Book of Esther - Ferrar Fenton Bible Translation page 893

ESTHER. enrolled Decree, which was deposited at Shushan, for their destruction, to into the Inner Court, who has not been show to Esther, and he commanded her to go to the King to arouse him, and to intercede with him for her People. Hatak then returned and reported

the words of Mordecai to Esther. But Esther replied to Hatak and des— All the servants of the King, and the People of the Royal Provinces know that any 5-·—6

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to all the Peoples, for them to be pre~

The Mails were sent out urgently as if by command of the King, and the Decree was pub— lished at the Palace of Shushan, while the King and Haman sat drink- ing. But the City of Shushan was thrown into confusion. glurhuai prays ®¤h in Qefzai ily: §2l11¤’ ®nzmg. Mordecai, however, knew of all that

was done. Mordecai, therefore, tore off his robes, and clothed in a sack, and went to the centre of the City, and shrieked with a great and bitter shriek! Then he went opposite the Royal Gate,—for he might not enter the Gate of the King clothed in a sack. And in every Province and Provincial village where the Order of the King, and the Decree arrived, there was great depression among the jews, who fasted, and wept, and mourned in sacking, and ashes were spread under many. ®slI;rr is Enfurmzh nf ily: Quran. 4 But Esther’s maids and her eunuch came and informed her; and the Queen was in great anguish, and sent clothing to Mordecai to clothe him- ID

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self, and to ask him to strip the sackirig off him. But he would not accept it. Esther consequently called to Hatak, one of the Royal Chamberlains, who waited on her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this meant, and what it was ? Hatak accordingly went to Mordecai, into the Market- place of the town, which is opposite the King’s Gate, and Mordecai in- formed him of all that had happened, and the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the King’s treasury for the exter mination of the jews. He also gave him a copy of the man or woman who goes to the King invited, has one fate,—·-·to die !——except the King extends to them his Golden Sceptre. So it will be with myself. I have not been invited to go to the King this three days} So he reported the words of Esther to Mordecai. But Mordecai replied in return to

Do not imagine in your mind that the household of the King will escape more than all the jews !—·—For if you keep silent at this period, yet life and deliverance will arise to the jews from some other quarter, but you and your father’s house will be destroyed.-But who knows if it was not for this occasion you were raised to the Queendom Then Esther commanded to reply

Go! Collect the whole of the jews who are found in Shushan, and let them fast for me, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night and day, and I also and my maids will fast. I will then go to the King, although contrary to the law,—-·—and if I perish I shall perish. Mordecai accordingly went and did all that Esther commanded.

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16 17 Eslhzr Blitlzrrzncs tnili; the lling fur lyier ¥2¤plz. And when the third day arrived 5 Esther the Queen dressed herself and appeared in the Inner Court of the Royal Palace, opposite the King’s apartments; and the King sat on the royal throne in the Palace, under the verandah of the Palace. And when the King saw Queen Esther, she raised admiration in his eyes,——and the King extended the Golden Sceptre to Esther. So Esther approached to the end of the sceptre, when the King What is it Queen Esther? And what do you ask P--It shall be given to you, even if half of my Empirel’ it 4 pleases the King that the King and Haman would come to a dinner which I have made for them ?’ Order Haman 5 to be quick, and accomplish the request of Esther} Elie illiitg ann %snttan hiuz iiiiily (Esther. The King and Hannan consequently

went to the dinner that Esther had prepared, and the King asked 6 893