Esther — Chapter 3

that are not, ledt they Groth thiss. laugh at our suine: but turne their counfel vpon them ,. Se deftroy him, prayer isttie that hath beeunto doe cruelly againit vs.. 12. Remembero Lord: and, offertorie the ihew thy felf ro vs 10 the time of our tribulation,and giue me confidence 23+ funday af < ter Penteco&: Lord King of Gods , and of al power: 13. glue me {peach wel framed. as a parcehaiey in my mouth, ia the prefence ot the lion, and curne his hartinto the ha holy Scriveure. trcd of our enemie , that both himfelf may. periin, ard. the refttharcon-. b) OF herfcMey fentvnto him, 14. But deiiuer vs.in thy hand , and helpe me , hauing no not-for workdli; other nelpe but thee o Lord, which haft the knowledge ot al chings,, glorie the def. . ee . ‘red nor to 172.

Inthe fecond yearc, when Artaxerxes the greatelt retgned , in the t \ : firft day of the month Nilaty, Mardocheus.the fonne of Iairi, the fonne #) Mardocheus . - A: . . . . ; t lhad this dre- of Semer, the fonne of Cis, of thetribe of Beniamin, 3. a Tew wahicl ame before dweltin the citte of Sufanya great man and among the firit of the Kings JAmans aduan- court, (4) fawadreame. 4. Andhe was ot that number of captiues, 4. Res cement of his whom Nabuchodonofor the. King of Babylon lad tranfported from *4 wae anatne Terufalem with leconias the King of luda: 5. and this was his dreame: ‘Peoples dager, ; . b:Mardocheus, 1 2¢t¢ appeared voices, andrumults, and thunders, and carth-quakes, ‘was a good and perturbation vpon the earth: 6. and behold (4) two great dragons, \dragon, and prepared one againft an other into battel. 7.. At whofe cric al nations ‘Amaabadone. were rayfed vp to fight againft the nation of the iuft. 8. And that was {2 pater by " day of darkeneffe and danger , of tribulation and diftreife , and great ofteares and. #¢af¢ vpon the earth, 9. And the nation of the tuit fearing their cuils, ‘humble fuppli- Was troubled, and prepared to death. 10, And they criedto God : and ‘catian,quen- they crying , (¢) a lide fouhrayne grew into a verie great riucr , and goed agreat abounded intaverie manie waters, 11. Light and the funne arofe, & the jfameot Gem} humble were exalted,& they deuoured the glorious. 12. Which when ituls againg the y, . g ‘lewes.ch.to. Mardocheus had feen, and rifen out of his bed , he mufed what God ' CHAP. ° --- PAGE 967 --- ESTHER. 939

from al Gentils, and our fathers out of abthcir pre- deceffours before,that thou mightit poffeffe an. cucrlalting usherirance, and thou bait done to them as thou haft fpoken, 6. We haue fined. m: thy fight, and therfore thou haft deliuered vs into the hands of our ene- mies: 7. for we haue wor.hipped thes Gods, Thou art init o Lord. 8. And now it fudiifeth them not, that they opprefie vs with. moit hard i) rdole- are: feruitude , but imputing the force of their hands.to the might of their meshing inthe idols, 9. they wil change thy promiffes , and deftroy thine inheritance, ‘ wesdd.1, Cor.8: and thut the mouths of chem that prayfethee , and extinguiih the glorie. bur bare ina. of thy temple and aitar,.19. that they may open thie mouths o£ Genuils, ae ot =e and prayfe the ftrength of idols , and magnitic a carnal King for cuer, wy oor cn.

