Mordecai's Applicatim to Esther.

ESTHER, V. 10 And the king took a his ring from] B. C. 510. is hand, and gave it unto Haman the Son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the a Ge.41.42. Jews' enemy.

c.8.2,8.

11 And the king said unto Haman, The 1or,oppressor, silver is given to thee, the people also, to c.7.6. do with them as it seemeth good to thee. 12 Then b were the king's 2 scribes called b c.8.9,&c. on the thirteenth day of the first month, 2 or, secretaand there was written according to all ries. that Haman had commanded, unto the c c.5.1. king's lieutenants, and to the governors d Da.2.9. that were over every province, and to the e c.5.2. rulers of every people of every province, according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in fthe f 1Ki.21.8. name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.

13 And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, o kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, Doth 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.

14 The copy of the writing, for a commandment to be given in every province,] was published unto all people, that they should be ready agains' that day.

8.4.

g Pr.24.11,12.

h Nu.23.23. 1Sa.12.22. Is.54.17. 3 respiration, Job 9.18.

15 The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment; and the 4 found. decree was given in Shushan the palace. i Jon.3.4-9. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but k the city Shushan was per-k Pr.29.2. plexed.

CHAP. IV.

7 Ge.43.14.

passed.

WHEN Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent m his m 2Sa.1.11. clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, n Job 1.20. and went out into the midst of the city,n Jos.7.6. and cried with a loud and a bitter o cry; 2 And came even before the king's gate: Jon.3.6. for none might enter into the king's gate o Ge.27.34. clothed with sackcloth. p c.4.16.

Eze.27.30.

3 And in every province, whithersoever q c.4.11. the king's commandment and his decree 6.4. came, there was great mourning r among r Is.22.4,5. the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing: and 6 many lay in sackcloth and

ashes.

4 So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away the sackcloth from him: but u he received it not.

5 Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed 8 to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, tot know what it was, and why it was. 6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate:

7 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of

37.1-3.

6 sackcloth and ashes were laid under many, Is.58.5. Da.9.3. s Ne.1.11.

7

2.4,&c. Pr.21.1. eunuchs. c.8.4. u Ps.77.2. v ver.6. Mar.6.23. 8 set before.

the money that Haman had promised w c.3.9. to pay to the king's treasuries for the x c.7.2. Jews, to destroy them:

9.12.

8 Also he gave him the copy of the y ver.3. writing z of the decree that was given at c.3.14,15. Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication a unto him, and to make request before him for ber people.

9 Ard Hatach came and told Esther

a Ne.2.4. Pr.21.1. 9 do.

Esther's Approach to the King.

the words of Mordecai.

10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;

11 All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, tha whosoever, whether man or woman, shal come unto the king into the inner c court, who is not called, there is one d law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hoid out e the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.

12 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.

13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not g with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house more than all the Jews.

14 For h if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there 3 enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer;

16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are 4 present in Shushan, and i fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: 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 l perish, I perish.

17 So Mordecai 5 went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

CHAP. V.

NOW it came to pass on the third p day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court q 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.

2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favours in his sight: and the king held out t to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.

3 Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? itv shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.

4 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.

5 Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared. 6 And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What x is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even y to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.

7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is

8 If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to 9 perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them,

9 Then went Haman forth that day joy-1 ful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that a he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecal.

his wife.

suffer not a whit to fall. a c.3.5. Da.3.16-19. Mat.2.16. b 2Sa.13.22. 10 Nevertheless, Haman brefrained him- 2 caused to self and when he came home, he sent come. and 2 called for his friends, and Zeresh c 2Ch.26.20. d c.9.12,13. 11 And Haman told them of the glory e 2Sa.15.30. of his riches, and the multitude of his Je.14.3,4. children, d and all the things wherein fc.3.1. the king had promoted him, and how fhe g Job 15.24. had advanced him above the princes and h Pr.28.18. servants of the king. Hos. 14.9. 12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther i 1Ki.21.4. the queen did let no man come in with Job 15.20. the king unto the banquet that she had k c.5.8. prepared, but myself; and to-morrow am 3 tree. I invited unto her also with the king. 13 Yet i all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.

14 Then said Zeresh his wife, and all his friends unto him, Let a 3 gallows / be made of fifty cubits high, and to-morrow speak m 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. n

CHAP. VI.

