In the tribe of Joseph, in the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi.

Then Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and others of the council of Dina, of Arphaxad, of Tarplat, of Persia, of Erech, of Babylon, of Susa, of Deha, and of Elam,

The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. It fortuned in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, that I was in the castle at Susa:

even in those days when the king Ahasuerus sat on his seat royal which was in Susa, the chief city,

And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were in the castle of Susa, both unto great and small, seven days long in the court of the garden by the king's palace:

and let the king appoint overseers in all the lands of his empire, that they may bring together all fair young virgins unto Susa the head city, to the women's building, under the hand of Hegei the king's chamberlain that keepeth the women; and let him give them their apparel.

In the castle of Susa there was a Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, the son of Benjamin,

Now when the king's commandment and commission was published, and many damsels were brought together unto the castle of Susa under the hand of Hegei, Esther was taken also unto the king's house under the hand of Hegei the keeper of the women.

And the posts went in all the haste according to the king's commandment. And in the castle of Susa was the commandment devised. And the king and Haman sat and drank. But the city Susa was disquieted.

And he gave him the copy of the commandment, that was devised at Susa to destroy them, that he might show it unto Esther, and to speak to her and charge her; that she should go into the king, and make her prayer and supplication unto him for her people.

'Go thou thy way then, and gather together all the Jews that are found at Susa, and fast ye for me, that ye eat not and drink not in three days, neither day nor night. I and my damsels will fast likewise, and so will I go in to the king contrary to the commandment: if I perish, I perish.'"

And the posts that rode upon the Mules made haste with all speed, according to the king's word: and the commandment was devised in the castle of Susa.

As for Mordecai, he went out from the king in royal apparel of yellow and white, and with a great crown of gold, being arrayed with a garment of linen and purple, and the city of Susa rejoiced and was glad:

And at the castle of Susa slew the Jews and destroyed five hundred men:

At the same time was the king certified of the number of those that were slain at the castle of Susa.

And the king said unto queen Esther, "The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men at the castle of Susa, and the ten sons of Haman: What shall they do in the other lands of the king? What is thy petition, that it may be given thee? And what requirest thou more to be done?"

And the king charged to do so, and the commandment was devised at Susa, and Haman's ten sons were hanged.

And the Jews gathered themselves together at Susa, upon the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Susa, but on their goods they laid no hands.

But the Jews at Susa were come together both on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth, and on the fifteenth day they rested, and the same day ordained they to be a day of feasting and gladness.

I saw in a vision, and when I saw it, I was at Susa in the chief city, which lieth in the land of Elam, and in the vision me thought I was by the river of Ulai.