be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou t 1 Esther, adventuring on the king's favour, obtaineth the grace of the golden sceptre, l 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 buikteth for him a pair of gallows. Now a B C. 453 8 Jo.3.4..9. t Ge.43.14. u passed. a c.4.16. b c.4.11. © Ne. 1.11. d c.8.4. e ver.6. fc72 9.12. TOW 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, & ver.a. over against the king's house: and the kingh do. sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. friends unto him, Let a gallows P 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. CHAPTER VI. 1 Ahasuerus, reading in the chronicles of the good service done by Mordecai, taketh care for his rewanL 4 Haman, coming to sue that Mordecai might be hang, unawares giveth counsel that he might do him honour. 12 Complaining of his misfortune, his friends tell him of his final destiny. ON that night could not the king sleep, 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 Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers 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 nothing done for him. 2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther 4 And the king said, Who is in the court? the queen standing in the court, that she ob Now Haman was come into the outward court tained favour in his sight: and the king held of the king's house, to speak unto the king to out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in caused to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prehis 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? it 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. 1 c.3.5. Da. 3.16.. J2Sa.13.22 come. 1 c.9.12,13. n 1 Ki. 21.4. o tree. P c.7.9. r Ps.37.14, 5 Then the king said, Cause Haman to make a c.6.4. 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 is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom ite shall be performed. 7 Then answered Esther, and said, My peti- | a tion 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 pe- f in whose tition, and 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 Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, 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 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 wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. 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. pared 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 f whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? 7 And Haman answered the king, For the man h whom the king delighteth to honour, 8 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: 9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and 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 honour. 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: m 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's gate. But Haman" hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. 13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all muffer not his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. n 2 Ch.26.20 028115.30. Je. 14.3,4. Job 15.24. P Pr.23.18. Hos. 14.9. 14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his re.5.8. 14 And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared. 1 Esther, entertaining the king and Haman, maketh suit for her own life and her people's. 5 She accuseth Haman. 7 The king in his anger, understanding of the galfows which Haman had made for Mordecai, causeth him to be hanged thereon. So the king and Haman came to 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. 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: с Mordecai is advanced. A. M. 3551. the Jews which are in all the king's provin B. C. 453. a drink. b c.39;4.7. e that they to perish. whose e the man f Pr. 16.14. gor, at the i Job 9.24. J c.1.10. 4 Forb we are sold, I and my people, to be with. destroyed, to be slain, and to 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. 5 Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? e k tree. 15145 ces: 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 reverse. 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 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 Ethiopia, a hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing m Da 6.24 thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language. Ps.7.15, Pr.11.5,6. Ps.37.35, 36. a Pr.13.22. с с.3.10. Da. 2.48. 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 P.37.34. 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 palacegarden 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 h before me in the house? Ash or, who the word went out of the king's mouth, they i covered Haman's face. 9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows 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 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 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 unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day 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 house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto 1 Ki.21.8. and white, and with a great crown of gold, a Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her. C p Ps.37.14, 2 And the king took off his ring, which he r revealed. 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 AM 52 same, when the king's commandment and B. C. 452. a c.8.12. his eyes, let it be written to reverse the let- h 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 turn They establish a festival. B.C.2 provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, ed to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over 4. M. 3562 them that hated them ;) с 2 The Jews gathered themselves together * 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 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 waxed greater and greater. c c&11. ver.16. P71.13, 24. 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, 22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of P1843 sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. h 2 Sa.3.1. 1 Ch.11.9. Pr.4.18. i according to their will. 5 Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto c.5.11. 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, Job 18.19. 27.13..15. Ps.21.10. k e.8.11. 1 came. m let men hang. n De.21.23. 2 Sa. 21.6, 9. Ga.3.13. o ver.2,13. 10 The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they ; but on the spoil laid they not their hand. 11 On that day the number of those that p ver.10. were slain in Shushan the palace 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 farther? 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 let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows. q in it. De.16.11, 14. 8 ver.22. Ne.8.10.. 12. t P&.30.11. u c.3.6,7. v crush. w she. x c.8.3,11. y Pa.7.16. z that is, lot a ver.20. 15 For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three b.8.17 hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand. Is.56.3,6. Zec.211. o pass. d pass. 16 But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their e be ended. enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey, f strength. g c.8.10. ver.20. h their souls. 17 On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and i c.4.3,16. gladness. 