the law. And the Children of Israel assembled with fasting, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers, and worshipped the Lord their God.

And Nehemiah governed the Jews in justice and equity, and as a wise, firm, and good Governor for many years, and caused the Jews to keep separate from all other Nations and People, and their sons or daughters not to marry the sons or daughters of other People. And he prayed, saying, Remember me, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy. Remember me, O my God, for good; and every thing prospered in his hands.

From the end of the Book of Nehemiah to the birth of Christ, is 434 years.

CHAPTER 119.

THE BOOK OF ESTHER.

NEXT follows the Book of Esther; containing the history of the advancement of Esther to the Throne of Persia, some years before the time of Nehemiah.

Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, that he sat on the Throne of his Kingdom, in Shushan the Palace, and he made a feast unto all his Princes and Servants, the power of Persia and Media, for an hundred and fourscore days. And when those 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 days, in the Court of the Garden of the King's Palace; and there were white, green, and 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.

And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, and royal wine in abundance. Also Vashti the Queen, made a feast for the women in the royal house. În the seventh day, when the heart of the King was merry with wine, he commanded the seven Chamberlains to bring Vashti the Queen before the King, with the Crown Royal, to shew the People and the Princes her beauty; for she was fair to look on.

But the Queen Vashti refused to come at the King's commandment, therefore the King was very wroth, and his anger burned in him. Then the King said unto the wise men, What shall we do unto the Queen Vashti? -And Memucan answered before the King and the Princes, Vashti the Queen hath not done wrong to the King only, but to all the People, for this deed of the Queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands. If it please the King, let there go a royal commandment, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before the King Ahasuerus, and let the King give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.

And the saying pleased the King, and he did so. Then said the King's servants, Let one that pleases the King, be Queen instead of Vashti.

Now in Shushan the Palace, there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai. And he brought up Esther his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful. And Esther was brought to the King's house and pleased the King, and obtained kindness of him, and was lodged in the best place of the house of the women.

And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and

what would become of her. And the King loved Esther above all, and set the Royal Crown upon her head, and made her Queen instead of Vashti. In those days while Mordecai sat in the King's gate, two of the King's Chamberlains Bigthan and Teresh, were wróth, and sought to lay hand on the King Ahasuerus. And the thing was known unto Mordecai who told it unto Esther the Queen, and Esther certified the King thereof in Mordecai's name. And when inquisition was made of the matter it was found out, therefore they were hanged on a tree.

CHAPTER 120.

THE DECREE OF AHASUERUS AGAINST THE JEWS.

AFTER these things did King Ahasuerus promote Haman above all the Princes, and the King's servants bowed, and reverenced Haman; but Mordecai bowed not. Then was Haman full of wrath, and sought to destroy all the Jews, even throughout the whole Kingdom of Ahasuerus.

And Haman said unto the King, 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 for the King's profit to suffer them. 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. And the King took his ring from his hand and gave it unto Haman, the Jew's 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. Then were the King's scribes called, and there

was written according to all that Haman had commanded, unto the King's Lieutenants, and to the Governors, and Rulers, in the name of the King, and sealed with the King's ring, to destroy all the Jews, young and old, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, and take the spoil of them for a prey.

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.

Then Mordecai came before the King's gate, and cried with a loud and bitter cry, and Esther's maids and Chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the Queen exceedingly grieved, and sent forth the King's Chamberlain to Mordecai, and Mordecai told her of the writing of the decree, and Esther said, If any one go into the Inner Court, there is a law to put him to death, except such to whom the King hold out the Golden Sceptre. But Mordecai answered, Think not that thou shalt escape in the King's house more than all the Jews? Who knoweth whether thou art not come to the Kingdom for such a time as this? Then Esther said, Go, fast for me three days, night and day, and so will I go in unto the King, and if I perish, I perish..

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, and the King sat upon his Royal Throne, and when the King saw Esther, he held out to her the Golden Sceptre; so Esther drew near and touched the top of the Sceptre. Then said the King unto her, What wilt thou Queen Esther? And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the King, let the King and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for them.

So the King and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared. And the King said unto Esther, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee.— Then answered Esther, and said, If it please the King to grant my petition, let the King and Haman come to the banquet I shall prepare for them to-morrow.

Then Haman went forth that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the King's gate, that he stood not up, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. And when he came home he sent for his friends and Zeresh, his wife, and told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and how the King had advanced him, and said, Yea, Esther the Queen, did let no man come in with the King unto the banquet which she had prepared, but myself, and to-morrow am I invited unto her also with the King.

Yet all this availeth me nothing so long as I see Mordecai the Jew, sitting at the King's gate. Then said Zeresh, his wife, and all his friends, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to-morrow speak thou unto the King, that Mordecai may be hanged thereon, and the thing pleased Haman, and he caused the gallows to be made.

CHAPTER 121.

2

HAMAN AND MORDECAI.

ON that night could not the King sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of Records, and they were read to the King. And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthan and Teresh, two of the King's Chamberlains, who sought to lay hand on the King. And the King said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? And the King said, Who