Esther, in The Douay Old Testament (1609–1610)

The story of Esther and Mardochaeus under King Assuerus, with the Greek additions that the Vulgate places after the Hebrew text as chapters 10 to 16, together with Saint Jerome's notes on them. This is Esther as it stands in the first tome of the Douay Old Testament (Doway: Laurence Kellam, 1609), the English College of Douai’s Catholic translation from the Latin Vulgate, in its original spelling. The page gives the edition’s Argument of the book, every chapter with its printed summary, the verse text and the marginal notes and the Annotations.

THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF ESTHER.

OF the authoritie of this booke only two or three ancient writers, [Margin: Melite S. Atha. S. Greg. Nazian. Origen apud Euſeb. lib 6. c. 25. hiſt.] [Margin: This whole booke is canonical.] doubted, before the councels of Laodicea, and Carthage declared it to be Canonical, Al the reſt did euer eſteme it as diuine Scripture. For albeit S. Ierom in his time found not certaine partes therof in the Hebrew, and therfore tranſpoſed the ſame to the end of the booke, as now we haue them: yet in the Greeke he found al theſe ſixtenne chapters conteyned in tenne. And it is not vnprobable, that theſe parcels were ſometimes in the Hebrew, as were diuers whole bookes which are now loſt. But whether they were at anie time in the Hebrew or no, the Church of Chriſt accounteth the whole Booke of infallible authoritie, reading as wel theſe partes, as the reſt in her publique office. And the councel of Trent (ſeſſ. 4.) For more expreſſe declaration defiueth that al the bookes recited in the ſame Decree (amongſt which is Eſther) with al the partes therof, as they are accuſtomed to be read in the Catholique Church, and be conteyned in the old vulgare latin Edition, are ſacred and Canonical Scripture.

It conteyneth a particular great danger of the people of Iſrael, hapening (as [Margin: The contentes] is probable) shortly after their general relaxation, & returne of ſome from the captiuitie of Babylon; and their deliuere from it, through the godlie Zele and other vertues of Quene Eſther, directed herein by Mardocheus, who being alſo [Margin: VVritten by Mardocheus] in imminent danger was deliuered & aduanced. and finally writ the hiſtorie. which may be diuided into foure partes, not by order of the chapters: as hey are here tranſpoſed: but in order of time, firſt the author reporteth ſome [Margin: Diuided into ⟨illegible⟩ure partes.] thinges going before the peoples danger, in the 11. 1. 2. 12. chapters, and part of the 3. Secondly their danger and diſtreſſe, in the reſt of the 3. and part of 13. chapters. Thirdly their deliuerie: from the 4. chapter to the middes of the. 9. and reſt of the 13. and in the 14. 15. and 16. Fourtly, the thinges that enſued hereupon, in the other half of the ninth chapter, the 10. chapter, and firſt verſe of the eleuenth.

VVho ſoeuer vvil pleaſe to read this hiſtorie, in order of the time as the thinges happened, adioyning the latter chapters, vvhich are in the Greke, and not in the Hebrevv, may folovve the letters of the Alphabet, as here vve haue placed them in the margent, beginning at the ſecond verſe of the 11. chapter, vvhere he findeth the letter A. and vvhen he cometh to B. returne vvhere the ſame letter is noted. ch. 1. And ſo in the reſt folovv the ſame direction.

THE BOOKE OF ESTHER

[Margin: This booke is read at mattins the laſt weeke of September.]

Chapter 1

CHAP. I. King Aſſuerus celebrateth a great banket to shew his glorie, 10. calleth quene Vaſthi therto. who refuſing to come, is by aduiſe of his counſel depoſed.

1 IN the daies of Aſſuerus, who reigned from India vnto Aethiopia ouer an hundred twentie ſeuen prouinces:

2 when he ſate in the throne of his kingdō, the citie Suſá was in the begynning of his kingdom.

3 In the third yeare therfore of his empyre he made a great feaſt to al the princes, and to his ſeruantes, to the moſt valiant of the Perſians, and the nobles of the Medes, and the rulers of the prouinces in his ſight,

4 that he might shew the riches of the glorie of his kingdom, and the greatnes, & vaunting of his might, a great time, to witte, an hundred & foure ſcore dayes.

5 And when the daies of the feaſt were accompliſhed, he inuited al people, that was found in Suſan, from the greateſt to the leaſt: and commanded ſeuen daies a feaſt to be prepared in the entrance of the garden, and of the wood, which was planted with royal garniſhing and with hand.

6 And there hong on euerie ſide hangings of skie colour, and grene, and hyacinthine colour, held vp with cordes of ſilke, and of purple, which were put into rings of yuorie, and were held vp with marble pillers. Beddes alſo of gold and ſiluer, were placed in order vpon the floore paued with the emerauld, and the touch ſtone: which paynting adorned with meruelous varietie.

7 And they that were inuited, dranke in golden cuppes, and the meates were brought in change of veſſels. Wine alſo plenteous and the beſt was ſet downe, as was worthie of a kings magnificence.

8 [::] Neither was there that compelled them to drinke that would not, but as the king had appointed, making ech of his princes ouerſeer of euerie table, that euerie man might take what he would.

9 Vaſthi alſo the queene made a feaſt for the wemen in the palace, where king Aſſuerus had accuſtomed to remayne.

10 Therfore the ſeuenth day, when the king was merier, and after very much drinking was wel warmed with wine, he commanded M⟨illegible⟩umam, and Bazatha, and Harbona, and Bagatha, and Abgatha, and Zethar, and Charchas, the ſeuen eunuches, that miniſtred in his ſight,

11 that they ſhould bring in queene Vaſthi before the king, the crowne ſet vpon her head, that he might ſhew her beautie to al the peoples and princes: for ſhe was exceding beautiful.

12 Who refuſed, and contemned to come at the kings commandment, which he had commanded by the eunuches. Wherupon the king being wrath, and chaffed with :: exceding furie, (

13 asked the wiſemen, which after the manner of a king were alwayes preſent with him, and he did al thinges by their counſel, which knew the lawes, and rightes of the elders:

14 (and the chiefe and neareſt him were, Charſena, and Sethar, and Admatha, and Tharſis, and Mares, and Marſana, and Mamuchan, ſeuen dukes of the Perſians, and of the Medes, which ſaw the face of the king, and were wont to ſitt firſt after him)

15 to what ſentence Vaſthi the queene ſhould be ſubiect, that would not do Aſſuerus the kings commandment, which he had commanded by ⟨illegible⟩he eunuches.

16 And Mamuchan anſwered, the king hearing, and the princes: [::] Queene Vaſthi hath not only hurt the king, but alſo al peoples, and princes, that are in al the prouinces of king Aſſuerus.

17 For the word of the queene wil goe forth to al wemen, that they wil contemne their husbands, and wil ſay: King Aſſuerus commanded that the queene Vaſthi ſhould come in to him, and ſhe would not.

18 And by this example al the wiues of the princes of the Perſians and the Medes, wil little eſteeme the commandmentes of their husbandes: wherfore the kings indignation is iuſt.

19 If it pleaſe thee, let an edict goe forth from thy face, and let it be written according to the law of the Perſians and of Medes, which is not lawful to be tranſgreſſed, that Vaſthi come in no more to the king, but an other, that is better then ſhe, take her kingdome.

20 And let this be publiſhed into al the empire of thy prouinces (which is moſt large) and let al the wiues, as wel of the greater as of the leſſer geue honour to their husbandes.

21 His counſel pleaſed the king, and the princes: and the king did according to the counſel of Mamuchan,

22 and he ſent letters to al the prouinces of his kingdome, as euerie nation could heare and reade, in diuers languages and characters, that the husbandes ſhould be princes and maiſters in their houſes: and that this ſhould be publiſhed through al peoples.

Marginal notes to Chapter 1

• 1 The firſt part beginneth in the 11. ch. A B
• 8 [::] Modeſtie and temperance amongſt heathen people condemneth Chriſtianes that vrge men to drinke immoderatly, and ſo cauſe them to be drunke. S. Au. Ser. 231. ⟨illegible⟩32▪ de tempore.
• 13 The end of immoderate feaſting is commonly browling. Here the king became furious, and the queene was diuorſed from him.
• 16 [::] Brentius approueth the ſentence of this paraſice, but Ioſephus. li. 11 c 6. Macrobius. li 7. c. 1. Saturn. S. Ierom ad Ruſtic. and S. Ambroſe. l. de. ⟨illegible⟩h⟨illegible⟩ c. 14 iudge the queenes refuſal lawful, and agreable to the Perſians lawes, which prohibited maried we⟨illegible⟩ to come in ſight of other men in great aſſemblies: neither had the king iuſt cauſe to break that law, for pleaſing his phanſie in his drunken humour. v. 10. Luther alſo wreſteth this example in fanoure of adulterie, par. 2. de diuortio. folio 177. Editionis ⟨illegible⟩itenber. ⟨illegible⟩. 1553.

