Kingdom, and their Laws are rael, according to this Time fhall it divers from all People, neither be faid of Jacob, and of Ifrael, What hath GOD wrought? keep they the King's Laws; therefore it is not for the King's Profit to fuffer them. * 9 If it please the King, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thoufand Talents of Silver to the Hands of those that have the Charge of the Bufinefs, to bring into the King's Treasuries. 10 And the King took his Ring from his Hand, and gave it unto Haman the Jews Enemy. 11 And the King faid unto 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 Scribes called on the thirteenth Day of the Month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the King's Lieutenants, 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 Ahafuerus was it written, and fealed with the King's Ring. 13 And the Letters were fent by Posts into all the King's Provinces, to deftroy, to kill, and to caufe to perish all Jews, both young and old, little Children and Women, in one Day, upon the thirteenth Day of the twelfth Month, and to take the Spoil of them for a Prey. 14 The Copy of the Writing for a Commandment to be given to every Province, was published to all People, that they should be ready against that Day. 15 The Poft went out, being haftned by the King's Commandment, and the Decree was given in Shufhan the Palace and the King and Haman fat down to drink, but the City Shufhan was perplexed. CHA P. IV. 1 The great Mourning of Mordecai and the Jews. 4 Ether understanding of it fendeth to Mordecai, who fheweth the Caufe, and advifeth her to undertake the Suit. 10 She excufing herself is threatened by Mordecai. 15 She appointing a Faft undertaketh the Suit. * Note, ten Thousand Babylonish Talents are by Dr, Prideaux computed to awent to 2119000 Pounds. WHEN Ver. 1 TTTHEN Mordecai WHEN * perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his Cloaths, 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 cloathed with Sackcloth. 3 And in every Province whitherfoever the King's Commandment, and his Decree came, there was great Mourning among the Jews, and Fafting, and Weeping, and Wailing, and many lay in Sackcloth and Ashes. 4 So Efther's Maids, and her Chamberlains came and told it her: Then was the Queen exceedingly grieved, and the sent Raiment to cloth Mordecai, and to take away his Sackcloth from him, but he received it not. 5 Then called Efther 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. 7 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the Sum of the × Psal, xxvii. The LORD is my Light, and my Salvation, whom fhall I fear? the LORD is the Strength of my Life, of whom shall I be afraid. 2 When the Wicked, even mine Enemies and my Foes came upon me to eat up my Flesh, they fium bled and fell. 3 Though an Hoft should encamp against me, my Heart shall not fear: though War fhould rise against me, this will I be confident. 4 One Thing have I defired of the LORD, that will I feek after, that I may dwell in the House of the LORD all the Days of my Life, to behold the Beauty of the LORD, and to eaquire in his Temple. s For in the Time of Trouble he Secret of his Tabernacle fhall he fhall hide me in his Pavilion: in the hide me, he shall fet me up upon a Rock. 6 And now fhall mine Head be lifted up above mine Enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his Tabernacle Sacrifices of Joy, I will fing, yea, I will fing Prailes un to the LORD. 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my Voice: have Mercy allo upon me, and answer me. 8 When thou faidft, Seek ye my Face; my Heart faid unto thee, Thy Face, LORD, will I feek. 9 Hide not thy Face far from me, put not thy Servant away in Anger: thou haft been my Help, leave me not, neither forfake me, O GOD of my Salvation. 10 When my Father and my Mother forfake me, then the LORD will take me up. 11 Teach me thy Way, and lead me in a plain Path, because of mine Enemies. 12 Deliver me not over unto the Will of mine Enemies: for falfe Witneffes are rifen up against me, and fuch as breath out Cruelty. lieved to fee the Goodness of the LORD in the Land of the Living. 13 I had fainted, unless I had be 14 Wait on the LORD, be of good thine Heart: wait, I fay, on the Courage, and he fhall ftrengthen LORD, Money Money that Haman had promised to pay the King's Trea furies for the Jews to deftroy them. 8 Alfo he gave him the Copy of the Decree that was given to destroy them, to fhew it unto Efther, and to charge her that she should go in unto the King, to make Supplication unto him, and to make Requeft before him for her People. 9 Then Hatach came and told Efther the Words of Mordecai. To Again Efther spake unto Hatach, and gave him Commandment unto Mordecai. II 11* All the People of the King's Provinces do know, that whofoever Man or Woman, fhall come unto the King into the inner Court, who is not called, there is one Law of his to put him to Death, except fuch to whom the King fhall hold out the golden Sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the King, these thirty Days. 12 And they told Mordecai Efther's Words. 