And when the Kings commandment was bruiced abrodc, an sceor- ding to his commandment many fayre virgiaus were brought to Su mn and were deliuered to Egeus the eunuch: (a) Either alfo among the refi. of the maydens was deliueredto him , that fhe might be kept n the number of thewomen, 9. Who pleafed hin , and round grace in his Gicht, And he cOmanded the eunuch, that he fnould haften the womens ornaments , and fhould deliuer ber her parts, and fenen the moft beau- ful maydens of the kings houfe, and thould adorne pow her anid her wayti 1g maydes, 1c. Who wou'd not tel. him her peor 7 countric. For Mardochcus had commanded her, that of this thing wc inould altogether keep tilence:11.who Walked daily betere the cnirance of the houfe , wheran the choices virgins were kept , taking care ot Eithers welrare enidchirous to know what shows c1ante Vite herea2, Ard whoo the rine of cueric virginia order was come, that they mous coc intotac Karg, abthings accomplished that perteyucd to WoO. “Eececee oTuaments, and dccke both (a) Deut.9.¥.3. Ifraelites are forbid to ma- rie with Gen- tls, yet when there was no danger tobe ~ peruerted, and greathope of yood, Either by Mardochens icounfel.con- > fented to marie! Kinz Aduerus though. other. wile 1 edercflad} (she bed. of the arecer Mama (oda fof caserie fir acer Hea, dg. B19, [K. Dau 2bfo “maried the things daucae qrereof Glia, i : --- PAGE 954 --- hearing fufpi- cious words & aénions , faw ded cuil ,& ia- formed the idifcouered , Rab.caiom. & Jofep. * C chant, obferuing thei: 926 ESTHER, 4 ornaméts,it was the twelfth month:yet fo,that tor fix moths the anointed with oyle of myrtle, and other fix months they vfed c payntings & {weet fpices.13.And going in to the King y were ertayne »What focuer they asked that perteyned to adorning, they received : and being trimmed, \ asit pleafed them, they pafled fro the chaber of the women to the Kina; chamber. 14. And fhe chat went in at euening ,-came out in the mor- niag, andtrom thencefhe was brought to the fecond houle , that was ‘vader the hand of Sufagazus the eunuch , who was chiefe -oner the Kings concubines : neither had fhe power to retutne any more to the i King , vnlefle the Kiag had wilied, and had commanded her to come by name. 15, And the time by order comming about, the day was at hand that Efther the daughter of Abihail the brother of Mardochcus, whom he had adopted for his daughter,.fnould goe in tothe King. Who fought not womens ornaments, but whatfoeuer Egeus the eunuch the keeper of the virgins would, thofe things he gaue her to her ador- ning. For fhe was exceeding fayre , and of incredible beautic , fhe {ee- med to al mens eies gratious and amiable.16 She therfore was brought tothe chamber of King Affuerus the tenth month, which is called Te~ beth , inthe feuenth yeare of his reigne, 27. And the King loued her more then althe women , and fhe had grace and mercie before him aboue al the women , and he put the crowne of the Kiagdome on her head, and made her rcigne in {tead of Vaithi. 18. And he commanded a verie magnifical feaft to be prepared to al the Princes , and to his f{er- ‘nants , for che coniunction and mariage of Efther. And gaue rett to al the Prouinces,and beftowed guitts according to princely magnificence.

Who anfwered him, and bad that he fhould fay to Mardocheus: --- PAGE 957 --- whe ESTHER. 929 r1.Althe Kings feruants, and al the Prouinces that are vider iis dom- nion, Know, that whether man , or wamran, noccalled, {hal enter ro to the Kings inner court,he mult immediately be {layne without al delay: voleffe perhaps the King ftretch forth a golden rod vnto him, tor a ligne ot clemencie, andfo he may liue. { therfore how can I enter in ta the King, which now thefe thirtie daies haue not been called ynta him2

