The Greatness of Artaxerxes and Mordecai

¹King Artaxerxes made everyone in his kingdom pay taxes, even those in lands across the sea.

²The record books of the kings of Persia and Media tell how strong and brave he was, and they also describe the wealth and glory of his kingdom.

³Next to the king himself, Mordecai was the highest official in the kingdom. The Jews all loved and honored him because he helped them in many ways.

Addition F

Mordecai Remembers His Dream

^4-5Mordecai said:

¹⁰Long ago God chose us to be his people, but he rejected the other nations.

¹¹Then, when those nations were against us, God had to decide between us and them.

¹²God remembered that we were his people, and he decided that we were in the right.

¹³And so from now on, we Jews must observe the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar by coming together to worship him and to celebrate.[#10.13 See the note at 2.15,16.]