Book of Esther - Ferrar Fenton Bible Translation page 896

ESTHER. 9-13 Royal Seal, xs not able to be re @52 Exnpzrial @@2:: in the 321us in @2fmB myzmzzlbzx. g They consequently summoned the Royal Secretaries for the purpose in haste, on the twenty—third day of the month Sivan;-—the third month, who wrote as they were instructed by Mordecai the jew, to the Viceqoys, IO ll. 12 and Governors, and Generals of the Provinces, which were from Houd to Kush, a hundred and twenty-seven Provinces, Province by Province, according to the writing of the People, and according to the 1an· guage of the People, and to the jews in their Alphabet and Language. They wrote in the name of the King Khushrush, and sealed it with the Royal Seal, and sent the letters by the Posts on horseback, on Race· horses, bred in the royal stud, by which the King granted to the jews who were in every town to collect and stand for their lives, and to destroy, to kill, and exterminate all forces of the people or province who assailed them, to infant, and wife, and to plunder their property, on the same day in all the Provinces of King Khushrush, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month,——which is tl1e month of Adar. A copy of this letter was also pub-

lished as a decree in every Province and Government, openly, to all the Peoples, that the jews might be ready against that day to defend themselves from their enemies. The Posts therefore went out

mounted on race-horses from the studs, hurried and impelled by com- mand ofthe King. The Decree was also published at the Palace of Shushan. murhzzai mathe yrintz minister 16 nf {Darrin. Then Mordecai left the presence

of the King completely clothed in Royal Robes of blue and white, and zi great wreath of gold, and a shawl of muslin and purple ;’ and the City of Shushan shouted and rejoiced. And the jews had light and delight, and joy, and honour. And all over, Province by Province, and in every City, and Village where the Royal Message and Decree arrived, the jews were glad and rejoiced, with festivity, and a good day, and many from among the population ofthe country became jews, for a terror of the jews fell upon them. @12 jzius §cstrug their ,3zsniImti¤. So in the twelfth month,—-that is 9 the month of.Ada.r,——on the twelfth day of it, when it approached to put the Royal Command and Decree into practice ;··-on the day that the enemies of the jews hoped to dominate them ;·-·it then turned about that the jews dominated those who hated thernl And the jews collected in the towns, and in all the Provinces of King Khushrush, and assailed all who sought to injure them, and no man could resist them, for a terror had fallen on all the Peoples. And all the Generals of the Provinces, and the Viceroys, and Governors, and Executive Omcers of the Royal affairs, assisted the jews, for the terror of Mordecai had fallen upon them. For Mordecai was great in the Palace of the King, and his fame travelled to all the Provinces, for the man Mordecai advanced and was great. The jews therefore struck with the

edge ofthe sword all their enemies, and slew, and destroyed, and did to their enemies as they pleased. Arid in the Palace of Shushan the jews killed five hundred persons, and Parshomdatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha, and Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha, and Parmashta, and Arisal, and Aridal, and Vaizatha, 9 the ten sons of Haman~ben··Hamma- xo datha, the jews} enemy, they killed, but did not lay hands on their property. On the same day the number of 11 the slain at the Palace of Shushan was brought before the King, when the King said to Esther the Queen, ‘ In the Palace of Shushan the jews have slain and destroyed five hun- dred persons, and the ten sons of Haman;———What have they done in the rest of the Royal Provinces? Now what is your request ?—and it shall be given to you l~—-And what is your petition further ?···and it shall If it is the

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King’s pleasure, grant that the jews lmay do to-morrow what they ave done to—day in Shushan,···—and let them hang the ten sons of Human on the Gallows l’ 8o6