Chapter 2

CHAP. II. Inquirie being made of the beſt and faireſt virgines, (5. Eſther the vnknowe neece of Mardocheus a ⟨illegible⟩ew) is preferred, 18. and made Queene in place of Vaſthi; a mariage feaſt made, and preſentes geuen. 21) Mardocheus detecteth traitors, and his ſeruice is recorded in the regeſter.

1 THESE thinges ſo done, after the indignation of king Aſſuerus was aſſwaged, he remembred Vaſthi, and what ſhe had done, or what ſhe had ſuffered:

2 and the kings ſeruantes and his miniſters ſaid: Let there be maydens ſought for the king, virgins and beautiful,

3 and let there be ſent that may viewe through al prouinces beautiful maydens and virgins: and let them bring them to the citie of Suſan, and deliuer them into the houſe of wemen vnder the hand of Egeus the eunuch, who is ouerſeer of the kings wemen: and let them receiue wemens ornamentes, and other things neceſſarie to be vſed.

4 And which ſo euer among al ſhal pleaſe the kings eies, let her reigne for Vaſthi. The word pleaſed the king: and ſo as they had ſuggeſted, he commanded to be done.

5 There was a man in the citie of Suſan a Iew, named Mardocheus, the ſonne of Iair, the ſonne of Semei, the ſonne of Cis, of the ſtocke of Iemini,

6 who had beene tranſported from Ieruſalem the ſame time, that Nabucodonoſor the king of Babylon tranſported Iechonias the king of Iuda,

7 who was the foſter father of his brothers daughter Ediſſa, which by an other name was called Eſther: and ſhe had loſt both her parentes: exceeding beautiful, and of comely face. And her father and mother being dead, Mardocheus adopted her for his daughter.

8 And when the kings commandment was bruited abrode, and according to his commandement many fayre virgins were brought to Suſan, and were deliuered to Fgeus the eunuch: [::] Eſther alſo among the reſt of the maydens was deliuered to him, that ſhe might be kept in the number of the wemen.

9 Who pleaſed him, and found grace in his ſight. And he commanded the eunuch, that he should haſten the wemens ornamentes, and should deliuer▪ her, her partes, & ſeuen the moſt beautiful maydens of the kings houſe, and should adorne and decke both her and her wayting maydes.

10 Who would not tel him her people and countrie. For Mardocheus had commanded her, that of this thing she should altogether keepe ſilence:

11 who walked daily before the entrance of the houſe, wherin the choſen virgins were kept, taking care of Eſthers welfare, and deſirous to know what should chance vnto her.

12 And when the time of euerie virgin in order was come, that they should goe in to the king, al things accomplished that perteyned to wemens ornamentes, it was the twelfth moneth: yet ſo, that for ſix monethes they were anoynted with oyle of myrtle, and other ſix monethes they vſed certayne payntings and ſweete ſpices.

13 And going in to the king, what ſoeuer they asked that perteyned to adorning they receiued: and being trimmed, as it pleaſed them, they paſſed from the chamber of the wemen to the kings chamber.

14 And she that went in at euening, came out in the morning, and from thence she was brought to the ſecond houſe, that was vnder the hand of Suſagazus the cunuch, who was chiefe ouer the kings concubines: neither had she power to returne any more to the king, vnleſſe the king had willed, and had commanded her to come by name▪

15 And the time by order coming about, the day was at hand, that Eſther the daughter of Abihail the brother of Mardocheus, whom he had adopted for his daughter, should goe in to the king. Who ſought not wemens ornamentes, but whatſoeuer Egeus the eunuch the keper of the virgins would, thoſe things he gaue her to her adorning. For she was exceding fayre, and of incredible beautie, she ſemed to al mens eies gratious and amiable.

16 She therfore was brought to the chamber of king Aſſuerus the tenth moneth, which is called Tebeth, in the ſeuenth yeare of his reigne▪

17 And the king loued her more then al the wemen, and she had grace and mercie before him aboue al the wemen, and he put the crowne of the kingdom on her head, and made her reigne in ſteede of Vaſthi.

18 And he commanded a verie magnifical feaſt to be prepared to al the princes, and to his ſeruantes, for the coniunction, and mariage of Eſther. And he gaue reſt to al the prouinces, and beſtowed giftes according to princely magnificence.

19 And when virgins were ſought the ſecond time and gathered together, Mardocheus taried at the kings gate,

20 neither had Eſther as yet vttered her countrie, & people, according to his cōmandment. For what ſoeuer he commanded, Eſther obſerued: and she did al thinges ſo as she was wont at that time, when he nourished her a litle one.

21 At that time therfore, when Mardocheus abode at the kings gate, Bagathan, and Thares were angrie, two of the kings eunuches, that were porters, and were chiefe in the firſt entrie of the palace: and they would make inſurrection againſt the king, and kil him.

22 Wherof Mardocheus [::] gotte notice, and immediatly he told it to queene Eſther: and ſhe to the king in the name of Mardocheus, who had reported the thing vnto her.

23 It was examined, and found: and they were both hanged on a gibbet. And it was put in the hiſtories, and regiſtred in the cronicles before the king. [*]

Marginal notes to Chapter 2

• 6 4▪ Reg. 24.
• 8 [::] Deut. ⟨illegible⟩. v. 3. Iſraelites are forbid to marie with Gentiles, yet when there was no danger to be peruerted, and great hope of good, Eſther by Mardocheus counſel conſented to marie king Aſſuerus, though otherwiſe she detested the bed of the incircumciſed, and of euerie stranger, ⟨illegible⟩h 14. v. 15. K. Dauid alſo maried the kings daughter of Geſſu⟨illegible⟩. 2. Reg. 3. v. 3.
• 22 [::] Mardocheus hearing ſuſpicious wordes and obſeruing their actions ſawe that they intended euel and informed the King, wherby their ⟨illegible⟩eſon was diſouered. Rab. ⟨illegible⟩alom. & Ioſep.
• 23 [*] C ch. 12. v. 1.

Chapter 3

CHAP. III. Aman aduanced by the king, is much offended that Mardocheus doth not adore him. 6. and therfore procureth the kings decree, to deſtroy the whole nation of Iewes.

1 AFTER theſe things king Aſſuerus aduanced Aman the ſonne of Amadathi, which was of the ſtocke of Agag: & he put his throne aboue al the princes which he had.

2 And al the kings ſeruantes, that were in the doores of his pallace, bowed their knees, and adored Aman: for ſo the emperour had commanded them, [::] onlie Mardocheus did not bowe his knee, nor adore him.

3 To whom the kings ſeruantes, that were chiefe at the doores of the pallace, ſaid: Why doeſt thou aboue the reſt not obſerue the kings commandment.

4 And when they ſaid this often, and he would not heare, they told Aman, deſirous to know whether he would perſeuere in his ſentence: for he had told them that he was a Iew.

5 Which when Aman had heard, and had proued by experience that Mardocheus bowed not his knee vnto him, nor adored him, he was angrie excedingly.

6 And he counted it a matter of nothing to lay his handes vpon Mardocheus alone: for he had heard that he was of the nation of the Iewes, and he would rather deſtroy al the nation of the Iewes, that were in the kingdom of Aſſuerus.

7 The firſt moneth (which is called Niſan) in the twelfth yeare of the reigne of Aſſuerus, the lot was caſt into a potte which in Hebrew is called Phur, before Aman, [::] in what day and what moneth the nation of the Iewes should be ſlayne: and there came forth the twelfth moneth, which is called Adar.

8 And Aman ſaid to king Aſſuerus: There is a people diſperſed through al the prouinces of thy kingdom, and ſeparated one from an other, vſing new lawes and ceremonies, moreouer alſo contemning the kings ordinances: And thou knoweſt very wel that it is not expedient for thy kingdom that they waxe inſolent by libertie.

9 If it pleaſe thee, decree that they may perish, and I wil pay ten thouſand talentes to the cofferers of thy treaſure.

10 The king therfore tooke the ring that he vſed, from his hand, and gaue it to Aman the ſonne of Amadathi of the progenie of Agag, the enemie of the Iewes,

11 and he ſaid to him: The ſiluer which thou doeſt promiſe, be it thine: but concerning the people doe that which pleaſeth thee.

