Chapter XI · Location 11 of 16
Chapter 11 · Open to readFrom Esther · Douay–Rheims / Challoner (1749–1752)
What events and attributed statements does Esther Chapter 11 record?
Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary
The editorial note explains the dream’s relocation; Dositheus and his son bring the epistle with attributed claims about its interpretation. The dream is dated to the first of Nisan in Artaxerxes’s second year and presents dragons ready to fight, nations, darkness and distress. The crying nation sees a fountain grow to a river and the humble exalted; Mardochai wakes seeking the meaning.
Chapter breakdown
An editorial note explains that Mardochai's dream, which appeared at the beginning of the ancient Greek and Latin Bibles, was detached by St. Jerome and placed in this section of the text. In the fourth year of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, Dositheus, who identified himself as a Levitical priest, accompanied by his son Ptolemy, brought this epistle of Phurim, which they stated had been translated in Jerusalem by Lysimachus, son of Ptolemy. The historical narrative of the dream dates to the second year of Artaxerxes the Great, on the first day of the month Nisan. Mardochai, son of Jair, son of Semei, son of Cis, of the tribe of Benjamin, a distinguished Jewish courtier dwelling in Susan who had been deported from Jerusalem by King Nabuchodonosor with King Jechonias of Judah, had a dream.
In his vision, Mardochai witnessed terrifying portents: voices, tumultuous clamor, thunders, earthquakes, and widespread upheaval across the earth. Suddenly, two formidable dragons emerged, fully prepared to wage fierce combat against each other. At their terrible roar, all nations were aroused to wage war against the nation of the righteous. That moment became a day of dense darkness, peril, tribulation, and extreme anguish, accompanied by great fear across the earth. The righteous nation was profoundly troubled, fearing imminent destruction and preparing themselves for death.
In their desperation, the righteous cried out to God. As they cried, a small fountain began to swell, growing into an immense river that overflowed with abundant waters. Radiant light and the sun rose above the darkness, whereupon the humble were exalted and devoured the glorious. When Mardochai awoke from his sleep, he reflected deeply on what God intended to do, keeping the vision firmly fixed in his mind as he sought to understand its full meaning.
The story inside
Initial conditions: The editorial note explains the dream’s relocation; Dositheus and his son bring the epistle with attributed claims about its interpretation. Development: The dream is dated to the first of Nisan in Artaxerxes’s second year and presents dragons ready to fight, nations, darkness and distress. Recorded ending: The crying nation sees a fountain grow to a river and the humble exalted; Mardochai wakes seeking the meaning.
Lessons worth keeping
- 1The editorial note explains the dream’s relocation; Dositheus and his son bring the epistle with attributed claims about its interpretation.
- 2The dream is dated to the first of Nisan in Artaxerxes’s second year and presents dragons ready to fight, nations, darkness and distress.
- 3The crying nation sees a fountain grow to a river and the humble exalted; Mardochai wakes seeking the meaning.
Test your recall
Which concrete sequence does this chapter record, and what remains unstated?
Source edition and notes
Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.
Lines 53857–53860
11:1. In the fourth year of the reign of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, Dositheus, who said he was a priest, and of the Levitical race, and Ptolemy his son brought this epistle of Phurim, which they said Lysimachus the son of Ptolemy had interpreted in Jerusalem.
Lines 53873–53877
11:5. And this was his dream: Behold there were voices, and tumults, and thunders, and earthquakes, and a disturbance upon the earth. 11:6. And behold two great dragons came forth ready to fight one against another.
