+ Heb. If it be good with the king. before him. came not. 18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath. 19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and from let it be written among the laws of the + Heb. that Persians and the Medes, † that it be not it pass not ay, ch. 8. altered, That Vashti come no more before 8. Dan. 6. 8, king Ahasuerus; and let the king give Heb. unto her royal estate tunto another that is 12, 15. her companion. better than she. 518. in the chronicles. AFTER these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had ach 1.19,20. done, and what was decreed against her. 2 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: 3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the + Heb. unto house of the women, tunto the custody Or, Hegai, of || Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them: the hand. ver. 8. Esther is preferred before the rest. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so. 5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; Before CHRIST 518. 14, 15. 10, 20. Jer. 6 Who had been carried away from 2 Kings 24. Jerusalem with the captivity which had 2 Chron. 36. been carried away with Jeconiah king 24.1. of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king chin, of Babylon had carried away. Or, Jehoia. 24. 6. Heb. Res rished, Eph. e ver. 15. 7 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she 64 had neither father nor mother, and the maid was + fair and beautiful; whom Mor- + Heb. fair decai, when her father and mother were good of dead, took for his own daughter. d of form, and countenance. 8 ¶ So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the d ver. 3. palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. 9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and the preferred her and her maids Heb. he unto the best place of the house of the women. changed her. 10 'Esther had not shewed her people fver. 20. nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it. 11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what Heb. to should become of her. 12¶ Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;) 13 Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house. 14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name. know the peace. cir. 515 eir. 515 15 Now when the turn of Esther, 4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the daughter of Abihail the uncle of ever. ;the king be queen instead of Vashti. | Mordecai, who had taken her for his Before daughter, was come to go in unto the cir. 515. king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. Or, kind Heb. be fere him eir. 514h ch. 1.3. 16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even + Heb. rest. Esther's feast; and he made a +release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king. 19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai | 1 ver. 21. ch. sat in the king's gate. 3.2. k ver. 10. 1 See Esther 12. 1. Before CHRIST cir. 510. Haman seeketh to destroy the Jews. spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, fver. 2. ch. then was Haman full of wrath. 5. 9. g Dan. 3. 19. 6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews ↳ Ps. 83. 4that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai. 510. 7¶In the first month, that is, the 8¶ And Haman said unto king Aha- 21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's Or, Big chamberlains, || Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. thana, ch. 6. + Heb. the threshold. k 4.13. Ezra 113 Heb. meet, or, equal. destroy 9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I leb, to will pay ten thousand talents of silver them. to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries. weigh. m ch. 8. 2,8. 10 And the king 'took his ring from Gen. 41. 42. his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. | Or, oppressor, ch. 11 And the king said unto Haman, 7.6. The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. 12 "Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first to all that Haman had commanded unto month, and there was written according the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; "in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring. 13 And the letters were sent by posts 9 ch. 8. 10. into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, 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. &c. 36. ch. 8. 12, a Mac. 15. t ch. 8. 11. 14. 14 "The copy of the writing for a ch. 8. 13, commandment to be given in every pro Mordecai's advice to Esther. CHRIST ESTHER. Before CHRIST eir. 510. Esther inviteth the king, &c. Before vince was published unto all people, that | to put him to death, except such to cir. 510. they should be ready against that day. whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not h ch. 5.2. & been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. 15 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 See ch.8. drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed. 15. Prov. 29. cir. 510. a 2Sam. 1.11. CHAP. IV. 1 The great mourning of Mordecai and the suit. HEN Mordecai perceived all that WHEN C rent his b Josh. 7. 6. clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, 3 And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weep+Heb. sacking, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 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 the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. 8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at 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 unto him, and to make request before him for her people. 9 And Hatach came and told Esther 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, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, Dan. 29. who is not called, there is one law of his fch. 5. 1. 16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast +Hebfound. ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my iSee ch. 5. 1. maidens will fast likewise; and so will Ï go in unto the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish. 17 So Mordecai twent his way, and ↑ Heb. passdid according to all that Esther had commanded him. 3 Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to Mark 6. 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. 23 She obtaineth the king's favour. Before CHRIST cir. 510. feb. 7. 2. CHAP. VI. VII. 6'And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, "What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and gch. 9. 12. what is thy request? even 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 Heb. to do. grant my petition, and t†to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said. h ch. 3-5 1 So 2 Sam. 13-22 tu come. &c. 9¶ Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. Mordecai honoured. Before CHRIST this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing cir. 510. done for him. 4 ¶ And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the See ch.5. outward court of the king's house, to e cb. 5.14. 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. † Heb. in wchote honour 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 the king de heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? lighteth. thi whose honour the king delighteth. them bring tileb.where clothed him 7 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to 10 Nevertheless Haman' refrained him- honour, self: and when he came home, he sent 8+Let the royal apparel be brought + Heb. Let Heb.caused and called for his friends, and Zeresh†which the king useth to wear, and the the royal p his wife. horse that the king rideth upon, and the parel. crown royal which is set upon his head: with the king 9 And let this apparel and horse be self delivered to the hand of one of the king's d1 Kings 1. most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and + bring him on horseback Heb. cause through the street of the city, and pro- eGen.41.43. claim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 11 And Haman told them of the glory ch. 9. 7. of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had 1advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. 1 ch. 3. 1. Heb tree, m ch. 7-9 & ch. 6. 4. 12 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. 13 Yet 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 +"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 Haeb. 7. 10. man; and he caused the gallows to be made. 33. him to ride. 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 Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: + let nothing fail of all that of 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's gate. But Haman 'hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. 13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had 14 And while they were yet talking Haman hanged. Before CHRIST cir. 510. + Heb. to drink. a ch. 5. 6. b ch. 3. 9. & 4-7. they should ESTHER 5 She accuseth Haman. 7 The king in his | anger, understanding of the gallows which Haman had made for Mordecai, causeth him to be hanged thereon. S to the king and Haman came 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? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom. 5 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: b 4 For we are sold, I and my people, Heb. that to be destroyed, to be slain, and to der and perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. kill, and cause to perish. 5¶ Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume Aath filled in his heart to do so? + Ileb. whose heart him. 6 And Esther said, †The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid || before 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 Esther the queen: for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. c 8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. 9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the + gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman 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 hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified. CHAP. VIII. 1 Mordecai is advanced. 3 Esther maketh suit to reverse Haman's letters. 7 Aha suerus granteth to the Jews to defend them selves. 15 Mordecai's honour, and the Jews' joy. Before CHRIST The Jews defend themselves. Esther had told what he was unto her. 2 And the king took off his ring, cir. 510. which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set b ch. 3. 10. Mordecai over the house of Haman. a ch. 2.7. she wept, 3¶ And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and Heb. and besought him with tears to put away the and bought mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. him. 5.2. 4 Then the king held out the golden ch.4.11.& sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king, 5 And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman + Heb. the the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews Or, whe which are in all the king's provinces: 6 For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred? 7¶Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. 8 Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, 'may no man 9 Then were the king's scribes called 5 ch. 3. 12. at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth 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 Ethi- b ch. 1. ì. opia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according ich. 1. 2. & to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language. 10 And he wrote in the king Ahasu- 1 Kings 21. erus's name, and sealed it with the king's 13. ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries: 11 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 I See cha spoil of them for a prey, 16, 15, 16. |