12 And the kings ſcribes were called in the firſt moneth, Niſan, the thirtenth day of the ſame moneth: and there was written, as Aman had commanded, to al the kings lieuftenantes, and iudges of the prouinces, and of diuers nations, as euerie nation could read, and heare according to the varietie of languages, in the name of king Aſſuerus: and the letters ſigned with his ring,

13 were ſent by the kings poſtes to al prouinces, that they should kil and deſtroy al the Iewes, from boy vnto old man, children, and wemen, in one day, that is, in the thirtenth of the twelth monerh, which is called Adar, and ſhould ſpoyle them of their goodes. [*]

14 And [::] the content of the letters was this, that al prouinces might know, & prepare them ſelues againſt the day aforeſayd.

15 The poſtes that were ſent, made haſt to fulfil the kings cōmandment. And immediatly the edict hong in Suſan, the king and Aman feaſting, and al the Iewes that were in the citie, weeping.

Marginal notes to Chapter 3

• 1 D
• 2 [::] Aman exacted ſuch honour as heathen people gaue to their leſſe goddes, which was alſo idolatrie. for Mardocheus was willing to giue him ciui⟨illegible⟩ honour, euen to kiſse the ſteppes of his feete, but feared (and refuſed) ⟨illegible⟩o geue Godlie honour to him. ch 13. v. 13. 14. S. Th⟨illegible⟩. 2. 2. q. 84. a. 1.
• 7 [::] Such is the prepoſterous ⟨illegible⟩nrie of rancour, to appoint the day of executing his malice, before he had got the kings decree.
• 10 The ſecond part. The Iewes danger to be maſſacred.
• 13 [*] E ch. 13. v. 1.
• 14 [::] The letter at large is in the ſeuen firſt verſes of the 13 ch. of which this is the ſumme.
• 14 F

Chapter 4

CHAP. IIII. Al the Iewes lament their imminent danger. 5. Mardocheus willeth Eſther to intreate the king for their ⟨illegible⟩afiie. 11. She fearing to goe to the king contrarie to his law vncalled, 15. yet they al faſting and praying for her, she [Margin: The third part The deliuerie of the Iewes from danger.] doth it.

1 VVHICH things when Mardocheus had heard, he rent his garmentes, and was clothed with ſackcloth, ſprinkling ashes on his head: and in the ſtreat of the middes of the citie he cried with a lowed voyce, shewing the anguish of his mind,

2 and with this wayling going euen to the doores of the pallace: for it was not lawful for one clothed with ſackcloth to enter the kings court.

3 In al prouinces alſo, townes, and places, to which the kings cruel decree was come, there was [::] great mourning with the Iewes, faſting, howling, and weeping, manie vſing ſackcloth and ashes for their couch.

4 And Eſthers maides and the eunuches went in, and told her. Which she hearing was aſtonyed: and she ſent a garment, that the ſackcloth being taken away, they should put it on him: which he would not take.

5 And calling for Athach the eunuch, whom the king had geuen her for a ſeruant to Mardocheus, commanded him to goe and to learne of him, why he did this.

6 And Athach going forth went to Mardocheus ſtanding in the ſtreate of the citie, before the palace doore:

7 who told him al thinges that had chanced, how Aman had promiſed, that he would bring ſiluer into the kings treaſures for the ſlaughter of the Iewes.

8 He gaue him alſo a copie of the edict which hong in Suſan, that he should shew it to the queene, and should admonish her to enter in to the king, and to intreate him for her people.

9 Athach returning told Eſter al things, that Mardocheus had ſayd.

10 Who anſwered him, and bad that he should ſay to Mardocheus:

11 Al the kings ſeruantes, and al the prouinces that are vnder his dominion, know, that whether man, or woman, not called, shal enter in to the kings inner court, he muſt immediatly be ſlayne without al delay: vuleſſe perhaps the king ſtretch forth a golden rod vnto him, for a ſigne of clemencie, and ſo he may liue. I therfore how can I enter in to the king, which now theſe thirtie daies haue not bene called vnto him?

12 Which when Mardocheus had heard,

13 he ſent word to Eſther agayne, ſaying: Thincke not that thou mayſt deliuer thy owne life only, becauſe thou art in the kings houſe, aboue al the Iewes:

14 for if thou wilt now hold thy peace, [::] the Iewes shal be deliuered by an other occaſion: and thou, and thy fathers houſe shal perish. And who knoweth whether thou cameſt to the kingdom therfore, that in ſuch a time thou mightſt be readie?

15 And agayne Eſther ſent to Mardocheus in theſe wordes:

16 Goe, and gather together al the Iewes, whom thou shalt find in Suſan, and pray ye for me. Eate ye not, and drinke not in three dayes, and three nightes: and I with my handmaydes in like maner wil faſt, and then wil I goe in to the king, doing agaynſt the law, not called, and deliuering my ſelf to death and to peril.

17 Mardocheus therfore went, and did al things that Eſther had commmanded him. [*]

Marginal notes to Chapter 4

• 3 [::] The firſt and beſt remedie in diſtreſſe is to do workes of penance for ſinnes cōmitted. 1. Cor. 11. ⟨illegible⟩.
• 14 [::] Great confidence in Gods helpe when mans helpe fayleth: and in dede this meanes by mouing the kings ha⟨illegible⟩t to grant Eſthers petition was Gods ſpecial worke.
• 17 [*] G ch. 1. v. 1.

Chapter 5

CHAP. V. Eſther ſtanding in the kings ſight he calleth her, 4. she requeſteth that he and Aman wil dine with her. 7. Againe she inuiteth them. 9. Aman is more incenſed againſt Mardocheus, prepareth high gallowes to hang him on.

1 AND the third day Eſther put on royal garmentes, and ſtood in the court of the kings houſe, which was the inner agaynſt the kings hal: but he ſate vpon his throne in the conſiſtorie of the palace, againſt the doore of the houſe. [*]

2 And when he had ſeene Eſther the queene ſtanding, she pleaſed his eies, and he put forth toward her the golden rod, which he held in his hand: who going neere, kiſſed the top of his rod.

3 And the king ſaid to her: What wilt thou queene Eſther? what is thy requeſt? yea if thou wilt aske the halfe part of the kingdom, it shal be geuen thee.

4 But she anſwered: If it pleaſe the king, I beſeech thee that thou come to me this day, and Aman with thee to a banket, which I haue prepared.

5 And the king forthwith, cal ye Aman, quoth he, quickly, that he may obey Eſthers wil. The king therfore and Aman came to the banket, which the queene had prepared for them.

6 And the king ſaid to her, after that he had drunke wine aboundantly. What doeſt thou deſire to be geuen thee? and for what thing askeſt thou? although thou aske the half part of my ▪ kingdom, thou shalt obteyne.

7 To whom Eſther anſwered: [::] My petition, and requeſtes are theſe:

8 If I haue found grace in the kings ſight, and if it pleaſe the king to geue that which I aske, and to fulfil my petition: let the king and Aman come to the banket, which I haue prepared them, and to morrow I wil open my wil to the king.

9 Aman therfore went forth that day ioyful and merie. And when he had ſeene Mardocheus ſitting before the doores of the palace, and not onlie not to haue riſen vp to him, but not ſo much as to haue moued from the place where he ſate, he was wrath excedingly:

10 and diſſembling his anger, and returning into his houſe, he called together vnto him his freindes, and Zares his wife:

11 and he declared to them the greatneſſe of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and with how great glorie the king had aduanced him aboue al his princes and ſeruantes.

12 And after theſe things he ſaid. Queene Eſther alſo hath called none other to the banket with the king, but me: with whom to morow alſo I shal dine with the king.

13 And wheras I haue al theſe things, I thinke I haue nothing▪ ſo long as I shal ſee Mardocheus the Iew ſitting before the kings doores.

14 And Zares his wife, & the reſt of his frendes anſwered him: Cōmand a great beame to be prepared, hauing fiftie cubites in height, and ſpeake in the morning to the king, that Mardocheus may be hanged vpon it, and ſo thou shalt goe ioyful with the king to the banket. The counſel pleaſed him, and he commanded an high gallowes to be prepared.

Marginal notes to Chapter 5

• 1 H
• 1 [*] I ch. 15. v. 4.
• 2 K
• 7 [::] This prudence in delaying to propoſe her petition, increaſed the kings deſire to know it, moued him to promiſe more aſſuredly, & ſo bond him the more to accomplish it.

Chapter 6

CHAP. VI. The king hearing the good ſeruice of Mardocheus in detecting traitors, read in the chronicle (for which he had yet no rewarde) 4. commandeth Aman to honour him next to the king, 11. which he performeth.

