Mordecai, at Esther's first going to court, had cautioned her not to discover that she was a Jewess, which she carefully observed; and it might be her uncle's care lest she should be refused by the king on account of her being a captive; for the same reason, probably, he took care to conceal his relation to Esther, lest it might be disadvantageous to her. These circumstances induced him to remain a contented servant at court, till some favourable opportunity should be offered for his promotion; and this soon occurred. It happened whilst Mordecai attended at the palace gate, he obtained the knowledge of a conspiracy formed by two of the chamberlains to seize and murder the king. This he immediately communicated to his niece, the queen, who acquainted the king with it in Mordecai's name. Upon which, the two chamberlains were seized, convicted, and hanged, and the whole affair recorded in the Persian annals: but Mordecai was not immediately noticed.

About this time, king Ahasuerus had been very lavish of his favour to a proud Amalekite, named Haman, whose merits are not mentioned, and, it is probable, they might be as obscure as those of favourites generally are. However it was, Haman is advanced in honour above all the princes of the court; and all the attendants about the king paid him reverence, except Mordecai. This was not, at first, observed by Haman; but some of the attendants, who were desirous of obliging the court-favourite, informed Haman, that Mordecai the Jew refused to pay him reverence. This inflamed the haughty Haman, who immediately meditated revenge; but such a bloody one, as nothing between man and man could deserve; for no less than a whole nation* must bleed to atone for the petty slight put upon this aspiring wretch.

This

Nation. The fifty thousand that went with Zorobabel to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, were not all that were left of the Jewish nation, for we may rather suppose, that they multiplied at Babylon instead of diminishing. Ezra the scribe, and several others returned after the temple was finished and dedicated. See Ezra vii. 1.

was a great as well as a wicked undertaking; and Haman, to go surely to work in it, called his people about him, and made them cast the lot before him from day to day, from the first month to the twelfth, that they might know, what month and day would be most propitious to their design. So that Haman, to his mortification, was reluctantly obliged to bear with Mordecai's contempt every day for a whole year.

At length, however, Haman having fixed a time, addressed the king, and obtained a decree to put all the Jews to death throughout the king's dominions. For this bloody execution, letters were dispatched to all the governors of provinces and cities, sealed with the king's seal; which, of course, filled the poor Jews with the utmost perplexity and terror, but especially those who resided in the royal city of Shushan, from whence this decree was issued. None in that place was more sensible of the dismal consequences of this cruel decree than Mordecai; who rending his clothes, and putting on sackcloth and ashes, went through the city, bemoaning the hard fate that threatened him and his countrymen. This was soon taken notice of, and reported to the queen; who not knowing the occasion, sent clothes to her uncle, which he refused, returning information by the messenger of the true cause of his mourning, and the danger which she and all her nation were in; and that unless she immediately repaired to the king, and interceded for them, they would all be cut off.

Esther, however inclined to the undertaking, met with a difficulty that seemed insurmountable, for there was a law, forbidding any person to come into the king's presence, without special order, upon pain of death. Mordecai returned answer, that she ought rather to run the hazard of her own life, than suffer all her nation to perish. This roused the queen, who immediately requested that he would cause the Jews in Shushan to fast three days, as she herself would do; and after that, she would address the king, though it was against the law, let what would happen.

At the end of this fast she dressed herself in her royal

robes, and going to the king's apartment, made a stop just as she came in sight of the king, who immediately held out his sceptre to her, and asked her what she requested of him. This encouraged her to approach nearer, and when she touched the end of the sceptre, he kindly assured her, that he would grant her request, though it cost half his kingdom. Upon which, she declared, that her particular wish was, that the king, accompanied by Haman, would do her the honour of partaking of a banquet which she had provided. This request was so much the more acceptable to the king, because she had invited his favourite Haman; who, though he was a constant companion of the royal festivities, was not, at this time, present with his luxurious master; wherefore the king gave order, that Haman should have speedy notice, that he might attend the queen's invitation.

All things being prepared, and the guests seated, the king was so well pleased with his entertainment, that he again repeated his former promise of granting the queen whatsoever she should ask, even to the half of the kingdom. The queen, not thinking this a proper time to open the secret to the king, intreated his Majesty and Haman to favour her with their company once more, on the following day, when she promised to present her request. The king readily consented, and so the company for that time broke up.

