Esther accuseth Haman.

Before CHRIST

about 510.

5 Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where tHeb. whose is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?

heart hath fied him. ↑ Heb. The man adversary. 1 Or, at the presence of.

ch. 1. 6.

† Heb. with me.

d Job 9. 24.

ch. 1. 10.

fch. 5. 14. Ps. 7. 16. Prov. 11.5,6. ↑ Heb. tree.

Ps. 37. 35,36, Dan. 6. 24.

ach. 2.7.

b cli. 3. 10.

† Heb. and the rept, and he

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 IIaman 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 was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also 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 fthe gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.

10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.

CHAPTER VIII. 1 Mordecai is advanced. 3 Esther maketh suit to reverse Haman's letters. 7 Ahasuerus granteth to the Jews to defend them

selves. 15 Mordecai's honour, and the Jews' joy.

N that day did the king Alsterus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told a what he was unto her.

2 And the king took off bhis ring, which he had taken from IIaman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Iaman.

3 And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, tand besought him with tears to put away the missought him. chief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.

Ahasuerus granteth to the Jews

Before

about 510.

4 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. CHRIST So Esther arose, and stood before the king,

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 his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, I which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces:

6 For how can I t endure to see d 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, e 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, fmay no man reverse.

Ch. 4. 11. & 5.2.

tsee ch.1. 19.

Dan. 6. 8, 12, 15.

8 ch. 3. 12.

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 hch. 1. 1. Ethiopia, a hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every prov ince according to the writing ich. 1. 22. & thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.

10k And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' 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

3. 12.

1 Kings 21.8. ch. 3. 12, 13.

n ch. 3. 14, 15.

† Heb. revealed.

I Or, violet.

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 and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of See ch. 3. 15. fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

Prov. 29. 2.

PPs. 97. 11.

16 The Jews had plight, and gladness, and joy, and honour. 17 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy ch.9. 19, 22 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.

TPs. 18. 43.

Gen. 35. 5. Ex. 15. 16. Deut. 2. 25. & 11. 25. ch. 9.2.

about 509. a ch. 8. 12.

bch. 3. 13.

NOW in the twelfth month,

that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, bwhen 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 2 Sam. 22.41. contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them,) 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

d ch. 8. 11. & ver. 16.

Ps. 71.13,24.

e

The Jews slay their enemies.

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.

Before CHRIST about 509.

fch. 8. 17.
+ Heb. those

which did
the business
that belong-
ed to the
king.

4 For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai 8 waxed 82 Sam. 3. 1. greater and greater.

1 Chr. 11. 9. Prov. 4. 18.

5 Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they t Heb. acwould unto 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,

cording to their will.

heh. 5. 11. Job 18. 19. & 27. 13, 14, 15. Ps. 21, 10.

10h The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their i See ch. 8. 11. hand.

11 On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before Heb. came. 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 kwhat is keh. 5. 6. & 7. thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done.

2.

16 But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces Pgathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and 4 See ch.8.11. five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey, 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 gladness.

509.

† Heb. in it.

r ver. 11, 15.

14.

18 But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together ron the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

on

19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of Deut. 16.11, the month Adar sa day of gladness and feasting,tand a good day, and of usending portions one to another. 20 And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,

tch. 8. 17. u ver. 22. Neh. 8. 10,12.

* Ps. 30. 11.

y ver. 19. Neh. 8. 10.

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 y sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. 23 And the Jews undertook to do as had begun, 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, † Heb.crush. the lot, to † consume them, and to destroy them;

2 ch. 3. 6, 7.

† Heb. when she came.

A ver. 13, 14. ch. 7. 5, &c. & 8. 3, &c.

b ch. 7. 10. Ps. 7. 16.

25 But fawhen 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 gallows.

are made festival.

Before

about 509.

26 Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of CHRIST 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,

That is, ver. 20.

Lot.

deh. 8. 17.

Is. 56, 3, 6.
Zech. 2. 11.

Heb. pass.

27 The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as djoined 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 † fail from among tHeb. pass. the Jews, nor the memorial of them † perish from their seed. 29 Then Esther the queen, ethe daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with tall authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.

† Heb. be ended. • ch. 2. 15.

Heb. all See ch.8.10.

strength.

& ver. 20.

30 And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred 5 ch. 1. L. 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. 1 Ahasuerus' greatness. 3 Mordecai's adCHAPTER X.

vancement.

Heb. for hch. 4. 3, 16.

their souls.

about 495.

a Gen. 10. 5. Ps. 72. 10.

beh. 8. 15. &

9. 4.

† Heb. made

him great.

AND the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea. 2 And all the acts of his powers. 24.15. and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king tadvanced 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 Gen. 41. 40. great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of d Neh. 2. 10. his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.

2 Chr. 28.7.

Ps. 122. 8, 9.

Moses is thought to have wrote the Book of Job, whilst among the Madianites, Before Christ about 1520.

Before CHRIST about 1520.

a Gen. 22. 20, 21.

b Ez. 14. 14. James 5. 11. © Gen. 6. 9. & 17.1. cl. 2. 3.

d Prov. 8. 13. & 16. 6.

Or, cattle.

LOr, husbandry. + Heb. sons of the east.

e Gen. 8, 20. ch. 42. 8.

1 Kings 21. 10, 13. Heb. all the days. ch. 2. 1.

1 Kings 22. 19.

ch. 38. 7. ↑ Heb. the

CHAPTER I. 1 The holiness, riches, and religious care of Job for his children. 6 Satan, appearing before God, by calumniation obtaineth leave to tempt Job. 13 Understanding of the loss of his goods and children, in his mourning he blesseth God.

HERE was a man a in the

LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

10 m Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his

Before CHRIST about 1520.

Ps.34.7.

Is. 5.2.

"Ps. 128. 1.2.

Prov. 10. 22.

4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to cat and to drink with them.

5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt of ferings according to the number of them all for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and fcursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job † continually. 6 Now there was a day hwhen the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and † Satan came also

ddversary, among them.

I Chr. 21. 1.
Rev. 12. 9,

10.
Heb.
in the midst
of them.

ich. 2. 2.

Matt. 12. 43. 1 Pet. 5. 8.

thou set thy heart on.

tch. 2. 3.

7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan_answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself + Heb. hand, put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

Gen. 16.6.

13 And there was a day when a Ecc. 9. 12. 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 of God is fallenor, from heaven, and hath burned great fire. up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

ver. 1.