1 THAT night the king [::] paſſed without ſleepe, and he commanded the hiſtories and chronicles of former times to be brought him. Which when they were read in his preſence,

2 they came to that place where it was written, how Mardocheus had vttered the treaſon of Bagathan, and Thares the eunuches, coueting to kil king Aſſuerus.

3 Which when the king had heard, he ſayd: What honour and reward hath Mardocheus receiued for this fidelitie? His ſeruantes and miniſters ſaid to him: He hath receiued no reward at al.

4 And the king by and by, who is, quoth he, in the court? For Aman had entered the inner court of the kings houſe, that he might ſuggeſt to the king, and he might command Mardocheus to be hanged faſt on the gibbet, which was prepared for him.

5 The ſeruantes anſwered: Aman ſtandeth in the court. And the king ſaid: Let him come in.

6 And when he was come in, he ſaid to him: What ought to be done to the man, whom the king is deſirous to honour? But Aman [::] thinking in his hart, and ſuppoſing that the king would honour no other, but him ſelf,

7 anſwered: The man, whom the king deſireth to honour,

8 ought to be clothed with the kings garmentes, and to be ſet vpon the horſe, that is for the kings ſaddle, and to take the kings crowne vpon his head,

9 and let the chiefe of the kings princes and nobles hold his horſe, and going throuh the ſtreat of the citie, crie, and ſay: So shal he be honoured, whomſoeuer the king wil honour.

10 And the king ſaid to him: Make haſt, and taking a robe and a horſe, do that thou haſt ſpoken, to Mardocheus the Iewe, which ſitteth before the doores of the palace: Beware thou pretermitte nothing of thoſe things, which thou haſt ſpoken.

11 Aman therfore tooke a robe and a horſe, and putting it on Mardocheus, and ſetting him on the horſe, in the ſtreat of the citie went before him, and cried: This honour is he worthie of, whom ſoeuer the king is willing to honour.

12 And Mardocheus returned to the palace gate: and Aman made haſt to goe into his houſe, mourning and his head couered:

13 and he told Zares his wife, and his frendes al things, that had chaunced him. To whom the wiſe men whom he had in counſel, and his wife anſwered: [::] If Mardocheus be of the Iewes ſeede, before whom thou haſt begune to fal, thou canſt not reſiſt him, but thou shalt fal in his ſight.

14 As they were yet ſpeaking, the kings eunuches came, and compelled him to goe quickly to the banket, which the queene had prepared.

Marginal notes to Chapter 6

• 1 [::] Gods eye which neuer ſlepeth ſaw whath Aman intended: and for execution of his owne diuiue iuſtice, vſed this meanes b⟨illegible⟩y ſubtracting ſlepe that time from the king and inſpiring his mind to heare the hiſtories read, and to reward good ſeruice, donne. Ioſeph.
• 6 [::] Ambicious men are moſt b⟨illegible⟩nde in conceite of their owne deſerts, and fortunes.
• 13 [::] Either they had read Gods promiſe to the Iewes. Gen 13▪ 15. &c. or coniectured this by humaine prudence.

Chapter 7

CHAP. VII. Eſther entertayning the king and Aman againe at a feaſt, is promiſed to obtaine, whatſoeuer she wil aske. 3. she demandeth ſaftie for her ſelf, and al the people, againſt Amans crueltie, 6. and Aman is hanged on the gallowes, which he had prepared for Mardocheus.

1 THE king therfore and Aman went in, to drinke with the queene.

2 And the king ſaid to her alſo the ſecond day, after he was warme with wine: What is thy petition Eſther▪ that it may be geuen thee? and what wilt thou haue done? although thou shalt aske the half part of my kingdome, thou shalt obteyne.

3 To whom she anſwered, [::] If I haue found grace in thyne eies ô king, and if it pleaſe thee, geue me my life for the which I make requeſt, and my people for the which I beſech.

4 For we are deliuered I and my people, to be deſtroyed, murdered, and to periſh. And would God we were ſold for bondmen and bondwemen: it were a tolerable euil, and mourning I would hold my peace: but now it is our enemie, whoſe crueltie redoundeth vpon the king.

5 And king Aſſuetus anſwering, ſaid: Who is this, and of what might, that he dare doe theſe things?

6 And Eſther ſaid: It is this Aman out aduerſarie and moſt wicked enemie. Which he hearing [::] forthwith was aſtoniſhed, not enduring to beare the countenance of the king and of the queene.

7 But the king being wrath roſe vp, and from the place of the banket went into the garden ſet with trees. Aman alſo roſe vp, to intreate Eſther the queene for his life, for he vnderſtood that there was euil prepared him of the king.

8 Who when he was returned out of the garden ſet with trees, and had entered into the place of the banket, he found Aman to haue fallen vpon the bed, wherin Eſther lay, and he ſaid: The queene alſo he wil force in my preſence, in my houſe. Neither was the word yet paſſed from the kings mouth, and immediatly they couered his face.

9 And Harbona, [::] one of the eunuches which ſtood wayting on the king, ſayd: Behold the gibbet, which he had prepared for Mardocheus, that ſpake for the king, ſtandeth in Amans houſe, hauing in height fiftie cubites. To whom the king ſaid: Hang him vpon it.

10 Aman therfore was hanged on the gibbet, which he had prepared for Mardocheus: and the kings wrath ceaſed.

Marginal notes to Chapter 7

• 3 [::] After threedayes faſt of al the Iewes with prayers and other workes of penance, Eſther aſked and obtained the ſaftie of the whole people more precious to her then halfe of the kingdom.
• 6 [::] Horrour of a guiltie conſcience is commonly the firſt torment of a ſinner. S. Chriſſocons. 4. de Lagaro.
• 9 [::] VVhat litle truſt in falſe freindshipe, when bad men once fal into diſgrace.

Chapter 8

CHAP. VIII. Eſther informeth the king that Mardocheus is her vncle, he is aduanced in authoritie, 3. and contrarie letters are ſent that the Iewes be ſaued, 11. and their enemies ſlayne. 15. Mardocheus is in high honour, and his whole nation is eſtemed and feared by other people.

1 THAT day king Aſſuerus gaue vnto Eſther the queene the houſe of Aman the Iewes aduerſarie, and Mardocheus went in before the kings preſence. For Eſther confeſſed to him that he was her vncle.

2 And the king tooke the ring, which he had commanded to be taken agayne from Aman, and deliuered it to Mardocheus. And Eſther appointed Mardocheus alſo ouer her houſe.

3 Neither content with theſe things, she [::] fel downe at the kings feete, and she wept and ſpeaking to him prayed him, that he would command that the malice of Aman the Agagite, and his moſt wicked deuiſes, which he had inuented agaynſt the Iewes, ſhould be of none effect.

4 But he after the maner put forth the golden ſcepter with his hand, by the which the ſigne of clemencie was shewed: and ſhe ryſing vp ſtood before him,

5 and ſaid: If it pleaſe the king, and if I haue found grace in his eies, and my requeſt ſeme not contrarie to him, I beſech thee, that the old letters of Aman the traytour and enemie of the Iewes, wherein he commanded that in al the kings prouinces they ſhould perish, may by new letters be corrected.

6 For how can I abide the murder and ſlaughter of my people?

7 And king Aſſuerus anſwered Eſther the queene, and Mardocheus the Iewe: Amans houſe I haue geuen to Eſther, and him ſelf I haue commanded to be hanged on the gallowes, becauſe he durſt lay handes on the Iewes.

8 Write ye therfore to the Iewes, as pleaſeth you, in the kings name, ſigning the letters with my ring. For this was the cuſtome, that no man durſt ſpeake againſt the lettes, which were ſent in the kings name, and were ſigned with his ring.

9 And the kings ſcribes and ſecretaries being cald for (and it was the time of the third moneth, which is called Siban) the three and twenteth day therof letters were written, as Mardocheus would, to the Iewes, and to the princes, and the lieuftenantes and iudges, which were rulers ouer the hundred and ſeuen and twentie prouinces, from India euen to Aethiopia: to prouince and prouince, to people and people, according to their languages and characters, and to the Iewes, according as they could read, and heare.

10 And the ſaid letters, which were ſent in the kings name, were ſigned with his ring, and ſent by ryding poſtes: which running through al the prouinces, should preuent the old letters with the new meſſages.

11 To whom the king gaue commandment, that they ſhould ſpeake to the Iewes in euerie citie, and ſhould command them to be gathered together in one, that they might ſtand for their liues, and might kil and deſtroy al their enemies with their wiues and children and al their houſes, and to take the ſpoyle of them.

12 And there was appointed through al the prouinces one day of reuenge, that is, the thirtenth of the twelfth moneth Adar.

