Hariho umukobwa w’Umuyahudi witwaga Esiteri wabaga mu mugi wa Shushani mu Buperesi. Hari hashize imyaka myinshi Nebukadinezari avanye umuryango wa Esiteri i Yerusalemu. Yarezwe na mubyara we witwaga Moridekayi wari umugaragu w’Umwami Ahasuwerusi w’u Buperesi.

Igihe Umwami Ahasuwerusi yari akeneye undi mwamikazi, abagaragu be bamuzaniye abagore beza kuruta abandi mu gihugu, harimo na Esiteri. Muri abo bagore bose, umwami yatoranyije Esiteri ngo abe umwamikazi. Moridekayi yasabye Esiteri kutazigera avuga ko ari Umuyahudikazi.

Nanone hariho umugabo w’umwibone witwaga Hamani, wategekaga abandi batware. Yashakaga ko abantu bose bamwunamira. Moridekayi yanze kumwunamira, biramurakaza cyane ashaka kumwica. Hamani amaze kumenya ko Moridekayi ari Umuyahudi, yacuze umugambi wo kwica Abayahudi bose. Yabwiye umwami ati “Abayahudi ni abantu babi cyane, ugomba kubarimbura.” Ahasuwerusi yaramubwiye ati “genda ubikore uko ushaka.” Hanyuma yahaye Hamani ububasha, ashyiraho itegeko ryo kwica Abayahudi bose ku munsi wa 13 w’ukwezi kwa Adari. Ibyo byose Yehova yarabirebaga.

Esiteri ntiyari azi ko hashyizweho iryo tegeko. Moridekayi yamwoherereje kopi y’iryo tegeko aramubwira ati “genda winginge umwami.” Esiteri yaramubwiye ati “umuntu wese ugiye imbere y’umwami atahamagawe ahita yicwa. Umwami amaze iminsi 30 atampamagara! Ariko nta cyo ndajyayo. Naramuka antunze inkoni ye ya zahabu, ndakira. Ariko natayintunga, ndapfa.”

Nuko Esiteri ajya mu rugo rw’umwami. Umwami akimubona amutunga inkoni ye, aramubaza ati “Esite, urashaka ko ngukorera iki?” Na we aramusubiza ati  “ndashaka kugutumira ngo uzane na Hamani mu birori nabateguriye.” Bari muri ibyo birori, Esiteri yongeye kubatumira mu bindi birori. Muri ibyo birori bya kabiri, umwami yabajije Esiteri ati “urashaka ko ngukorera iki?” Na we aramusubiza ati “hari umuntu ushaka kunyicana n’ubwoko bwanjye. Ndakwinginze turokore.” Umwami aramubaza ati “ni nde ushaka kubica?” Aramusubiza ati “ni uyu mugome Hamani.” Ahasuwerusi yararakaye cyane ategeka ko Hamani yicwa.

Icyakora nta muntu washoboraga guhindura itegeko rya Hamani, yewe n’umwami ubwe. Niyo mpamvu umwami yagize Moridekayi umutware w’abandi batware amuha n’ububasha bwo gushyiraho irindi tegeko. Moridekayi yahise atanga itegeko ryemereraga Abayahudi kwirwanaho igihe bari kuba batewe. Ku munsi wa 13 w’ukwezi kwa Adari, Abayahudi batsinze abanzi babo. Guhera ubwo, batangiye kujya bizihiza uwo munsi mukuru buri mwaka.