told them that he was a Jew. And | And the king said unto Haman, The when Haman saw that Mordecai silver is given to thee, the people bowed not, nor did him reverence, also, to do with them as it seemthen was Haman full of wrath. And eth good to thee. Then were the he thought scorn to lay hands on king' scribes called on the thirMordecai alone; for they had shew- teenth day of the first month, and ed him the people of Mordecai: there was written according to all wherefore Haman sought to destroy that Haman had commanded unto all the Jews that were throughout the king's lieutenants, and to the the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, governors that were over every proeven the people of Mordecai. In vince, and to the rulers of every the first month, that is, the month people of every province according Nisan, in the twelfth year of king to the writing thereof, and to every Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, people after their language; in the the lot, before Haman from day to name of king Ahasuerus was it writday, and from month to month, to ten, and sealed with the king's ring. the twelfth month, that is, the month And the letters were sent by posts Adar. And Haman said unto king into all the king's provinces, to deAhasuerus, There is a certain peo-stroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, ple scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries. And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it anto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.

MAY 31.

all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey. The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day. The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.

Ebening, ESTHER IV.

WHEN Mordone, Mordecai rent WHEN Mordecai perceived all his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a load and a bitter cry; and came even before the king's gate for Bone might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it ber. Then was the queen exceed

MAY 31.

ingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not. Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was. So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate. And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. Also he gave

him the copy of the writing of the Then Mordecai commanded to an decree that was given at Shushan swer Esther, Think not with thyself to destroy them, to shew it unto that thou shalt escape in the king's Esther, and to declare it unto her, house, more than all the Jews. For and to charge her that she should if thou altogether holdest thy peace go in unto the king, to make suppli- at this time, then shall there en cation unto him, and to make re- largement and deliverance arise to quest before him for her people. And the Jews from another place; but Hatach came and told Esther the thou and thy father's house shall be words of Mordecai. Again Esther destroyed: and who knoweth whe spake unto Hatach, and gave him ther thou art come to the kingdom commandment unto Mordecai; All for such a time as this? Then Es the king's servants, and the people ther bade them return Mordecai this of the king's provinces, do know, answer, Go, gather together all the that whosoever, whether man or Jews that are present in Shushan, woman, shall come unto the king and fast ye for me, and neither eat into the inner court, who is not call-nor drink three days, night or day: ed, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.

N third day, that Esther put on

OW it came to pass on the

her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom. And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him. Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman me to the banquet that Esther prepared. And the king said

I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law and if I perish, I perish. S Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. Then answered Esther, and said, My pe tition and my request is; If I have: found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my re quest, let the king and Haman com to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.

Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: bat when Haman saw Mordecai in th king's gate, that he stood not nor moved for him, he was full indignation against Mordecai. Ne vertheless Haman refrained himself; and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Z resh his wife. And Haman told. them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had

advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king. Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.

JUNE 1.

Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

Ebening, ESTHER VI.

ON that night could not the king to

sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. And the king aid, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him. And the king aid, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. So Haman came in. Aad the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do our more than to myself? And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: and let this apparel and horse be delivered

353

JUNE 1.

the hand of one of the king's most

noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour. And Mordecai came again to the king's gate.

But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.

Аз

Morning, ESTHER VII.

Evening, ESTHER VIII.

that day did the king Aha- | be written to reverse the letters de

Sivan, on the three and twentieth | namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.

day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language. And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries: wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey, upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus,

JUNE 3.

And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple : and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour. And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.

Morning, ESTHER IX.

JUNE 3.

NOW in the twelfth month, that this man Mordecai waxed greater

is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in exeention, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;) the Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people. And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for

and greater. Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of

the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them. And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men. And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha, and Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha, and Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha, the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.

On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king. And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in