13 And this was the content of the letter, that in al landes and peoples, which were ſubiect to the empire of king Aſſuerus, it should be notified, 'the Iewes to be readie to be reuenged of their enemies.

14 And there went forth ſwift poſtes cariyng the maſſages, and the kinges edict hong in Suſan.

15 But Mardocheus going forth out of the palace, and from the kinges preſence, shining in royal garmentes, to wit, hyathinthine and skie colour, bearing a golden crowne on his head, and clothed with a ſilke and purple cloke. And the citie reioyſed, and was glad.

16 But to the Iewes there ſemed a new light to riſe, ioye, honour, and dauncing.

17 With al peoples, cities, and prouinces, whither ſoeuer the kinges commandmentes came, meruelous reioyſing, feaſtes and banketes, and holie day: in ſo much that manie of the other nation and ſect, were ioyned to their religion and ceremonies. For great terrour of the name of the Iewes had inuaded them al. [*]

Marginal notes to Chapter 8

• 3 [::] Such honour is due to kinges, yea though they be Infideles, becauſe they haue terreſtrial maieſtie and authoritie from God. And the contrarie opinion and behauiour of heretikes, vvhich deſpice Dominion and blaſpheme Maieſtie, is condemned by S. Iude, in his Epiſtle. v. 8.
• 17 [*] Lch. 16. v. 1.

Chapter 9

CHAP. IX. The Iewes kil their enemies which would haue killed them. 6. namely the tenne ſonns of Aman are hanged on gallowes, 13. more ſlaine the next day. 17. the day folowing is made holie, and ſo to be kept euerie yeare.

1 THERFORE in the thirtenth day of the twelth moneth, which we haue ſaid now before to be called Adar, when ſlaughter was prepared for al the Iewes, and their enemies gaped after their bloud, “ the caſe being changed to the contrarie, the Iewes began to be ſuperiours, and [::] to reuenge them ſelues of their aduerſaries.

2 And they were gathered together in euerie citie, and towne, and place, to extend their hand againſt their enemies, and their perſecutors. And none durſt reſiſt, becauſe the feare of their greatnes did penetrate al peoples.

3 For both the iudges of the prouinces, and captaynes, and lieutenantes, and euerie dignitie, that was chiefe ouer euerie place and worke, extolled the Iewes for feare of Mardocheus:

4 whom they knew to be prince of the palace, and to be able to doe very much: the fame alſo of his name increaſed dayly, and flew abroad through al mens mouthes.

5 Therfore the Iewes ſtroke their enemies with a great ſlaughter, and ſlew them, repaying them that which they had prepared to doe to them:

6 in ſo much that in Suſan alſo they killed fiue hundred men, beſides the tenne ſonnes of Aman the Agagite the enemie of the Iewes: whoſe names be theſe:

7 Pharſandatha, and Delphon, and Eſphatha,

8 and Phoratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha.

9 and Phormeſta, and Ariſai, and Aridai, and Iezatha.

10 Whom when they had ſlaine, they would not take prayes of their goodes.

11 And by and by the number of them that were killed in Suſan, was brought to the king.

12 Who ſaid to the queene: In the citie of Suſan the Iewes haue killed fiue hundred men, beſides the [::] ten ſonnes of Aman: how great a ſlaughter thinkeſt thou doe they make in al the prouinces? what askeſt thou more, & what wilt thou that I cōmand to be done?

13 To whom ſhe anſwered: If it pleaſe the king, let there authoritie be geuen to the Iewes, that as they haue done to day in Suſan, ſo alſo they may doe to morow, and that the tenne ſonnes of Aman be hanged on gibbettes.

14 And the king commanded that it ſhould be ſo done. And forth with the edict hong in Suſan, and the tenne ſonnes of Aman were hanged.

15 The fourthtenth day of the moneth Adar the Iewes being gathered together, there were killed in Suſan three hundred men: neither was their ſubſtance ſpoyled by them.

16 Yea and through al prouinces, which were ſubiect to the kings dominion, the Iewes ſtood for their liues, their enemies and perſecutors being ſlayne: in ſo much that there was fully ſeuentie fiue thouſand of them that were killed, and no man tooke any of their goodes.

17 And the thirtenth day of the moneth Adar was the firſt day with them al of the ſlaughter, & the fourtenth day they ceaſed to kil. Which they ordayned to be ſolemne, ſo that in it at al times afterward they gaue them ſelues to good chere, mirth & bankets.

18 But they that made the ſlaughter in the citie of Suſan, were occupied in the ſlaughter the thirtenth and fourtenth day of the ſame moneth: and in the fiftenth day they ceaſed to kil. And therfore they ordayned the ſame a ſolemne day of good cheere and ioyfulnes.

19 But thoſe Iewes, that abode in townes not walled and villages, ordayned the fourtenth day of the moneth Adar for bankettes and ioy, ſo that they reioyſe in it, and ſend one an other portions of bankets and meates.

20 Mardocheus therfore wrote al theſe things, and being compriſed in letters ſent them to the Iewes, that abode in al the kings prouinees, as wel thoſe that lay neere, as far of,

21 that they ſhould take [::] the fourtenth and fiftenth day of the moneth Adar for feaſtes, and the yeare alwayes returning ſhould celebrate them with ſolemne honour:

22 becauſe in the ſame dayes the Iewes reuenged them ſelues of their enemies, and mourning and ſorrow were turned into mirth and ioy, and that theſe ſhould be dayes of good cheere and gladneſſe, and they should ſend one to an other portions of meates, and should geue giftes to the poore.

23 And the Iewes receiued into a ſolemne rite al things, which they had begune to doe at that time, and which Mardocheus by letters had commanded to be done.

24 For Aman, the ſonne of Amadathi of the ſtocke of Agag, the enemie and aduerſarie of the Iewes, purpoſed euil againſt them, to kil them and deſtroy them: and he caſt Phur, which in our language is turned, a lot.

25 And afterward Eſther went in to the king, beſeching that his endeuours might by the kings letters be made voyde: & the euil that he had intended againſt the Iewes, might returne vpon his owne head. Finally they hong both him and his ſonnes vpon the gallowes,

26 and ſince that time theſe dayes are called Phurim, that is, of Lottes: becauſe Phur, that is, a lot, was caſt into the pot. And al things, that were done, are contayned in the volume of this epiſtle, that is, of this booke:

27 and the thinges that they ſuſteyned, and that were afterward changed, the Iewes [::] tooke vpon them ſelues and their ſeede, and vpon al, that would be ioyned to theyr religion, that it should be lawful for none to paſſe without ſolemnitie theſe dayes: which the writing teſtifieth, and certaine times require, as yeares continually ſuccede one an other.

28 Theſe are daies, which no obliuion shal euer put out: and al prouinces in al the world shal celebrate through out al generations: neither is there any citie, wherein the daies of Phurim, that is, of lottes, muſt not be obſerued of the Iewes, and of their progenie, which is bound to theſe ceremonies.

29 And Eſther the queene the daughter of Abihail, and Mardocheus the Iew wrote alſo the ſecond epiſtle, that with al diligence this day should be eſtablished ſolemne for the time to come.

30 and they ſent to al the Iewes, that were in the hundred and ſeuen and twentie prouinces of king Aſſuerus, that they should haue peace, and receiue truth,

31 obſeruing the Daies of lottes, and in their time should celebrate them with ioy: as Mardocheus and Eſther had appoynted, and they tooke vpon them to be obſerued of them ſelues, and of their ſeede, faſtes, and cries, and the daies of Lottes,

32 and al thinges, which are conteyned in the hiſtorie of this booke, which is called Eſther.

Marginal notes to Chapter 9

• 1 M
• 1 [::] VVhere no more danger remaineth remiſſion of iniuries is more commendable then reuenge, but where malice continueth, and new danger may probably enſue, iuſtice is neceſſarie, and afterwards peace may be made more ſecurely S. Bernad, ſer. 2. d⟨illegible⟩ verb. Apoſt.
• 12 [::] In the ⟨illegible⟩i⟨illegible⟩a ſlaughter Amans tenne ſonnes were ſlayne and afterwards alſo hanged. v. 14.
• 17 The fourth parth. Other thinges folowing their deliuerie from danger.
• 21 [::] The Iewes in Suſan kept the fiftenth day holie. v. 18, thoſe that dwelt in other places kept the fourtenth day.
• 27 [::] A feaſt inſtituted by Mardocheus was accepted and obſerued by al the Iewes, as a conſtitution agreable and not contratie to the law Deut. 4. v. 2, & 12. v. 32.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. IX.

