of his reign； he made a costly feast for his friends； and for the
nations of Persia； and for their governors； such a one as was
proper for a king to make； when he had a mind to make a public
demonstration of his riches； and this for a hundred and fourscore
days； after which he made a feast for other nations； and for
their ambassadors； at Shushan； for seven days。 Now this feast was
ordered after the manner following： He caused a tent to be
pitched； which was supported by pillars of gold and silver； with
curtains of linen and purple spread over them； that it might
afford room for many ten thousands to sit down。 The cups with
which the waiters ministered were of gold； and adorned with
precious stones； for pleasure and for sight。 He also gave order
to the servants that they should not force them to drink； by
bringing them wine continually； as is the practice of the
Persians； but to permit every one of the guests to enjoy himself
according to his own inclination。 Moreover； he sent messengers
through the country； and gave order that they should have a
remission of their labors； and should keep a festival many days；
on account of his kingdom。 In like manner did Vashti the queen
gather her guests together； and made them a feast in the palace。
Now the king was desirous to show her； who exceeded all other
women in beauty； to those that feasted with him； and he sent some
to command her to come to his feast。 But she； out of regard to
the laws of the Persians； which forbid the wives to be seen by
strangers； did not go to the king （16） and though he oftentimes
sent the eunuchs to her； she did nevertheless stay away； and
refused to come； till the king was so much irritated； that he
brake up the entertainment； and rose up； and called for those
seven who had the interpretation of the laws committed to them；
and accused his wife； and said that he had been affronted by her；
because that when she was frequently called by him to his feast；
she did not obey him once。 He therefore gave order that they
should inform him what could be done by the law against her。 So
one of them； whose name was Memucan； said that this affront was
offered not to him alone； but to all the Persians； who were in
danger of leading their lives very ill with their wives； if they
must be thus despised by them； for that none of their wives would
have any reverence for their husbands； if they had〃 such an
example of arrogance in the queen towards thee； who rulest over
all。〃 Accordingly； he exhorted him to punish her； who had been
guilty of so great an affront to him； after a severe manner； and
when he had so done； to publish to the nations what had been
decreed about the queen。 So the resolution was to put Vashti
away； and to give her dignity to another woman。
2。 But the king having been fond of her； did not well bear a
separation； and yet by the law he could not admit of a
reconciliation； so he was under trouble； as not having it in his
power to do what he desired to do。 But when his friends saw him
so uneasy； they advised him to cast the memory of his wife； and
his love for her； out of his mind； but to send abroad over all
the habitable earth； and to search out for comely virgins； and to
take her whom he should best like for his wife； because his
passion for his former wife would be quenched by the introduction
of another； and the kindness he had for Vashti would be withdrawn
from her； and be placed on her that was with him。 Accordingly； he
was persuaded to follow this advice； and gave order to certain
persons to choose out of the virgins that were in his kingdom
those that were esteemed the most comely。 So when a great number
of these virgins were gathered together； there was found a damsel
in Babylon； whose parents were both dead； and she was brought up
with her uncle Mordecai； for that was her uncle's name。 This
uncle was of the tribe of Benjamin； and was one of the principal
persons among the Jews。 Now it proved that this damsel； whose
name was Esther； was the most beautiful of all the rest； and that
the grace of her countenance drew the eyes of the spectators
principally upon her。 So she was committed to one of the eunuchs
to take the care of her； and she was very exactly provided with
sweet odors； in great plenty； and with costly ointments； such as
her body required to be anointed withal； and this was used for
six months by the virgins； who were in number four hundred。 And
when the eunuch thought the virgins had been sufficiently
purified； in the fore…mentioned time； and were now fit to go to
the king's bed； he sent one to be with the king ever day。 So when
he had accompanied with her； he sent her back to the eunuch； and
when Esther had come to him； he was pleased with her； and fell in
love with the damsel； and married her； and made her his lawful
wife； and kept a wedding feast for her on the twelfth month of
the seventh year of his reign； which was called Adar。 He also
sent angari； as they are called； or messengers； unto every
nation； and gave orders that they should keep a feast for his
marriage； while he himself treated the Persians and the Medes；
