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.

12 The king said to Ester the queen, The Yehudim have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces! Now what is your petition? and it shall be granted you: or what is your request further? and it shall be done.

13 Then said Ester, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Yehudim who are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according to this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged on the gallows.

14 The king commanded it so to be done: and a decree was given out in Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.

15 The Yehudim who were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and killed three hundred men in Shushan; but they didn't lay their hand on the spoil.

16 The other Yehudim who were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and killed of those who hated them seventy-five thousand; but they didn't lay their hand on the spoil.

17 [This was done] on the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

18 But the Yehudim who were in Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth [day] of it, and on the fourteenth of it; and on the fifteenth [day] of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

19 Therefore do the Yehudim of the villages, who dwell in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar [a day of] gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

20 Mordekhai wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Yehudim who were in all the provinces of the king Achashverosh, both near and far,

21 to enjoin those who they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,

22 as the days in which the Yehudim had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned to them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the needy.

23 The Yehudim undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordekhai had written to them;

24 because Haman the son of Hammedata, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Yehudim, had plotted against the Yehudim to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;

25 but when [the matter] came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he had devised against the Yehudim, should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

26 Therefore they called these days Purim, after the name of Pur. Therefore because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and that which had come to them,

27 the Yehudim ordained, and took on them, and on their seed, and on all such as joined themselves to them, so that it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to the writing of it, and according to the appointed time of it, every year;

28 and that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Yehudim, nor the memory of them perish from their seed.

29 Then Ester the queen, the daughter of Avichayil, and Mordekhai the Yehudi, wrote with all authority to confirm this second letter of Purim.

30 He sent letters to all the Yehudim, to the hundred twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Achashverosh, [with] words of shalom and truth,

31 to confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times, according as Mordekhai the Yehudi and Ester the queen had enjoined them, and as they had ordained for themselves and for their seed, in the matter of the fastings and their cry.

32 The mitzvah of Ester confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.

1 The king Achashverosh laid a tribute on the land, and on the isles of the sea.

2 All the acts of his power and of his might, and the full account of the greatness of Mordekhai, whereunto the king advanced him, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Madai and Paras?

3 For Mordekhai the Yehudi was next to king Achashverosh, and great among the Yehudim, and accepted of the multitude of his brothers, seeking the good of his people, and speaking shalom to all his seed.