ON that night could not the king sleep,

5

1 c.7.9. 4 drink. m c.6.4. n Ps.37.14,32. the king's sleep fled away. o c.2.23. or, Bigthan, c.2.21. threshold. p c.3.9. 4.7. that they should de stroy, und kill, and

6

o

and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of 6 Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keep ers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

3 And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is q nothing done for him.

4 And the king said, 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. 5 And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. 6 So Haman came in. And 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 eight to do honour more than to myself? 7 And Haman answered the king, For the man 4 whom the king del ghteth to honour,

1

3

cause to

perish. q Ec.9.15. whose heart hath filled him.

the man adversary. r Pr.16.14. 2 or, at the presence of. in whose honour the king delighteth. Pr. 18.12. 4 in whose honour the king delighteth. them bring the royal apparel. 6 wherewith the king clotheth himself. 7 with. Job 9.24.

5

8 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and theu c.1.10. horse that the king rideth upon, and the 8 tree. crown royal which is set upon his head: v c.5.14. 9 And let this apparel and horse be de- Ps.7.15,16. livered to the hand of one of the king's 35.8. 141.10. most noble princes, that they may array Pr.11.5,6. the man withal whom the king delighteth 9 cause him to honour, and bring 9 him on horseback to ride. through the street of the city, and w pro-w elaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to

honour

344

Ge.41.43. 1Ki.1.33,34. Da.6.24. Ps.37.35,36.

Haman accused and executed.

10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mor. decai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.

11 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.

12 And Mordecai came again to the king gate. But Haman hasted cto his house, mourning, and having his head covered.

13 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 g Mor decai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall h before him.

14 And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that k Esther had prepared. CHAP. VII.

So

O the king and Haman came to 4 banquet with Esther the queen.

2 And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? anf it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.

3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request;

4 For p we are sold, I and my people, to 8 be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bond women, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.

5 Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, 9 that durst presume in his heart to do so?

6 And Esther said, 1 The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid r before 2 the king and the queen.

7 And the king, arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath, went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Es ther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.

8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the ban quet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also 7 before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered t Haman's face.

9 And Harbonah, u one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the 8 gallows, v fifty cubits high, which Hainan had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.

10 So they hauged Haman on the gal lows that he had prepared x for Mordecai

Esther and Mordecat enriched.

l'hen was the king's wrath pacified. CHAP. VIII.

ON that day did the king Ahasuerus

give the house of Haman, the Jews' enemy, unto a Esther the queen. And a Pr.13.22. Mordecai came before the king; for

Esther had told what he was b unto her. b c.2.7. 2 And the king took off his ring,e which c c.3.10. he had taken from Haman, and gave it or, violet, anto Mordecai. And d Esther set Mor- c.1.6. decai over the house of Haman. d Ps.37.34. 3 And Esther spake yet again before Da.2.48. the king, and fell down at his feet, and e Ps. 18.28. besought him with tears to put away 30.5-11. the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and 97.11. nis device that he had devised against Pr.11.10. the Jew's. Is.30.29. 2 she wept and besought him. 5 And said, If it please the king, and fc.4.11. if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and g c.9.19,22. I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written h Ex. 15.16. to reverse the 3 letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces:

4 Then the king held out f the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,

5.2.

De.2.25.

11.25.

c.9.2. i c.8.12. 6 For how can I endures to see the 3 device. evil that shall come unto my people? or k c.3.13. how can I endure to see the destruction 4 or, who of my kindred? wrote.

7 Then the king Ahasuerus said unto 1 Ne.2.3. Esther the queen, and to Mordecai the c.7.4. Jew, Behold, In have given Esther the 5 be able that house of Haman, and him they have I may see. hanged upon the gallows, because he laid m c.8.11. his hand upon the Jews. ver.16.

8 Write ye also for the Jews, as it n ver.1. liketh you, in the king's name, and seal o Ps.71.13,24. it with the king's ring: for the writing p Ge.35.5. which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may q no man

reverse.

c.8.17.

those which did the busi9 Then s were the king's scribes called ness that at that time in the third month, that is, belonged to the month Sivan, on the three and twen- the king. tieth day thereof: and it was written, ac- q c.1.19. cording to all that Mordecai commanded, Da.6.8, 12, 15. unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, r Ps. 18.43. and the deputies and rulers of the pro-s c.3.12. vinces which are from u India untot 2Sa.3.1. 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 ac-u cording to their language.

1Ch.11.9. Pr.4.18. according to their will. c.1.1.

Job 18.19.