Which when Mardocheus had héard, 13. he fent word ta Either agayne,faying: Thincke not that thou mayit deliuer thy owne lite only, becaufe thou artinthe Kings houfe,aboueal the lewes: 14. for if thog wilt now hold thy peace, ( b) the lewes fhal be deliuered by an other occafion:and thou,and thy fathers houfe thal perilh.And who knoweth » whether thou cameft tothe Kingdom therfore,that in fuch a time thou ' mightit be readie? 15, And agayne Efther fentto Mardocheusinthefe help fayleth: & words:16,Goe,and gather together al the ewes, whom thou thale find , in Sufan,and pray ye for me.Eate yenot, and drinke not inthree dayes, and three nights:and I with my handmayds in like manner wil faft,and then will goe in to the King; doing agaynftthe law , norcalled, and deliuering my {elf to death and to peril.17. Mardocheus thertore went, and did al things that Either had commanded him,* CHAP VW. Efther ftanding in the Kings fight he calleth her , 4. she requefteth that be and Aman val aine with her. 7. Againe she inusteth them.g, Aman ts more sncenn fed again(t Mardochens,preparesh high grallewes to bang him on, ND thethird day Efther put on royal garments, and ’ ftood inthe court of the Kings houfe, which was the Zl inner agaymt the Kings hal : but fie fate vpon ‘his } - throne in the contiltorie of the palace, again{t the doore of the honfe, * 2, And when he had feen Efther Pre Aeeie® the Queen ftanding , fhe pleafed his cies , and he put forth coward her the golden rod, which he held in his hand:who going neer, kiffed the top of hisrod. 3. And the King faidto her : What wilt thou Queen Efther > whatis thy requeit 2 yeaif thou wilt aske the halte part of the Kingdom, itihal be giuen thee, 4, But fhe anfwered : IE it pleafe the King,I befcech thee thatthou cometo me this day,and Aman with thee toa banket,which I haue prepared.s, And the King forthwith, Cal ye Aman,quoth he, quickly that he may obey Efthers wal. The King ‘therfore and Aman came to the banker, which the Queen had preparca ‘forthem. 6. AndtheKing faidto her, afterthat he nad drunke wine aboundantly. What doeft thou defire to be giuen thee ? andfor what thing askeft thou?although thou aske che halt part of my Kingdom,thou b) Great confi-}: dence in Gods help when inas indeed this meancs by mouing the Kings hart to grant Efthers petition was Gods {pecial worke, *G chis.yt. Eceeec 3 thalt } --- PAGE 958 --- 939 ESTHER. fhale obteyne.7.To whom Efther anfwered: (4) My petition & requetts are thefe:8. It L haue found grace in the Kings tight, and if it pleafe the King to gtue that which I aske , and to fulfil my petition : letthe King and Amancome to the banket which I hauc prepared them , andto morrow Lwil open my wiltotheKing, 9, Amanthertore went forth ‘that: day ioyfuland merie. And when he had feen Mardocheus fitting: before che doores of the palate , and not onlie not to haue rifen vp.to him, but nor fo much as to haue moued from the place where he fate, be was wrath exceedingly: 10, and diflembling his anger,and returning more lithe into hishoufe , hecalled together vnto him his freinds , and Zares his complif® ie, wife: 11. and he declared to them the greatnefle of his riches, and the multitude ofhis children , and wich how great glorie the King had” aduanced him aboue abhis Princes and feruanrs, 12. And after thefe thiags he faid: Queen Efther alfo hath called none other to the banker with the King, but me:with whom to morow alfo I-thal dine with the: King.13.And wheras.I haue al thefe things, thinke I haue nothing,fo { long as I thal fee Mardocheus the lew fitting before the Kings doores,

And this was the content of the letter , chat in ak lands and peoples which were fubiect tothe empire of King Affuerus , it thould be noti- hed, the Lewes to be ready to be renézed of their enemies.14.And there went forth {wift pofts carying the meflages,and the Kings edict hong in Sufan, 15. Bue Mardocheus going forth om ofthe palace, and from, the Kings prefence, ihining in royal garments, to wir, hyacinelrine amd. skie colour , bearing a golden crowne on his head , and clothed witha ‘falke and purple cloke. And the eitie reioyced , and was glad. 16. Butto the lewes there feemed 2 new light to rife , toye, honour , and daun- eing, £7, With al peoples , cities, and Prouirees , whither focuer the Kings comnrandments came,.meruclous reioycing, feafls and bankets, and holie day - info much that mante ot the other nation and fect, were ioyned to their religtomand ceremonies, For great terrcur of the name t ' of the lewes-had itmaded them ab. * } _— *T ch, 16.441 Ffrftt CHAP.' --- PAGE 962 --- M- (4) Where no _ fmore danger iremaincth,re- miiilion of in- Huries is more , fcommendable {then reuenge, ' tbut where ma- - Lice cétinucth, & new danger May probably enfue,iuttice iy neceffarie, and . jafterwards— peace may be made more f{c- curely, S.Bern. fer. 2.de verb, , tet poli, $(6) In the firtt §flaughrer Amis iten fones were {flayne,& afcer- jwards alfo hanged. va3 4. renenge themfelues of their aduerfaries, 2. And they were gathered to- N we ESTHER.