18 But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fif teenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another. 20 And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the a Lu.21. b Ge.10.5 PB.72.10. emade him great. d Ge.41.40. Da. 5.16, 29. Ro.14.18. 23 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them; 24 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them; 25 But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gal. lows. 26 Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, 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 themselves unto them, so as it should not 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 a fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed. e 29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim. 30 And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven 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 Mordecai 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 written in the book. A CHAPTER X. 1 Ahasuerus's greatness 3 Mordecai's advancement. ND the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the 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 advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? 3 For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his breP122.6. thren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed. f Ne.2.10. 9. Ro. 10.1. 3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred sheasses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. 4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. A. M. 2484. B. C. 1520. Moses is 18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy thoughtto daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: have written the Book of Job, whilst among the Midianites, B.C.1520. a 1 Ch.1.17, 42. La 4.21. b Eze. 14.14, 20. Pr.16.6. e or, hus- 19 And, behold, there came a great wind * from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. a 20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD' gave, and the LORD hath taken away; L.24.15, blessed be the name of the LORD. f sons. 16. h all the days. i c.21,&c. c.38.7. k the adver sary. 1 Ch.21.1. Zec.3.1. Re. 12.9, 10. 1 in the midst of them. m Mat.12. 43. 1 Pe. 5.8. 5 And it was so, when the days of their feast-1K 22.19. ing were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. 6 ¶ Now there was a day i when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. 7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going m to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou " considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 11 But put forth thy hand now, and touchy all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. 13 And there was a day "when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were ploughing, and the asses feeding beside them: 15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire cf God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 17 While he was yet speaking, there came j also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain he servants with the edge of the sword; and 1 only am escaped alone to tell thee. Ge. 16.6. u Ec.9.12 v or, a great fire. w rushed. x from aside. Ge.37.29. z or, robe. a 1 Pe.5.6. b 1 TL.6.7. La.3.38. d P89.38.. 52. e c.2.10. f or, altri. buted folly to God. a c.1.6,&c. b c.27.5,6. Pe. 26.1. 41.12. c swallow him up. a Mat.6.25. e or, only. (Mat.11.21. g Ja.5.10,11 Ge.25.2 k Ro. 12. 15. 1 Ne9.1. La.2.10. Ezr.9.3..5 n Ge.50.10. 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. CHAPTER II. 1 Satan appearing again before God, obtaineth farther leave to tempt Job. 7 He smiteth him with sore boils. 9 Job reproveth his wife, moving him to curse God. 11 His three friends condole with him in silence. AGAIN there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro ir. the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity. although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. с 4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. 6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thy hand; but save his life. e 7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. 8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. 9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, anc die. 10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. 11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shubite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. 12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. 13 So they sat down m with him upon the ground seven " days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great. 15.28. k P.58.3. I wearied in strength. m wait. p my meat. q I feared a fear, and it' came upon me. a a word. b refrain from words. 13 For now should I have lain still and been Is.35.3. quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest 14 With kings and counsellors of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves; 15 Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver: 16 Or as a hidden untimely birth * I had not been; as infants which never saw light. 17 There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the 1 weary be at rest. 18 There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor. 19 The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master. 20 Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul; 21 Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures; 22 Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave? d bowing He. 12. 12 e Ga.6.7,8. fi.e. his anger. c.15.30. Ia 11.4. P.58.6. 8 Even as I have seen, they ⚫ that plough iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. 9 By the blast of God they perish, and by f the breath of his nostrils are they consumed. 10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken. 11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad. 12 Now a thing wash secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. 13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, 14 Fear i came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. 15 Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: 16 It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying, 17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? 18 Behold, he put no trust in his servants; I and his angels m he charged with folly: 19 How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, twhich are crushed before the moth ? 20 They are " destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it. 21 Doth not their excellency which is in them h by stealth. go away? they die, even without wisdom. CHAPTER V. met me. the multi- k or, I heard a still voice 1 or, nor in his an gela, in whom he put light. 3 I have seen the foolish taking root: but m 2 Pe.24. Suddenly I cursed his habitation. n beaten in pieces. P.116.3,4 p Is.2.22. a or, look. bor, indig nation. c Ps.37.35. d or, iniquity. e 1Co.10.13. f or labour. g sons of the burning coal lift up to fy. h there is no search. be no number. 2 If we assay to commune with thee, wilt i till there thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking? 3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. 4 Thy words have upholden him that was Jout places. k Ne.4.15. 1 or, any thing. |