13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thy felf that thou shalt escape in the King's House more than all the Jews. 14 For if thou altogether holdeft thy Peace at this Time, then fhall their Enlargement and Deliverance arife to the Jews from another Place, but thou and thy Father's House shall be deftroyed: and who knoweft, whether thou art come to the Kingdom for fuch a Time as this? 15 Then Efther bad them return Mordecai this Answer. 16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shufhan, and faft ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three Days, Night nor Day: I also and my Maidens will faft likewife, and fo will I go in unto the King, which is not according to the Law; and if I perish, I perish. *Note, it is evident, that many of the Pfalms have a Relation to the State of the Jewish and Chriftian Church, in their several Captivities, and Perfecutions under the Pagan and Chriftian Empires. It may be prefum'd that this excellent Princess was animated to fo hazardous an Undertaking, by reading and meditating upon the 27th Pfalm, in which are many Expreffions, which feem to refer to the great Affliction the Jews were under at this Time. The Decree being for the Deftruction of Man, Woman, and Child. Their Deliverance by the Divine Providence was fo very wonderful, that the Jews have in a'l Ages fince, and do to this Time celebrate both the Fast and Feat, which they cal Purim. 17 So Mordecai went his Way, and did according to all that Efther had commanded him. CHAP. V. Efther adventuring on the King's Favour, obtaineth the Gratt of the golden Sceptre; and inviteth the King and Haman to e Banquet. 6 She being encouraged by the King in her Suit, inviteth them to another Banquet the next Day. Haman proud of his Advancement, repineth at the Contempt of Mordecai. 14 By the Counsel of his Wife, be buildeth for him a Gallows. Ver. 1 Now it came to pafs on the third Day, that Eft her put on the Royal Apparel, and stood in the inner Court of the King's Houfe: and the King fat upon his Royal Throne. 2 And it was fo when the King faw Efther the Queen ftanding in the Court, that the obtained Favour in his Sight: and the King held out to Efther the golden Sceptre that was in his Hand: fo Efther drew near, and touched the Top of the Sceptre. 3 Then faid the King unto her, What wilt thou, Queen Efther? and what is thy Request? it shall be given thee, to the half of the Kingdom. 4 And Efther anfwered, If it feem good unto the King, let the King and Haman come this Day unto the Banquet that I have prepared for him. 5. Then the King said, Cause Haman to make Hafte, that he may do as Efther hath faid. So the King and Haman came to the Banquet. 6 And the King faid unto Efther at the Banquet, What is thy Petition? and it fhall be granted thee: and what is thy Request? even to the half of the Kingdom. 7 Then anfwered Efther, and faid, My Petition, 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 Petition, and to perform my Requeft, let the King and Haman come to the Banquet that I fhall provide for them, and I will do to Morrow as the King hath faid. 9 Then went Haman forth that Day, joyful, and with a glad Heart: but when he faw Mordecai in the King's Gate, Gate, that he ftood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of Indignation against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless, Haman refrained himself, and when he came Home, he fent and called for his Friends, and Zerefh 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 faid moreover, Yea, Efther the Queen did let no Man come in with the King unto the Banquet that The had prepared, but my felf; and to Morrow am I invited unto her alfo with the King. Pfal. lii. Why boafteft thou thy felf in Mifchief, O mighty Man? the Goodness of GOD endureth continually. like a harp Razor, working deceit2 Thy Tongue deviseth Mischiefs: fully. s GOD fhall deftroy thee for ever, he fhall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy Dwelling-place and root thee out of the Land of the Living. 6 The Righteous alfo shall fee and fear, and fhall laugh at him. 7 Lo, this is the Man that made not God his Strength, but trusted in the Abundance of his Riches, and ftrengthened himself in his Wicked nefs. 13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, fo long as I fee Mordecai the Jew fitting at the King's Gate. 14 Then faid his Wife, and all his Friends unto him, Let a Gallows be made of fifty Cubits high, and to Morrow speak unto the King, that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the King unto the Banquet. And the Thing pleafed Haman, and he caufed the Gallows to be made. If I have rewarded Evil unto him that was at Peace with me: (yea, I have delivered him that without s Let the Enemy perfecute my Soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my Life upon the Earth, and lay mine Honour in the Duft. Selah. 6 Arife, O LORD, in thine Anger, lift up thy felf, because of the Rage of mine Enemies: and awake for me to the Judgment that thou haft com manded. 7 So fhall the Congregation of the People compafs thee about: for their Sakes therefore return thou on high. 8 The LORD fhall judge the People: judge me, O LORD, according to my Righteoufnefs, and according to mine Integrity that is in me. 9 Oh let the Wickednefs of the Wicked come to an End, but establish the Juft: for the Righteous GoD trieth the Hearts and Reins. 10 My Defence is of GOD, which faveth the Upright in Heart. II GOD judgeth the Righteous, and GoD is angry with the Wicked every Day. Q999 CHAP. |