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VIEW OF ENGANNIM (OR JERIM), A CITY OF JUDAH.

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And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into 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 grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and

gave gifts, according to the state of the king. In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wrath, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name. And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree; and it was written in the books of the chronicles before the king.

Questions and Explanations.

Question.-Why did queen Vashti make a feast separately for the women in the royal house? Answer. Because in the East the women do not appear with the men at public festivals, therefore they had their entertainment prepared for them apart.

Q. Can a satisfactory reason be given for the disobedience of Vashti, in refusing to come at the king's command?

A.-It would have been very disagreeable for Vashti to appear before a whole company of men who had been feasting and drinking wine. She incurred great danger by her refusal, for the king had the power to put her to death; therefore it may be supposed that her objection to appear was a very strong one.

Q. Why did the wise men recommend the king to put away or discard Vashti for disobeying his command in this one instance?

A. They argued that the example of a queen would certainly be followed; and that the act of Vashti, if

unpunished, would be an encouragement to the Persian ladies generally to disobey their husbands.

Q. What is the meaning of the names Hadassah and Esther?

A. The former is a Chaldee word signifying a myrtle, the latter, a Persian word, meaning a star.

Q. What is meant by the words "he made a release to the provinces "?

A.-It means that Ahasuerus showed favour to his subjects on the joyful occasion of his queen's coronation, by remitting fines or taxes, releasing prisoners, and giving various gifts, that the people might remember it as a day of rejoicing.

Q. What is meant by laying hand on king Ahasuerus?

A.-The two officers conspired together against the life of the king, and Mordecai overheard the plot, and revealed it to king Ahasuerus, through Esther, thus saving his life.

A

ESTHER'S HEROISM AND HAMAN'S MALICE.

FTER these these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him.

But Mordecai bowed not,

nor did him reverence. Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest. thou the king's commandment?

Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

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