Juda and in Jerusalem on the sabbath. [of Moab: 24 and their children spoke half in the language of Ashdod, and did not know how to speak in the Jewish language. 25 And I strove with them and cursed them; and I smote some of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters to their sons, and ye shall not take of their daughters to your sons. 26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin thus? though there was no king like him among many nations, and he was beloved of God, and God made him king over all Israel; yet strange women turned him aside. 27 So we will not hearken to you to do all this evil, to break covenant with our God,-to marry strange wives. 28 And + Gr. settle. Elisab the high priest one of the sons of Joada being son-in-law of Sanaballat the Uranite, I chased him Gr. and I 17 And I strove with the free children of Juda, and said to them, What is this evil thing which ye do, and profane the sabbath-day? 18 Did not your fathers thus, and our God brought upon them and upon us and upon this city all these evils? and do ye bring additional wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath? 19 And it came to pass, when the gates were set up in Jerusalem, before the sabbath, that I spoke, and they shut the gates; and I gave orders that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and I set some of my servants at the gates, that none should bring in burdens on the sabbath-day. 20 So the merchants lodged, and carried on traffic without Jerusalem once or twice. 21 Then I testified against them, and said to them, Why do ye lodge in front of the wall? if ye do so again, I will stretch away from me. 29 Remem- &c. out my hand upon you. From that ber them, O God, for their false contime they came not on the sabbath. nexion with the priesthood, and the 22 And I told the Levites who were breaking the covenant of the priestpurifying themselves, and came and hood, and for defiling the Levites. kept the gates, that they should sanc-30 So I purged them from all foreign tify the sabbath-day. Remember me, connexion, and established courses for O God, for these things, and spare me the priests and Levites, every man according to the abundance of thy according to his work. And the offering of the wood-bearers was at certain set times, and in Gr. Baxxovthe times of the first-fruits. pious. * Remember me, O our God, for good. mercy. 23 And in those days I saw the Jews +Gr. settled, who had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and or, located. 533 31 chased him, ESTHER. CHAPTER I. VERSES 1-5. + 1. IN the second year of the reign | guarded the palace. And he heard of Artaxerxes the great king, on the their reasonings and searched out their first day of Nisan, Mardochæus the plans, and learnt that they were preson of Jairus, the son of Semeias, the paring to lay hands on king Artason of Cisaus, of the tribe of Benja- xerxes: and he informed the king min, a Jew dwelling in the city Susa, concerning them. And the king exa great man, serving in the king's amined the two chamberlains, and they palace, saw a vision. Now he was of confessed, and were ex- + Lit.led away, the captivity which Nabuchodonosor ecuted. And the king wrote see Acts 12. 19. king of Babylon had carried captive these things for a memorial; also Marfrom Jerusalem, with Jechonias the dochæus wrote concerning these matking of Judea. And this was his ters. And the king commanded Mardream: Behold, voices and a noise, dochæus to attend in the palace, and thunders and earthquake, tumult upon gave him gifts for this service. And the earth. And, behold, two great Aman the son of Amadathes the serpents came forth, both ready for Bugaan was honourable in the sight conflict, and there came from them a of the king, and he endeavoured to great voice, and by their voice every hurt Mardochæus and his people, benation was prepared for battle, even to cause of the two chamberlains of the fight against the nation of the just. king. And, behold, a day of darkness and blackness, tribulation and anguish, affliction and great tumult upon the earth. And all the righteous nation was troubled, fearing their own afflictions; and they prepared to die, and cried to God: and from their cry there came as it were a great river from a little fountain, even much water. And light and the sun arose, and the lowly were exalted, and devoured the honour able. And Mardochæus who had seen this vision and what God designed to + Or, (less do, having awoke, kept it prob.) arisen. in his heart, and desired by all means to interpret it, even till night. And Mardochæus rested quiet in the palace with Gabatha and Tharrha the king's two chamberlains, eunuchs who + 2 Heb. and some here. And it came to pass after these things in the days of Ar- Note.-In the taxerxes, (this Artaxerxes copies of LXX. ruled over a hundred and Esther begins twenty-seven provinces from Gr. words. India.) In those days, when king Artaxerxes was on the throne in the city of Susa, 3in the third year of his reign, he made a feast to his friends, and the other nations, and to the nobles of the Persians and Medes, and the chief of the satraps. 