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Heb. from
before him.

12 Heb. that
it pass not
away.

18 Likewise will the ladies of Persia and Media say this day to all the king's princes, who have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus will there arise too much contempt and wrath. 19, 10 If it pleaseth the king, let a royal commandment go 11 from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, 12 that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before 14 Heb. was king Ahasuerus; and let the king give good in the her royal estate 13 to another that is bet-eyes of the

ter than she.

13 Heb. to her
companion.

king.

15 Heb. that

20 And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published through-one out all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives will give to their husbands honor, both to great and small.

should publish it according to the language of 21 And the saying 14 pleased the king his people. and the princes; and the king did ac-1 Heb. to the cording to the word of Memucan :

22 For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and Is that it should be published according to the language of every people.

CHAP. II.

2

1 Out of the choice of virgins, a queen is to be chosen. 5 Mordecai the nursing father of Esther. 8 Esther is preferred by Hegai be-4 fore the rest. 12 The manner of purifica tion, and going in to the king. 15 Esther best pleasing the king, is made queen. 21 Mordecai discovering a treason, is recorded in the chronicles.

AFTER these things, when the wrath

a

hand.

or, Hegui,
ver. 8.
2 Kings 24.

15.

2 Chr.36.10.

Jer. 24. 1.

3 Heb. nour-
ished.

Heb. fair of form, and good of counte

nance.

of king Ahasuerus was appeased, 5 Heb. her he remembered Vashti, and what she portions. had done, and what was decreed against

her.

6 Heb. he

2 Then said the king's servants that ministered to him, Let there be fair changed young virgins sought for the king:

3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may collect all the fair young virgins to Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, 1 into the custody of 2 Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:

her.

7 Heb. to
know the
peace.

4 And let the maiden who pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did sor, kind.

So.

5 T 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 Benjaminite;

ness.

9 Heb. be

6. Who had been carried away from fore him. Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

7 And he 3 brought up Hadassah, that

is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was 4 fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.

8 So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree were heard, and when many maidens were assembled at Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also to the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness from him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with 5 such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens who were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and 6 he preferred her and her maids to the best place of the house of the women.

10 Esther had not showed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not show it. 11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what would become of her.

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12 ¶ Now when every maid's turn had 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 odors, and with other things for the purifying of the women ;)

13 Then thus came every maiden to the king; whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women to 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, who kept the concubines; she came in to the king no more, except that the king delighted in her, and she was called by

name.

15 ¶ Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, had come to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

16 So Esther was taken to 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 8 favor 9 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 to all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a 10 release to the provinces, and gave gifts, accord10 Heb. rest. ing to the state of the king.

19 And when the virgins were assem

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1 Haman advanced by the king, and despised by Mordecai, seeketh revenge upon all the Jews.

7 He casteth lots: 8 He obtaineth by calum-2 Heb. to niation, a decree of the king to put the Jews destroy to death.

AFTER these things king Ahasuerus

promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

2 And all the king's servants that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

3 Then the king's servants who were in the king's gate, said to Mordecai, Why dost thou transgress the king's commandment ?

them.

3 Heb. weigh.

or.

4 Now it came to pass, when theyor, oppres spoke daily to him, and he hearkened not to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was 5 or, secreta a Jew.

5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

6 And he scorned to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shown him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

7¶ In the first month, (that is, the month Nisan,) in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.

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ries.

Heb. sackcloth and ashes were

laid under many.

2 Heb.

8¶ And Haman said to king Ahasue- eunuchs. rus, There is a certain people 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 1 for the king's profit to suf-3

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.

10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews

4 enemy.

11 And the king said to Haman, 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 s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded to 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 of it, 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 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.

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

15 The posts departed, 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.

CHAP. IV.

1 The great mourning of Mordecai and the Jews. 4 Esther, understanding it, sendeth to Mordecai, who showeth the cause, and adviseth her to undertake the suit: 10 She excusing herself, is threatened by Mordecai: 15 She appointing a fast, undertaketh the suit.

WHEN Mordecai perceived all that

was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;

2 And came even before the king's gate for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

3 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.

4 So Esther's maids and her 2 chamberlains came and told it to her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.

5 Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, a whom he Heb. whom had appointed to attend upon her, and he had set gave him a commandment to Mordecai, 9 If it shall please the king, let it be before her.to know what it was, and why it was. written 2 that they may be destroyed :| 6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai,

fer them.

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8 Also he gave him the copy of the piration. writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to show it to Esther, and to declare it to her, and to charge her that she should go in to the king, to make supplication to him, and to make request before him for her people.

9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

10 Again Esther spoke to Hatach, and gave him commandment to Mordecai;

5Heb.found.

11 All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whoever, whether man or woman, shall come to the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except him to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in to the king these 6 Heb. thirty days. passed.

12 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.

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

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

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

4 And Esther answered, If it shall seem good to the king, let the king and Haman come this day to 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 to 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.

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

8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it shall please the king to grant my petition, and 1 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.

9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when

14 For if thou shalt altogether hold 1 Heb. to do. Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate,

thy peace at this time, then will there 4 enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house will be destroyed: and who knoweth, whether thou hast come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

15 T Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

16 Go, assemble all the Jews that are 6 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 to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.

that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.

10 Nevertheless, Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and 2 called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.

11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

12 Haman said moreover, Yes, Esther the queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to-morrow I am

17 So Mordecai 6 went his way, and did according to all that Esther had com- 2 Heb. caus. invited to her also with the king. manded him.

CHAP. V.