1. The caſe being changed.] In this whole hiſtorie (as in manie other paſſages [Margin: Pſal. 76.] [Margin: Great, and maruelous changes by the power of God.] of holie scripture) we ſee the meruelous change of the right hand of the higheſt. Firſt in the verie inſtant of extreme danger, the kinges face with burning eyes ſhewing the furie of his breaſt ch. 15. v. 10. was turned into mildnes towardes Eſther v. 11. Secondly proud Aman being aduanced in honour & office, aboue al princes of the kinges court, ch. 3. v. 1. was ſodainly forced publikely to lead Mardocheus his horſe, whom he moſt hated: ch. 6 v. 10. Thirdly, he was conſtrayned with loud voice to proclame his honour, whom he moſt deſpiſed and threatned. Fourtly, the ſame Aman, before called the father (as it were the onlie gouernour) of the king, ch. 1⟨illegible⟩ v. 6 ch. 16. v. 11. was forthwith condemned for a traitor. ch. 7. v. 8. ch. 16. v. 18. Fifthly, He that could not abide to ſee Mardocheus, ch. 5. v. 13. afterward durſt not looke vpon the king, not could endure his countenance. ch, 7 v 6. Sixtly, He was hanged on the ſame gallowes, which he had prepared for Mardocheus. ch. 7. v. 9. Seuently, VVheras he was not content with the death of Mardocheus alone, but procu⟨illegible⟩ed the kings decree to deſtroy the whole nation. ch. 3. v 6 and ſo feaſted with the king, when the Iewes mourned, v 15. ſhortly after the king ſent new letters for the Iewes ſaftie, geuing them leaue to kil whom ſoeuer they would of their enemies. ch. 8. v. ⟨illegible⟩. 11 Eightly, the ſame day which was deſigned for deſtruction, was made the day of ioy and exultation to the children of God. ch. 9. v. 1. 17 ch. 16. v. 21. &c. By which literal ſenſe Gods meruelous prouidence is manifeſtly ſhewed, neuer ſuffering his church to periſh. It hath moreouer [Margin: D. Tho. prologo in Epiſt. Canonic.] two ſpecial myſtical ſenſes. Firſt, as ſaftie of temporal life was procured to [Margin: Eſther a figure of our B ladie,] one nation by Eſthers interceſſion to king Aſſuerus, ſo general ſaluation is procured to al mankind by mediation of the bleſſed virgin Marie, cruſhing the ſerpents head; and the ſentence of death is changed by new letters, granting [Margin: And of the Church.] euerlaſting life, and glorie to al Gods true ſeruantes. Eſther alſo, as likewiſe Iudith, in figure of the Church (ſaith S. Ierom, Prologo in Sophon) killed the aduerſaries, and deliuered Iſrael from danger of periſhing.

Chapter 10

CHAP. X. Aſſuerus ſubdueth manie countries. 4. Mardocheus vnderſtandeth, and declareth his dreame. 9. God ſeparateth his people from other nations by a better lotte.

1 BVT king Aſſuerus made al the earth, and al the ilandes of the ſea tributaries.

2 Whoſe ſtrength and empire, and the dignitie and highneſſe, wherewith he exalted Mardocheus, are written in the bookes of the Medes, and of the Perſians:

3 and how Mardocheus of the Iewes kinred was ſecond after king Aſſuerus: and great with the Iewes, and acceptable to the people of his bretheren, ſeking good to his people, and ſpeaking thoſe things, which pertayned to the good of his ſeede.

That [Margin (::): S. Ierome here aduertiſeth the reader that he found al hitherto in the Hebrew. And the parcels which folow only in the Septuaginta Greke Edition which either they tranſlated out of the Hebrew, or added by inſpiration of the Holie Ghoſt.] which is in the Hebrew I haue expreſſed moſt faithfully. And theſe things that folow, I found written in [Margin (*): The Greke of the 72. Interpreters.] the common edition,which are conteyned in the greeke tongue and leetters: and in the meane time this chapter was extant after the end of the booke: which according to our cuſtome, we haue marked with an Obelus before it, that is to ſay, a broch.

4 And Mardocheus ſaid: Theſe things are done of God.

5 I remember the dreame that I ſaw, ſignifying theſe verie things: neither was any of them fruſtrate.

6 The litle fountayne which grew into a riuer, and was turned into light, and into the ſunne, and abounded into manie waters, is Eſther, whom the king tooke to wife, and made her to be queene.

7 But the two dragons: I am, and Aman.

8 The nations, that were aſſembled: are they that endeuoured to deſtroy the name of the Iewes.

9 And my nation: is Iſrael, which cried to our Lord, and our Lord hath ſaued his people: and he hath deliuered vs from al euils, and hath done great ſignes and wonders among the nations:

10 and he commanded that there ſhould be two lottes, one of the people of God, and the other of al Nations.

11 And both lottes are come to the day appointed euen now from that time before God to al nations:

12 and our Lord hath remembred his people, and hath had mercie on his inheritance.

13 And theſe daies ſhal be obſerued in the moneth of Adar the fourtenth, and fiſtenth day of the ſame moneth, with al diligence, and ioy of the people gathered into one aſſemblie, through out al the generations hereafter of the people of Iſrael.

Chapter 11

CHAP. XI. An Appendix and concluſion of this hiſtorie. 2. The dreame of Mardocheus.

1 IN the fourth yeare when Ptolomee and Cleopatra reigned, Doſitheus, which named himſelf a Prieſt, and of the Leuitical kinred, and Ptolomee his ſonne brought this epiſtle of Phurim, which they ſayd Lyſimachus the ſonne of Ptolomee did interprete in Ieruſalem.

This beginning was in the common edition, which is neither extant [Margin: A] in Hebrew, nor with any of [Margin (::): Except the 72.] the interpreters.

2 In the ſecond yeare, when Artaxerxes the greateſt reigned, in the firſt day of the moneth Niſan, Mardocheus the ſonne of Iairi, the ſonne of Semei, the ſonne of Cis, of the tribe of Beniamin.

3 A Iew which dwelt in the citie of Suſan, a great man and among the firſt of the kings court, [::] ſaw a dreame.

4 And he was of that number of captiues, whom Nabuchodonoſor the king of Babylon had tranſported from Ieruſalem with Ieconias the king of Iuda:

5 and this was his dreame: The⟨illegible⟩e appeared voices, and tumultes, and thunders and earth quakes, and pertuibation vpon the earth:

6 and behold [::] two great dragons, prepared one againſt an other into battel.

7 At whoſe crie al nations were rayſed vppe, to fight againſt the nation of the iuſt.

8 And that was a day of darkeneſſe and danger, of tribulation and diſtreſſe, and great feare vpon the earth.

9 And the nation of the iuſt fearing their euils, was trubled, and prepared to death.

10 And they cried to God: and they crying, [::] a litle fountayne grew into a verie great riuer, and abounded into verie manie waters.

11 Light and ſunne aroſe, and the humble were exalted, and they deuoured the glorious.

12 Which when Mardocheus had ſeene, and riſen out of his bed, he muſed what God would doe: and he had it fixed in his mind, deſirous to know what the dreame ſhould ſignifie? [*]

Marginal notes to Chapter 11

• 2 The firſt part. The preſage, and occaſion of Eſthers aduancement and Amans perſecuting the Iewes.
• 3 [::] Mardocheus had this dreame before Amans aduancement or his owne and the peoples danger.
• 4 4. Reg. 24.
• 6 [::] Mardocheus was a good dragon, and Aman a bad one.
• 10 [::] Eſther by her fountaine of teares and humble ſupplication, quenched a great flame of Gentiles againſt the Iewes. ch. 10.
• 12 [*] B chap. 1. v. 1.

Chapter 12

CHAP. XII. The conſpiracie of two eunuches, detected by Mardocheus, is repeted, 6. and Amans malice againſt him for the ſame.

1 AND he abode that time in the kings court with Bagatha and Thara the kings eunuches, which were porters of the palace.

2 And when he vnderſtood their cogitations, and had throughly ſeene their cares he learned that they went about to lay hands on king Artaxerxes, and he told the king therof.

3 Who hauing them both in examination, when they had confeſſsd he commanded them to be led to death.

4 But the king wrote that which was done, in the comentaries: and Mardocheus alſo committed the memorie of the thing to wriring.

5 And the king commanded him, that he ſhould abide in the court of the palace, geuing him giftes for the delation.

6 But Aman the ſonne of Amadathi the Bugeite was moſt glorious before the king, and would hurt Mardocheus, and his people, [::] for the two eunuches of the king, which were put to death. [*]

Hitherto the proeme. That which foloweth was ſet in that place, where it is written in the volum: [Margin (*): ch. 3. v. 3.] And should ſpoyle their goodes. VVhich we found in the common edition only.

