inflicted on them； to which if you refuse obedience； you shall do
well； but I will that they have all honor paid to them。
Accordingly； I have hanged up the man that contrived such things
against them； with his family； before the gates of Shushan； that
punishment being sent upon him by God； who seeth all things。 And
I give you in charge； that you publicly propose a copy of this
epistle through all my kingdom； that the Jews may be permitted
peaceably to use their own laws； and that you assist them； that
at the same season whereto their miserable estate did belong；
they may defend themselves the very same day from unjust
violence； the thirteenth day of the twelfth month； which is Adar；
for God hath made that day a day of salvation instead of a day of
destruction to them； and may it be a good day to those that wish
us well； and a memorial of the punishment of the conspirators
against us： and I will that you take notice； that every city； and
every nation； that shall disobey any thing that is contained in
this epistle； shall be destroyed by fire and sword。 However； let
this epistle be published through all the country that is under
our obedience； and let all the Jews； by all means； be ready
against the day before mentioned； that they may avenge themselves
upon their enemies。〃
13。 Accordingly； the horsemen who carried the epistles proceeded
on the ways which they were to go with speed： but as for
Mordecai； as soon as he had assumed the royal garment； and the
crown of gold； and had put the chain about his neck； he went
forth in a public procession； and when the Jews who were at
Shushan saw him in so great honor with the king； they thought his
good fortune was common to themselves also； and joy and a beam of
salvation encompassed the Jews； both those that were in the
cities； and those that were in the countries； upon the
publication of the king's letters； insomuch that many even of
other nations circumcised their foreskin for fear of the Jews；
that they might procure safety to themselves thereby； for on the
thirteenth day of the twelfth month； which according to the
Hebrews is called Adar； but according to the Macedonians；
Dystrus； those that carried the king's epistle gave them notice；
that the same day wherein their danger was to have been； on that
very day should they destroy their enemies。 But now the rulers of
the provinces； and the tyrants； and the kings； and the scribes；
had the Jews in esteem； for the fear they were in of Mordecai
forced them to act with discretion。 Now when the royal decree was
come to all the country that was subject to the king； it fell out
that the Jews at Shushan slew five hundred of their enemies； and
when the king had told Esther the number of those that were slain
in that city； but did not well know what had been done in the
provinces； he asked her whether she would have any thing further
done against them； for that it should be done accordingly： upon
which she desired that the Jews might be permitted to treat their
remaining enemies in the same manner the next day； as also that
they might hang the ten sons of Haman upon the gallows。 So the
king permitted the Jews so to do； as desirous not to contradict
Esther。 So they gathered themselves together again on the
fourteenth day of the month Dystrus； and slew about three hundred
of their enemies； but touched nothing of what riches they had。
Now there were slain by the Jews that were in the country； and in
the other cities； seventy…five thousand of their enemies； and
these were slain on the thirteenth day of the month； and the next
day they kept as a festival。 In like manner the Jews that were in
Shushan gathered themselves together； and feasted on the
fourteenth day； and that which followed it； whence it is that
even now all the Jews that are in the habitable earth keep these
days festival； and send portions to one another。 Mordecai also
wrote to the Jews that lived in the kingdom of Artaxerxes to
observe these days； and celebrate them as festivals； and to
deliver them down to posterity； that this festival might continue
for all time to come； and that it might never be buried in
oblivion； for since they were about to be destroyed on these days
by Haman； they would do a right thing； upon escaping the danger
in them； and on them inflicting punishment on their enemies； to
observe those days； and give thanks to God on them； for which
cause the Jews still keep the forementioned days； and call them
days of Phurim ＇or Purim。＇ （21） And Mordecai became a great and
illustrious person with the king； and assisted him in the
government of the people。 He also lived with the queen； so that
the affairs of the Jews were； by their means； better than they
could ever have hoped for。 And this was the state of the Jews
under the reign of Artaxerxes。
CHAPTER 7。
How John Slew His Brother Jesus In The Temple； And How Bagoses
Offered Many Injuries To The Jews； And What Sanballat Did。
1。 When Eliashib the high priest was dead； his son Judas
succeeded in the high priesthood； and when he was dead； his son
John took that dignity； on whose account it was also that