10 And he wrote v in the king Ahasuerus' v IKI.21.8. name, and sealed it with the kings ring; w c.5.11. and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young 27.13-15. dromedaries;

Ps.21.10.

11 Wherein the king granted the Jews x c.8.11. which were in every city to gather them-8 came. selves together, and to stand for their

life, to destroy, y to slay, and to cause to y Ps.37.14,15. Derish, all the power of the people and 68.23. province that would assault them, both 137.8. little ones and women, and to take the 149.6-9. spoil of them for a prey, Eze.39.10.

12 Upon one day, in all the provinces of king Akasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth z day of the twelfth month, c.3.13,&c. which is the month Adar.

9.1.

13 The copy of the writing, for a commandment to be given in every province, 9 revealed. was 9 published unto all people, and that let men the Jews should be ready against that day hang.

The Jews avenged.

to avenge themselves on their enemies. 14 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.

15 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.

16 The Jews had e light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.

17 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 g day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear h of the Jews fell upon them.

CHAP. IX.

NOW in i the twelfth month, that is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment k and his decree drew near to be put in execution, 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,)

2 The Jews gathered themselves together m in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such o as sought their hurt; and no man could withstand them; for the p fear of them fell upon all people.

3 And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and 6 officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.

4 For Mordecai was great r in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater t and greater.

5 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.

6 And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men. 7 And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,

8 And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,

9 And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,

10 The ten sons w of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they, but x on the spoil laid they not their hand.

11 On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace 8 was brought before the king.

12 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 the rest of the king's provinces? Now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done.

13 Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to-morrow also according unto this day's decree, and 1 le

The feast of Purim. Haman's ten sons be hanged a upon the gallows.

ESTHER, X.

B. C. 509.

a De.21.23. 2Sa.21.6,9. Ga.3.13.

that is, lot.

14 And the king commanded it so to be done; and the decree was given at Shusban; and they hanged Haman's ten sons. 15 Ford the Jews that were in Shushan b c.8.3,11. gathered themselves together on the four-c Ps.7.16. teenth day also of the month Adar, and d ver.2, 13. slew three hundred men at Shushan; but f on the prey they laid not their hand. e ver.20. 16 But the other Jews that were in the f ver.10. king's provinces gathered themselves to-g c.8.17. gether, and stood for their lives, and had Is.56.3,6. rest from their enemies, and slew of their Zec.2.11. foes seventy and five thousand (but they 2 pass. laid not their hands on the prey)

17 On the thirteenth day of the month Adar: and on the fourteenth day 3 of the 3 in it. same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

18 But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

pass.

be ended.

19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, 6 strength. that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made h c.8.10. the fourteenth day of the month Adar a

ver.20.

day of gladness i and feasting, and a good i De.16.11,14. day, and of sending k portions one to another.

20 And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,

21 To establish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same yearly,

c.8.17. k ver.22. Ne.8.10-12.

their souls. c.4.3,16.

22 As the days wherein the Jews rested m Ps.30.11. from their enemies, and the month which n Lu.2.1. was turned m unto them from sorrow to o Ge. 10.5. Joy, and from mourning into a good day; Ps.72.10. that they should make them days of Is.24.15. feasting and joy, and of sending portions 8 made him one to another, and gifts to the poor. great, 23 And the Jews undertook to do as Da.2.48. they had begun, and as Mordecai had p Ge.41.40. written unto them;

Da.5.16,29.

24 Because Haman the son of Ham-9 c.3.6,7. medatha the Agagite, the enemy of all Ro.14.18. the Jews, had devised q against the Jews 9 crush. to destroy them, and had cast Pur (that s Ne.2.10. is, the lot) to 9 consume them, and to Ps. 122.6-9. destroy them: Ro.10.1.

25 But when1 Esther came before the1 she.

346

The glory of Mordecar

king, he commanded b by letters, that hi wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return c upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

26 Wherefore they called these days Purim, after the name of Pur: therefore, for all the words of this letter, e and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,

27 The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined g themselves unto them, so as it should not 2 fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time, every year;

28 And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not 4 fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them 5 perish from their seed.

29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all 6 authority, to confirm this second h letter of Purim.

30 And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and sever provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,

31 To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mor decai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves, and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.

32 And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was writ ten in the book.

CHAP. X.

AND the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute n upon the land, and upon the o isles of the sea.

2 And all the acts of his power, and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king 8 advanced him, are they not writter in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?

3 For Mordecai the Jew was next p unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking s the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his

seed.