4 And after this, after he had shown to them. the wealth of his kingdom, and the abundant glory of his wealth during a hundred and eighty days, 5 when, I say, the days of the marriage feast were completed, the king made a banquet to the nations who were present in the city six days, in the court of the king's house, which was adorned with hangings of fine linen and flax on cords of fine linen and purple, fastened to golden and silver studs, on pillars of Parian marble and stone: there were golden and silver couches on a pavement of emerald stone, and of pearl, and of Parian stone, and open-worked Lit. trans- coverings variously flower parent. + Or, made of πινα πινα. 7 + 9 tion probably but also all the king's rulers and princes: 17 for he has told them the words of the queen, and how she *disobeyed the king. As then + Gr. consaid he she refused to obey tradicted. king Artaxerxes, 18 so this day shall the other ladies of the chiefs of the Persians and Medes, having heard what she said to the king, dare in the same way to dishonour their husbands. ed, having roses worked 19 If then it seem good to the king, let the shell called round about. Gold and him make a royal decree, and let it be Tiva or Tuva. silver cups, and a small cup written according to the laws of the of carbuncle set out of the value of Medes and Persians, and let him not thirty thousand talents, abundant and alter it: and let not the queen come sweet wine, which the king himself in to him any more; and let the king drank. And this banquet was not give her royalty to a woman better according to the appointed law; but than she. 20 And let the law of the so the king would have it: and he king which he shall have made, be charged the stewards to perform his widely proclaimed, in his The punctuawill and that of the company. Also kingdom: and so shall all wrong. Astin the queen made a banquet for the women give honour to their husthe women in the palace where king bands, from the poor even to the rich. Artaxerxes dwelt. 10 Now on the 21 And the saying pleased the king and seventh day the king, being merry, the princes; and the king did as Mutold Aman, and Bazan, and Tharrha, chæus had said, 22 and sent into all and Barazi, and Zatholtha, and Aba- his kingdom through the Gr. that there taza, and Tharaba, the seven chamber- several provinces, accord- to them, &c. lains, servants of king Artaxerxes, to ing to their language, in order that bring in the queen to him, to enthrone men might be feared in their own Gr. to make her, and crown her with the houses. her queen. diadem, and to show her to the princes, and her beauty to the nations: for she was beautiful. 12 But queen Astin hearkened not to him to come with the chamberlains: so the king was grieved and angered. 13 And he said to his friends, Thus has Astin spoken: pronounce therefore upon this case law and judgment. 14 So Arkesæus, and Sarsathæus, and Malisear, the princes of the Persians and Medes, who were near the king, who sat chief in rank by the king, drew near to him, 15 and reported to him according to the laws how it was proper to do to queen Astin, because she had not done the things commanded of the king by the chamberlains. 16 And Muchæus said to the king and to the princes, Queen Astin has not wronged the king only, 3 2 might be fear 2. And after this the king's anger was pacified, and he no more mentioned Astin, bearing in mind what she had said, and how he had condemned her. Then the servants of the king said, Let there be sought for the king chaste and beautiful young virgins. And let the king appoint local governors in all the provinces of his kingdom, and let them select fair and chaste young damsels and bring them to the city Susa, into the women's apartment, and let them be consigned to the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women; and let things for purification and other at-+ Gr. σunyμa tendance be given to them. a washball. And let the woman who shall please the king be queen instead of Astin. 8 v. supra. 6 5 And the thing pleased the king; and | 15 And when the time was fulfilled for he did so. Now there was a Jew in Esther the daughter of Aminadab the the city Susa, and his name was Mar-brother of Mardochæus' father to go in dochæus, the son of Jairus, the son of to the king, she neglected nothing Semeias, the son of Cisaus, of the tribe which the chamberlain, the women's of Benjamin; who had been brought keeper, commanded; for Esther found a prisoner from Jerusalem, which Na-grace in the sight of all that looked buchodonosor king of Babylon had upon her. 16 So Esther went in to carried into captivity. And he had king Artaxerxes in the twelfth month, a foster-child, daughter of Aminadab which is Adar, in the seventh year of his father's brother, and her name was his reign. 17 And the king loved Esther; and when her parents were Esther, and she found favour beyond dead, he brought her up for a wife for all the other virgins: and he put on himself: and the damsel was beautiful. her the + queen's crown. Gr. Women's. And because the king's ordinance was 18 And the king made a banquet for all published, many damsels were gathered his friends and great men for seven to the city Susa under the hand of Gai; days, and he highly celebrated the and Esther was brought to Gai the marriage of Esther; and he made a keeper of the women. 9 And the release to those who were under his damsel pleased him, and she found dominion. 19 But Mardochæus served favour in his sight; and he hasted to in the palace. 20 Now Esther had not + Gr. Guna give her the things for discovered her kindred; for Gr. country. purification, and her por- so Mardochæus commanded her, to tion, and the seven maidens appointed fear God, and perform his commandher out of the palace: and he treated ments, as when she was with him: and her and her maidens well in the wo- Esther changed not her manner of life. men's apartment. 