1 Esther adventuring on the king's favor, ob taineth the grace of the golden scepter, and inviteth the king and Haman to a banquet: 6 She being encouraged by the king in her suit, inviteth them to another banquet the next day. 9 Haman, proud of his advancement, repineth at the contempt of Mordecai: 14 By the counsel of Zeresh, he erecteth for him a gallows.

Nthat Esther put on her royal apparel,

OW it came to pass on the third day,

ed to come.

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 3 Heb. tree. house.

13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.

14 T Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends to him, Let a 3 gallows be made fifty cubits high, and to-morrow speak thou to the king that Mordecai may be hanged upon it: then go thou in merrily with the king to the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

CHAP. VI.

1 Ahasuerus reading in the chronicles of the good service done by Mordecai, taketh care for his reward. 4 Haman coming to request that Mordecai might be hanged, unawares giveth counsel that he might do him honor: 12 Complaining of his misfortune, his friends tell him of his final destiny.

Before

510.

IN that night the king could not been: CHRIST, 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 informed of 2 Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the 3 door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 3 And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered to him, There is nothing done for him.

4 And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman had come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak to the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

5 And the king's servants said to him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. 6 So Haman came in. And the king Isaid to him, What shall be done to the man 4 whom the king delighteth to honor? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?

7 And Haman answered the king, For the man 5 whom the king delighteth to honor,

86 Let the royal apparel be brought 7 which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:

1 Heb. the king's sleep fled

away. 2 or, Big

4

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than,c.2.21.

3 Heb.

threshold. Heb. in or the king delighteth. 5 Heb. in

whose hon

CHAP. VII.

1 Esther entertaining the king and Haman, maketh_suit for her own life and her peo ple's. 5 She accuseth Haman.. 7 The king, in his anger, hearing of the gallows which Haman had made for Mordecai, causeth him to be hanged upon it.

So the king and Haman came i to banquet with Esther the queen.

on the second day at the banquet of wine, 2 And the king said again to Esther 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.

3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in thy whose hon-sight, O king, and if it shall please the delighteth. tion, and my people at my request: or the king king, let my life be given me at my peti

6 Heb. Let

them bring the royal apparel.

7 Heb. with

which the king cloth eth himself.

Heb.

2

4 For we are sold, I and my people, to 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 answercause himed and said to Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, 3 that durst presume in his heart to do so?

to ride.

suffer not

9 Heb.

a whit to fall.

9 And let this apparel and horse be 1 Heb. delivered to the hand of one of the king's to drink. most noble princes, that they may array the man whom the king delighteth to honor, and 8 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

honor.

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: 9 let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.

11 Then Haman took the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the 3 street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honor.

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

2 Heb. that

they should destroy and kill,

and cause to perish.

Heb. whose heart hath filled him.

4 Heb. the man adversary.

13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men 5 or, at the

6 And Esther said, 4 The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid 5 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.

8 Then the king returned out of the palace-garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman had fallen upon the bed on which Esther was. Then

said the king, Will he force the queen also 6 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 7 gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the Hang him upon it. house of Haman. Then the king said,

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 Ahasuerus granteth to the Jews to defend themselves. 15 Mordecai's honor and the Jew's joy.

N that day the king Ahasuerus gave

his Mordecaior, Othat

is of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou wilt not pre

has Jerus my, to Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had

vail against him, but wilt surely fall be- 6 Heb. with told what he was to her. fore him.

14 And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains,

me.

2 And the king took off his ring which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai

and hasted to bring Haman to the ban 7 Heb. tree. over the house of Haman. quet that Esther had prepared.

3 ¶ And Esther spoke yet again before

the king, and fell down at his feet, 1 and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.

4 Then the king held out the golden scepter towards Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,

Before CHRIST, 509.

Heb. and she wept and be

sought him.

2 Heb. the device.

5 And said, If it shall please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing shall seem right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse 2 the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, 3 which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king's provinces: 3 or, who 6 For how can I endure to see the wrote. evil that will come to my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?

4 Heb. be

able that
I may see.

7 Then the king Ahasuerus said to 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 see c. 1. 19. laid his hand upon the Jews.

8 Write ye also for the Jews, as it pleaseth 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, a no man may reverse.

5 Heb. revealed.

9 Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day of it; and it was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded, to the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the prov-6 or, violet. inces which are from India to Čush, a hundred twenty and seven provinces, to every province according to the writing of it, and to 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 Ahasuerus's name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:

11 In which the king granted the Jews who were in every city to assemble, 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, 12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar,

13 The copy of the writing for a commandment, to be given in every province was published to all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their ene

mies.

14 So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment.

1

Heb. those
which did
the busi-

ness that
belonged to

the king.

2 Heb. ac

cording to their will.

15 ¶ And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of 6 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 light, and gladness, and joy, and honor.

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

CHAP. IX.

1 The Jews (the rulers, for fear of Mordecai, helping them) slay their enemies, with the ten sons of Haman. 12 Ahasuerus, at the request of Esther, granteth another day of slaughter, and Haman's sons to be hanged. 20 The two days of Purim are made festival.

OW in the twelfth month, that is,

Nthe month Adar, on the thirteenth

day of the same, when the king's commandment 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 assembled 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.

3 And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and 1 officers of the king helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.

4 For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai became greater and greater.

5 Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did 2 what they would to 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 of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, they slew; but on the spoil they laid not their hand.

11 On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace 3 was brought before the king.

12 ¶ And the king said to Esther the queen, the Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have

And the decree was given at Shushan 3 Heb. came. they done in the rest of the king's prov

the palace.

inces? now what is thy petition? and it

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