Bagoses； the general of another Artaxerxes's army； （22） polluted
the temple； and imposed tributes on the Jews； that out of the
public stock； before they offered the daily sacrifices； they
should pay for every lamb fifty shekels。 Now Jesus was the
brother of John； and was a friend of Bagoses； who had promised to
procure him the high priesthood。 In confidence of whose support；
Jesus quarreled with John in the temple； and so provoked his
brother； that in his anger his brother slew him。 Now it was a
horrible thing for John； when he was high priest； to perpetrate
so great a crime； and so much the more horrible； that there never
was so cruel and impious a thing done； neither by the Greeks nor
Barbarians。 However； God did not neglect its punishment； but the
people were on that very account enslaved； and the temple was
polluted by the Persians。 Now when Bagoses； the general of
Artaxerxes's army； knew that John； the high priest of the Jews；
had slain his own brother Jesus in the temple； he came upon the
Jews immediately； and began in anger to say to them；〃 Have you
had the impudence to perpetrate a murder in your temple？〃 And as
he was aiming to go into the temple； they forbade him so to do；
but he said to them；〃 Am not I purer than he that was slain in
the temple？〃 And when he had said these words； he went into the
temple。 Accordingly； Bagoses made use of this pretense； and
punished the Jews seven years for the murder of Jesus。
2。 Now when John had departed this life； his son Jaddua succeeded
in the high priesthood。 He had a brother； whose name was
Manasseh。 ：Now there was one Sanballat； who was sent by Darius；
the last king ＇of Persia＇； into Samaria。 He was a Cutheam by
birth； of which stock were the Samaritans also。 This man knew
that the city Jerusalem was a famous city； and that their kings
had given a great deal of trouble to the Assyrians； and the
people of Celesyria； so that he willingly gave his daughter；
whose name was Nicaso； in marriage to Manasseh； as thinking this
alliance by marriage would be a pledge and security that the
nation of the Jews should continue their good…will to him。
CHAPTER 8。
Concerning Sanballat And Manasseh； And The Temple Which They
Built On Mount Gerizzim； As Also How Alexander Made His Entry
Into The City Jerusalem； And What Benefits He Bestowed On The
Jews。
1。 About this time it was that Philip； king of Macedon； was
treacherously assaulted and slain at Egae by Pausanias； the son
of Cerastes； who was derived from the family of Oreste； and his
son Alexander succeeded him in the kingdom； who； passing over the
Hellespont； overcame the generals of Darius's army in a battle
fought at Granicum。 So he marched over Lydia； and subdued Ionia；
and overran Caria； and fell upon the places of Pamphylia； as has
been related elsewhere。
2。 But the elders of Jerusalem being very uneasy that the brother
of Jaddua the high priest； though married to a foreigner； should
be a partner with him in the high priesthood； quarreled with him；
for they esteemed this man's marriage a step to such as should be
desirous of transgressing about the marriage of ＇strange＇ wives；
and that this would be the beginning of a mutual society with
foreigners； although the offense of some about marriages； and
their having married wives that were not of their own country；
had been an occasion of their former captivity； and of the
miseries they then underwent； so they commanded Manasseh to
divorce his wife； or not to approach the altar； the high priest
himself joining with the people in their indignation against his
brother； and driving him away from the altar。 Whereupon Manasseh
came to his father…in…law； Sanballat； and told him； that although
he loved his daughter Nicaso； yet was he not willing to be
deprived of his sacerdotal dignity on her account； which was the
principal dignity in their nation； and always continued in the
same family。 And then Sanballat promised him not only to preserve
to him the honor of his priesthood； but to procure for him the
power and dignity of a high priest； and would make him governor
of all the places he himself now ruled； if he would keep his
daughter for his wife。 He also told him further； that he would
build him a temple like that at Jerusalem； upon Mount Gerizzini；
which is the highest of all the mountains that are in Samaria；
and he promised that he would do this with the approbation of
Darius the king。 Manasseh was elevated with these promises； and
staid with Sanballat； upon a supposal that he should gain a high
priesthood； as bestowed on him by Darius； for it happened that
Sanballat was then in years。 But there was now a great
disturbance among the people of Jerusalem； because many of those
priests and Levites were entangled in such matches； for they all
revolted to Manasseh； and Sanballat afforded them money； and
divided among them land for tillage； and habitations also； and
all this in order every way to gratify his son…in…law。
3。 About this time it was that Darius heard how Alexander had
passed over the Hellespont； and had beaten his lieute