"Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, Curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; Because they came not to the help of the Lord, To the help of the Lord against the mighty.
"Blessed above women shall Jael be, The wife of Heber the Kenite, Blessed shall she be above women in the tent.
He asked water, and she gave him milk; {59} She brought him b.u.t.ter in a lordly dish.
She put her hand to the nail, And her right hand to the workmen"s hammer; And with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote through his head, Yea, she pierced and struck through his temples.
At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay: At her feet he bowed, he fell: Where he bowed, there he fell down dead.
"Through the windows she looked forth, and cried, The mother of Sisera cried through the lattice, "Why is his chariot so long in coming?
Why tarry the wheels of his chariots?"
Her wise ladies answered her, Yea, she returned answer to herself, "Have they not found, have they not divided the spoil?
A damsel, two damsels to every man; To Sisera a spoil of dyed garments, A spoil of dyed garments embroidered, Of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the spoil?"
"So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord: But let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might."
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ESTHER
PERSONS OF THE STORY.
_Ahasuerus, King of Persia_.
_Vashti, Queen of Ahasuerus, deposed by him_.
_Esther, Queen of Ahasuerus_.
_Mordecai, an officer of the Court_.
_Courtiers, officers, women of the harem, messengers_.
PLACE OF THE STORY.
_The Palace of Ahasuerus_.
ESTHER.
THE STORY OF A BRAVE QUEEN WHO SAVED HER PEOPLE IN A FOREIGN LAND.
Now it came to pa.s.s in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned, from India even to Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces): that in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants; the mighty men of Persia and Media, the n.o.bles and princes of the provinces, being before him: when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor {61} of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and eighty days.
And when these days were ended, the king made a feast for all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king"s palace; there were hangings of white cloth, of green, and of blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and white, and yellow, and black marble. And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being different one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.
Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house who belonged to King Ahasuerus.
On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded the seven chamberlains that ministered in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king"s commandment by the chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him. Then the king said to the wise men, "What shall we do to the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not done the bidding of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?"
And one of the wise men answered before the king and the princes, "Vashti the queen hath not done wrong {62} to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples who are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus. For this deed of the queen will come abroad to all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it shall be reported, "The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not." And this day will the princesses of Persia and Media which have heard of the deed of the queen say the like unto all the king"s princes. So shall there arise much contempt and wrath. If it please the king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.
"And when the king"s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his kingdom, all the wives shall give to their husbands honor, both to great and small."
And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of the wise men: 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 should publish it according to the language of his people.
After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was pacified, he remembered Vashti and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. Then said the king"s servants that ministered unto him, "Let there be fair young {63} maidens 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 maidens to Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hegai the king"s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti." And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
There was a certain Jew in Shushan the palace, whose name was Mordecai, a Benjamite; who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. And he brought up Hada.s.sah, that is, Esther, his uncle"s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter. So it came to pa.s.s, when the king"s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the king"s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him. Esther had not made known her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not make it known. And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women"s house, to know how Esther did, and what would become of her. Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to King Ahasuerus, in this wise came the maiden to the king, whatsoever she desired was given her to go {64} with her out of the house of the women to the king"s house. In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women: she came in to the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.
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 to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king"s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her. So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus in to his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the maidens, so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
Then the king made a great feast to all his princes and his servants, even Esther"s feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the bounty of the king. And when the maidens were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king"s gate. Esther had not yet made known her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, just as when she was brought up with him.
In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king"s gate, two of the king"s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those who kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay {65} hands on the king Ahasuerus. And the thing was known to Mordecai, who showed it unto Esther the queen; and Esther told the king thereof in Mordecai"s name. And when inquiry was made into the matter, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
After these things did King Ahasuerus promote Haman and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. And all the king"s servants, who were in the king"s gate, bowed down, and did reverence to Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence. Then the king"s servants, who were in the king"s gate, said unto Mordecai, "Why transgressest thou the king"s commandment?"
Now it came to pa.s.s, when they spoke daily to him, and he hearkened not to them, that they told Haman, to see how Mordecai"s case would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew. And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. But he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had made known to 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. In the first month, which 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 from month to month, to the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
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And Haman said unto King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from those of every 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 be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those that have the charge of the king"s 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 in the first month, on the thirteenth day thereof, and there was written according to all that Haman commanded unto the king"s satraps, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the princes of every people; to every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of King Ahasuerus was it written, and it was sealed with the king"s ring. And letters were sent by the king"s messengers into all the king"s provinces, to destroy, to slay, 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 spoil of them for a prey. A copy of the writing, that the decree should {67} be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that they should be ready at that day. The king"s messenger went forth in haste by the king"s commandment, and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace: and the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.
Now when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry: and he came even before the king"s gate: for none might enter within 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 many lay in sackcloth and ashes. And Esther"s maidens and her chamberlains came and told it her; and the queen was exceedingly grieved: and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take his sackcloth from off him: but he received it not.
Then called Esther for Hathach, one of the king"s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and charged him to go to Mordecai, to know what this was, and why it was. So Hathach went forth to Mordecai unto the public square of the city, which was before the king"s gate. And Mordecai told him of all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king"s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. Also he gave him the copy of the writing {68} of the decree that was given out in Shushan to destroy them, to show it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her; and to charge her that she should go in to the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him, for her people.
And Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a message unto Mordecai, saying: "All the king"s servants, and the people of the king"s provinces, know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come to the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days."
And they told to Mordecai Esther"s words.
Then Mordecai bade them return answer unto Esther, "Think not that 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 relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy father"s house shall perish: and who knoweth whether thou art not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
Then Esther bade them return answer unto Mordecai, "Go, gather together all the Jews that are 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 in like manner; and so will I go in to the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish."
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So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
Now it came to pa.s.s 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 entrance of the house. And when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.
Then said the king to her, "What wilt thou, Queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be given thee even to the half of the kingdom."