NOW CHAP. I. The Book of ESTHER. OW it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces :) f 2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, If 10 On the seventh day, when o 3 In the third year of his reign, on. f 13 Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judg ment: 4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even a hundred and fourscore days. f5 And when these days were ex-o 14 And the next unto him was pired, the king made a feast unto all Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarthe people that were present in Shu-shish, Meres, Marsena, and Memushan the palace, both unto great and can, the seven princes of Persia and small, seven days, in the court of the Media, which saw the king's face, garden of the king's palace; and which sat the first in the kingf6 Where were white, green, and dom,) blue hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black marble. 7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king. d* 8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure. f9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Aha suerus. f 15 What shall we do unto the 17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not. 18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto Vashti. And the thing pleased the all the king's princes, which have king; and he did so. heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath. f 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; 19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws g 6 Who had been carried away of the Persians and the Medes, that from Jerusalem with the captivity it be not altered, That Vashti come which had been carried away with no more before king Ahasuerus; Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Neand let the king give her royal es- buchadnezzar the king of Babylon tate unto another that is better than had carried away. she. f 7 And he brought up Hadassah, d* 20 And when the king's decree (that is, Esther,) his uncle's daughwhich he shall make shall he pub-ter for she had neither father nor lished throughout all his empire, mother, and the maid was fair and (for it is great,) all the wives shall beautiful; whom Mordecai, when give to their husbands honour, both her father and mother were dead, to great and small. took for his own daughter. f 8 T 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 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. 1 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memu can: d 22 For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house; and 9 And the maiden pleased him, that it should be published accord- and she obtained kindness of him; ing to the language of every peo- and he speedily gave her her things ple. for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens which were meet to be given her, CHAP. II. FTER these things, when the A wrath of King Ahasuerus was out of the king's house; and he pre appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had 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: f3 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 house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them: 4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of ferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the wo men. f 10 Esther had not shewed her f 11 And Mordecai walked every him. of myrrh, and six months with sweet as when she was brought up with odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women :) f 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. f 15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the 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. 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. f17 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. 21 ¶ In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name. 23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree and it was written in the book of the Chronicles before the king. CHAP. III. 4 Now it came to pass, when they 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 o 18 Then the king made a great told them that he was a Jew. feast unto all his princes and his c 5 And when Haman saw that servants, even Esther's feast; and he Mordecai bowed not, nor did him made a release to the provinces, reverence, then was Haman full of and gave gifts, according to the wrath. state of the king. e 6 And he thought scorn to lay f 19 And when the virgins were hands on Mordecai alone; for they gathered together the second time, had shewed him the people of Morthen Mordecai sat in the king's decai: wherefore Haman sought gate. to destroy all the Jews that were 20 Esther had not yet shewed her throughout the whole kingdom of kindred, nor her people, as Morde- Ahasuerus, eren the people of Morcai had charged her for Esther did decai. the commandment of Mordecai, like ƒ 7 ¶ In the first month (that is, the month Nisan,) in the twelfth ple, that they should be ready year of king Ahasuerus, they cast against that day. 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. 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 drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed. CHAP. IV. 8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the pro- all that was done, Mordecai THEN Mordecai perceived vinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them. f9 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. 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. c 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. 10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. 11 And the king said unto Ha-f 4 T So Esther's maids and her man, The silver is given to thee, the chamberlains came and told it her. people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. f 12 Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto 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. f 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. 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, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was. 6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai, unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate. f7 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 de14 The copy of the writing for a clare it unto her, and to charge her commandment to be given in every that she should go in unto the king, province was published unto all peo-to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her 4 2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in 9 And Hatach came and told the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out Esther the words of Mordecai. f10 T Again Esther spake unto to Esther the golden sceptre that Hatach, and gave him command-was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the ment unto Mordecai: 11 All the king's servants, and the sceptre. people of the king's provinces, dof 3 Then said the king unto her, know, that whosoever, whether man What wilt thou, queen Esther? and or woman, shall come unto the king what is thy request? It shall be into the inner court, who is not call- even given thee to the half of the ed, there is one law of his to put him kingdom. to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. over against the king's house and glory of his riches, and the multi- |