Additions to Esther 1:1-7

1 ^[a] Mordecai, a Jew who belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, was taken into exile, along with King Jehoiachin of Judah, when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia captured Jerusalem. Mordecai was the son of Jair, a descendant of Kish and Shimei. He now lived in the Persian city of Susa, where he was an important official in the royal court of Xerxes the great king. ¹ During the second year of Xerxes' reign, on the first day of the month of Nisan, Mordecai had a dream.

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4 He dreamed that there was great noise and confusion, loud thunder, and an earthquake, with terrible turmoil on the earth.

5 Then two huge dragons appeared, ready to fight each other.

6 They made a dreadful noise, and all the nations got ready to make war against God's nation of righteous people.

7 For the world it was a day of darkness and gloom, trouble and distress, destruction and ruin.

Cross References

• 1. A.1-3 2 Kings 24.10-16.

Footnotes

• [a]. [Chapter A 1-17 corresponds to chapters 11.2--12.6 in a number of English translations.]