Marginal notes to Chapter 12

• 1 C
• 6 [::] Here it appeareth that Aman was a fauourer of traitors of perhaps of the ſame conſpiracie.
• 6 [*] D ch. 3. v. ⟨illegible⟩.

Chapter 13

CHAP. XIII. Acopie of the epiſtle which Aman ſent to al prouinces to deſtroy the Iew⟨illegible⟩ 8. And Mardocheus his prayer for the people.

1 AND this was the copie of the letter. The moſt great king Artaxerxes from India vnto Aethiopia, to the princes of an hundred and ſeuen and twentie prouinces, and to the captaynes, that are ſubiect to his empire, greeting.

2 Wheras I reigned ouer manie nations, and had ſubdewed al the world to my dominion, I would no⟨illegible⟩ abuſe the greatnes of my might, but with clemencie and lenitie gouerne my ſubiectes, that paſſing their life quietly without any terrour, they might enioy peace wiſhed of al men.

3 But when I demanded of my counſelers how this might be accompliſhed, [::] one that excelled the reſt in wiſedom and fidelitie, and was ſecond after the king, Aman by name,

4 told me that there was a people diſperſed through the whole world, which vſed new lawes, and doing againſt the cuſtomes of al Nations, contemned the cōmandmentes of kings, and brake the concord of al nations by their diſſention.

5 Which when we had learned, ſeing one nation rebellious againſt al kind of men to vſe peruerſe lawes, and to goe againſt our commandmentes, and to diſturbe the peace and concord of the prouinces ſubiect to vs,

6 we haue commanded that whomſoeuer Aman ſhal ſhew, who is chiefe ouer al the prouinces, and ſecond after the king, and whom we honour in ſteed of a father, they with their wiues and children be deſtroyed of their enemies, and that none haue pitie on them the fourtenth day of the twelfth moneth Adar of this preſent yeare:

7 that the wicked men going downe to hel in one day, may reſtore the peace to our empire, which they had diſturbed. [*]

Hitherto the copie of the letter. That which foloweth I found written after that place, where it is read, [Margin: ch. 4. v. 17.] And Mardocheus going forth, did al thinges, that Eſther had commanded him. yet it is neither in the Hebrew, nor extant with any of [Margin (*): Excep⟨illegible⟩ the 72.] the interpreters.

8 But Mardocheus beſought our Lord, mindeful of al his workes,

9 and ſaid: Lord Lord king omnipotent, for in thy dominion are al thinges ſet, and there is none that can reſiſt thy wil, if thou determine to ſaue Iſrael.

10 Thou madſt heauen and earth, and whatſoeuer is conteyned in the compaſſe of heauen.

11 Thou art Lord of al, neither is there that can reſiſt thy maieſtie.

12 Thou vnderſtandeſt al things, and knoweſt that I haue not done this for pride and contumelie, and any deſire of glorie, that I adored not the proud Aman,

13 (for gladly would I be readie for the ſaluation of Iſrael to kiſſe euen the ſteppes of his feete,)

14 but I feared leſt I ſhould tranſferre the honour of my God to a man, and leſt I ſhould adore any except my God.

15 And now ô Lord king, the God of Abraham haue mercie vpon thy poople, becauſe our enemies wil deſtroy vs, and extinguiſh thyne inheritance.

16 Deſpiſe not thy portion, which thou haſt redemed to thyſelf out of Aegypt.

17 Heare my prayer, and be propitious to thy lot and corde, and turne our mourning into ioy, that liuing we may prayſe thy name ô Lord, and doe not ſhut the mouthes of them that ſing to thee.

18 Al Iſrael alſo with like mind and ſupplication cried to our Lord, becauſe certayne death did hang ouer them.

Marginal notes to Chapter 13

• 1 E
• 3 [::] Great hurt to a king, that is ruled much by one counseler. Salomon teacheth, that VVhere are manie counſellers, cogitations are confirmed. ⟨illegible⟩ron. 15. v. 22.
• 7 [*] F ch. 3. v. 14.
• 8 G
• 9 The Epiſtle on weneſday in the 1. weke of ⟨illegible⟩n⟨illegible⟩. And in a votiue Maſſe againſt Paganes.

Chapter 14

CHAP. XIIII. Eſther prayeth in humilitie of ſpirite, that God wil deliuer the people from the crueltie of Aman.

1 ESTHER alſo the queene fled to our Lord, fearing the peril that was at hand.

2 And when ſhe had laid of her royal garmentes, ſhe tooke clothes meete for weeping and mourning, and for diuers oyntmentes, filled her head with aſhes and dung, and her bodie ſhe humbled with faſtes: and al the places, in which before ſhe was accuſtomed to reioyſe, ſhe filled with tearing of her heares.

3 And ſhe beſought our Lord the God of Iſrael, ſaying: My Lord, which onlie art our king, helpe me ſolitarie woman, and which haue no other helper beſide thee.

4 My peril is in my handes.

5 I haue heard of my father that thou Lord didſt take Iſrael out from al Gentiles, and our fathers out of al their predeceſſours before, that thou mightſt poſſeſſe an euerlaſting inheritance, and thou haſt done to them as thou haſt ſpoken.

6 We haue ſinned in thy ſight, and therfore thou haſt deliuered vs into the handes of our enemies:

7 for we haue worſhiped their goddes. Thou art iuſt ô Lord.

8 And now it ſuffiſeth them not, that they oppreſſe vs with moſt hard ſeruitude, but imputing the force of their handes to the might of their idols,

9 they wil change thy promiſſes, and deſtroy thine inheritance, and ſhut the mouthes of them that prayſe thee, and extinguiſh the glorie of thy temple and altar,

10 that they may open the mouthes of Gentiles, and prayſe the ſtrength of idols, and magnifie a carnal king for euer.

11 Deliuer not ô Lord thy ſcepter to them [::] that are not, leſt they laugh at our ruine: but turne their counſel vpon them, and deſtroy him, that hath begune to do cruelly againſt vs.

12 Remember ô Lord: and ſhew thy ſelf to vs in the time of our tribulation, and geue me confidence Lord king of goddes, and of al power:

13 geue me ſpeach wel framed in my mouth in the preſence of the lion, and turne his hart into the hatred of our enemie, that both him ſelf may periſh, and the reſt that conſent vnto him.

14 But deliuer vs in thy hand, and helpe me, hauing no other helpe, but thee ô Lord which haſt the knowlege of al things,

15 and knoweſt that I hate the glorie of the wicked, and [::] deteſt the bed of the vncircumciſed, and of euerie ſtranger.

16 Thou knoweſt my neceſſitie, that I abhorre the ſigne of my pride and glorie, which is vpon my head in the daies of my oſtentation, and deteſt it as the cloth of a woman in her monthlie floores, and weare it not in the daies of my ſilence,

17 and that I haue not eaten at Amans table, neither the kings banket hath pleaſed me, and that I haue not drunke the wine of libamentes:

18 and that thy handmayde did neuer reioyſe, ſince I was tranſported hither vnto this day, but in thee ô Lord the God of Abraham.

19 O God ſtrong aboue al, heare the voyce of them, that haue no other hope, and deliuer vs from the hand of the wicked, and deliuer me from my feare.

Marginal notes to Chapter 14

• 11 [::] Idoles are nothing in the vvorld. 1. Cor. 8. but ba⟨illegible⟩e imaginations of men.
• 15 [::] The Church vſeth this prayer in the offertorie▪ the 22. ſunday after Pentecoſt: as a parcel of holie Scripture.
• 16 :: Of herſelfe, nor for wordlie glorie ſhe deſired not to marie a heathen king but for the cōmon good ſhe maried him, God diſpenſing with the law in this behalf. See ch. 2.

Chapter 15

CHAP. XV. Mardocheus cauſeth Eſther to goe to the king and intreate for the people. 10. She is terrified by this countenance, but God turneth his hart, and he calleth her curteouſly to him.

This alſo I found added in the common edition.

1 AND he commanded her (no doubt but Mardocheus commanded Eſther) that ſhe ſhould goe vnto the king, and make petition for her people and for her countrie.

2 Remember (quoth he) the daies of thy humilitie, how thou waſt brought vp in my hand, becauſe Aman the ſecond after the king hath spoken againſt vs vnto death:

3 and doe thou inuocate our Lord, and speake to the king for vs, & deliuer vs from death. [*] Moreouer this alſo which foloweth I found in the common Greke.