and the principal men of the nations； for a whole month； on
account of this his marriage。 Accordingly； Esther came to his
royal palace； and he set a diadem on her head。 And thus was
Esther married； without making known to the king what nation she
was derived from。 Her uncle also removed from Babylon to Shushan；
and dwelt there； being every day about the palace； and inquiring
how the damsel did； for he loved her as though she had been his
own daughter。
3。 Now the king had made a law； （17） that none of his own people
should approach him unless he were called； when he sat upon his
throne and men； with axes in their hands； stood round about his
throne； in order to punish such as approached to him without
being called。 However； the king sat with a golden scepter in his
hand； which he held out when he had a mind to save any one of
those that approached to him without being called； and he who
touched it was free from danger。 But of this matter we have
discoursed sufficiently。
4。 Some time after this ＇two eunuchs＇； Bigthan and Teresh；
plotted against the king； and Barnabazus； the servant of one of
the eunuchs； being by birth a Jew； was acquainted with their
conspiracy； and discovered it to the queen's uncle； and Mordecai；
by the means of Esther； made the conspirators known to the king。
This troubled the king； but he discovered the truth； and hanged
the eunuchs upon a cross； while at that time he gave no reward ＇：
to Mordecai； who had been the occasion of his preservation。 He
only bid the scribes to set down his name in the records； and bid
him stay in the palace； as an intimate friend of the king。
5。 Now there was one Haman； the son of Amedatha； by birth an
Amalekite； that used to go in to the king； and the foreigners and
Persians worshipped him； as Artaxerxes had commanded that such
honor should be paid to him； but Mordecai was so wise； and so
observant of his own country's laws； that he would not worship
the man （18） When Haman observed this； he inquired whence he
came； and when he understood that he was a Jew； he had
indignation at him； and said within himself； that whereas the
Persians； who were free men； worshipped him； this man； who was no
better than a slave； does not vouchsafe to do so。 And when he
desired to punish Mordecai； he thought it too small a thing to
request of the king that he alone might be punished； he rather
determined to abolish the whole nation； for he was naturally an
enemy to the Jews； because the nation of the Amalekites； of which
he was； had been destroyed by them。 Accordingly he came to the
king； and accused them； saying； 〃There is a certain wicked
nation； and it is dispersed over all the habitable earth the was
under his dominion； a nation separate from others； unsociable；
neither admitting the same sort of Divine worship that others do；
nor using laws like to the laws of others； at enmity with thy
people； and with all men； both in their manners and practices。
Now； if thou wilt be a benefactor to thy subjects； thou wilt give
order to destroy them utterly； and not leave the least remains of
them； nor preserve any of them； either for slaves or for
captives。〃 ：But that the king might not be damnified by the loss
of the tributes which the Jews paid him； Haman promised to give
him out of his own estate forty thousand talents whensoever he
pleased； and he said he would pay this money very willingly； that
the kingdom might。 be freed from such a misfortune。
6。 When Haman had made this petition； the king both forgave him
the money； and granted him the men； to do what he would with
them。 So Haman； having gained what he desired； sent out
immediately a decree； as from the king； to all nations； the
contents whereof were these： 〃Artaxerxes； the great king； to the
rulers of the hundred twenty and seven provinces； from India to
Ethiopia； sends this writing。 Whereas I have governed many
nations； and obtained the dominions of all the habitable earth；
according to my desire； and have not been obliged to do any thing
that is insolent or cruel to my subjects by such my power； but
have showed myself mild and gentle； by taking care of their peace
and good order； and have sought how they might enjoy those
blessings for all time to come。 And whereas I have been kindly
informed by Haman； who； on account of his prudence and justice；
is the first in my esteem； and in dignity； and only second to
myself； for his fidelity and constant good…will to me； that there
is an ill…natured nation intermixed with all mankind； that is
averse to our laws； and not subject to kings； and of a different
conduct of life from others； that hateth monarchy； and of a
disposition that is pernicious to our affairs； I give order that
all these men； of whom Haman our second father hath informed us；
be destroyed； with their wives and children； and that none of
them be spared； and that none prefer pity to them before
obedience to this decree。 And this I will to be executed on the
fourteenth day of the twelfth month of this present year； that so
when all that have enmity to us are destroyed； and this in one