15 IN those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and 16 1 testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on 17 the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, 18 and profane the sabbath day? Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.

19

And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the 20 gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or 21 twice. Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye 1about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth 22 came they no more on the sabbath. And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day.

23

Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the 2 greatness of thy mercy.

IN those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of 24 Ammon, and of Moab: and their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language 5 of 25 each people. And I contended with them, and 6 cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters 26 unto your sons, or for yourselves. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even 27 him did outlandish women cause to sin. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?

28

And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son29 in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me. Remember them, O my God, 7 because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

30

Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the 31 priests and the Levites, every one in his business; and for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits.

Remember me, O my God, for good.

THE BOOK OF ESTHER.

1 NOW it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and

2 twenty provinces:) that in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the 3 throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:

1 Heb. before the wall?

2 Or, multitude.

3 Heb. had made to dwell with

them.

4 Heb. they discerned not to speak.

5 Heb. of people and people.

6 Or, reviled them.

7 Heb. for the defilings of.

B. C. cir. 519-518.

ESTHER II.

10

4 when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom, and the honour of his excellent majesty, many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.

5

And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven 6 days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace; where were white, green, and blue hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver And they gave them drink in rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement 73 of red, and blue, and white, and black marble. vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine 8 in abundance, according to the state of the king. 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. 9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.

5

On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven 6 chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the 11 king, to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the people and the princes her beauty: for she was 7 fair to look on. 12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him. Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the 14 king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment: and the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which 15 sat the first in the kingdom;) 9 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?

13

16

For this deed of And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the 17 people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

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 com18 manded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not. LikeThus shall there arise too much wise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. 19 contempt and wrath. 10 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment 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 king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate 13 unto another that is better than she. 20 And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.

21

And the saying 14 pleased the king and the princes; and the king did accord22 ing to the word of Memucan: 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 15 that it should be published according to the language of every people.

2

AFTER these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was 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 3 virgins sought for the king: 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, 16 unto the custody of 17 Hege

7 Heb. good of countenance.
8 Heb. which was by the
hand of his eunuchs.
9 Heb. What to do.
10 Heb. If it be good with

the king.

12 Heb. that it pass not
11 Heb. from before him.
away.

13 Heb. unto her companion.
the king.
eyes
14 Heb. was good in the
15 Heb. that one should pub-
lish it according to the
language of his people.

16 Heb. unto the hand.
17 Or, Hegai, ver. 8.

the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purifica4 tion be given them: and let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

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 ; 6 who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king 7 of Babylon had carried away. And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was s 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 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 9 the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her 10 maids unto the best place of the house of the women. 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, 6 to 12 know how Esther did, and what should become of her. Now when every maid's turn was 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 13 with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;) then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go 14 with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house. 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.

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 16 looked upon her. 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 17 his reign. And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour 8 in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the 18 royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a 9 release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.

19

And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai 20 sat in the king's gate. Esther had not yet showed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.

21

IN those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, 10Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and 22 sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king 23 thereof in Mordecai's name. 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.

3

AFTER these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the 2 princes that were with him. And all the king's servants, that were in the

1 Or, Jehoiachin, 2 Kings xxiv. 6. 2 Heb. nourished.

3 Heb. fair of form, and good of

countenance.

4 Heb. her portions.

5 Heb. he changed her.

6 Heb. to know the peace.
7 Or, kindness.

8. Heb. before him.

9 Heb. rest.

10 Or, Bigthana, ch. vi. 2.

11 Heb. the threshold.

king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded 3 concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?

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 5 stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew. And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. 6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had showed 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 8 from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar. And 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 diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not 91 for the king's profit to suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written 2 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 10 king's treasuries. And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto 11 Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.

5

3

4

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 13 it written, and sealed with the king's ring. 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 14 spoil of them for a prey. The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready 15 against that day. 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.

4 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 2 cried with a loud and a bitter cry; and came even before the king's gate: 3 for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. 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 6 many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

4

So Esther's maids and her 7 chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and 5 to take away his sackcloth from him; but he received it not. 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 6 was, and why it was. So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the 7 city, which was before the king's gate. And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to 8 pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to show it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

1 Heb. meet, or, equal, for the king to, &c. 5 Or, secretaries.

2 Heb. to destroy them.

3 Heb. weigh.

4 Or, oppressor.

6 Heb. sackcloth and ashes were laid under many.

7 Heb. eunuchs.

8 Heb. whom he had set before her.

9, 10 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. Again Esther 11 spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; all the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold cut the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been 12 called to come in unto the king these thirty days. And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.

13

Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that 14 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 enlargement and deliverance arise 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 15 kingdom for such a time as this? Then Esther bade them return Mordecai 16 this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are 2 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 17 according to the law and if I perish, I perish. So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

5

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's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate 2 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 touched the 3 top of the sceptre. 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 5 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. ̧

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 7 kingdom it shall be performed. Then answered Esther, and said, My petition 8 and my request is; if I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and 4 to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow 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 10 him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, 11 and Zeresh his wife. 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 13 invited unto her also with the king. Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as 14 I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate. Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a 6 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.

6 ON that night 7 could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. And it 2 was found written, that Mordecai had told of 8 Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the 9 door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

3

And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai

1 Heb. respiration.

2 Heb. found.

3 Heb. passed.

4 Heb. to do.

5 Heb. caused his friends to come.
6 Heb. tree.

7 Heb. the king's sleep fled away.

8 Or, Bigthan, ch. ii. 21.

9 Heb. threshold.