按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
unexpected； he was confounded in his mind； and knew not what to
do。 However； he went out and led the horse； and took the purple
garment； and the golden chain for the neck； and finding Mordecai
before the court； clothed in sackcloth； he bid him put that
garment off； and put the purple garment on。 But Mordecai； not
knowing the truth of the matter； but thinking that it was done in
mockery； said； 〃O thou wretch； the vilest of all mankind； dost
thou thus laugh at our calamities？〃 But when he was satisfied
that the king bestowed this honor upon him； for the deliverance
he had procured him when he convicted the eunuchs who had
conspired against him； he put on that purple garment which the
king always wore； and put the chain about his neck； and got on
horseback； and went round the city； while Haman went before and
proclaimed； 〃This shall be the reward which the king will bestow
on every one whom he loves； and esteems worthy of honor。〃 And
when they had gone round the city； Mordecai went in to the king；
but Haman went home； out of shame； and informed his wife and
friends of what had happened； and this with tears； who said； that
he would never be able to be revenged of Mordecai； for that God
was with him。
11。 Now while these men were thus talking one to another；
Esther's eunuchs hastened Haman away to come to supper； but one
of the eunuchs； named Sabuchadas； saw the gallows that was fixed
in Haman's house； and inquired of one of his servants for what
purpose they had prepared it。 So he knew that it was for the
queen's uncle； because Haman was about to petition the king that
he might be punished； but at present he held his peace。 Now when
the king； with Haman； were at the banquet； he desired the queen
to tell him what gifts she desired to obtain； and assured her
that she should have whatsoever she had a mind to。 She then
lamented the danger her people were in； and said that 〃she and
her nation were given up to be destroyed； and that she； on that
account； made this her petition； that she would not have troubled
him if he had only given order that they should be sold into
bitter servitude； for such a misfortune would not have been
intolerable； but she desired that they might be delivered from
such destruction。〃 And when the king inquired of her whom was the
author of this misery to them； she then openly accused Haman； and
convicted him； that he had been the wicked instrument of this；
and had formed this plot against them。 When the king was hereupon
in disorder； and was gone hastily out of the banquet into the
gardens； Haman began to intercede with Esther； and to beseech her
to forgive him； as to what he had offended； for he perceived that
he was in a very bad case。 And as he had fallen upon the queen's
bed； and was making supplication to her； the king came in； and
being still more provoked at what he saw； 〃O thou wretch；〃 said
he； 〃thou vilest of mankind； dost thou aim to force in wife？〃 And
when Haman was astonished at this； and not able to speak one word
more； Sabuchadas the eunuch came in and accused Haman； and said；〃
He found a gallows at his house； prepared for Mordecai； for that
the servant told him so much upon his inquiry； when he was sent
to him to call him to supper。〃 He said further； that the gallows
was fifty cubits high： which； when the king heard； he determined
that Haman should be punished after no other manner than that
which had been devised by him against Mordecai； so he gave order
immediately that he should be hung upon those gallows； and be put
to death after that manner。 And from hence I cannot forbear to
admire God； and to learn hence his wisdom and his justice； not
only in punishing the wickedness of Haman； but in so disposing
it； that he should undergo the very same punishment which he had
contrived for another； as also because thereby he teaches others
this lesson； that what mischiefs any one prepares against
another； he； without knowing of it； first contrives it against
himself。
12。 Wherefore Haman； who had immoderately abused the honor he had
from the king； was destroyed after this manner； and the king
granted his estate to the queen。 He also called for Mordecai；
（for Esther had informed him that she was akin to him；） and gave
that ring to Mordecai which he had before given to Haman。 The
queen also gave Haman's estate to Mordecai； and prayed the king
to deliver the nation of the Jews from the fear of death； and
showed him what had been written over all the country by Haman
the son of Ammedatha； for that if her country were destroyed； and
her countrymen were to perish； she could not bear to live herself
any longer。 So the king promised her that he would not do any
thing that should be disagreeable to her； nor contradict what she
desired； but he bid her write what she pleased about the Jews； in
the king's name； and seal it with his seal； and send it to all
his kingdom； for that those who read epistles whose authority is
secured by having the king's seal to them； would no way
contradict what was written therein。 So he commanded the king's
scribes to be sent for； and to write to the nations； on the Jews'
behalf； and to his lieutenants and governors； that were over his
hundred twenty and seven provinces； from India to Ethiopia。 Now
the contents of this epistle were these： 〃The great king
Artaxerxes to our rulers； and those that are our faithful
subjects； sendeth greeting。 （19） Many men there are who； on
account of the greatness of the benefits bestowed on them； and
because of the honor which they have obtained from the wonderful
kind treatment of those that bestowed it； are not only injurious
to their inferiors； but do not scruple to do evil to those that
have been their benefactors； as if they would take away gratitude
from among men； and by their insolent abuse of such benefits as
they never expected； they turn the abundance they have against
those that are the authors of it； and suppose they shall lie
concealed from God in that case； and avoid that vengeance which
comes from him。 Some of these men； when they have had the
management of affairs committed to them by their friends； and
bearing private malice of their own against some others； by
deceiving those that have the power； persuade them to be angry at
such as have done them no harm； till they are in danger of
perishing； and this by laying accusations and calumnies： nor is
this state of things to be discovered by ancient examples； or
such as we have learned by report only； but by some examples of
such impudent attempts under our own eyes； so that it is not fit
to attend any longer to calumnies and accusations； nor to the
persuasions of others； but to determine what any one knows of
himself to have been really done； and to punish what justly
deserves it； and to grant favors to such as are innocent。 This
hath been the case of Haman； the son of Ammedatha； by birth an
Amalekite； and alien from the blood of the Persians； who； when he
was hospitably entertained by us； and partook of that kindness
which we bear to all men to so great a degree； as to be called my
father； and to be all along worshipped； and to have honor paid
him by all in the second rank aft