4 And in the third day ſhe layd away [::] the garmentes which ſhe ware, & was clothed in her glorie.

5 And when ſhe gliſtered in royal apparel, and had inuocated God the ruler and ſauiour of al, ſhe tooke two wayting maydes,

6 and vpon the one in deede ſhe leaned, as it were for dilicatnes and verie much tendernes not able to beare vp her bodie:

7 but the other of the maydes folowed her ladie, bearing vp her garmentes trayling on the ground.

8 But her ſelf in al her countenance of colour like the roſe, alſo with gratious and ſhining eies [::] hid her mind ful of ſorow, and exceding feare.

9 She therfore entring through al the doores in order, ſtood before the king, where he ſate vpon the throne of his kingdom, clothed with royal garmentes, and glittering in gold, and pretious ſtones, and he was terrible to behold.

10 And when he had lifted vp his face, and with burning eies had ſhewed the furie of his breaſt, the Queene fel downe, and her colour being changed into palenes, ſhe reſted her wearie head vpon her handmayde.

11 And God turned the kings spirit in to mildnes, and in haſt and fearing he lept out of the throne, and holding her vp in his armes, til ſhe came to her ſelf, ſpake her fayre with theſe wordes:

12 What ayleth thee Eſther? I am thy brother, feare not.

13 Thou shalt not die: for this law is not made for thee, but for the common ſorte.

14 Come neere therfore, and touch the ſcepter.

15 And when ſhe held her peace, he tooke the golden rod, & put it vpon her necke, and kiſſed her, and ſayd: Why ſpeakeſt thou not to me?

16 Who anſwered: I ſaw thee, my Lord, [::] as an angel of God, and my hart was trubled for the feare of thy glorie.

17 For thou, my lord, art exceding maruelous, and thy face is ful of graces.

18 And when she spake, she fel downe agayne, and was almoſt in a ſowne.

19 But the king was trubled, and al his ſeruantes did comfort her. [*]

Marginal notes to Chapter 15

• 1 G
• 3 [*] H ch 13. v. 8.
• 4 [::] Veſ⟨illegible⟩im⟨illegible⟩nta oratus, not orn⟨illegible⟩s, her playing w⟨illegible⟩ede.
• 8 [::] A notable example for Noble wemen, how to kepe their ſtate, & remaine neuer theles humble in hart.
• 16 [::] By this compariſon of angels she ment that the king excelled al or moſt part of men.
• 19 [*] K ch. 5. v. ⟨illegible⟩.

Chapter 16

CHAP. XVI. Acopie of king Artaxerxes letters, which he ſent for the ſaftie of the ⟨illegible⟩ewes, 10. declaring the inſolencie of Aman, and dutiful ſeruice of Mardocheus and Eſther, 20. commanding al his princes to aſſiſt the Iewes, and with them to celebrate the day which is changed from ſorow to ioy.

The copie of king Artaxerxes letter, which he ſent for the Iewes to al the prouinces of his kingdom: the which alſo is not found in the Hebrew volume.

1 THE great king Artaxerxes, from India to Aethiopia to the dukes and princes of an hundred twentie ſeuen prouinces, which obey our commandment, ſendeth greeting.

2 Manie haue abuſed vnto pride the goodnes of princes, and the honour, that hath beene beſtowed vpon them:

3 and they do not only endeuour to oppreſſe the kings ſubiectes, but not bearing the glorie that is geuen them, they worke treaſon againſt them that gaue it.

4 Neither are they content not to geue thankes for the benefittes, and to violate in them ſelues the lawes of humanitie, but they thincke they can eſcape the ſentence of God alſo who ſeeth al things.

5 And they haue burſt forth into ſo great madnes, that ſuch as obſerue diligently the offices committed vnto them, and do al thinges ſo that they are worthie of al mens prayſe, them they endeuour to ouerthrow by ſubtil meanes of lies,

6 whiles with craftie fraude they deceiue the ſimple eares of princes, and eſteming others b⟨illegible⟩ their owne nature.

7 Which thing is proued both out of old hiſtories, and by theſe thinges, which are done daily, how [::] the enterpriſes of kinges are depraued by the euil ſuggeſtions of certaine men

8 Wherfore we muſt prouide for the peace of al prouinces.

9 Neither muſt you thincke▪ if we command diuers things, that it cometh of the lightneſſe of our mind, but that we geue ſentence according to the qualitie & neceſſitie of times, as the profite of the common wealth requireth.

10 And that you may more plainly vnderſtand, that which we ſay, Aman the ſonne of Amadathi, both in mind and countrie a Macedonian, and an aliene from the Perſians bloud, and with his crueltie ſtayning our pietie, was receiued of vs a ſtranger:

11 and found our humanitie ſo great towardes him, that he was called :: our father, and was adored of al ſecond after the king:

12 who was puft vp with ſo great ſwelling of arrogancie, that he went about to depriue vs of kingdom and life.

13 For by certaine new deuiſes and not heard of before he hath ſought to kil Mardocheus, by whoſe fidelitie and benefittes we liue, and Eſther the felow of our kingdom with al their nation:

14 thincking this that they being ſlayne, he might worke treaſon to our ſolitarines, and might tranſferre the kingdom of the Perſians to the Macedonians

15 But we haue found the Iewes, which were by that moſt wicked of men oppoynted to be ſlayne, in no fault at al, but con⟨illegible⟩rariwiſe vſing iuſt lawes,

16 and the children of the higheſt and the greateſt, and alwayes louing God, by whoſe benefite the kingdom was geuen both to our fathers and to vs, and is kept vnto this day.

17 Wherfore know ye thoſe letters, which he directed in our name, to be of none effect.

18 For the which heinous fact, before the gates of this citie, that is, of Suſan, both him ſelf that deuiſed it, and al his kinred hang on gibbettes: not we, but God repaying him that which he hath deſerued.

19 But this edict, which we now ſend, let it be ſet forth in al cities, that it be lawful for the Iewes to vſe their owne lawes.

20 Whom you muſt helpe, that thoſe, which had prepared them ſelues to their ſlaughter, they may kil the thirtenth day of the twelfth moneth, which is called Adar.

21 For God omnipotent hath turned this day of ſadnes and mourning into ioy to them.

22 Wherfore [::] count you alſo this day among other feſtiual daies, and celebrate it with al ioy, that hereafter alſo it may be knowne,

23 that al, which faythfully obey the Perſians, receiue worthie reward for their fidelitie: and they that lie in wayte againſt their kingdom, periſh for their wicked fact.

24 And euerie prouince and citie, that wil not be partaker of this ſolemnitie, let it periſh by ſword and fyre, and let it ſo be deſtroyed, that not onlie men, but alſo beaſtes haue no acceſſe therto for euer, for an example of contempt, and diſobedience. [*]

Marginal notes to Chapter 16

• 1 L
• 7 [::] At laſt this king ſaw his owne errour in beleuing one falſe counſeller ouer much. ch. 1⟨illegible⟩. v. ⟨illegible⟩.
• 11 ⟨illegible⟩. 1⟨illegible⟩. v. 6.
• 22 [::] As Mardocheus ſuggeſted, th⟨illegible⟩. king confirmed the obſeruation of a feaſt in memorie of Gods benefice▪ and ſo both Iewes and Gen⟨illegible⟩les kept it.
• 24 [*] M chap. 9. v. ⟨illegible⟩ ▪

Colophon

The holie Bible faithfully translated into English, out of the authentical Latin. Diligently conferred with the Hebrew, Greeke, and other editions in diuers languages. With arguments of the bookes, and chapters: annotations. tables: and other helpes. By the English College of Doway. The first tome (Genesis to Job), Doway: Laurence Kellam, 1609 (STC 2207). Copy: Henry E. Huntington Library, as reproduced in Early English Books Online (image set 2087).

Transcription: Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP), Phase I text A11777 (2007), released under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal public-domain dedication.

This is an archival transcription, not a Good Works Translation: the English is the Douay translators’ own, kept in the original spelling, with long s (ſ), u and v, i and j as printed. The Good Works Library converted the TCP text to this page, removing only markup, page breaks and line-end hyphens. In the print a cross (†) opens each verse and the verse number stands in the margin; here each verse is its own paragraph headed by that number. Marginal notes are gathered after each chapter under the number of the verse beside which they stand; where the print sets a reference mark in the text (a letter, four pricks ::, or a star *), the mark is kept at its place in square brackets. In prose sections the marginal notes stand at their places in square brackets. Marks that the transcription records in the text are kept as they stand: ▪ is the transcribers’ sign for a printed mark they could not set, which this edition’s key to its marks uses to point to an Annotation after the chapter, and “ is another such printed mark. Words the transcribers could not read are marked ⟨illegible⟩ (54 on this page); none has been filled in by conjecture.

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