Haman, not a little pleased that he should be thus distinguished, not only by the king, but by the queen too, formed extravagant notions of future happiness to himself, and went out of the presence so elevated, that he expected nothing less than the respect due to him, as the second person in the kingdom. As he passed along, every spectator paid him the most profound respect, except Mordecai, who took no notice of this gaudy courtier; which stung the haughty favourite to the heart. However, he concealed his resentment, and when he was come home, he began to pride himself in his prosperous condition, and recounting to his family the honours the king had heaped upon him, he told them how the queen had distinguished him above all the court, inviting him

only to accompany the king to a banquet, and that to-
morrow he was to attend her again upon a second invi-
tation. " Yet,"
"said he, "what pleasure is all this, so long
as I see the hated Mordecai, who shews me no respect."
His friends concurred with him in his resentment, and to
make short work with Mordecai, advised Haman to order
a gibbet fifty cubits high to be prepared, and to petition
the king, that Mordecai might the next day be hanged on
it. Haman, who vainly imagined the king would not
deny him such a trifle as the life of a wretched Jew, ap-
proved the project, and the gibbet was erected.

But God was pleased to dispose matters otherwise than this proud son of Agag had wished: for it happened that, the night before this entertainment was to have been given, a sudden inquietude seized the king, so that he could not sleep; wherefore, to divert himself, he called for the annals of his reign, and ordered an attendant to read them to him; who, coming to that passage which mentioned Mordecai's discovery of the treason of the two chamberlains, who had conspired against the king, he asked, what reward had been bestowed on Mordecai for that service? They told him, none. Whereupon the king asked, Who waited without? They told him, Haman; whom he ordered to be called in.

Haman, whose resentment had kept him as wakeful as the inquietude of the king, was come early to court, to petition that Mordecai might be hanged on the gibbet he had provided; and being called into the presence by the king's command, he doubted not in the least of having his petition answered. But, full of hope as he was, the king prevented him, by asking him, what honour should be bestowed on the man whom the king delighted to distinguish? Haman, vainly concluding himself the happy man, resolved not to be wanting in proposing lavish hohis advice thus: "Let the man, whom the nours, and gave "king designs to honour, be clothed in the royal garments, be mounted on the same horse which the king "himself is used to ride; let the royal diadem be set on "his head, and the chief man in the kingdom lead the VOL. II.

H

"horse, walking before him, and proclaiming, Thus "shall it be done to the man, whom the king delights to "honour."

Haman had no sooner delivered his advice, than the king, quite contrary to his hope and expectation, ordered him to get the horse, apparel and diaden ready, and do just as he had said to Mordecai the Jew, charging him not to fail in the least part of it.

This unexpected stroke, so contrary to his proud and cruel expectations, cut the proud Haman to the heart; but the king's word was law, and he knew there was no disputing it. Therefore he was obliged to obey, and attend Mordecai in the form which he himself had prescribed, proclaiming before him all the way he went, "Thus shall it be done to the man, whom the king delights "to honour.” **

The ceremony being concluded, Mordecai returned to his post at the palace gate; and Haman, in great discontent, hastened home; where he related to his family the disgrace he had suffered, in being forced to do honour to his enemy. They, considering the condition of the man, told him the fate of declining favourites, and that if Mordecai were a Jew, he would rise upon his ruin.

Whilst they were entertaining Haman with this melancholy presage, messengers came to hasten him to the queen's feast. Where the king being come, he asked her, as before, What her request was? She answered, "It was

mercy for herself and all her nation, which he, by the "advice of a cruel enemy, had delivered up to de"struction."

The king, with great concern asked her, who had been guilty of so wicked a contrivance? She answered, It was Haman. This sentence immediately alarmed Haman ; which the king observing, and looking upon him with great indignation, he rose from the banquet, and went into the garden: Haman also rose, and taking the opportunity of the king's absence, addressed himself to the queen to save his life; but whilst he was in this suppliant posture the king returned, and seeing Haman so near the