19 Therefore the Jews of the villages who dwelt in the unwalled towns celebrated the fourteenth day of the month of Adar ^awith gladness and feasting, ^bas a holiday, and for ^csending presents to one another.  ‡

20 And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus,

22 as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of ^asending presents to one another and gifts to the ^bpoor.  ‡

23 So the Jews accepted the custom which they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them,