10 But Esther dis-21 And two chamberlains of the king, covered not her family nor her kindred: the chiefs of the body-guard, were for Mardochæus had charged her not grieved, because Mardochæus was proto tell. 11 But Mardochæus used to moted; and they sought to kill king walk every day by the women's Artaxerxes. 22 And the matter was court, to see what would become of discovered to Mardochæus, and he Esther. 12 Now this was the time for made it known to Esther, and she a virgin to go in to the king, when she declared to the king the matter of should have fulfilled twelve months; the conspiracy. 23 And the king exfor so are the days of purification ful- amined the two chamberlains, and filled, six months while they are anoint- hanged them: and the king gave orders ing themselves with oil of myrrh, and to make a note for a memorial in the six months with spices and women's kings' records of the good + Gr. library. +Gr.σuyao. purifications. 13 And then offices of Mardochæus, as a comthe damsel goes in to the king; and mendation. the officer to whomsoever he shall give the command, will bring her to come 3. And after this king Artaxerxes in with him from the women's apart-highly honoured Aman son of Amament to the king's chambers. 14 She dathes, the Bugæan, and exalted him, enters in the evening, and in the morn- and set his seat above all his friends. ing she departs to the second women's 2 And all in the palace did him obeiapartment, where Gai the king's cham-sance, for so the king had given orders berlain is keeper of the women: and to do: but Mardochæus did not do she goes not in to the king again, un-him obeisance. 3 And they in the less she should be called by name. king's palace said to Mardochæus, Mar + + Gr. vote by cree conse quent upon one. 8 dochæus, why dost thou transgress the great king Artaxerxes writes thus to commands of the king? Thus they the rulers and inferior governors of a spoke daily to him, but he hearkened hundred and twenty-seven provinces, not unto them; so they represented to from India even to Ethiopia, who hold Aman that Mardochæus resisted the authority under him. Ruler over many commands of the king: and Mar- nations, and having obtained dominion dochæus had shown to them that he over the whole world, I was minded, was a Jew. And when Aman under- (not elated by the confidence of power, stood that Mardochæus did not obei- but ever conducting myself with great sance to him, he was greatly enraged, moderation and with gentleness,) to 6 and took counsel to destroy utterly all make the lives of my subjects continuthe Jews who were under the rule of ally tranquil, desiring both to maintain Artaxerxes. And he made a decree the kingdom quiet and orderly to its in the twelfth of the utmost limits, and to restore the peace year ballot, or, de- reign of Artaxerxes, and desired by all men. But when I had cast lots daily and monthly, inquired of my counsellors how this to slay in one day the race should be brought to pass, Aman, who of Mardochæus: and the lot fell on the excels in soundness of judgment among fourteenth day of the month which is us, and has been manifestly well inAdar. And he spoke to king Arta-clined without wavering and with unxerxes, saying, There is a nation scat- shaken fidelity, and has obtained the te.ed among the nations in all thy second post in the kingdom, informed kingdom, and their laws differ from us that a certain ill-disposed people is those of all the other nations; and they mixed up with all the tribes throughout disobey the laws of the king; and it is the world, opposed in their laws to not expedient for the king to let them every other nation, and continually alone. If it seem good to the king, neglecting the commands of the kings, let him make a decree to destroy them: so that the united government blameand I will remit into the king's trea- lessly administered by us is not quietly sury ten thousand talents of silver. established. Having then conceived And the king took off his ring, and that this nation alone of all others is gave it into the hands of Aman, to continually set in opposition to every seal the decrees against the Jews. "And man, introducing as a change a foreign the king said to Aman, Keep the silver, code of laws, and injuriously plotting and treat the nation as thou wilt. 12 So to accomplish the worst of evils against the king's recorders were called in the our interests, and against the happy first month, on the thirteenth day, and establishment of the monarchy; we they wrote as Aman commanded to the have accordingly appointed those who captains and governors in every pro- are signified to you in the letters vince, from India even to Ethiopia, to written by Aman, who is set over the a hundred and twenty-seven provinces; public affairs and is our second goand to the rulers of the nations accord- vernor, to destroy them all utterly with ing to their several languages, in the their wives and children by the swords name of king Artaxerxes. 13 And the of the enemies, without pitying or message was sent by posts throughout sparing any, on the fourteenth day of the kingdom of Artaxerxes, to destroy the twelfth month Adar, of the present utterly the race of the Jews on the first year; that the people aforetime, and day of the twelfth month, which is now ill-disposed to us having been Note. The Adar, and to plunder their violently consigned to death in one ets, not in Heb. goods. [And the follow-day, may hereafter secure to us contiing is the copy of the letter; The nually a well constituted and quiet 10 part in brack |