aforefayd. 15. The pofts that were fent, made haft to fulfil the Kings commandment. And immediately the edict hong in Sufan,the King and Aman teatfting,. and al the lewes that were inthe citie weeping, CHAP WIL AL the Tewes lament their imminent danger. 5. Mardocheus willeth Effer to intreate the King for their faftie. 11. She fearing to goe tothe King contrarie. to bis Law vncalled, 15, yet they al fafting and praying for her, she doth it. The detiuerie of the Iewes from danger, (a) The-firft & beff remedie in diftreffe is to doc workes of penance for finnes commit- [ted.1.Cor. 11. [Vs 380 Thethird part, H 1H things when Mardocheus had heard , he rent his garments , and was clothed with fackcloth, fprinkling , ashes on his head: and in che {treet of the middes of the p citiehe cried with a loud voyce, (hewing the anguish of hismind ; 2. and with this wayling going euen to the pallace : for it was notlawful for one clothed with fack-. cloth to enter the Kings court. 3. In al Prouincesalfo, townes, and pla- ces ,to which the Kings cruel decree was come, there was (4) great mourning with the lewes,fafting, howling, and weeping, manie viing fack-cloth and afhes for their couch, 4, And Efthers maides and the eunuchs went in, & told her.. Which fhe hearing was aftoniihed:& fhe fent a garment,that the fack-cloth being taken away, they thould put ic on him : which he would not take.s.Aud calling for Athach the eunuch, _whom the King had giuen her for a feruant to Mardochieus, comanded him to goe and tolearne of him, why he did this.6, And Athach goin forth went to Mardoeheus ftanding in the {treet of the citie,betore the Palace doore: 7. who told him al things thathad chanced , how Aman lad promifed , that he would bring filuer into the Kings treafures for the {laughter of the lewes, 8. He gaue him alfo a copie of the edi@ which hang in Sufan , that he fhould shew itto the Queen, and fhould admoniih her to enter in to the King,and to intreate hiu for her people. g. Athach returning told Efther al things , that Mardocheus had fayd. A 11. Al

Thou knoweli my. ning bar tor: neceflitic , that I abhorre the figne of-my pride & gloric, which is VPon jthe common: © my head in the daies of.my oftentation., and deceit itas. the clath of a woman in her monthlie foures , andaveare it notin the daics of-my Ie lence, 17, andthar haue not caten at Amans table , neither the Kings banket hath pleafed me, and: thar L haue not drunke the wine of. ba. Gosgss. ments» good fhe.nra. ried hint, God ! difpeating with a, as che law muchas behaliSeesi,z I (4) Veltimera 074186 NOC Ore beassssher pray- ing weede, (DA notable example-for _ \Noble women; jhow to keep their face , and inhart, 642 remaine neuer - \theles humble r c ES TH R, ‘ments: :8. & that thy handmayd did neuer reioyce , fince was trani- ported hither vaco this day , but in thee o Lord the God of Abraham.

Andwhen virgins were fought the fecond time and gathered to- gether, Mardocheus taricd at the.Kings gate: 20, nether had Efther as yer vecered her countric, & people , according to his commandment, \ \ t i t ‘ ‘ ‘ b)Mardocheus. For whatfocuer he commanded, Efther obferucd:& she did al things fo _ as fhe was wont at that time, when he nourifhed her a litle one. 21. At - that time therfore,whenMardocheus abode at the Kings gate, Bagathan _& Thares wereangric,two of the Kings eunuchs, that were porters, & that they inre., ete chiefe in the hrit entric of the palace: and they would make mfur- rection againft the King, and kil him. 22. Wherot Macdochcus () got notice, & immediately he told it to Queen Efther : & theto the Kung in King ; wherby the name of Mardocheus , who had reported the thing vnto her, 23. Ie their treafé was , was examined ,and found: and they were both hanged ona gibbet.And lit was put in the hiftorics , and reviltred in the chronicles betore the - * hing. CHAP. --- PAGE 955 --- 4 ES THE RR, 929