1
In the fourth year of the reign of Ptolemaios and Kleopatra, Dositheos, who said that he was a kohen and a Levi, and Ptolemaios his son, brought this sefer concerning Purim, which they said was true and had been translated by Lysimachos, son of Ptolemaios, of Yerushalayim.
2
In the second year of the reign of Achashverosh the Great, on the first day of the month Nisan, Mordekhai son of Ya’ir, son of Shim’i, son of Qish, of the tribe of Binyamin, saw a dream.
3
He was a Yehudi dwelling in Shushan the citadel, an ish of greatness, serving in the court of the king.
4
He was among those taken captive whom Nevukhadnetzar, king of Bavel, carried away from Yerushalayim with Yekhonyah, king of Yehudah.
5
And this was his dream: See— voices, and tumult, thunder and earthquake, and confusion upon the earth.
6
And see, two great tanninim came forth, both prepared to fight. And from them came a great cry.
7
And at their cry every nation prepared for war, to fight against a nation of righteous ones.
8
And see— a day of darkness and gloom, tribulation and distress, affliction and great confusion upon the earth.
9
And the whole righteous nation was troubled, fearing the evils prepared against them, and they prepared themselves for destruction.
10
Then they cried to Elohim. And from their cry, as though from a small spring, there came forth a great river— abundant waters.
11
Light and the sun rose, and the lowly were exalted and consumed those held in honor.
12
And Mordekhai awoke, having seen this dream and what Elohim had determined to accomplish. And he held it in his heart and desired to understand it throughout the night.