CHAPTER XXX.

The Story of Esther, Mordecai, and Haman.

¡OW it came to pass, in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus which reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over one hundred and seven and twenty provinces), that in those days the king, Ahasuerus, sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace. Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shemei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, who had been carried away from Jerusalem in the captivity by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful, and Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took her for his own daughter. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. And king Ahasuerus loved Esther, and set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen. And Mordecai sat in the king's gate. Now Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people, and it was not known she was a Jewess, as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther did the com

mandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him. In those days two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, sought to kill the king. And Mordecai, hearing of it, told Esther, who made it known to the king. And enquiry being made, they were found out, and hanged upon a tree, and it was written in the book of the chronicles.

After these things king Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, and set him over all princes; and all the king's servants that were in the king's gate bowed and reverenced Haman, for so had the king commanded. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. And hearing that Mordecai was a Jew, he sought to destroy, not Mordecai only, but all the Jews throughout all the kingdom of Ahasuerus. So Haman said. unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad, and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are different from those of 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 Ahasuerus said to Haman, The people is given to thee, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. Then were the king's scribes called, and letters were written, and sent by posts 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, and the day was fixed. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.

When Mordecai perceived all that was done, he rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and bitter cry; and 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 her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved, and she sent one of her chamberlains to Mordecai to know why it was. And Mordecai told him all that had happened, and bade him charge Esther that she should go in unto the king to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people. Then Esther sent word to tell Mordecai that there was a law, by which any man or woman who should go to the king without being called, should be put to death, unless the king held out his golden sceptre, that he might live. And they told Mordecai Esther's words. Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there arise enlargement and deliverance 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? Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

Go, gather all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and 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 perish, I perish. So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther the queen had commanded him. Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king; 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 the king said 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 came to the banquet that Esther had prepared. And the king said 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 my kingdom it shall be performed. Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is: If I have found favour in the sight of the king, 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. 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. And Haman sent for his friends and Zeresh his wife, and told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and how the king had advanced him above the princes and servants. 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. 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. On that night the king could not sleep, and he commanded to bring the book 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 hands on the king Ahasuerus. 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 nothing done for him. And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was